2009, here it comes!

3C

3D

3F

3G

1 Responsibility(Form class)

That is my deployment next year. Reading the namelist of those classes, I see many familiar names. Nice to be teaching them again. 

There is a common thing about all my class deployments. Next year will be the 3rd year I will be teaching 3F. Albeit, 3F 2009 is a triple science class. 

Sad though, I won't be teaching 3F 2008 next year. It was a long year, but it was certainly one where I learnt a lot. I will be leaving with the knowledge that someone much much better will be taking over. 

So to the Sec 3F 2008 students reading this, I leave you with a piece of advice. 

"He who listens to a life giving rebuke will be home among the wise" - Proverbs 15:31

Listen to teachers when they scold you and take their advice to heart. That way, you will increase in wisdom. Especially so the advice and rebuke of your new form teacher for he is a very wise teacher. 

for my

Miss you in a heartbeat
I believe, that there's something deep inside
That shouldn't be from time to time
I sure found out, thought love was such a crime
The more you care the more you fall

No need to worry, no need to turn away
Cos it dont matter, anyway, Baby

Ooh, I'd miss you in a heartbeat
Ooh, I'd miss you right away
Ooh, I'd miss you in a heartbeat
Cos it ain't love if you don't feel that way

When we touch, I just loose my self-control
A sad sensation I can't hide
To love is easy, it ain't easy to walk away
i keep the faith and there's a reason why

I ain't big on promises,
I'll be true to you
I'd do about anyting
For someone like
Baby for you

By Def Leppard

Happy Birthday day Min Yin, doubt you will ever read this, but happy birthday anyway! Known you for a long time, and I wish I knew you better. I pray that one day you will come to know the Lord Jesus, and that we can meet again someday after this life is over.

Leaving soon...

Will be going off for a mission trip to Nepal in little under 10 hours. It is actually my first mission trip; strange that it has come so late. 

Will be using this blog to update everyone about the trip. 

Time really just flies. A year ago I was in USA, I was at the Taylor factory if I am not wrong! And a year ago was Solid Rock Cafe. Hard to imagine how fast 2008 has just whizzed by. 2009 is upon us, but somehow I am looking forward to it. Even with all the timetable changes and all, I really pray it would be good year for me. 2008 was a dry one and I pray that this trip to Nepal would be refreshing. 

Good game!

Starcraft the board game with a full complement of 6 players. But in a 3v3 game. Still took 2 hours to play. 

Starcraft: The Board Game

Obviously only geeks would appreciate this. The board game version of Starcraft, it's not bad to be honest! Just take a while to play though!

Unboxing!

Loads of mini figurines!

Cards all sleeved up. 

Broken battlecruiser! :(

Anyway, the blog has a slightly updated layout. Hopefully it won't take me another 1.5 years to make such an update!

This is guy is good!

This was the stuff I used to play when I was in primary school! Megaman 2! Back then on the NES. This guy is good... he has a video of the entire walkthrough of the game! He did it under 50 minutes! VERY IMPRESSIVE!

BUT THESE GUYS ARE EVEN BETTER!

They are a Megaman Cover Band, The Megas! They basically took the soundtrack of the game; rearranged the songs for a fullband. Great guitar licks and basslines! AWESOME STUFF! 

What a year...

Hard to believe that it is already October! Within the blink of an eye the year is almost at it's end. A year ago I was invigilating the O Levels at Temasek, but this year, sadly, none of that. Will have to continue with 3 extra weeks of lessons. 

Hard to believe that 10 months have just disappeared. Feels like I've not done much this year. In actual fact, it has been a long winding one. As things settle into the usual December rush, will be taking time off to go to Nepal for a Mission trip, to rest and to recharge. 

Yet it is amazing how suddenly, out of the blue, someone whom I worked with 2 years ago is being posted into ASC. Quite interesting! This is God telling me to put into action the idea I have and He is also telling me that I have not been forsaken, help has arrived. 

Praise looks good on You

This is a re-post from August 2004:

Praise Looks Good on You

When you lift your hands up high
And you sing a song of priase to Me
It brings me great delight
Such a lovely sight
And yes it is true
Praise looks good on You

Morning night and noon
Your praise ascends to heaven
Like the smell of sweet purfume
Filling every room
And yes it is true
Praise looks good on You

You bring your sacrifices
And you offer up your praise
You lift your voice with singing
But your heart seems far away
More than a sacrifice
I am looking for your life
Holy and acceptable
And pleasing in My sight

So offer up your life
Holy and acceptable
A willing sacrifice
Precious in my sight
But in all that you do
Remember all I want is you

So lift your hands up high
And worship Him before the altar
Consecrate your life
A willing sacrifice
But in all that you do
Remember all He wants is you
And yes it is true
Praise looks good on you

(C) 1990 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
Words and Music: Don Moen

Posted in August 2004: Seems like every time I think about BGR issue in my life, or rather the lack of it, this song comes to my mind. Suffered a devastating blow today, maybe God is really giving me the gift of celibacy. Not something I really want, but if that is best for me, then so be it.

Posted in March 2006: What a difference one and a half years can make in your life. Everytime I think of this; this song just comes back to comfort me. She's home, but whether close of far; the distance feels the same. There is more to worship than mere music or words; words must be followed by the actions. And maybe for a little while last year, I finally understood why our Praises to God are like garments, beautiful garments that make us look good, even though we may actually look dishevelled all the time. Yes it is true, praise does looks good on us. Even though no one on earth may admire it; the Heavenly Father does, and He will do so for eternity, what more can we ask of Him?

October 2007: This post only makes sense in the context the two above. Have had a strange feeling in my heart the last few days, one that I've not felt in a long time. They say all you need is frequency and intensity; there sure is intensity and the frequency is increasing. Need to thread carefully, for this time things are really different. Very different indeed. Dear Lord, help us help us stop our spinning, and grant us sight.

October 2008: When the ringing tells you a big story, you know you need to concentrate on the things that matter and remember that it will be a while more before things reveal themselves.

It's arrived!

Watched something on Godtube a few weeks ago and told myself I had to get this set of videos for PowerPoint. It's arrived, from Amazon, couldn't find it in Singapore, many days early. 

It's surreal and definately more fireworks than science. But quite amazing nonetheless. Of course, laminin isn't the only vital protein in the body, all are! But yeah... the wikipedia entry on it does say that those lacking in laminin will suffer pretty greatly. 

West Coast Park

Taking a break from school today; on course. At least in the morning; going back to school in the afternoon. Anyway, left home early to escape the ECP jam.

Was early as a result, so I decided to go to West Coast Park Macdonalds for breakfast. The place looks very different from the time I went there a few years back. The above picture is a result. I now have a very wild idea for an adventure race.

ShoZu Testing

Testing yet another app. This is really fun.

Testing

This is a test for an iPhone app.

Yup, my latest toy! A real great device plus it was virtually free.

Posted with LifeCast

Happy Teachers' Day 2008

The second year I'm actually celebrating Teachers' Day as a full fledge teacher. It's been a long year for me, a very tiring one as well. If there is one major thing that I have learnt, it is learning that I still belong to the youth ministry. That was clear in the camp. 

This post, I dedicate to all the teachers who teach my form class. They've put up with a lot and they've helped me a lot. I sometimes feel like I have 10 co-form teachers. They've really worked as a team and the term3 report was really very encouraging. 

shattering...

Well, the internet is abuzz with Mike Gugliemucci's confession that his illness was faked. Sad. Very sad. I myself was at the bad end of the news, watch the video many times and the song has one of highest play counts on my iTunes. However, I shan't spend another blog post talking about this, there are already so many online. 

I shall just talk about the personal lessons I have drawn from this. This whole affair has only shown me how weak human flesh really is. That anyone can fall, easily. The only thing we can fully put our trust in is God. 

Tomorrow will sing a differnt tune. I shan't say anymore,  my thoughts have been poured out to One Voice and G4C. 

I need to...

... update this blog a little more often. Been challenged by August to do something, so I will start again. Daily refelctions and meditations. 

This is good...

From the perspective of an English Language teacher, I think this is a must see show!

40 Day fast and prayer, Week 3

Been coerced by someone to post today. So here it is. Anyway, it's not that I've not been posting, I've been writing a bit but to the SGLs via email. So I shall just copy the latest email I sent out to them. I think it's an appropriate message considering Youth Sunday just ended.

We are entering week 3 of the 40 day fast and prayer. Once again, I had my breakfast early, one bowl of cereal... it's been about 2 hours since I had breakfast and I am feeling hungry. And it's only 9am in the morning! :(

Would like to share a short personal reflection on Youth Sunday.

When the euphoria is gone, when the people are gone, when the lights and music has faded, what are we left with? Lonliness? Sadness? Or do we still have the joy of the Lord?

One thing that really struck me in the sermon by Dr Jon Ng yesterday was his story of the American Indian in New York of how he was able to pick out the sound of the criket amidst the urban jungle of New York City. Having been to NYC, I can tell you that that place is noisy at every hour of the day. There are traffic jams at 1am in the morning!!!!

What he was trying to get across to us was this idea of an undivided heart. A heart so attuned to hearing God that we can hear God's still small voice amidst the hussle and bussle of work / school / army / everything!

For me personally, it takes time to cultivate such undivided attention to God. But I feel that the key lies in this simple Sunday School song that we've been singing since we were young:

Read your Bible pray everyday
Pray everyday, pray everyday
Read your Bible pray everyday
And you'll grow, grow, grow!

And it's true. If we read our Bibles and pray everyday, we will eventually (and hopefully) become used to listening and reading to God's voice and really have that undivided heart. Then we will see God.

So I urge you to continue reading the daily devotions, continue to share your testimonies and continue to read your Bible and pray EVERYDAY even after this 40 days are over and let's GROW together as a community of faith!

RAW Challenge Day 16

Mark 16

The last chapter of this Gospel and the last day of the RAW Challenge. The resurrection. The crucifiction is important, but more importantly is the resurrection. For without it, the basis of our faith is useless. 

The RAW Challenge has come to an end, but there is still the 40 day prayer and fast. Won't be bloggin every single day, but will try to fast like I did last year. Not easy at all! 

On Tuesday, the 2nd half of the year begins. Too fast!!!!

RAW Challenge Day 15

Mark 15

The penultimate day and the penultimate chapter. The cruxifiction. One of the most important parts of the Gospel. The cross was in those days regarded as a symbol of death and fear. But it was this act that turned the cross into a symbol of life and love. It is impossible to comprehend this love that the Father has for us. 

RAW Challenge Day 14

Mark 14

Intense chapter! It starts of with what has been described by a few worship leaders as "an exravagant act of worship". It's more than a song, but a posture of the heart. 

This story is about the Passion of Christ. The sufferings of the Saviour, this and the next chapter. It is just too much to comprehend. I remember a few years ago I was looking for a video of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, so I skimmed through my copy of "The Passion of Christ". When it came to the whipping scenes, I just couldn't watch them anymore. 

I think those who went through Peter's walk would have a different perspective when they read this passage. It's one thing to read it... it's another to have it come to life. 

RAW Challenge Day 13

Mark 13

Sign of the end times! My other area of interest besides worship. I've even shared on this chapter during service before. My take is always this, those who read the Bible and try to look for signs of the end times are missing the point. The point is at the end of the chapter, to be watchful!

We see wars, famine and declining morality, but that is all routine history. It has been that way for 2000 years. No one knows the hour or the time. We simply think we are the last generation. But we don't know. 

But yeah... those who think that prophecies about the end times can be found in the book of Revelations aren't exactly looking very hard. Revelations is simply "The End". Signs of the end can be found elsewhere. Like the Gospels and the Pauline Epistles. 

RAW Challenge Day 12

Mark 12

This chapter has a lot of parables and teachings of Jesus. Not all are easy to understand. Someone could probably write an entire PhD thesis on just one of these passages. 

The main point for me of course is when Jesus was asked to give the greatest commandment. He gave two. Because they come together. The top line and the bottom line. One day, someone should talk about the top line and the bottom line. It will inspire. 

RAW Challenge Day 11

Mark 11

A house of prayer? Or a den of robbers? That is something that I struggle with sometimes when I come to church. Have we over comercialised or over done some things that it has become a den of robbers? 

I guess the key is prayer. That is supposed to set things apart.

RAW Challenge Day 10

Mark 10

Strange how people misunderstood Jesus. James and John wanted glory and wanted to sit at Jesus' right hand when He was glorified. What they thought was that He would become a King in the literal fashion and that they would be officials in His court. Thier fellow disciples were jealous as they wanted their place too!

But that's not what Jesus meant. And the disciples got as they wished. Every one, except John, would be matyred in very painful ways. But by that time, they understood what it meant to be glorified. 

It is a picture of leadership. Not to be served, but to serve. To descend into greatness and not rise to it. That is the mystery of it all. 

RAW Challenge Day 9

Mark 9

Many images of Jesus in this chapter. Firstly the transfiguration. I wonder how the disciples must have felt when they saw Jesus suddenly transfigured, it would be quite scary to suddenly see some turn white and shine! 

Another imagery I get when I read this chapter is that Jesus was surrounded by little children as He preached and healed. It's just a beatiful image. It is interesting that Jesus had said some of the harshest things to His disciples when He was around these children. That's the heart of the Father, always on us, His children. 

Pastor showed this video this morning. Something I can use when I develop the new CE syllabus. 

RAW Challenge Day 8

Mark 8

This is the chapter about Peter's confession of the Christ. Doesn't seem like much, but it is a significant point in the Bible. When read from Peter's perspective, he is one of the first people to realise who Jesus is. Yet, he failed to recognise Jesus' purpose. 

Interestingly, this event wasn't in Peter's walk, but it was a really significant event. 

RAW Challenge Day 7

Mark 7

The thing that strikes me most in this passage is this quotation from the Book of Isaiah.

The Lord says

"These people will honour me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by  men." - Isaiah 29:13

I've read many stories of the song "Heart of Worship". Watched interviews with Matt Redman and Mike Pilavachi regarding the story surrounding the song and interestingly, I've never heard them mention this verse because it speaks about the story so well!

Indeed, sometimes our worship, though it may be heartfelt and passionate may end up being "rules taught by men". You jump, I jump kind of situation. If the hearts are far from God, or if their hearts are more focused on the song or the method and not on the one being worshipped, I think we are not honouring God. 

That's a big thought for me. 

RAW Challenge Day 6

Mark 6

This chapter is a long narrative portion of Jesus' ministry. Doesn't seem to start of well but later as things go, His ministry begins to prosper even amidst set back and rejection. I realise that even though Jesus performed miracles, people were sceptical. How true even in today's context. We don't see the miracles of old but we do see small miracles but yet we fail to recognise them. Sometimes we want a big huge booming voice to call out from the sky before we sit up and believe, but we seldom want to quiet ourselves to hear the still small voice. 

I've had my big miracle before, in NUS. Was dreaming of getting an honours degree but I did not qualify. So I told God that if I did qualify I would serve Him in the VCF. Naturally I thought that my grades would improve, but no. What happened was that NUS policy changed and reduced the criteria for honours and I was able to qualify. It was a lesson on God's power and it showed that my honours degree was no work of my own, but God's providence. 

At the camp, many were asked to write their spiritual timeline. I did mine many years ago and continue to extend it using this blog. When I look back I realise it was the small things along the way that made the biggest difference to my life. The small miracles of providence along the way that I failed to see then, but see clearly now. It has shown me that we serve a very faithful God. 

Being able to read the Bible everyday for the last 3 years. Now that's a miracle. 

RAW Challenge - Day 5

Mark 5

I remember acting out this chapter before. The part about the man and legion. I was acting as Jesus, but some people said I looked more like Saddam Hussien. Oh well... how sad. 

Anyway, this is a very interesting chapter, when Jesus casts out the demons, He tells the man not tell everyone about Him. But He does the opposite when He heals the woman. I wonder why. 

But the most important thing is that Jesus has supernatural power and He heals. The demon possessed, the long suffering and the dead. 

RAW Challenge - Day 4

Mark 4

Well, the Bible reading and reflection portion of this challenge isn't really a challenge for me since I am supposed to be championing Bible reading in YMPACT. So the challenge for me is really to make sure that everyone lives the challenge! My hope is that we go beyond 15 days!

This chapter has a wealth of lessons to draw from. Purpose. The purpose of a candle or a lamp stand is to illuminate the room, it is pointless to keep it lighted then hide it under a bowl. I guess this is a call discover one's purpose in life and to live that purpose and not run. Or as I told a friend today, God will send a big fish after you. 

Power. We sometimes forget that we serve a powerful God who can command crashing waves to stop at His will. I guess it has to do with many of the songs that we sing that deal with God's love that we've lost the wonder of our God. There has been a call in the last few years to write "big picture" songs, to restore this glorious image of our Lord and I am glad many of the modern writers have responded! 

RAW Challenge - Day 3

RAW is over, I'm still feeling a little raw from the whole experience. Very tired and not in the right frame of mind for school but that will have to change soon!

Anyway, was challenged by Ps Aaron to read the Bible and commit to a discipleship programme. Have been on a Bible reading programme for a while now but I've stop putting all my posts online. About high time I did so again. So, I will be blogging about my reading once again. Today is day 3 and we are supposed to have read till Mark 3. So here are my readings for the previous days.

Day 1 - Mark 1

If there is anything that I can learn from this passage is that Jesus would wake up early to pray. This is one of the things that is recorded in all 4 Gospels, and that is quite rare! Not even the Lord's Supper is recorded in all 4 Gospels.

I'm not a morning person although I am an early riser due to the nature of my profession. But I am not fully alert in the morning, especially the first period. This semester's timetable is very interesting, I have to teach during the first period 3 times a week.

I've often wondered what would be a good way to start the morning, but really, there is no better way than to start it with prayer. So I pray that I would be able to spend my early morning cycles in communion with God from now on. Especially in this week 0, since there is no human traffic on the roads.

Day 2 - Mark 2

This was the passage Ps Aaron preached from on Sunday. The crux of what he wanted to tell us is that there is no screw up that we've made that God cannot forgive. I've often wondered if I could have the chance of going back in time to live my life again but with the benefit of hindsight. I would often think of what I would have done differently, but I know that that chance will never come.

On the other hand, what we need is to realise that we all need is really to ask for forgiveness to live life anew from that point. There isn't really any restarting afresh, just moving forward redeemed.

Day 3 - Mark 3

A rare insight into Jesus' family; it is from this passage that we know that Jesus had siblings, earthly siblings. Two of whom are believed to have penned 2 books in the New Testament, James and Jude.

This is also where we get the idea of being brothers and sisters in Christ. Short and very interesting.

all my bags are packed...

This is a repost from a different era in my life, the dark year for me, 2005. Anyway, all my bags are indeed packed, for moving house and for church camp. I think from now on I will add on to this post everytime there is camp!

Here the original post, posted on 9 December 2005. 

Yup, my bags are packed for the long camp tomorrow onwards! 6 day camp, not had a camp that long in a long while; and even longer since I went to camp (fulltime) and was not involved in planning or ministering to others. This one is for me to relax, recharge and ask God for the direction in my life.

This camp is a step out of my comfort zone, not because it is in Malaysia, but because of something else. At Go Forth, was challenged to step out of my comfort zonel; God told me to go for AnnTiC (Annual Teach In Camp). At first, it really didn't seem like a challenge. Then, I realised what I was in for. God immediately told me to SMS Amy and Kelvin (Tan) what the dates of the LTC and AnnTiC was. And guess what, it was a clash!

That was a step out of my comfort zone, because for the first time in a long time, I am playing a very different role at a camp. It's easy for me to stand in front of a lot of youth and give them a lesson on how to lead songs. But very difficult for me to just be contented staying in the background and "feeding" but not giving out.

But God has a way of planning my timetable. Emotionally, I'm burnt out, that's what pastor said to me today. (And if you thought you say me crying during YM today, you weren't imagining things.) I need a rest from ministry; and so, while I planned to go for this camp months ago, the reason is only apparent now. That's how God works. If I had chosen the LTC instead, I think I wouldn't have been in the right frame to teach or lead. Well, that's God's timing.

More than just missing the LTC, this is the first Youth Camp I will be missing since Fresh Encounter 1996. Yup, if I am not mistaken, the only other person with such a track record is Amy. But anyway, here were the camps I attended, for memories...

1996 (December) Fresh Encounter
This was a camp that changed my life. To many of you, you had a touch from the Holy Spirit during Changed for Real or MAD for GOD 2003, well, this was when I experienced mine. This camp was at the Presbyterian Girls Hostel at Telok Kurau. I will never forget this camp; it was one of the first few times I cried during worship. I remember the last night of camp, there was this sharing session, I was asked to share, but I chickened out, didn't know what to say. (I was sec 3.) Well, if I had the chance to say something now; I would say that Fresh Encounter was the start of a long journey for me. The other thing I will never forget in this camp was the last night; sabo session. I was saboed bad... really bad. Won't elaborate, but that was the last camp in which the sabo-ing was really fierce!

1997 (December) Adventure Camp
O Levels just ended for me. This was a camp to mark the end of 4 years inscondary school! It was held at Pasir Ris PA Campsite (near Alvin's place.) It was fun, we went canoeing, did street bandy and abselling. It wasn't a super serious type of camp, it was a fun camp; not had one of these type of camps in a long while. Soon hopefully!

1998 (June or September) MAD Camp
This was the first of the camps with the acronym MAD in it. MAD is of course Making a Difference. Anyway, the reason why all the LTCs are called MAD is because this camp was my LTC. Nothing has changed much from the current LTCs, but this one was more catered to the old ISS format. Worship, games and evaluation. Something like that. This was where Ryan led worship, his one and only one experience! HAHA!

1998 (December) BAD Camp
Don't ask me where these acronyms come from! BAD is Being a Disciple. It had not 1 but 4 theme verses, one for everyday of the camp and we had to recite each one each day before every meal! It was at the BB/GB campsite, BOFORE the renovations! That means, the toilets were in containers! Disgisting! On the second last day, we went canoeing, and we had no choice but to bathe when we returned right? So we got fed up of bathing in the containers, a lot of us just took a shower in the open (in our swimming attire). This camp was where we were given the WWJD wrist bands. I still have mine, it's on my bag; it's red in colour.

Another thing about this camp was that we were given journals. I journaled a few times, I still keep the journal, and the things I wrote on the first day was about a vision God gave me. And now, 7 years later, that vision is being fulfilled. Won't elaborate. Another thing I wrote in my journal was how "envious" I was of the another church's YM; Charis Methodist Church. We shared the camp with them, we numbered about 3o-40 campers, they were like 100. And their YM was so alive! I told myself that that was the standard I wanted our YM to reach. We've since surpassed that; but unfortuantely, we are on the downswing rather than the up. My prayer is that we regain that momentum when we start the Youth Service next year.

1999 (June) Making a Kingdom Difference
This camp was about Acts of Kindness. That is passing out free tissue, drinks etc on the streets. Washing cars, doing community service etc. This was a great camp, refreshing, definately not the usual camp, but very tiring. I remember I had to go for my SAF medical check up on one of the days of this camp. I thought I would be able to return back to camp after the chckup, little did I know that the check up lasted from 8am to 4pm!

1999 (September) Eagle's Wings Worship Camp
This camp set the direction of my ministry in the Youth. It taught me a lot on what worship was all about. It was also a time for me to find peace amidst the A levels and my impending enlistment. I was hurting a lot from my back; I was diagnosed with a slip disk just 6 months prior. But that camp, something so wonderful happened (those who were there would know); and the pain in my back disappeared, and I didn't feel it again until the first 4 hours of NS!

2000 (December) King and I
Was held at NACLI. This was a camp in which I was not really involved, I had my back operation just barely 2 weeks prior to this camp and was still walking around the campsite with a walking stick. But I thank God that I was able to attend! Indeed it was a miracle that I could even walk! I don't remember much of this camp except that a few days after this camp; on 10 December 2000, One Voice was formed.

2001 (December) Body Building Camp
First time I sat in the camp committee. It was a good camp; I believe many of you were touched by this camp! Well, I was the worship coordinator for this camp; but I was running the show literally on my own power. But overall it was an experience to remember! I really wish we could go back to camp christine for the next camp! But they are like fully booked till like 2007 or something!

2002 (December) Changed for Real
This was a long camp! But held in church so that logistics wouldn't be so jia lat! I wasn't in the camp committee due to my commitments in the Jesus is the Rock Sunday School camp. But anyway, was pulled in to handle the worship again. Before the start of the camp, I told the camp committee that this was going to the "fresh encounter" for many of our youths. And yes, it was! I remember Augustine telling me on the 2nd day, "Tomorrow, altar call!" I was like, "HUH?!". I went home that night, to pray about it, and yeah, God also told me, "Altar Call." Nothing could hav prepared me for what happened the next night, and every night after that!

It was one of the most amzing sights I've seen happen in the YM. We were in the sanctuary, August led, I played, and it looked like there was a wave moving, the front row, people started to cry, then it just kept moving, row after row, youths began to break down and cry. I had never seen anything like that before! And the last night, 5 people separetly confirmed that something was going to happen. And what happened? Well, vesper lasted from 12midnight to 4am. I'm sure many of you will remember that. I slept a total of about 5 hours that week. I was truly tired but really refreshed at the end of that camp!

2003 (June) God Factor
This camp, everything ran like clockwork. And I was Camp Commandant. But what you all didn't know was that this camp was planned in 8 weeks flat! A lot of help came from what is now called the "administrative instructions" document; or the monster. I'm sure those in the TOFU Team would know or will know soon what this document is! Anyway, this camp was the biggest YM camp held to date. And the name God Factor was almost reused for GAP. In fact, a God Factor 2 logo was even designed but never used.

2003 (December) MAD for God?
Another LTC. And from now on, all LTCs will be called MAD or something like that. Anyway, I had just gone for the J21 conference, and was super fired up for this camp. I threw everything I had to offer into this camp! And now, besides the "AI" document, we had another one called the "Alignment" document, and that one made a huge difference to how we ran the camp! Well, this year's LTC is the same name, but difference is, it's going to be a huge drain on resources. But God will provide!

2004 (June) GAP Camp
We never gave GAP and official acronym, the whole idea was to leave it up to all of you! Anyway, the highlight of this camp was certainly the IPC Youth Rally. Yet, there were some who had problems with this camp. Hurts and pain still linger in some people. But well, God will make a way; He always will. One thing I did not like about this camp was it's location. And, the report to the next camp committee (whoever they were) was NEVER to us the GB HQ again. Guess what happened?! Read on...

2005 (June) One Purpose Camp
The very next camp, the camp committee had to use the GB HQ AGAIN!!! ARGH! And I was in that committee! How ironic! Actually, I was volunteered myself into this committee after going through a huge personal crisis. And, Ber was KOed in Japan. Anyway, in my opinion, form now on, camps should have the spirit of this camp in mind, and that purpose is outreach. This is the call given to all of us; and that should be the focus of our camps from now on.

13 camps in a row. Some of you must be wondering how I remember so much detail! Well, simple, I kept all my campfiles! Including the campfile with oranges on it's front cover! :)

Well, MAD for GOD 2005 will be the first camp I will be missing in a long time, but it's a break I need. To seek God and ask Him for answers to the past 2 months. And if the answers don't come, for direction in the next 6 months.

This post is post-dated, so it will stay on top while I am away at AnnTiC and my blog will be unupdated till I return. Original posting time: 4 December 2005, 11:36pm.

Here's are the add ons, 9 June 2008. 

2006 (Dec) Absolute Truth Camp

This was a camp held after the renovations to church were completed. This was the biggest camp to date with close to 90 participants. This was also the first time there was a dedicated worship team for the camp. The last time something like that was tried was at Changed for Real 2002, but it didn't turn out very well. This time it worked very well! The highlight of this camp was the Omega activity, something which was years in the making. 

2007 (June) Ignition

This camp had no name for long time. The name was based on the Ignite conference. Other tentative names included "explosion" or words to that effect. This was the camp where I was given a task, "make facedown worship happen". Yup, I had no idea how to go about doing that, but somehow, it happened, not by my might, but by the Spirit of God. I posted about Ignition a year ago, it was a start of a new life for me, in AHS. It was a good 6 months, since then things have gone downhill. But I digress. Back to Ignition, this was a camp where the comparisons to ATC where a little obvious, same camp com, same style, slightly different outcomes. 

2007 (Dec) MAD for God 2007

Leadership Training camp once again. This time is was far toned down as there were too many participants! Well, hopefully this was a first for many. Learning from the BB, I have come to realise that as the number of participants grow, Leadership Training Camps tend to become more like Management Training camps. Topics covered are vastly different. I feel its time to bring back shock and awe tactics. 

Well, RAW Camp 2008 is going to be very different from the previous 3 camps. A lot tougher, a lot more brainless and a lot youthier. We'll see what happens! 

Prince Caspian!

Just got home from watching the movie! Fantastic! It is worth a second viewing; which I will get during camp. Great thing is that the 3rd movie will be out in 2 years as production is already in progress!

One thing about having to teach Film Appreciation is that you are automatically a lot more heightened to all the subtle things the director does. Quite interestingly, for the first half of the movie the actors all wear the same attire as they did at the end of the previous movie. Hard to get that one unless you watched Lion Witch and the Wardrobe in recent times, which I did. 

The film doesn't quite follow the book as closely as the first one did though, including one whole segment that wasn't in the book at all. Plus, key dialogue was rearranged, which diminished the religious aspect of the film greatly. That's the only thing that I didn't like about it. 

Other than that, the feel of the show was quite close to that of the book, which IS quite dark. The battle scenes were good, but well, resembled Lord of the Rings very much. 

So, the first movie laid a lot of ground for this one. This movie was the big battle scene. The next one would be much more different than this I'm sure. 

That's a lot of books!

The first day of the holidays is over. :(

Spent most of the day packing books in anticipation for a move to the new house. Spent about an hour in school setting up the SMO venue. 

Took out all the books that I read in my teenage to NS years. In primary school, I was reading Robotech books at the rate of a per 2 days, later that year I started on the Lone Wolf gamebooks. Then came some of the D&D in secondary school; dark days indeed. Then all the Star Wars stuff in JC. That's a lot of books! Going to sell some of them on ebay. I cannot keep all that!

Time to let it go

Tonight is the Varsity Christian Fellowship AGM. However, I won't be going down. It's been two years since I've graduated from NUS and it really seems like yesterday. Two years ago I was in Boston on pretty much a graduation trip, now I waiting for my marking load to arrive in a little over 12 hours. 

The VCF days were well spent ones, ones where I had to let go of church committments to gain a greater understanding of ministry and service. It served me well. There are many things I will look back with fondness of my VCF days, but it is time to say goodbye to those days. So, my absence from the AGM is a way of telling me to say goodbye to that past. A past that does have some very painful memories. One that I wish to forget, yet I know I never will. 

The NIE trainees are back at NIE. It was a year ago when I was in their shoes. All eager and enthusiastic to start work in a new school. But a year on and things have changed. The whole complexion of the ministry has changed. To be a point of difference, that was my post a year ago, but now, trying to be different is a bed of nails. Yet I know I must love to break a world indifferent. 

So once again, I had to let go of church committments to take on greater ones. The whole purpose is to be more effective in my new ministry, yet I am not effective. Neither in church or school. So what's the purpose of all this? It's time for another long walk I guess. Decided to take a long cycle along East Coast Park just now, the scene of my long walk almost 4 years ago. But I know the Lord will be silent for another 6 months at least. Where do I go from here? Nowhere. I will stay. 

It is very different to sing "Declare His glory" as a student and again as a working adult. It makes a lot more sense now. 

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.  - Habbakuk 2:14

home alone... again!!!

My brother has returned to the states for graduation. My parents have followed him there. So I am home alone. Again. This time I have not one but two houses to take care of. Can never get use to staying at home alone. The last time I was at home alone, I woke up late one morning and ended rushing to school. 

Been a short week for me. Not due to happy circumstances unfortunately. Life moves on, though in a different way for many. Though we are sad, we are joyful. Though we mourn, we do not grief. 

I miss...

I miss studying. 

Just sitting down and recalling my secondary one life is quite something. I remember waking up at 9am on most days as I was in the afternoon session. Would spend the morning doing homework, there wasn't much then, before leaving for school at about 11am.I remember that was the year I started listening to radio and would spend my nights listening to the dedication programmes on 98.7FM. That was quite something. I miss those songs from the mid 90s. Sometimes, hearing them on the radio brings back nice memories, partly the reason for this post. 

I miss the 6 day work week, when Saturday was the ECA day. Would spend Friday night polishing my boots; it was a ritual which I really enjoyed. We would willingly spend the whole of Saturday, from 6.30am to 3pm devoted to our ECAs. Like what someone said to me, no one really remembers what they studied, but they will remember their CCAs. True. Real value added-ness has to transcend pure academics. 

I miss my University days. When I had 18 week of study followed by another 18 weeks of holiday. Had so much time to recharge and do the things I wanted back then. 4 years passed so quickly. 

But in recent times, I really miss my practicum days even though it was only a year ago. I am glad I treasured those days, and it is nice to know that there are still some of them who read this blog. What would I give to have those days back? 

I guess time will tell. 

老了

You feel old when you go for a Planetshakers concert and you look around and you see your students. Felt that way at the Expo on Thursday. I'm getting a little too old for these kinds of concerts already. But you know, we will be doing this for eternity. 

As I was standing there, I was thinking to myself, the last time I was at a Planetshakers concert was in 2005, at SonicFest at Fort Canning. Nice date, but something I rather forget after 3 years. Prior to that, it was at Synerg!z that very same year. 

That one, I shouldn't try to forget and this post captures what happened then pretty well. It's really strange how times have changed so much. 

Lately, been feeling quite the same way as those days. Feeling that same sense of being drained and running on empty. But yet, reason is completely different. Back then, I had all the time in the world to ride things out, but this time, I don't. I guess the system is just that brutal.

April's Fools

It's almost the end of March. MADNESS!!!!! It still feels like school started yesterday! Tomorrow is the first of April. It is an old friend's birthday, lost contact with her many years ago though. We've actually got quite a scadalous history, but nevermind!

Tomorrow marks the start of the secnd quarter and am sure that my students will try play some tricks on me. I don't remember trying to play tricks on teachers when I was a student, we attempted, but failed spectacularly!

It was in Primary 6, my class had decided to play a prank on our Form Teacher; I cannot remember the exact nature of the prank though.

But as it happened, she walked into class with a really serious look on her face with a large stack of science worksheets. Then she proceeded to hand out the worksheets one by one, it was the prelim paper of some other school. After we received the whole stack, she made us seperate our desks and annouced that we had 1h 45mins to complete the whole paper!

It was a surprise test that would eat into our recess. Seeing how serious she was, we didn't protest and simply started our work.

Ten minutes into the "test" she stopped the test and annouced, "April Fools!". RIGHT! Our plan had backfired!

That was 15 years ago. It would be really nice to meet her again. But like I posted on a Teacher's Day post a few years ago, if I don't see her within this lifetime again, I know I will see her again beside the crystal sea.

Bizarre Bazaar

Hard to imagine that it has been 3 years to the day of the Falling Spinning Musical. Hard to imagine that all those songs all talked about graduation and questions about life. Back then I was pondering so hard on the choices I had upon graduation, whether to go to NIE or continue with honours or to do something else. Now here I am having graduated and teaching. 

Even those who were year 1s back during the musical would have graduated or would be in their final year now. Some of the participants are even married already. Indeed, seasons of love. 

The band. We still play at friends' weddings today. The best band I've ever had the privilege to work with. 

Those few months in 2005 were really trying ones for me; not unlike this year at all. Listening to all my friends' advice has been really useful the last few weeks. Even though I've got many months to go, plans have to be made. 

Surely there must be something more. Surely there must be something greater. 

Blessed Easter. 

Strange Equation

Time + Tragedy = Comedy

Something my brother told me a while back. How true. Chatted with an old friend today. Strange that I should even says she's an "old" friend since it only seems like yesterday that I met her. But it was almost 6 years ago in NUS, when we were both introduced to the Varsity Christian Fellowship Music Ministry. There was a lot of drama along the way, a lot of emotional pain but time indeed heals all wounds and makes all things new. It's strange how our conversations have changed from God, to music, to philosophy, to love, to educational psychology and now to teaching. I still remember the long lifts to and fro from school, that was 4 years ago! I still remember the pain when it became clear that she wasn't the one. I remember the redemption a year after that when she comforted me in my own pain at the NIE canteen. Today it was all laughs when we chatted over school. This time not as students but as teachers. It was really encouraging what she had to tell me from a dear sister once again. 

Its also strange how your prejudices against a person can change over time. I really hate entertaining thoughts of moving on, but sometimes, you just cannot work against your convictions and have to look fresher grazing grounds. Well, I still have a good 15 months at the least to pray about it. It's true, it is the students that keep you from moving on. 

Tomorrow is going to be the start of the second term. Things have to go into high gear. I can still remember practicum last year, the pressure was there, but the pressure was different. Will wake up to try reach school early tomorrow. The holidays have not really been much rest to me and I am actually more tired from mental stress than physical exhaustion. 

This is a powerful verse that adorns the school hall and though I read it nearly everyday, it really did not strike me as strong as it did at Fusion. 

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:28-31

I need to remember that as Term 2 begins. 

Cornerstone #7

Forget The Girl (AGAIN!!!!)

Here's a video of my brother's band. It's an acoustic version of one of their songs. And yes... that is really them! 

FORGET THE GIRL!

Not to worry, I wasn't jilted or anything, neither is this some emo post... it's a post about my brother's band! He needs ALL your help, they are currently based in the USA and they would really like to tour Asia. 

All you have to do is to visit their website:

Forget the Girl

OR you can click this link to DOWNLOAD all their CD, mp3, liner notes and all. ABSOLUTELY FREE AND LEGAL! In fact they want you to download it, rip it, burn more CDs and give away to others. 

FREE MUSIC

If the link above isn't working copy and past this one:

http://www.forgetthegirl.com/share/ftgmp3.zip

If any of you want the actual CD, I still have a few left, you can look for me! :D

*post dated so that it will stay on top*

The circle is now complete!

Went to popular at Bras Basar to buy some more stuff to decorate my classroom. After reading Wenya's blog, I really miss the homeroom system; it is unfortunately a system not very suited for secondary school. Perhaps a hybrid might be a good idea. 

Anyway, they were having a massive book sale at Bras Basar! Nearly all the 2nd book shops had displays in the concourse. I set about looking for 3 books, 3 books that I've been looking for for more than a decade. And I found them!

The full original Robotech collection! The book that I bought is book #12, the Symphony of Light. It's the best condition of all the books there! I initially bought the novels in Primary 6 and the last book "End of the cricle" in NS; I finally have the whole collection!

There is a Robotech renaissance going on with the new Shadow Chronicles being finally put into film. However, sadly, the books have been reduced to secondary continuity. I am going to buy the who DVD collection from ADV films one day. 

The DarkSun Prism Pentad. I've been looking for this collection for about a decade now. I finally found the first 3 books during a similar fair in NUS towards the end of my University life, today I found the last 2. 

9862 Days

That's 27 years of which 7 are leap years. Of course, regular readers to my blog will know that that format of a post signifies my birthday. So yes, I'm 27 today, the 8th of March. 

Unlike last year, where I posted that I feel quite youthful, I have to say that I've aged a lot in the past year. As you grow older, you see things from a different perspective and even as much as you want to do things in a certain way, you know that that would not be the best way. 

So what will happen this coming year? I don't know. It's been a very heart wrenching one so far, when you see people hurt themselves and you cannot really do much about it. So on this day, I will light some candles as much as I can. 

Carry your candle, Run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, confused and torn

Hold out your candle, For all to see

Take your candle

Go light your world

Classique!

They don't make chinese dramas like these anymore!







Listening those songs made my hair stand man! I think I should subcribe to Mobtv to view these old dramas again. I used to be able to play the last two songs on the recorder actually.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS! No internet, no handphones, no pagers, no MSN just simple fun!

From my archives" Are you old enough

It's all part of a grander plan

The Rascal Flatts has been ringing in my head for the past few days. It's V-day today. 14 Feb 2008, made some plans a few years ago to do something this day. But like I wrote in a previous post, some plans are better left unlaid. Almost forgot about it, till a few days when I was reading through my archives.

Came across this post while reading my archives. They say a broken heart sings the sweetest song. Well, that was a really long time ago, reading that made my hair stand a little. But I had to read the rest of it, that post only captured about one-half of the full poem, there are 13 more verses, but the rest will never be published. I really wonder where I got the inspiration to write like that.

I wish that somethings could be different. But it takes a good and young friend to tell me that she's celebrating singlehood today to remind me that there are other things in this world to work for. Like school. It's been really tough the last few days. I'm really touched by what some of the students fed-back to those in "high places", but I'm a "little" appalled at the response. I sometimes wonder how "grand" the plan can be.

Saw something interesting today. I am supposed to be teaching 5 classes this year. But when I checked one of the online data management systems, discovered 2 other classes under my name. In other words, I'm actually supposed to have 7 classes! More work! Project work I believe, which only starts next term. Looking at the classlists of those 2 classes, well, brought a smile to my face. I honestly don't mind adding 4 more periods to my timetable. Though it is already quite heavy!

Cornerstone update #6

Almost done!

Nice break.

CNY was a nice long 4 day break this year. Still can't beat the year when Chinese New Year and Hari Raya coincided, it was a very long holiday then! Too bad I was in NS. 

Those 4 days are probably more break I will get than the March holidays and the next break will be the June holidays. The year seems to be flying by too fast. 

How time flies

Time flies... it just goes right by and before you know it another year has passed. Getting considerably less and less angpows this year and getting more and more aunts asking me "the question". 

Well, was just thinking back at my old secondary school days just the other day. I keep wondering why students nowadays are so busy and why school ends so late. I don't remember having 2 recesses in a day or having to stay back late for CCA. 

School used to be double session, when I was in lower secondary at least. So no possibilities of early or late classes. School had to start at 12.30pm sharp and end at 6pm. 

School used to be on a 6-day timetable. So CCA was always on Saturday, we never stayed back on weekdays and we enjoyed coming back to school on Saturdays. In fact, we would gladly stay from 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays just for CCA. 

Things changed in Secondary 3 when TK went single session. But school still ended relatively early, 2pm latest. I realise that we did not have a subject called Social Studies, so that knocks off a few periods off the timetable. 

Well, things have certainly changed. I wonder how all this helps students of this era, but I would certainly be tired by the above. 

Cornerstone update #5

Been a while, but just received the latest pictures from Peter! :D

Here are some shots of the neck!

Really intense!

Had my first good night's sleeps since the start of the year last night. Been up till late every night since the start of the school year. Prayer works wonders. 

Well, have harsh decisions to make in the next few months. As it is, I've already clocked up a lot of "extra-curricular activities". 

It's been terribly exciting so far.  I really wonder what else can be thrown my way this year. 

Baptism of fire

Well, that's what I was thinking this afternoon. Not by chance that another teacher said exactly the same thing to me later in the day. Got a big decision to make in the next few days; a tough one that will affect me much in the next few years. 

Hard to imagine a year ago I was preparing for practicum. Harder to imagine it was just one and a half years ago when I started my NIE training and wrote that post about rediscovering the call. Sometimes its good to read old posts, to remind yourself of your purpose in this life. 

"It's a different burden", that's what one of the Senior Teachers at TMS told those first few days. He was referring to producing all the As. But yes, reading that old post was a good reminder that it is a different burden. 

The point of difference. That was my post just as I left practicum. I wrote, "I will be praying that I will remember why I do this and that I will never lose that call to be the difference". Yeah, that's what I need to be praying about. 

I've only ever been for one AnnTIC. That was a traumatic event for me. It was the wilderness experience. I wrote that in my practicum journal, coming out from the wilderness and (literally) to the mountain top. Reading that was a good reminder as well. 

It's been a baptism of fire the past few days. There is an instinctive need in me to be different, yet there is a need to balance and temper that with tough love. Its a struggle (on both sides of the classroom) that I wish for no one. 

So Lord, open my eyes that I may see the work of Your hands. 

Strange...

It's strange how you appreciate something only when it is gone. Like how my former Form Class has suddenly changed their nicks to be so similar on MSN.

1st day...

Been warned by the more experienced teachers that your voice really needs to warm up. True enough, had a tough time projecting my voice today; totally not warmed up. Now I know why they tell me that you'd get a sore throat every time a new semester starts. 

Just came back from TRACkers opening service. Felt really refreshed myself after that. I think I must somehow try wake up at 4.30am and go cycling again. 

2008 - here it begins

Wanted to update this yesterday before 2007 ended, but internet was just jammed up so badly I couldn't even view my blog. Anyway, you would have noticed that my previous USA posts have been erased. Reason being that my Flickr was getting a little disorganised, so I did a Marvin thing and erased all the pictures and re-uploaded them. Took a solid 7 hours. By which time it was 10pm.

So, here is a combined long post to start the new year. With pictures in chronological order.

Me and my mom at LA International Airport. This was after a (in the words of my brother) 15-hour ass-breaking flight. After the 15 hours, we still had a six hour transit at the airport (yes, we sat at that spot for about 4 hours) and after that another 4.5 hours flight to the other side of USA.


My brother's new sax. Cost as much as my Taylor. He is somehow oblivious to the cold.


My brother's dog shaped cushion. The shot below is how big it actually is, relative to me. It was heavy!!!!!




There is even a table tennis table in his apartment?!?!


Outside my brother's apartment. Nice place.


That amount of food there was for 3 people. 4 of us could not finish it.


At the Science museum; something like the Science centre. That's me in front of a mobius strip; topology was the subject of my Honours Thesis.


At one of the Christmas tress at Quincy market on Sunday. We went there for dinner before heading to church.


Good chinese food to get your bowels moving again after all the junk stuff.


It snowed after dinner. This was the next morning (of our 4th day in US), the car was covered in snow, had to brush it off first. We were on the way to the airport for a trip back to LA on the other side of the States. This one was a 6 hour horror of a flight.


Later that same morning in Hollywood. This is in front of the famous Chinese Theatre. As you can tell, the weather is a lot better.


The next day at the Taylor factory gift shop. =D Spent quite a bit here.


The Taylor secret stash of wood. Some of the colouring of the wood here was out of this world! But I guess most of the really great stuff would now be at R Taylor now.


My brother with a new Taylor solidbody blank. I wonder who it's eventual owner might be!


Rows of guitars! The factory has become like a Mecca for guitar freaks around the world. Sure was good to be there.


After the tour, we headed down to Buffalo Brothers. Taylor's biggest dealer stateside and probably in the world.


This was the next day in Las Vegas! That's New York, New York; a hotel. Everything in Vegas is just BIG!


We stayed in the Venetian. That's the toilet. Its as big as my room.


At the Grand Canal. It's really very small, unlike what all the TV documentaries show.


The MASSIVE Fountains of Bellagio.


The Sphinx at the Luxore.


In Disneyland!






Six Flags at Magic Mountain. This place is crazy!


The Dejavu. You see the two towers in the background, they basically raise the carraige up one tower and drop you and you ride through the whole course facing foward till you get to the 2nd tower. There, they raise you up backwards and drop you back through the same course but in reverse order. Confused? You'd feel that way after riding it.


The big treat at the end of the trip was this. I visited the Luthier who is building my new guitar, and I got to see it in person. AMAZING! More than that, tried one of the guitars he made. The sound was out of this world!!!!


Well, that was my USA sojourn.

A new year begins; let's see what happens in 2008!