do rui me arts n crafts

Happy Nui Year!

2009-01-25T01:39:00.006+08:00

Happy 'Niu' Year!Oh! This is my Niu year! The year of the Ox!
Wow! Last year was a year that I had several milestones with Jesus.

- attending DCLTP, Audition for support singing in April, Uni-camp in May, being part of ACTScalibre programming team in June, taking care of 1 more sheep in July, 1st on stage singing during August, Short term mission trip to Sarawak-Hope Kota Samarahan in September, raising up as CL in October, received physical healing in November, follow up-ping new believers in December.

I thank God for what has happened in 2008, in growing me in discipleship (leading follow-up, shepherding), in my service to God (using my voice as instrument to bring songs to God, taking care of God's flock), in challenging me to go out of my comfort zone (STM), and in a great leap of faith (experiencing physical healing of my terrible backache).

This year 2009 will be challenging for me, with uncertainties after my graduation this year. However, I think God will be revealing to me more of what He has for me in the working world.

* Just went for an interview last tuesday - for a teaching position in MOE. I will be receiving the outcome after CNY whether I am accepted. So do keep me in your prayers.

Meanwhile, I pray that you will enjoy the time with your family this festive season! And enjoy collecting hongbaosssss... Huat ah!

M.A.D on 12 Oct 2008

2008-10-12T21:58:00.007+08:00

Members Appreciation Day

- a time where this family of brothers and sisters coming together to give thanks to God for bringing us through the ups and downs thru out these past 1 yr, a time of appreciating one another in serving God together to see His will be done on earth.

Slide 1

ACTScalibre – Programming Team
Slide 1

Slide 1

“Wo(3) Ting(2) Ni(3)”

– That’s the commitment we have for one another in the team.

“I really enjoyed working together over the 2 months of meeting up, in FUNAN foodcourt, over long hrs of MSN!, & NTU Canteen 4! Thank you Swee Leong for leading us thru the planning, recce, executing.

I wanna thank the rest of the you for being part of this big project of drawing people nearer to God! I think thru the programmes, many of the freshmen found great friendship with the seniors. This is really wonderful!”

More photos!

Bowen, Jan (our shepherd), and me

Slide 3

(To my shepherd, Jan : "Thanks for guiding me in my walk with God. Thanks for meeting me up despite your busy work schedule. Really appreciate the times we meet up in the evening, feeding on the spiritual “grass” that you know I would need. Thank you for seeing me thru these 2 years, ups and downs, correcting, teaching, impacting, strengthening of my convictions and values. I know it’s not easy. Thank You! ”)

Me with my sheep - Ian

(a brother who is growing much in obedience in Christ and serving God more with his spiritual giftings. Bro, continue to walk close with God and seek Him in your ups and downs, in all circumstances. When you are faithful in the little things entrusted to you by God, more will be entrusted to you. Discover the glorious inheritances tt God has prepared for you!)

- Random Photos -

2008-09-30T22:59:00.000+08:00

My reflections on Short Term Mission - Hope Kota Samarahan

I started this STM with a determined heart to see myself experience God. The rocky preparation phase did not stop me, but rather, makes me even determined to make this trip a worthwhile, cos its really not easy until the point we stepped onto the plane.

I learnt that relationship building is very important aspect of a mission trip. People really need to gain trust from one another, be comfortable to talk to one another, taking care of one another throughout the trip. So since we didn't really have time to interact much before the trip, i told myself to open up as much as possible to the rest, starting talking more to the few of us on the plane. Also on the lookout for people, reminding everyone about keep watch over belongings and boarding pass and such. Drink water also... We need to take care of the health of one another, so that our strength can be maximised.

Coming together as a huddle is important. We share what we observed, what we think is lacking, what is the something we can do to address the needs to the people there.

I also learnt that i should be always ready to share our testimonies - to challenge, to encourage, to engage. Need to constantly watch out for golden opportunities to share, be it to non-believers or bros and siss.

Actually thought that we had really good training in our UNI ministry here, equipped with the knowledge to share apologetics, auto-fill-in-the-blank instinct, ready to serve. Be opportunistic and pro-active, in striking conversations.

Heart is more important that words. I always think that i can't speak very charismatically in group setting, poor vocab of bombastic words in prayer. Have been thinking that it is a limitation. When i went there, i was moved by the fire that the leaders there have, the clear vision and trust, assurance that God will provide, very sure of where God is leading and doing in the ministry. I want to have this power in my ministry, i want to be effective in my sharing and prayer, i want God to give me more of His heartbeart, this heartbeat that beats like a drum, able to impact, to move the hearts of many.

This trip has broaden my view, seeing what God is doing in other lands, thru many people that i dun know. Seeing the same WOG been preached in different areas, song sung in a different language, But i know that is it the same God we are serving, praising, and worshipping. A row of familiar words greeted me at Hope - KS, "To fufill the Great Commission in our life time..." We are all workers for the same BOSS man!

Now as i read the epistles in the bible, i feel a glimpse of what Paul is feeling when he writes to the churches he visited, encouraging the believers in the church... and being encouraged to see the church growing in strength.

We might not sail the sea or ride on donkeys to a foreign land, now we go by planes. We might not be writing letters by mail, but we can continue to keep in contact with our churches outside thru MSN, blogs, Facebook... Isn't that wonderful?

@ Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNI-MAS)

@ Ocean Resort, Lundu, Sarawak
(with new friends -Chia Yen, Yan Jye, Julian)

- Food Special -

3-layer Teh Si Peng

Kuching Laksa
(this is really yummy and taste different from what we have in Singapore)

Kolo Mee
(It taste just as good by eating the mee alone!)

- More photos -

Dim Sum lunch buffet

2008-09-23T22:28:00.001+08:00

Dim Sum Lunch Buffet

a bunch of GREAT EATERS!

We had a dim sum lunch buffet together at Mirama Hotel.

We sat at 2 tables, guys and girls.

Guess what? Without any disappointment, the brothers side (7) had a total order of 52 baskets of dim sum.

Hmm.... while knowing that we are great eaters, we might want to consider more exercise as well?

Hillsong - Desert Song

2008-08-05T00:56:00.003+08:00

Hillsong - Desert Song

VERSE 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

VERSE 2:
This is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flame

CHORUS:
And I will bring praise, I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice, I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

VERSE 3:
This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

BRIDGE:
All of my life, In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

VERSE 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

Remarks:
I really enjoyed this song, thanks calyn for intro-ing this song to me. Hope this song will bring you to God's presence.

Why did Jesus had to died?

2008-07-31T01:16:00.003+08:00

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
- 1 Peter 3:18

Why?- Nicole Nordeman

We rode into town the other day, just me and my Daddy.
He said I’d finally reached that age,
and I could ride next to him on a horse
that of course was not quite as wide
We heard a crowd of people shouting
and so we stopped to find out why
There was that man that my dad said he loved,
but today there was fear in his eyes

So I said Daddy why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is he dressed in that bright purple robe?
I bet that crown hurts him more than he shows
Daddy please
can’t you do something?
He looks as though he’s gonna cry
You said he is stronger than all of
those guys-Daddy please tell me why,
why does everyone want him to die?

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
and daddy said I should go inside
Some how he knew things would get stormy,
boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
if there was something he had to hide
So after he left I had to find out,
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds to a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from a cross:

And it said : Father why are they screaming.
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for my robes??
This crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows.
Father please can’t you do something?
I know that you must hear my cry.
I thought I could handle a cross of this size,
Father remind me why,
why does everyone want me to die.
When will I understand
why?

My precious Son, I hear them screaming.
I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming
but soon I will clothe you in robes of my own.
Jesus this hurts me much more than you know,
but this dark hour I must do nothing.
Though I’ve heard your unbearable cry —
the power in your blood destroys all the lies,
soon you’ll see past their unmerciful eyes.
Look there below see the child trembling by her father’s side.
Now I can tell you why,
she is why
you must die.

Spiritual Habit of Worship

2008-07-28T13:04:00.002+08:00

Spiritual Habit of Worship

As I read thru the teaching and preparing for this topic, I was reminded of this simple truth - that worship is about the heart attitude.
During caregroup last week, we discussed and shared on the topic of worship.

As i have said before, although the teaching on worship seems "back to basics", there are still insights to be learnt as we re-visit the truth.

What is not worship?

-Slow music
- Happens once a week
- Raising of hands and kneeling down
- Must be singing songs

What is worship?
- Glorifying and Edifying God
- A lifestyle
- WORTH-SHIP: Telling God the worth he holds in our lives

Why worship?
- Worship simply comes out of a relationship with Jesus
- Worship causes us to be more like God

How is your relationship with God recently? Do you have the habit of worship?

How to worship?
( John 4:20-24)

- In spirit (allow our emotions to come alive)
-In truth (in response to the biblical truths in the Scriptures)

In the passage, Jesus was telling the Samaritan woman at the well that worship is not about the location, but IT'S ABOUT THE ATTITUDE.

God is not trapped on the altar or locked in the temple.

Our body is the temple of God, in which the Holy Spirit given by God takes its dwellling. (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I have found a video clip about worship!

Remember, Worship is not what we can gain from God, it's about coming to the cross daily, to cry, to surrender, to laugh, to be humbled, to confess, TO GIVE OUR LIVES BACK TO GOD!

Spiritual Habits: Word of God, Prayer, Worship
These are the habits we have covered so far during caregroup recently. We really put action points to follow thru our understanding.

M&M this week . . .
~ Memorise & Meditate ~

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
(John 4:24)

My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
(Psalm 108:1)

Both a musician and instrument

2008-07-21T15:38:00.004+08:00

Both a musician and instrument

Wow! It's been quite a experience for me recently, having the chance to be part of the praise and worship team for the tertiary service.

Still remember my shepherd asked me to consider to serve the Body of Christ, to join a ministry at the church level. For quite a while, I wasn't sure what i am looking out for, every ministry seems like harmless, either to learn a new skill or maximising my current talents to serve in the kingdom of God.

1 thing i am sure is that the passion for the ministry i am going to join, must be something burning, something that is for-God, not self-glorifying but to bring glory to God.

These period of training as a support singer on stage was fun! Managed to be involved in trying out as a support singer during the UNI camp on St. John Island. Still remember Timothy told me that all of us are ministers of God, and that i should not see myself just as a back-up singer. He says we are ALL ministering to the people and leading the bros and siss to see God in the songs.

Similar to this, I was even more excited for singing during the service last saturday.

What are the moments i enjoy?

- I like the music practice we had on thursday, i enjoy the dinner time tog before that too! although i don't know many of the musicians then, I really appreciate Jason(Nehemiah) who initiated to talk to me and express his joy to talk to me more since we would get to serve tog more in the future. Makes me feel comfortable.

- I like to try out harmonising the songs at certain parts, and i enjoy the "weng~weng~" sensation when the notes hit at the right frequency. (hmmm hard to describe here, need to listen one...) I really want to see the songs touch people's heart, seeing myself as the "enhancer" of this spiritual atmosphere.

- I am glad to function as a part in this Body of Christ. Haha! impressed by the talents in the different musicians on stage, but also reminded by the passage about everyone is a part of the Body. One Body many parts.

After the evaluation, Joanne shared to us singers about her passion and burden for this ministry, which I caught as she share to us. Yes! This ministry will be one where all the singers will be part in bringing up the spiritual atmosphere in the church, where both believers and non-believers feel God's presence through the songs.

Perhaps we have so many things to share about God's love in words, in speech.
But a song of God's love is enough to soften and touch many hearts.

I want to be part of this vision for God.

In the first place, do we even have the right to sell our organs?

2008-07-16T17:04:00.007+08:00

In the first place, do we even have the right to sell our organs?

photo from: network.nationalpost.com

Recently i have been quite interested in the debate on whether to legalise the trading of organs.
And after following the news for the past few days, I was quite disappointed with the response of our Health Minister pertaining to this issue.

Here is part of the article and my inner response to some of the points:

Let's not rule out organ trading yet, says Khaw

The Straits Times - 15 July 2008

SINGAPORE is not ruling out legalising organ trading.

The surprise comment from Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday is bound to re-ignite the fiery debate on the benefits and dangers of allowing the buying and selling of human kidneys, lungs and other organs.

The Government has stood firm so far on enforcing the present laws, which prohibit organ trade.

Recently, five people were taken to court in the country's first kidneys-for-sale deals.

But yesterday Mr Khaw said that organ shortages and a black market in the region made legalising trading an option.

(Is it? Should we compromise our values to go along with the waves/or so call FORCE? Should we keep shifting the position of the goal post, changing the dimensions? This is chaotic man! This is not a matter of multiplication, where -ve x -ve = +ve. If we allow trading of organs in Singapore, we are adding up negatives with negatives, where -ve + -ve = even more negatives! Selfish minds and Bad policies give us a society that we can't live in.)

'I think we should not write off or reject the idea of selling organs. But I think we need to study it carefully,' he said.

There are no immediate plans to change the law, as there are practical reasons why overturning the ban could backfire - like shrinking the current donor pool, he added.

He said yesterday: 'I remain of the view that organ trading is not the way to go, but we should not reject any idea given the reality.'

(OH man! we shouldn't even think about it)

Meanwhile, the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) has come out steadfastly against legalising the organ trade, following an emergency meeting on Saturday.

Its spokesman, Dr Tan Sze Wee, said organ sellers face an array of short- and long-term medical risks. The sellers, almost always desperately poor, could also be abused and exploited.

Mr Khaw said the best approach is still one of prevention, such as better control of diseases like diabetes.

(Of cos right? Who don't agree? Common sense mah...)

Singapore should promote altruistic donations through the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota).

Mr Khaw added that he hoped to find a solution that protects the interests of the donor and the patient.

'How? I don't know. But if we do not force ourselves to think out of the box, then we will never be able to find a better solution,' he said.

(And what makes us think that we will be able to find a better solution if we force ourselves to think out of the box. Yes, I know, thinking out of the box mah!, we keep hearing it in schools also. However, I believe this issue can be discussed, and MUST be discussed and solved within the 'Morality Box'. Many times, we still need to confine things into a box, or else things will be in a mess! OMG!)

- My thoughts -

Legalising organ trading would mean . . .

Every piece of human body, whether alive or died, becomes a money machine - cheapening the value of human lives.

A leh-long of organs in the 'market place', whoever can match up with the price gets it. The POOR poor patients can only wait til the day of their death. - Sigh . . .

Blood banks need to buy blood from people (at market rates) to deal with demands for blood transfusion during surgeries (accidents, operations, giving birth.). There might be a strike by this greedy generation, trying to create a uproar for blood price hike. - Terrible! You just need blood (that is supposed to be free) to save lives yet some people are demanding for a blood price hike to offset the rise in fuel and oil. OMG!

Having the possibility of you feeling pain when a knife is stabbed into your body while you are walking on the road . . . and you find yourself with only 1 or none of your kidneys left when you wake up... - Pain + Shocked!

Having the possibility that young children are kidnapped by criminals to obtain their kidneys. - Oh no!

Having the possibility that all your family members are left with 1 kidney, and unable to donate their kidney (which is more compatible to yours to obtain higher success rate) to you when you need a transplant. - Desperate!

With only 1 kidney in your body, your kidney will be overworked, and you are more susceptible to diabetics and high blood pressure.
.
.
sorry if it sounded offensive to you. Not my intention. Really. But definitely something that is very possible to happen if we legalise 'Organ trading'
.
I can continue to paint this picture, but it seems too ugly and unsightly and unbearable, EVEN before the full picture is reviewed.

Why tear apart this box and will allow the 'rats and cockroaches' to run wild in this house?

Even movies and drama serials mentioned that a child is a gift from God. Wonderfully conceived at the moment the sperm fused with the egg and continue to form and take shape in the mother's womb.

Since it is a GIFT, what makes us think that we have the right to profit from something that is given to us without a price.

How ungrateful would that be?

Ian's Water Baptism on 13 July 2008

2008-07-16T16:36:00.005+08:00

Ian's Water Baptism on 13 July 2008

Understanding of Water Baptism:
1) Baptism is an act that shows our obedience
2) Baptism is an act that shows our repentance
3) Baptism is an act that shows our readiness to serve

I am very encouraged to see how my sheep, Ian, is growing much in his understanding of God.
And this time round he decided to obey God in this area, to go for water baptism. And i have drawn 2 pictures for him, to remind him to live his life with salt and light. And with his baptism name - NOAH, he will lead a life of obedience to God. Although it might seem crazy for Noah to build a giant ark on top of the mountain, Noah continue to trust in God and followed what God has revealed to him. And God's timing is still the best. God's plan prevails!

I believe God will continue to grow the heart of this brother, and entrust to him more gifts to serve Him. And at the same time, I will definitely want to learn from my shepherd, Jan, and allow him to come into my life to correct my wrong motives and ungodly thoughts. How beautiful is such a brotherly relationship in guiding and spurring one another towards the character of God.

Song of Songz

2008-07-03T15:27:00.003+08:00

www.songofsongz.blogspot.com

Sorry for not updating my blog regularly. It's really an effort to keep it alive! Hee!

I want to intro to you a blog that contains new songs written about God, to God.
Although the song quality might not be the best, but it displays a humble collection of songs composed and written by my sister-in-Christ.

We pray that everyone who visits the blog will be blessed by the songs and that you will be ministered by them, capturing God's vision and His heartbeat for the world and for you.

Teh Peng's 9D-8N stay in my house

2008-06-22T13:20:00.005+08:00

Teh Peng's 9D-8N stay in my house

For 9 days i was put to take care of this cute little kitten. Since the day he came into my care, my life was changed.

Hee! It's not easy to take care of him. One would need patience to feed him 1hr/meal, 3 meals a day. When he keeps mieow-ing, i would need to attend to him. When he don't eat, i worry. When he don't poo and pee, i worry. When he keeps sleeping, i worry. When i am out of my house, i worry. When i bring him out in the carrier, on public transport, i worry he will get dizzy.

I miss him after i return him to Singing nanny... He has been very obedient during the few days. I like to tickle him on his belly and pat him to sleep...even i slept while doing that too...haha! When i woke up, i saw him looking at me, seems like he didn't want to disturb my sleep by moving away from my arms.

he is just 8 weeks old.... stomach still small, so if feed a lot he will vomit, cos stomach cannot take it... well, growing up is a process, we need to be patient on this part... can't expect him to be of the size of the stray cats running around our void deck, right?

Loving an animal is similar to loving the people around us. You don't love the person only when he/she is cute, but to accept the person as a whole, bearing what might seem unpleasant to us, while enjoying the fun and laughter with the person.

Taking care of this small creature has taught me some lessons.

At different stages of lives ...

2008-05-26T21:27:00.003+08:00

At different stages of lives ...

Last week, i met up with these friends and fellow sergeants and brothers in my life.
From left (Jacky, Sam, myself, and Aaron)
Its really been quite some time since we last met up. The last time we met together in this manner was last year when Sam got married. Sam is 2 yrs older than me, and he is my first friend who got married, my first time driving the 'sisters' car and eating bitter gourd, drinking lime juice...

The 4 of us were training to become a sergeant in Paya Lebar Air Base, through Advanced Section Leader Course (ASLC). However, our friendship grew much after we passed out from the course. Although we all serve at different locations in the air base, we grew closer whenever we share about our happenings in our respective roles.

During the Uni Camp'08 on St. John's Island 2 weekends ago, I thanked Aaron for inviting me to Hope Church in March 2005. Looking back, after 3 years, i am totally amazed by how God had used him to bring me to Him. So many things had happened in these 3 years, these changes in my life, character, attitudes towards people, the values i hold, would not have occur, if Aaron did not approach me with courage when he asked me directly whether i want to attend church service. I thank him for the prayers he had made to God for me, that i may be touched by God's love for me. Thank him for teaching me the understanding of this relationship with God, follow-upping with my growth and questions about God. Without that invitation from him in 2005, my life will be different from what i am experiencing now. Probably i will be more self-centered, self-oriented, self-conscious, aimless, ...

Jacky and I were both invited by Aaron to church around the same time in 2005. And now i am glad to hear that he is growing well in the Adults group. I am sure it is very different experience with God for him as a working adult, having to face the pressure of the world, challenges.

At night, we went to vivo city to eat at SuperDog! And after the dinner, Sam brought us to a place he says is "good to bring our future life partner there..." haha! I shall not disclose the location of this "romantic" place, but its really a nice place to go, if one would like to enjoy the breeze and night scenery . . . Sam says: "one will be able to share very openly in such a setting" Currently the area is quite unknown to many yet... The 4 of us sat in the hut beside the coastline boardwalk, and started to recount our training stories 3 years ago, our superiors who trained us that time. After a while we started by talk about our choice for our future life partner. Sam started to share about his life as a married man, responsibilities as a husband, and the joy of having a godly wife...

Actually i have thought through about this issue quite some time ago. Still remember those channel 8 tv drama serial i watched during my early years. The lead actress will say something like : "Ni mei you gei wo an quan gan". Referring to money, qualifications, assets, strength. How much is enough? In this ever-changing world we are living in, what would be unchanged? What does 'security in the relationship' mean today? When i was very young, i gave a certain 'standard' to my dream girl - long hair, does not wear spectacles, gentle... And there was this girl i liked and fit into my criteria, but one fine day she cut off her long hair and wore a pair of spectacles. That was the first time i heard of contact lens. Hmmm... That time i was both confused and sad of what has happened. Now, i have a new 'standard'. Instead of focusing on the looks, i want to look more into the character. Looks can change, face will wrinkle, but the character remains deep inside a person.
Security?
Meanwhile, I will also want to sharpen my values and character as a child of God, preparing/growing myself for whatever is ahead of me. The world is ever-changing, yet our God is an unchanging God. With Him in our lives, we can live by a life that He has intended for us. With God as our standard, the centre of our lives, many things come together.

Who will that 'one' be? I don't know. God knows, He will reveal to me in due time.
But I guess this is the kind of security that i want to assure my future life partner with.

Teh Peng - the little kitten

2008-05-25T15:58:00.007+08:00

Teh Peng - the little kitten

It's a boy ! It's a boy!
Hooray!

Background
Chi-Teh Peng is a kitten found in NUS campus near E3A. It was found abandoned and picked up by my friends. He was no more than 2 weeks old then, and his eyes were still not open yet. During our exam period, many of us, brothers and sisters took care of him, feeding him with pets milk, aiding him in the excretion of liquid waste. He is really our joy. Whenever we are tired from our revisions, we will go and take a look at him, how he curled himself and sleep.

After a while we were able to meet his needs whenever he mieows. Hungry/Attention-seeking/Go toilet.

All the while we have to feed him from a syringe. He will bite and suckle our finger. We will place the syringe around his mouth area and release the warm milk bit by bit....

On 1 May, he celebrates his 2 full weeks since his birth! He opens his eyes completely, amazed by the colours around him, and also the presence of so many milk-daddies and mummies.

Now, Teh Peng can walk steadily and lick himself clean. However, he still drops his head into the spoon-full of milk. He is still finding his way to drink the milk directly from a spoon/plate..

(the last 3 pictures are taken from Yi Shyan's camera :))

UNI Camp'08 : Points to Follow -Thru

2008-05-25T15:14:00.005+08:00

UNI Camp'08 : Points to Follow -Thru

Yeah! I finally found time to sit down to update the blog and add some new photos i have!

Even I've already shared my learning points from the UNI church camp @ St. John's Island, i would like to also post them on the blog. Really want to see how God will lead us thru these points I have reflected upon.

I believe God wants me to . . .

1)Be ready to share about His love to people who want to know more about Him. I would need to grow strong in the understanding of the Word, so that when i speak i do not speak with my voice and might, but by God's authority and His Spirit in work. I want to be clear in my sharing to people, so that they may be able to resolve any inaccurate preconceptions of Christianity.

2)Approach God with boldness instead of timidity, with confidence instead of fear.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
- 2 Tim 1:7 -

I will not be hesistant in doing what God wants me to do, giving Him my very best in growing up his sheep/s, and serving Him with the gifts and talents given to me. I need to grow in courage and trust in Him that no matter how difficult i perceived what is ahead of me, it is God who is going to grow and lead me, and He will definitely help me, because He loves His people.

He accepts me as I was when i received Him into my life. He doesn't want me to remain as i am.

3)Not be envy of the abilities of others, but be faithful with what i already have. I must understand that it is not about whether i am good at everything, but whether i am able to work in a team, like a mini gear in the watch, a part of the body of Christ. I need to pour in my best as a part of this Body.

4)As I am learning to be a praise and worship support singer, i need to learn to lead myself to worship into God's presence to hear from God. Seeing myself as a minister used by God to lead people to draw people to God thru singing and praying to Him. End of the day, it is not whether the music is perfect or voice is wonderful, but whether everyone met God during the time of praise and worship.

Hao ba! That's all from me right now!

Olympics? Shouldn't the 3 circles be on the top row instead? Hmmm... haha

TONG DAO ZHONG REN - Singers Outing

2008-01-04T16:52:00.000+08:00

It was on the 3nd of January 2007 when another of my New Year resolutions came true. 7 of us (Nicholas, Zhen Zhong, Jesse, Carrie, Zhi Chun, Shiru & myself) met up for a long-awaited outing at KBox Cineleisure Level 8.

It's the TONG DAO ZHONG REN - Singers Outing!!!

This is going to be our album cover!

Best of the BEST - TONG DAO ZHONG REN Album 1

Yeah! So happy to see this outing come to pass. It's really rare that we can gather in such a 'BEST-of the-BEST singers' fashion to sing ktv. What's more, we were there from 8pm to 6am. All kinds of genre of songs were picked and sang by us - the 'vocal local artists' from different music companies (CG). Songs ranging from the 20's to the 70's and 70's to 20's....

Zhen Zhong was so serious that he will press the repeat button if you anyhow sing or stop and laugh halfway thru the song. For every song he will close his eyes and 'feel' the song even though he is not the one holding the mic. (My hats off to you bro!)

I really enjoyed last night, feeling secure, able to focus on my part when i sing duet, knowing that my co-singer will harmonize it well. So pro!

Hope we will come together again!

Tong Dao Zhong Ren - Artists Outing

2008-01-03T00:01:00.000+08:00

It was on the 2nd of January 2007 when one of my New Year resolutions came true. The 4 of us (Shuyi, Huiying, Ziwei & myself) met up for a long-awaited outing.

It's the TONG DAO ZHONG REN - Artists Outing!!!

(Praise the LORD! The 4 of us were so so happy when we met each other at city hall MRT before proceeding to find a good spot near the esplanade area - to DRAW & PAINT.)

All the while, this kind of artists outing was always on my mind. I kept thinking of who will be so willing(or crazy) to spend an afternoon to sit down and draw. Haha! It's really fun to jio the TONG DAO ZHONG RENs for such fun(or crazy) activity, where all of us enjoyed the time drawing outdoors.

We found a good spot at Merlion Park and we settled down with our drawing materials and mp3 player + speakers. All of us used different methods for our artwork - Charcoal, pencil, poster colour..... It started to drizzle and the wind helped in blowing those raindrops towards us. Our space got smaller & smaller as the raindrops draw nearer and nearer to us. Having the determination and passion for our interest in arts, we persevered anf continued our work under the umbrella. Sometimes i would need to put my head out to take a look at the scenary i am drawing, and then go back into the umbrella to draw. This was my first time drawing under an umbrella, a first time for everyone else too!

This is me showing off my artwork.

Thanks to these sisters for sharing the same interest with me and the company that afternoon.

This is the scenary that I drew.

Not bad ba! Haha... i any how drew the esplanade, i tell you its really hard man! Can some Master teach me how to overcome these durians?

Countdown to 2008

2008-01-02T21:34:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year!

On the last day of 2007, i spent it with my brothers and sisters at Nicholas house at Hougang. Although we didn't see fireworks that night, we had a whole lot of fun, spending time with one another over PS2 games, food, guitars, photos and games.

Our Dinner - thanks to the top chefs and some rising ones as well.

Looks like the sisters can't wait to eat. (top)

Brothers composed ourselves, keeping our hands away from the food before we give thanks to God for the food. (top)

The advanced version of poison ball was challenging and 'breath-taking'

A toast for the new year!

As I reviewed the past year 2007, I thank God for the experience i had and the people i met along the way. It has been a year where i had my ups and downs with God for quite a bit.

1) My small business - selling my handmade Valentine's Day cards. (UP! My NY resolution to commit 10% of my earning to God = i give all of it although the amount was not alot.) (February 2007)

2) My car accident - Banging onto a taxi along AYE on rainy day. (Down! Doubted God. Angry with God = making sense of my thoughts, understanding God's character and thanking Him for protecting my passengers on board.) (February 2007)

3) Water Baptism - an outward expression of an inward experience. (UP + Down! Struggled to come to this decision while facing some objections = but obeyed God and trust in His plans for me, having a greater conviction for God.) (March 2007)

4) Holiday to Phuket - a treat from my Da Ge. (UP! i didn't spend a single cent, just spending time = a time of retreat with my brother, enjoying the natural elements of God's creation, so beautiful!) (July 2007)

5) Participating in church drama production - acting as an average Joe seeking for an identity as a UNI freshmen. (UP! Gaining back confidence to act on the stage = looking forward to be used my God in this area.) (July 2007)

6) Physical Breakthroughs - running Army Half Marathon 21km and clearing my first IPPT as a NSmen with a SILVER. (UP! Keeping to another of my NY resolutions = keep my physical body in good condition, just regreted that i can't increase my weight significantly = wo 'shou' gou le!) (October 2007)

7) Involved in the planning of Christmas Party. (UP + Down! Struggle with my time spent at home vs time spent in serving God = Stretched and busy = re-visiting the meaning of serving God, finding Joy while serving God, people-oriented rather than task-oriented.)

Hey brothers and sisters in Christ, let's evaluate the year that has just past and take away points that will help us to walk with confidence in this new year. Pen down our thoughts and dreams for God to grow us strong this year.

Start the year right with God!

News Update!

2007-12-28T12:05:00.000+08:00

Straits Times News 1: Snatch thief tracked down through his sweaty shoe

I just read the newspaper today, saying that a snatch thief was arrested after the police traced him by the DNA of the perspiration in the shoe he left behind at the crime scene.

The DNA of perspiration in shoe matched his sample provided a year later when he was convicted of another theft.
LIKE Cinderella, Mohamed Ali Abdul Ghani fled in a hurry, leaving not a glass slipper but a shoe behind.
Unlike Cinderella, there was no fairy-tale ending for the 35-year-old snatch thief, who had grabbed a purse from a 25-year-old woman in August last year.
He had escaped despite being pursued, but did not get away.
The perspiration from the sole of his foot, left in his shoe, was what did him in.
Police who arrived took away the shoe, had the sweat tested and obtained Ali's DNA profile.
Every individual's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is easily obtained from blood, saliva, skin and semen, has a unique fingerprint.
But even then, the police had to wait more than a year before they could find the man.
In the meantime, Ali had been arrested for another theft, convicted and jailed for 10 weeks in July. As a convicted criminal, he had to submit a body sample to be included in a national DNA database that helps the police solve crimes.
His profile matched that obtained from the shoe, and Ali.
He is not the first criminal nabbed here with the help of DNA profiling.
In 2005, a 39-year-old man was jailed for eight years and caned six times after he killed a woman who had provoked him. The police tracked him down from DNA samples on 10 cigarette butts found at the woman's home.

Scientists say it is extremely difficult to erase these telltale bits of generic information. Even washed clothings retain enough semen and blood stains for forensic identification of who it beongs to.
Under the law, anyone who is under arrest, detention or police supervision will have body samples taken for DNA profiling, along with photographs, fingerprints and particulars.

My thoughts after reading this article:

Previously i wrote about my thoughts as a life science undergrad studying the mechanisms of a cell to such a depth and that "Life is so complex, human is so intricately made. Conditions have to be so precise in order for life to exist." I am so in awe of God's creation. However, this time I am more interested in the uniqueness of each and everyone of us. We are all so complex, yet very unique. Everyone of us has our very own set of fingerprints and DNA. It makes me think that all of us will have to account for the things we do. Even the policemen can use these 'fingerprints' to trace who is present at the crime scene, what less can the LORD our God see beyond all these, He who is 24/7 awake?

Everyone is responsible for every action he/she does.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-27T02:01:00.000+08:00

Wow! This is my 3rd Christmas as a Christian, and each year i learnt and experienced this season differently. Still remember my first Christmas as a christian, i was still serving in the army. I spent the Christmas night watching 'Passion of Christ' movie in the bunk with my fellow instructors. Being a new believer then, I didn't know about bringing in spiritual conversation at that time, but i remembered all of us, christians and non-christians were so impacted by the graphics, loss of words.

This year, I was involved in the planning of the Christmas party. There were times when i really felt stretched by the work and alone in my family. In my mind, I was thinking and asking God when will i have a peaceful Christmas, whereby i can walk along the cool streets with my jacket, watching carols, stop by some coffee place and ponder on the things at the back of my mind over coffee. Thank God that I re-visited the meaning of Christmas and the reason for serving. I asked myself what does God wants me to do as a Christian during this festive season. I re-aligned myself to God, and gained greater understanding and joy of serving God and serving people who came for the party on that day. I realised that for a christian, all the more we should grasp this opportunity to share to people boldly, what Christmas is all about. Thank God for the National Council of Churches in Singapore, for bringing together a series of programmes and performance by various church groups - dance, choir, band, acapella... outside Tangs plaza, PS, Paragon... There was one night where Qiao Ping, Ian & myself sat down outside Tangs to watch the performances for 2 hours. I felt so blessed by the groups and the atmosphere of love and peace was really in the air. The hosts even share a bit here and there about God's love and the sacrifice of Jesus so that we can have eternal life, proudly proclaim the glory of God to the huge crowd there.

Through this Christmas, I have learnt more about what it means to serve God, joy thru serving, and what it means to celebrate Christmas as a christian. It is a big lesson i learnt from this season.

The year is coming to an end, perhaps we can take time to record down such experiences (things which we had made sense of) we had in our walk with God this year. Time to stock check our journey, before we step into the brand new year 2008.

Post-Exam Ubin-Changi Beach Outing

2007-12-26T15:51:00.000+08:00

Wow! This sem is really tough man! my yr 2 sem 1 as a life science student. Wooh!
So glad that its over, really thank God for bringing me thru this time.

On 9 December, i went to Ubin with my church brothers and sisters and friends to cycle and visit Chek Jawa. We went there by bumboat $2 one way, and rent a bicycle.

(Wei Qiang, Simin, myself on the bumboat to Ubin)

(the 3 of us & 2 friends we made on the bumboat!)

Although the weather was not perfect (drizzling) when we reached Ubin, but thank God that we still manage to make our way to Chek Jawa.

(birds on the bicycle)

(on the way to Chek Jawa)

Background of Chek Jawa Wetland Reserve

Chek Jawa was a nationally threatened intertidal mud and sand flat ecosystem located on the eastern coast of Pulau Ubin. What makes Chek Jawa so special is not only because of its rich marine biological diversity but also the impressive wide expanse of its mud and sand flat.

In 2001, many environmental groups in Singapore voiced out their concerns on the decision by the Ministry of National Development to reclaim Chek Jawa under the Concept Plan 2001. According to the plan, there will be a road connecting mainland to Ubin and Tekong. However, thank God that the Government decided to push back the plan. Ever since then, this eastern part of Pulau Ubin has been under public's attention.

In 2006 December, due to the heavy rains, Chek Jawa was once closed from the public access. This was because the freshwater rains upset the wetlands' saltwater balance, resulting in the widespread death of marine creatures such as sea anemones, seastars and sponges. During this period, the wetland was allowed to recover from the damage.

In 2007, the Singapore Government has also added a 1.1km boardwalk, a 20m tall viewing tower and a visitor centre with a viewing jetty. The new boardwalk running along the coast and into the mangrove area allows visitors to get up close to plant and marine life such as fiddler crabs and mudskippers and monitor lizards, without damaging the area.

On that day, the 50 of us was divided into 2 groups and i was the 'tour-guide' of one of them.

Prior to the trip to Chek Jawa, Shuyi(the other guide) and I went forth to vigorously read up on Chek Jawa, its history and also the interesting characteristics of the species that thrive in this part of the ecosystem. Thank God for a brother Kok Sheng who met up with Shuyi and me to brief us on how best both of us can enhance the experience at Chek Jawa. He is really passionate in sharing to us about God's wonderful creation.

We went to the National Library @ Bugis to watch documentaries on Chek Jawa and mangroves in Singapore. For examples : Channel News Asia - 'Living Treasures'. Both of us, being life science students, we wanted to know more, so we also borrowed some books to read up for the trip the next day.

Pray that he will do well for his UROPS project on Chek Jawa! Thanks bro for the tips!

To continue the trip, we went up to the Jejawi 20m tower, overseeing the mangroves and to Tekong 'chalet' at the far opposite side..

(on the 20m tower, we took many breaths of air)

(noticed that i didn't say FRESH AIR... cos acutally in the mangrove area, there are many bacteria and micro-organisms living in the mud, and they produce hydrogen sulphite, giving a unique smell to the mangroves.)

(my tour group photo under the shelter along coastal boardwalk.)

(at the visitor centre)

I really enjoyed myself that day, serving the people around that day, being the first-aider, the bicycle chain repair man, and the Chek Jawa tour guide wanna-be. Really want to go there again...

How to enter the Gates of Heaven?

2007-12-11T23:20:00.000+08:00

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

~ Eph 2:8-9 ~

Because its Christmas . . .

2007-11-08T17:40:00.000+08:00

This is a funny video that i saw on youtube. Haha!

I can't wait for Christmas! When we are sing christmas carol along the streets! Hohoho!

Love the sinner, Hate the sin!

2007-11-02T00:13:00.000+08:00

I have been reading alot recently on the issue of appealing of the Penal Code 377A.

"377A. Any male person who, in public or private, commits, or abets the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure the commission by any male person of, any act of gross indecency with another male person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years."

I must admit that my initial intention was to beef up my knowledge on this hot issue, so that I can DEFEAT anyone who dares to challenge my stand on the retaining of 377A.

Pride and Judgemental are the 2 big bricks I have on my wall.

As Christians, should we discriminate the homosexuals? or simply disagree with their act?

Who are we to say what is morally right and wrong?
We believe that God wants us to live our live accordingly to His Word, to keep away from sins in this world.

In the beginning, God has created Adam to be in charge of taking care of the Garden of Eden.
In the bible, Genesis 2:18, The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
God made Eve, as a helper and companion for Adam.
This is the brief account of the creation of Man, and this relationship and union of men and women is something which God has constituted.

(take note that God created 'Adam and Eve', not Adam and Steve!!!)

In the bible, GOD has outlined the godlessness and wickedness of men.

" The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." - Romans 1:18-32

Yes, now knowing that homosexuality is detestable in God's eyes, what's next?

Does God also condemns the homosexuals, like what some of us are doing?

NO! God didn't leave us although we kept sinning, big and small ways. He yeans to bring us back into a loving relationship with Him, our author and Creator.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

This love and grace from God is not just restricted to us who are believers in Christ Jesus, but is also extended to those who are still far away from God. Its quite hard for me to comprehend such a love and grace that God has for his Creation. Many times I would "stand-on-the-mountain" and pass judgement, deciding who should be saved by God and enter the Heavens.

Many times I ask God:" Huh? This guy also can meh?". But God recently answered me very clearly. He told me to think about how He accepted me to be a child of God, when I received Christ in 2005, even when there are so many flaws and walls I had built over the years of growing up.

I am humbled.

Indeed, when we acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God ( our Savior who died on the cross, bled and died and rose again, to wash away our sins with His blood ), God has assured us that He loves us and accepts us as who we are, as children of His who wants to live our lives right, according to His will and purpose for us.

God wants us to reconcile back to Him. He wants us to lead a life that is confident and fruitful, turning away from sins. He had sent His Son, Jesus Christ, for this purpose.

Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." - Matthew 9:12

For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." - Matthew 9:13b

God sees hope in everyone of us, believers and non-believers, even the homosexuals. We recognise that they are in the midst of our society. Let us not be self-righteous. Let us, as brothers and sisters in Christ, not discriminate them or despise them, but learn to see the hope and love that God has for them to overcome this hundle in their lives eventually.

Debate on retaining of Section 377A?
(if u can't afford the time to read thru the whole speech, please scroll down and look along those lines which are enlarged and in bold to get an overall sense of Prof Thio's stand.)

Dr Thio Li-ann teaches and has published widely in the fields of public international law, human rights law, constitutional and administrative law. Formerly Chief Editor, Singapore Journal of International & Comparative Law (2000-2003), she is currently General Editor, Asian Yearbook of International Law and on the editorial and advisory board of the Singapore Yearbook of International Law, New Zealand Yearbook of International Law and International Law & Human Rights Discourse respectively. In 1997, she was Young Asian Scholar at the University of Melbourne Law Faculty and has taught courses at the law faculties of Hong Kong University and the University of Melbourne. A leading Singapore constitutional scholar, she co-authored Constitutional Law in Malaysia and Singapore (Butterworths, 1997, with Kevin YL Tan), is the corresponding editor (Singapore) for Blaustein & Flanz's Constitutions of the Countries of the World and the International Journal of Constitutional Law. She has served as an expert witness before the Federal Court of Australia and as consultant to the University of Warwick (academic freedom issues, 2005) and a Japanese House of Representatives delegation (2002). In 2001-2002, 2002-2003 she was ranked an NUS Excellent Teacher and in 2004, was the Faculty nominee and recipient of the NUS Young Researcher award.
Professor Thio is currently a Nominated Member of Parliament (11th Session)
Quoted from http://law.nus.edu.sg/faculty/staff/profileview.asp?UserID=lawtla

Video Link:
http://video2.channelnewsasia.com/cnavideos/multiplevideos_206x220.asp?skin=player5.swf&bgskin=playerbackground_206x220.swf&filename=_Parl%20English_20071022_thioLiAnn_penal_lo.flv

You can click on the video link above and follow thru by refering to an highlighted and edited version of transcript (below) of NMP Professor Thio Li-Ann’s speech in Parliament, on her stand on retaining 377A and outlining the dangers of appealing 377A.

Two camps championing two distinct criminal law philosophies are polarised over whether to retain or repeal s377A which criminalizes public or private acts of gross indecency between two men, such as sodomy.

Some wants 377A repealed. They offer an ‘argument from consent’ –government should not police the private sexual behaviour of consenting adults. They opine this violates their liberty or ‘privacy’. They ask, ‘Why criminalize something which does not “harm” anyone; if homosexuals are “born that way”, isn’t it unkind to ‘discriminate’ against their sexual practices?
These flawed arguments are marinated with distracting fallacies which obscure what is at stake – repealing 377A is the first step of a radical, political agenda which will subvert social morality, the common good and undermine our liberties.

Some argues from ‘community values’ – these social conservatives want 377A retained, to protect public health, morality, decency and order. A Keep 377A online petition attracted over 15,000 signatures after a few days.
Like many, I applaud the government’s wisdom in keeping 377A which conserves what upholds the national interest. ‘Conservative’ here is not a dirty word connoting backwardness; environmental conservation protects our habitat; the moral ecology must be conserved to protect what is precious and sustains a dynamic, free and good society.
The welfare of future generations depends on basing law on sound public philosophy. We should reject the ‘argument from consent’ as its philosophy is intellectually deficient and morally bankrupt.
Sir, the arguments to retain 377A are overwhelmingly compelling and should be fully articulated, to enable legislators to make informed decisions and not be bewitched by the empty rhetoric and emotional sloganeering employed by many radical liberals, which generate more heat than light.
The real question today is not “if” we should repeal 377A now, or wait until people are ready to move. This assumes too much, as though we need an adjustment period before the inevitable. The real question is not “if” but “should” we ever repeal 377A. It is not inevitable; it is not desirable to repeal it in any event. Not only is retaining s377A sound public policy, it is legally and constitutionally beyond reproach. Responsible legislators must grapple with the facts, figures and principles involved; they cannot discount the noxious social consequences repeal will bring.
Debate must be based on substance not sound-bites. Let me red-flag four red herrings.
First, to say a law is archaic is merely chronological snobbery.
Second, you cannot say a law is ‘regressive’ unless you first identify your ultimate goal. If we seek to copy the sexual libertine ethos of the wild wild West, then repealing s377A is progressive. But that is not our final destination. The onus is on those seeking repeal to prove this will not harm society.
Third, to say a law which criminalizes homosexual acts because many find it offensive is merely imposing a “prejudice” or “bias” assumes with justification that no reasonable contrary view exists. This evades debate. The liberal argument which says sodomy is a personal choice, private matter and ‘victimless crime’ merely asserts this. It rests precariously on an idiosyncratic notion of “harm” – but “harm” can be both physical and intangible; victims include both the immediate parties and third parties. What is done in ‘private’ can have public repercussions.
Fourth, some argue that legislators should be ‘open-minded’ and decriminalize sodomy. However, like an open mouth, an open mind must eventually close on something solid. They urge legislators to be ‘objective’ and to leave their personal subjective beliefs at home, especially if they hold religious views which consider homosexuality aberrant.
This demand for objectivity is intellectually disingenuous as there is no neutral ground, no ‘Switzerland of ambivalence’ when we consider the moral issues related to 377A which require moral judgment of what is right and wrong - not to take a stand, is to take a stand! As law has a moral basis, we need to consider which morality to legislate. Neither the majority or minority is always right – but there are fundamental values beyond fashion and politics which serve the common good. Religious views are part of our common morality. We separate ‘religion’ from ‘politics,’ but not ‘religion’ from ‘public policy’. That would be undemocratic. All citizens may propose views in public debate, whether influenced by religious or secular convictions or both; only the government can impose a view by law.
Incidentally, one does not have to be religious to consider homosexuality contrary to biological design and immoral; secular philosopher Immanuel Kant considered homosexuality “immoral acts against our animal nature” which did not preserve the species and dishonoured humanity.
The issues surrounding s377A are about morality, not modernity or being cosmopolitan. What will foreigners think if we retain 377A? Depends on which foreigner you ask. Many would applaud us! Such issues divide other societies as well! The debate is not closed. A group of Canadians1 were grieved enough to issue an online apology to the world “for harm done through Canada’s legalization of homosexual marriage”, urging us not to repeat their mistakes.
Singapore is an independent state and we can decide the 377A issue ourselves; we have no need of foreign or neo-colonial moral imperialism in matters of fundamental morality.
There are no constitutional objections to s377A
Sir, there are no constitutional objections to retaining 377A while de-criminalising heterosexual oral and anal sex. Three legal points are worth making.
First, there is no constitutional right to homosexual sodomy. It is not a facet of personal liberty under article 9. Nor is there a human right to homosexual sodomy though some like to slip this in under the umbrella of ‘privacy.’ Human rights are universal, like prohibitions against genocide. Demands for ‘homosexual rights’ are the political claims of a narrow interest group masquerading as legal entitlements. Homosexual activists often try to infiltrate and hijack human rights initiatives to serve their political agenda, discrediting an otherwise noble cause to protect the weak and poor. You cannot make a human wrong a human right.
Second, while homosexuals are a numerical minority, there is no such thing as ‘sexual minorities’ at law. Activists have coined this term to draw a beguiling but fallacious association between homosexuals and legally recognized minorities like racial groups. Race is a fixed trait. It remains controversial whether homosexual orientation is genetic or environmental, perhaps both. There are no ex-Blacks but there are ex-gays. The analogy between race and sexual orientation or preferred sexual preferences, is false. Activists repeat the slogan ‘sexual minority’ ad nausem as a deceptive political ploy to get sympathy from people who don’t think through issues carefully. Repetition does not cure fallacy.
Science has become so politicized that the issue of whether gays are ‘born that way’ depends on which scientist you ask. You cannot base sound public philosophy on poor politicized pseudo ‘science’.
Homosexuality is a gender identity disorder; there are numerous examples of former homosexuals successfully dealing with this. Just this year, two high profile US activists left the homosexual lifestyle, the publisher of Venus, a lesbian magazine, and an editor of Young Gay America. Their stories are available on the net. An article by an ex-gay in the New Statesmen this July identified the roots of his emotional hurts, like a distant father, overbearing mother and sexual abuse by a family friend; after working through his pain, his unwanted same-sex attractions left. While difficult, change is possible and a compassionate society would help those wanting to fulfill their heterosexual potential. There is hope.
Singapore law only recognizes racial and religious minorities. Special protection is reserved for the poor and disadvantaged; the average homosexual person in Singapore is both well educated, with higher income – that’s why upscale condo developers target them! Homosexuals do not deserve special rights, just the rights we all have.
‘Sexual minorities’ and ‘sexual orientation’ are vague terms – covering anything from homosexuality, bestiality, incest, paedophilia – do all these minority sexual practices merit protection?
Third, 377A does not breach the article 12 guarantee of equality. While all human persons are of equal worth, not all human behaviour is equally worthy. We separate the actor from the act. In criminalizing acts, we consider the wrongfulness of the act, the harm caused and how it affects the good of society.
Parliament has the power to classify; this involves a choice, like distinguishing murder and manslaughter. Classifications which satisfy the constitutional test of validity are called “differentiation”; only invalid classifications are called “discrimination.” Criminalising same-sex sodomy but not opposite-sex sodomy is valid “differentiation.” S377A does not target any specific actor; it would cover a heterosexual male experimenting with male sodomy.
Valid classifications must have a clear basis and be rationally related to a legitimate purpose. In serving public health and public morality, 377A passes constitutional muster with flying colours.
Public Health Argument
Sir, public health and safety is a legitimate purpose served by the 377A ban on homosexual anal and oral sex. Both these practices are efficient methods of transmitting sexual diseases and AIDs / HIV which are public health problems. These are not victimless crimes as the whole community has to foot the costs of these diseases.
Anal-penetrative sex is inherently damaging to the body and a misuse of organs, like shoving a straw up your nose to drink. The anus is designed to expel waste; when something is forcibly inserted into it, the muscles contract and cause tearing; fecal waste, viruses carried by sperm and blood thus congregate, with adverse health implications like ‘gay bowel syndrome’, anal cancer. ‘Acts of gross indecency’ under 377A also covers unhygienic practices like “rimming” where the mouth comes into contact with the anus. Consent to harmful acts is no defence – otherwise, our strong anti-drug laws must fall as it cannot co-exist with letting in recreational drugs as a matter of personal lifestyle choice.
Opposite-sex sodomy is harmful, but medical studies indicate that same-sex sodomy carries a higher price tag for society because of higher promiscuity and frequency levels. The New York Times reported that even informed homosexuals return to unsafe practices like bare-backing and bug-chasing after a health crisis wanes. A British Study showed that the legalization of homosexual sodomy correlated with an upsurge of STDs among gays. Common sense tells us that with more acceptance, any form of consensual sexual behaviour increases. Sodomy laws have some deterrent effect.
It is rational for the state to target the most acute aspect of a problem. The legal issue is not whether the state should be concerned with heterosexual sodomy but whether it is reasonable to believe same-sex sodomy poses a distinct problem. Medical literature indicates that gays have disproportionately higher STDs rates, which puts them in a different category from the general public, warranting different treatment.
The onus rests on opponents of 377A to negate every conceivable basis for treating homosexual and heterosexual sodomy differently. They cannot, because classifications do not need to be perfect and can be under-inclusive; valid classifications only need to “go some way” to serve the legislative goal, which 377A clearly does.
Public Morality
Sir, the power to legislate morality is not limited to preventing demonstrable harm. The Penal Code now criminalizes the wounding of both religious and racial feelings (s498).
S377A serves public morality; the argument from community reminds us we share a way of life which gives legal expression to the moral repugnancy of homosexuality. Heterosexual sodomy unlike homosexual sodomy does not undermine the understanding of heterosexuality as the preferred social norm. To those who say that 377A penalizes only gays not lesbians, note there have been calls to criminalize lesbianism too.
Public sexual morality must buttress strong families based on faithful union between man and wife, the best model for raising children. The state should not promote promiscuity nor condone sexual exploitation. New section 376D criminalizes the organisation of child sex tours. Bravo.
The ‘argument from consent’ says the state should keep out of the bedroom, to safeguard ‘sexual autonomy’. While we cherish racial and religious diversity, sexual diversity is a different kettle of fish. Diversity is not license for perversity. This radical liberal argument is pernicious, a leftist philosophy based on radical individualism and radical egalitarianism. It is unworkable because every viable moral theory has limits to consent.
Radical individualism would demand decriminalising consensual adult incest; but the Penal Code is not based on consent as s376F reflects. The state has always retained an interest in regulating conduct in the bedroom – the issue is which type?
Radical egalitarianism applied to sexual morality says the state should not morally distinguish between types of consensual sex. It exudes a false neutrality but actually sneaks in a substantive philosophy: Hedonism which breeds narcissism. This extols satisfying desire without restraint as a matter of autonomy. But some desires are undesirable, harming self and society.
The argument from consent ultimately celebrates sexual libertine values, the fruit of which is sexual licentiousness, a culture of lust, which takes, rather than love, which gives. This social decline will provoke more headlines like a 2004 Her World article called: “Gay guy confesses: I slept with 100 men…one of them could be your hubby.” What about the broken-hearts involved?
If you argue from consent, how can you condemn any form of sexual self-expression, no matter how selfish or hurtful? But, no man is an island. Ideas, embodied in laws, have consequences. Don’t send the wrong message.
The issues raised in the Petition fall apart on rigorous analysis.
Rule of Law vs. Rule of Good Law
Sir, government policy is not to pro-actively enforce 377A. Some argue that just keeping this law on the books will erode the rule of law. I disagree. It is not turning a blind eye on the existence of homosexuals here; it is refusing to celebrate homosexuality while allowing gays to live quiet lives. This is prudent, as it is difficult to enforce ‘bedroom’ offences; such intrusive powers should be judiciously used anyway.
We have other hard-to-police laws which embody communal standards of public decency, such as laws against nudity visible to the public eye, even if you are at home. Law is a Moral teacher and makes a moral statement; 6 years ago, Singapore symbolically blocked access to 100 porn sites, as a ‘statement of our values.’ We value our values, while remaining realistic.
A non pro-active policy does not mean 377A will never be enforced – who knows what another season may require? Policies can change.
Sir, citizens are not just concerned with the rule of law but with the rule of good law. Laws which violate core moral values will alienate many and bring the system into disrepute. Indeed, many citizens see keeping 377A as evidence the government is defending the right moral values, which lends legitimacy.
Criminalising Moral Wrongs – which?
Sir, it is true that not all moral wrongs, such as adultery, are criminalized; yet they retain their stigma. But adulterors know they done wrong and do not lobby for toleration of adultery as a sexual orientation right.
Homosexual Agenda and Social Consequences
Conversely, homosexual activists lobby hard for a radical sexual revolution, waging a liberal fundamentalist crusade against traditional morality. They adopt a ‘step by step’ approach to hide how radical the agenda is. Liberals never ask: what happens next if you repeal 377A. Responsible legislators must see the Big Picture.
Pro-gay academics identify 5 main steps in this agenda in their study of foreign jurisdictions.
Step 1: repeal laws criminalizing homosexual sex. They consider this “pivotal” to advancing the homosexual agenda. Why? Without this, they cannot advance in the public sphere or push for government funding and support for special programmes, such as the New York Gay High School. Governments don’t promote criminal activities. You need to change the criminal law before changing civil law.
But decriminalizing sodomy is only the tip of the iceberg which is 1/8 of an ice mass – we must see what lies beneath the water to avoid a Titanic fate.
Step 2 is to equalize the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual sex; in some countries, this is as low as 13. Do we want to expose Sec 1 boys to adult sexual predators? To be sexually creative?
Step 3 is to prohibit discrimination based on ‘sexual orientation’. But would this not include all sexual behaviour? “Sex before 8 or else it’s too late” is the motto of the North American Man Boy Love Association. Should we judge pedophilia or be relativist and promote “anything goes” sexual experimentation?
Sir, to protect homosexuals, some countries have criminalized not sodomy but opposition to sodomy, making it a ‘hate crime’ to criticize homosexuality. This violates freedom of speech and religion; will sacred texts that declare homosexuality morally deviant, like the Bible and Koran, be criminalized? Social unrest beckons. Such assaults on constitutional liberties cannot be tolerated.
Steps 4 and 5 relate to legalizing same-sex marriage or partnerships, child adoption rights. This subverts both marriage and family, which are institutions homosexuals seek to redefine beyond recognition. Will MOE then commission a book copying the US “Heather has 2 mummies” called “Ah Beng has 2 daddies?” What if parents disagree with their kids studying homosexual propaganda?
Is legalizing same-sex marriage progressive? It is if you want a genderless planet where “husband” and “wife” are considered discriminatory terms, to be replaced by “spouse”.
We want to be able to say, Majullah Singapura, not Mundur Singapura!
Repealing 377A will further batter the institution of ‘marriage’ which we must bolster! This is because the arguments raised to challenge a distinction between heterosexual and homosexual sodomy, equally apply to challenge legal distinctions between lawful heterosexual marriage between man and wife and unlawful homosexual unions.
To reinforce the moral foundations of a pro-family policy that permits only heterosexuals to marry, it is permissible to differentiate between heterosexual and homosexual sodomy. To say that 377A discriminates is effectively to say that marriage laws discriminate and are unconstitutional.
Legalising sodomy would set a bad example; by signaling approval, it may change both attitude and conduct; coupled with sexual hedonism, it makes a mockery of strong family values. 377A helps to protect against this harm.
Academic supporters of the homosexual agenda like my colleague Michael Hor argued online that even if 377A was not enforced, discriminatory policies against homosexuals could be built on the logic of its existence. But taking his logic, repealing 377A would mean the government would be less able to resist claims for homosexual marriage or for promoting homosexuality as a desirable lifestyle in schools, as this would be ‘discriminatory’.These foreign developments warn us that the advance of the homosexual agenda here is not remote.
To slouch back to Sodom is to return to the Bad Old Days in ancient Greece or even China where sex was utterly wild and unrestrained, and homosexuality was considered superior to man-women relations. Women’s groups should note that where homosexuality was celebrated, women were relegated to low social roles; when homosexuality was idealized in Greece, women were objects not partners, who ran homes and bore babies. Back then, whether a man had sex with another man, woman or child was a matter of indifference, like one’s eating preferences. The only relevant category was penetrator and penetrated; sex was not seen as interactive intimacy, but a doing of something to someone. How degrading.
It was only when marriage was invented by the Jewish Torah that the genie of sexual impulses was forced into the marital bottle, so that sex no longer dominated society – this discipline provided the social base for the development of western civilization.
Homosexuals as fellow citizens have the right to expect decent treatment from the rest of us; but they have no right to insist we surrender our fundamental moral beliefs so they can feel comfortable about their sexual behaviour. We should not be subject to the tyranny of the undemocratic minority who want to violate our consciences, trample on our cherished moral virtues and threaten our collective welfare by imposing homosexual dogma on right-thinking people. Keep 377A.
Democracy and Debate
Sir, we Singaporeans will continue to debate and disagree over controversial moral issues as they arise. We should make substantive arguments and not think with our feelings; the media should present both sides fairly, without bias.
However, I have noted a disturbing phenomenon over the 377A debate– the argument by insult. Instead of reasoning, some have resorted to name-calling to intimidate and silence their opponents. People with principled moral objections to the homosexual agenda are tarred and feathered ‘homophobes’, ‘bigots’, to shut them up. This strategy is unoriginally imported from foreign gay activists, which stifles creative thinking and intellectual enquiry.
When you shout, full of sound and fury, and call your opponents nasty names, this terminates public debate. No one wants to be called a bigot. But think about it – if I oppose incest, am I an incestophobe? If I oppose alcoholism, am I a winophobe? If having an opinion means you are bigoted, then we are all bigots! What is your phobia?
Where certain liberals accuse their opponents of being intolerant, they demonstrate their own intolerance towards their opponents! They are hoist on their own petard, guilty of everything they accuse their detractors of!
One of my colleagues, a young professor, suffered these vicious tactics when the Straits Times published an article this May where Yvonne Lee argued against repealing 377A. This well-researched, cogent article so incensed homosexual activists that they flooded her with a torrent of abusive, lewd emails and wrote to her head of department calling for her to be removed from her job. This appeared to be a co-ordinated campaign.
We academics are used to disagreement, but why write to her employer and threaten her livelihood? Why vilify someone and seek to assassinate their personal and professional reputation? I hope the House joins me in deploring these malicious attacks which also assault academic freedom. She is owed an apology. I would be ashamed to belong to any academic institution that cravenly bowed down to such disgraceful bully-boy tactics.
This August, I had my own experience with this sort of hysterical attack. I received an email from someone I never met, full of vile and obscene invective which I shall not repeat, accusing me of hatemongering. It cursed me and expressed the wish to defile my grave on the day 377A was repealed.
I believe in free debate but this oversteps the line. I was distressed, disgusted, upset enough to file a police report. Does a normal person go up to a stranger to express such irrational hatred?
Smear tactics indicate the poor quality of debate and also, of character. Let us have rational debate, not diatribe, free from abusive rhetoric and tantrum-throwing. As Singapore approaches her Jubilee, My hope for the post-65 generation is that we will not become an uncivil civil society borne from an immature culture of vulgarity which celebrates the base, not the noble.
I speak, at the risk of being burned at the stake by militant activists. But if we don’t stand for something, we will fall for anything. I was raised to believe in speaking out for what is right, good and true, no matter the cost. It is important in life not only to have a Brain, but a Spine.
One of my favourite speeches by PM Lee, which I force my students to read, is his Harvard Club speech 2 years ago where he urged citizens not to be “passive bystanders” in their own fate but to debate issues with reason and conviction. I took this to heart. To forge good policy, we need to do our homework and engage in honest debate on the issues. Let us also speak with civility, which cannot be legislated, but draws deep from our character and upbringing. Before government can govern man, man must be able to govern himself.
Sir, let speaking in the public square with reason, passion, honesty, civility, even grace, be the mark of a Citizen of Singapore.

God, threatened by science?

2007-10-26T21:40:00.000+08:00

I was so amazed by God's Creation.

I feel so fortunate to be able to study Life Science in university. Every lesson keeps me so excited!!! Life is so complex, human is so intricately made. Conditions have to be so precise in order for life to exist.

Recently i learnt from my lecturer that " if we unwound the 46 strands of chromosomes from a single cell, and link them end to end, the distance is 8000 times from Earth to moon and back to Earth" wait a minute..... take some time to try to visualise it.....Wah piang!!! For a moment I cannot comprehend such an analogy... all these 46 strands of chromosomes present in each and every cell we have, contains all the information that is needed for us to exist and grow from birth til death. Such a huge set of information/instruction, yet it has to be packed into a single cell nucleus, which an unaided human eye can't even see.

I just finished a book named " The Language of GOD - A scientist presents evidence for belief " - by Francis Collin. When I saw the book from TIME bookshop, I was drawn by the name of the author. What has this director of the Human Genome Project got to do under the religion section of this bookshop?

Francis S. Collins, a pioneering medical geneticist who once headed the Human Genome Project, adapts his title from President Clinton's remarks announcing completion of the first phase of the project in 2000: "Today we are learning the language in which God created life."

Collins explains that as a Christian believer, "the experience of sequencing the human genome, and uncovering this most remarkable of all texts, was both a stunning scientific achievement and an occasion of worship."

This marvelous book combines a personal account of Collins's faith and experiences as a genetics researcher with discussions of more general topics of science and spirituality, especially centering around evolution. Following the lead of C.S. Lewis, whose Mere Christianity was influential in Collins's conversion from atheism, the book argues that belief in a transcendent, personal God—and even the possibility of an occasional miracle—can and should coexist with a scientific picture of the world that includes evolution. Addressing in turn fellow scientists and fellow believers, Collins insists that "science is not threatened by God; it is enhanced" and "God is most certainly not threatened by science; He made it all possible."

What is my stand then? Is Darwin's Evolution Theory outdated? How much was Darwin able to understand life given the kind of technology he had in 1879? Why is it still being taught in schools as if it is already a proven fact?

Being a Christian who happens to be a student in the Life Science field, i certainly believe in a God who created the earth, light, water, skies, stars, plants, water animals, birds in the air, and lastly, humans (yes, u and me included). I can't take it when some of my lecturers mentioned that we come from ape? Is there an option for the students here to consider between Creation and Evolution?

I believe science will lead Man to God eventually. As God's language of life - DNA, is being looked at by more and more scientists, under increasingly sophisticated machines, more and more people will tear away pages from their textbooks which attempts to explain life using BIG Bang theory or macro-evolution...

We are all here for a purpose, not from some cosmic accident!

ORD loh!!! Congrats!

2007-09-09T02:27:00.000+08:00

I also want to say: "ORD loh!" to my last batch of trainees (13th Field Defence Course - Paya Lebar Air Base) before i completed my NS on 30 May 2006. ORD loh ORD loh!!! Just want to tell all of you who are either going on to work or further studies, all the best in whatever you are going to do... It's been a great time knowing all of you. Thanks for trusting me, even sharing with me your inner thoughts and personal problems during the course duration.

I might not be the best instructor or platoon sergeant you have met during your NS, but i hope that the things/values i had passed on has influenced you in a good way.

I look forward to see you along Orchard Road or in the campus!

Come and pat me 'lightly' on my shoulder if you see me!

I might forget your name already or need time to recall, sorry about that in advance.

For those whom i remember your name, you are either the zai!! ones in the platoon or you have been taking alot of OFF pass from me yah?

You can consider to change my contact name in your handphone phone list from Platoon Sergeant Tan -> to -> Guan Rui ... But if you continue to call me on the road :"Platoon Sergeant Tan!", I think most probably i will turn around and say :"ORD loh!!!"

Special thanks to my section commanders!

Run and Run . . . Rain rain go away!

2007-09-08T23:05:00.000+08:00

Sorry for not updaing the blog for so long. I have been very busy for the past weeks... and i heard some complaints liao... so i think i should do something about it..

Wow! i love running! I have been running quite a while for the past few weeks. 6km HOPE Run -> 21km Army Half Marathon -> IPPT.

(MILO truck! Chiong ah!!!!)

(it's good to have the MILO truck just beside my car.. Hee!)

(my first 21km in my entire life! this is one of my new year resolutions this year... completed!)

Being an NSmen (ORD loh!), one must attempt and pass the IPPT within the window period (1yr).

NAME: TAN GUANRUI AGE: 21 CATEGORY: X

Your VOC Group is Combat and you have ORD After April 1994.
You have NOT TAKEN your IPPT for 11/10/2006 to 10/10/2007.

Advisory:
(a) Please ATTEMPT your IPPT by 10/10/2007, otherwise you will be subjected to disciplinary action.
(b) Please update your contact nos/email on e-SelfUpdate so that you can be informed via SMS if there is any change to your current IPPT requirement.

Today i went for my Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) at Maju Camp.
It was raining super heavily in the morning. I had to wake up at 6am in order to reach there by 0715hrs. When i was brushing my teeth, i was wondering whether the IPPT would be cancelled. But as my window period for IPPT this year is closing as my birthday is drawing nearer, i can't afford to wait any longer. So i decided to just make my way to Maju Camp and see whether the rain would stop in time.

I was so so impressed by the electronic version of the IPPT. I would say that it is a good system, fast and accurate. Ever since i ORDed, this is my first time taking IPPT as a NSmen. The individual number tag contains the individual's details and is used to register the score at every station.

After completing the 4 static stations in the multi-purpose sports hall, we waited in the cookhouse to wait for further instructions on whether the 2.4km run is still going to be on. If not, all the results today would be considered void without the run... No!!! I don't want!!! The Physical training instructor (PTI) told everyone of us to pray for the weather to be clear so that the run can still carry on.... so we hang on and waited for about 45 mins... When the rain finally tone down to slight drizzle, we assembled on the parade square for briefing on the running route. Each round is 0.8km, and we have to run 3 runs to complete the 2.4km run. The timing will only start after the number tag we are wearing passes through the gantry, so its quite fair actually....i was in the first detail (wave) so it really feels like I am the fastest cos the route in front of me is clear... so the morale was UP!

However, during the run, somehow my nose started to run also... cool right? i have to control my breathing in a weird manner, a bit jia lat. But what kept me running was the monetary award of $200, if my overall result is silver.... Hee! good money u know! haha!

The weather was nice, cool but my shoes were wet after stepping into quite a number of rain patches... splash splash!!

The results are:

Sit-up : 41
Broad Jump : 234cm
Chin Up : 10
Shuttle Run : 9.3 sec
2.4km Run : 11:21min

Result: PASS
Award: SILVER

We've climb the highest hill - Bukit Timah Hill!

2007-08-10T22:26:00.000+08:00

Wow! It's been about 6-7 years since i last went to Bukit Timah Hill...

Recently went there with my dear sisters MJ and Calyn, my dear bro Nicholas, and friend Xumei. We went by the south view path to the summit, then we had a picnic on the groundsheet which Nicholas and I had brought there, although the summit hut was empty.... aiyoh.. picnic must be on the grass one mah, right? We had bread with egg mayo, tuna, apples and pears, soon kuei, peng kuei, curry puffs, sardine puffs, and potato chips.

Before spreading our groundsheets, we took pictures at the summit rock, waving the Singapore flag.... with the "We've climb the highest hill!!!" (in Singapore) look.

Haha!

Festival of Praise 2007

2007-08-06T13:03:00.000+08:00

Wow! The Festival of Praise 2007 @ Singapore Indoor Stadium is so refreshing. I really thank God for this event, for bringing Christ-followers together to pray for the nation.

My dear sisters - Huili and Calyn

My dear brothers - Flince, me, Zhi Fei and Nicholas

During the FOP, I flipped to this passage of the bible and read the whole chapter while the music continues to play on.... Woo! I am really glad to be in the presence of God.

Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,

and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

"Our God reigns" - Delirious?
(i want to share with you this clip, very meaningful. Turn off the song on the blog that is playing now, before clicking on the clip.)

an average Joe . . .

2007-08-02T14:44:00.000+08:00

He is an average Joe. Just ORDed. A UNI freshmen. He wanted to be someone whom his peers will look up to. He wanted to leave a good impression for people around him. He is insecure with his own identity, seeks the acceptance from people around him. He is confused, not sure whether he has become who he wants to be. Or rather, he is not even sure who exactly does he want to be.

This is my first time acting on stage for God. I really felt happy to serve God on stage ... a rare opportunity to be on stage also :)

Even since i lost the feeling to be on stage after i left 'Young People's Performing Arts Emsemble' 5 yrs ago... I remembered those days when I receive the applause from the audiences at the end of every performance, flowers, photos....those 8 yrs of learning and performing on stage still remains deep in my memories. After i left the ensemble to prepare for my o-levels, I have been going back regularly to help out as the backstage crew, assistant Stage Manager, props, ticketing, mail boy, front of house,...then eventually, an audience. All the while i have been experiencing the backstage aspects of the production. Everytime i stand in the dark backstage watching the younger ones performing on the stage, how i wish i could once again step onto the stage and make the audiences cry and laugh with me. Although last year i was given the opportunity to perform, i rejected it. I knew my chinese standard has dropped drastically after being 'polluted' by the 'outside world' and 'corrupted' after my NS time'. Really haven't been using my std chinese for quite sometime.

I lost the confidence to go on stage.

My thoughts of going onto the stage came to a stagnant.

However, recently Jia Dai approached me and asked whether i would like to participate in a production that requires me to act... at the moment i thought of giving it a try, while still blur on what is going to happen exactly...

As things progresses, i found myself involving in more things other than acting. A team of us came together to think of the script, do filming, voice-over recording, editing of MM clips, rehearsal for the live scenes.... WoW!

Amazed by how God has brought people of different talents to come together for this production. Producer (Jia Dai), Directors (Zhen Zhong and Dorling), MMclip (Wei Long), Lights (Hong Yao), Sound (Manmi), Female Lead (Zhi Chun), Music Director (Derek), the hosts (Timothy and Carrie) and the supporting actors and actresses (Jesse, Joshua, Serene) in the production. We are like a body with many parts.

This part of the Bible came across my mind...

" 12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. . ." 1 Corinthians 12:12

" 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. " 1 Corinthians 12:14-26

On the actual day, we came early to rehearse again til 4pm. Thanks for Jia Dai's box of Panadol Cold Relief, Derek's cup of warm tea and Jesse's bottle of honey lemon. Then we went to do make-up.

OOpss... although i have 8yrs of performing experiences, this is my first time putting make-up by myself - Self Service! I was given a small make-up bag from Jia Dai and the rest is up to me. Wow! So i chose a male toilet at the top floor to do my own make up... Pai seh... i thought nobody one..but... haiz... "nevermind, just this time only!", i thought to myself.

5pm we went into the auditorium to test mic and lights and sound.... I was really nervous! i wasn't able to hit the high note, i knew my clear voice is not back yet because i am still very sick since last night, have flu and sore throat and fever. I was really worried that i might not be able to sing well and get distracted easily because of any mistake i made... I took a tablespoon full of 'Jing Du Nian Ci An - Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao' before i put on the lip gloss.

Then during Praise and Worship, i closed my eyes to pray to God to sustain my physical body, for me to remember my lines, hit the correct feel, sing the correct pitch..... God assured me to just go ahead with what i need to do later for the performance.

Praise the Lord for the wonderful performance! I really didn't expect myself to be able to sing better than what i have expected i can do. Those who were at the service would know of the overall atmosphere. Wow! So happy that Zhi Rong and Xu Mei came for service to support me!

I really enjoyed the production, and its progress as well. Thru this production, i got to work with brothers and sisters whom i seldom have chance to talk with. Serving in the LORD is so different, because it involves lots of prayers and God's direction and assurance and love for each other!

Update: 2nd hostage dead, rest of the 21 still alive

2007-08-02T08:00:00.000+08:00

Channel News Asia - Asia Pacific News
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/291740/1/.html

GHAZNI, Afghanistan : The Taliban threatened to kill more South Korean hostages after another deadline expired on Wednesday, as helicopters dropped leaflets in the area where the group was captured warning of a military operation. "The 21 hostages are still alive," a spokesman for the hardline movement, Yousuf Ahmadi, told AFP by telephone hours after the noon (0730 GMT) deadline passed. "The leadership council of the Taliban is in the process of making a decision," he said, clarifying afterwards that they were considering whether more of the captives should be killed. The extremist group has already shot dead two men from a 23-member aid mission seized in the southern province of Ghazni two weeks ago. Ahmadi said talks with government negotiators had continued on Wednesday but there was "not a good result." The insurgent movement is demanding the release of at least eight of its men from Afghan jails, which authorities have so far rejected. The spokesman said none of the surviving hostages had yet been killed as there was talk South Korean negotiators wanted to meet directly with the Taliban. "We are waiting for that delegation to open a new phase of negotiations," he said. Military choppers earlier dropped leaflets in Ghazni, including the Qarabagh district where the South Korean Christians were captured, asking residents to leave ahead of a planned operation. The defence ministry denied however this would be a bid to free the captives, saying it was a routine exercise planned months ago and "has no links to the South Korean hostages issue." A South Korean embassy official told AFP: "We have no information about any operation. Before launching any operation, we must be informed." Ghazni police chief Alishah Ahmadzai also said there was no plan to use troops to extract the hostages. "Security forces are in the area. They have been in a state of emergency since the crisis started. But there is no military operation in our plan." A special South Korean envoy was quoted by Pajhwok Afghan News agency saying his government opposed military action. Envoy Baek Jong-chun said, ahead of leaving Afghanistan on Wednesday, his government "would like to emphasise once again that the safety of the Korean hostages will be a matter of the highest priority." With tensions mounting and Qarabagh said to have been surrounded by soldiers for days, the Taliban's Ahmadi said fighters were "ready to answer with force and if there's any pressure on us, the lives of the hostages will be in danger." A top US official, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill, and Egypt's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, meanwhile joined international calls for the hostages' release. Adding to concern about their chances, the bullet-riddled bodies of four Afghan court officials were found on Wednesday near where the bloodied corpse of one of the foreigners was dumped this week. "We killed them because they worked for the government," Ahmadi said. New clashes were also reported on Wednesday between Taliban and security forces in the province, 100 kilometres south of Kabul, with 15 people killed in the past day. In one incident, militants stormed the house of a policeman and killed him and two relatives, the provincial police chief said. Police sent to the scene killed eight attackers, Ahmadzai said. Four Taliban were killed in fighting elsewhere, he said. Police in the southern province of Kandahar said a dozen Taliban and a policeman were killed in a gunbattle there on Tuesday. There were meanwhile fresh fears for a German engineer held since July 18, a day before the South Koreans were captured, after Al-Jazeera television broadcast on Tuesday a video that it said showed him pleading for his life. The footage was the first to show the engineer, said to be 62 years old. - AFP/de

Update: Taliban claims 2nd hostage shot dead

2007-07-31T11:41:00.000+08:00

31 July 2007
Special Broadcasting Service World News Headline Stories

Taliban militants say they have shot dead a second male South Korean hostage with AK-47, as a video showing several of the captives was broadcast on Arabic television. ...No individual organisation has confirmed the claim..'We shot dead a male captive because the government did not listen to our demands,' spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told news agency Reuters. 'We killed one of the male hostages at 0100hrs (Singapore time) because the Kabul administration did not listen to our repeated demands,' he told Reuters by telephone from an unknown location ..... He said the body had been dumped by the side of a road. The shooting was a rejection of the authorities' request for more time for talks on freeing the South Korean hostages after the expiry of a rebel deadline earlier in the day. 'Time running out' - The Taliban seized 23 Korean Christians, 16 of them women, 11 days ago from a bus in Ghazni on the main highway south from Kabul and killed the leader of the group on Wednesday after an earlier deadline passed...... The Taliban had ..... insisted the release of Taliban prisoners was the only way to settle the crisis.....ruled out further talks after they said government negotiators demanded the unconditional release of the hostages .... Afghan officials..... force might be used to rescue them if talks failed.... the body of the South Korean Christian pastor shot dead by the Taliban last week arrived in South Korea on Monday. The bullet-ridden body of Bae Hyung-kyu was found on Wednesday. His brother, Bae Shin-kyu, told reporters the family would not hold a funeral until the other hostages returned to South Korea.

Request for release of S.Korean hostages in Afghanistan

This is an urgent campaign to free the remaining South Korean aid workers who have been taken hostage by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Taliban have already executed 1 hostage, and claimed to have killed the 2nd, and are threatening to execute the rest this week, an action that could trigger a mass evacuation of life-giving humanitarian aid from all of Afghanistan.The situation is desperate, but there is hope.
The Taliban are all from the 'Pashtun' ethnic group, and observe a strict code called Pashtunwali. This code demands, above all else: "hospitality to all, especially guests and strangers". There are rumours of infighting among the Taliban over these kidnappings, because they clearly violate the code.
A global outcry for the Taliban to follow their own code would certainly be covered by media in Afghanistan and Pakistan where the Taliban are based – creating massive local pressure on them to free their prisoners. But these hostages are living under a 24 hour death sentence.

We have seconds not minutes to act. Sign the petition below and then forward this link to your friends:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/honour_the_afghan_code/

Taliban: Hostages will die Monday 1530hrs

2007-07-30T13:37:00.001+08:00

Dear God,

I write to you at this hour to plead for Your hand to be upon those 22 South Koreans Christians who are still in captive by Taliban. Father LORD I pray for the safety of all the 22 S.Korean hostages. God, watch over them, sustain them physically, and most importantly, to be spiritually strong and trust in You despite of the harsh conditions they are in now. I pray for Your comfort to be upon their families and the brothers and sisters in the church. LORD, as many of us, Christians and non-Christians are watching the news and praying for the release of the hostages, let Your plans be carried out for the good of those who love You. Let's continue the keep our Brothers and Sisters in S.Korea in prayer.

Your Child,
Jacob

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

For news update, visit Channelnewsasia.com!
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/291137/1/.html

SEOUL: One of the 22 South Korean hostages threatened with death by Afghanistan's Taliban says they have been split into small groups which are moved frequently. Lee Ji-Young, in a phone interview with Seoul's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper published Monday, also apologised for causing trouble. "First of all, we feel sorry to have caused the trouble," the 34-year-old woman said Sunday. She consulted one of her captors while giving the interview, the paper said. The Taliban have said the hostages had been divided into small groups and were being held in three different provinces, in an attempt to thwart any rescue mission. Lee said she was with a group of three others who are "OK at the moment" but they did not know how the other captives are faring. "We move sometimes once a day and sometimes every two or three days," Lee said, adding that at the time they were being held in a house. She said her captors had made no particular threat and told her parents, "Don't worry too much about me." Taliban militants threatened Sunday to start killing the South Koreans unless the Afghan government accepts by noon Monday local time (0730 GMT) their demand for the release of jailed rebels. But a government negotiator repeated that there would be no prisoner exchange, and said the Islamic extremists must free the 16 women in the group of aid workers before other demands would be considered. Four other deadlines set by the spokesman have lapsed without incident. The Taliban, however, shot dead the group leader, 42-year-old Presbyterian pastor Bae Hyung-Kyu, last Wednesday. They said he was killed because talks on the crisis had stalled. Asked about any special hardships, Lee said, "It is a bit uncomfortable that we cannot wash ourselves well." Lee has been in Afghanistan since late 2006 teaching computer skills to children and helping with medical treatment, the paper said. She was acting as a guide and translator for the group from a Seoul church, which was visiting the country on a short-term aid mission. The group was seized on July 19 while travelling by bus between Kabul and Kandahar. Seoul has sent a presidential envoy, Baek Jong-Chun, who held talks Sunday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Foreign Minister Song Min-Soon held talks Saturday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to seek her help in freeing the captives, according to media reports which the ministry would not confirm. Bae's body is to be brought home as soon as a plane is available but his family says it will delay the funeral until all the captives return home. - AFP/ac

Follow the progress of the news on this situation on video news:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/video

Phuket Trip ( 180707 - 210707 )

2007-07-22T22:28:00.000+08:00

I am so refreshed after coming back from Phuket. I can't help but to keep looking at the pictures i took... so share with you some of the highlights, i will update with more details when i have time.

I nearly kena stopped by the singapore custom and before reaching Phuket International Airport, i kept praying to God that the Phuket custom will let me pass thru... hmmm... cos i did not update my photo on the passport. The photo on my passport currently is my Sec1 photo... cute!

Patong, Phuket.

The traffic lights have a countdown system.. i think its quite good for the drivers to judge whether they want to chiong across. (lots of high voltage cables hanging around!)

Thai Boxing

Simon's Carabet Show (aka 'ren yao' show)

(hmm... all the female you see in the pictures are actually transvertites)

Nightlife

Bar Top Dancing

Thai Food

(Phat Thai + Crayfish)

(Tom Yum Goong + Pineapple rice + Oysters)

Beaches

Clear Waters

(I went snorkling at Phi Phi Island... its so exciting to swim besides the school of fishes... initially can't get use to breathing thru the mouth, drank some salty water...hee!)

Parasail

( My first time doing this also... the vest is tightly fastened to my body, with the parachute hooked to the vest. Once ready, the speed boat will start pulling the rope and i started to run along the shore and suddenly, i am off the ground... the wind speed is strong... nice scenary also! was afraid my specs would get blown off..hee! )

Tsunami

by the numbers:

9.3

(the undersea earthquake measured on the Richter scale, which triggered the tsunamis)

10 metres

(the height of the tsunami wave)

290, 000

(killed when tsunamis slammed Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzanua and Kenya on the morning of Dec 26, 2004.)

5321

(killed in Thailand)

8457

(injured in Thailand)

$5billion

(pledged by various nations to help countries hit by the Dec 26 tsunamis)

26.12.04

20.07.07

Alpha Camp - Deco

2007-07-16T21:49:00.000+08:00

Before... (from plain white walls to ..)

After! (a prison !)

Concertina Wires! Don't u dare to even think of climbing over the gates.

hmmm... i really want to express my feeling here. i have been refraining myself from continuing with my craftworks til the end of Alpha season, because there were many times i was too drawn into my work that i find it hard to set aside time to reflect upon myself to seek God daily. However, i thank God for giving me this chance to re-deploy me to this area that i can give all of my skills in me - DECO Team. i was really excited when i was first told of the re-deployment from ADMIN Team to DECO for the camp production. This familiar area of craft has allowed me to be used by God to minister to the people around.

My experience this time: i really admire my own DECO team for the support and determination they had put forth throughout the Alpha sessions, not only coming out with brilliant ideas, but also painstakingly piece up each and every of the props and deco items. This really encourages me a lot even before i was deployed to DECO. I want to thank the volunteers as well, taking time off to come down and help with the cutting of cardboards into the prison bars. Having involving in this big scale deco, God has made me see the importance and joy of serving together, in a group, where we help one and other. Frankly speaking, in the past i would prefer to hold on tightly to the task given to me, always like to do things on my own, choosing to believe that only i myself can achieve the standard i have in mind. However, this involvement in major production has helped me see the value of teamwork to accomplish greater things, without getting help from people, i guess i would have many nightmares of me being tao-pok by the tonnes of cardboard and clear tapes... hee!

Doing the 'silent' job has allowed me to see the correct attitude of service to God, that these small small things add up to form the big picture. The beauty of Deco - to turn the place into a totally different one with the intended atmosphere. Yeah!

The Alpha DECO team!

Still the spirit of excellence for everything i do will stick with me, in my academics, my service to God, and other tasks and responsibilities on my hand. I pray that God will continue to humble me as i serve Him, building me up in my character and inner being...

Praise the Lord!

We're not in control of everything

2007-06-30T13:44:00.000+08:00

hmm... these few weeks I have been hearing people going to the hospital, be it for surgery, illness, infection, car accident... it seems to me that life is so fragile.

Dengue, sudden heart failure, cancer... these are things that took many away from this face of the Earth. Why is this happening? oOh, God! why must it be someone that we love? The family needs her, the young motorist has lost both his legs, the young JC student has a bright future, why him? why? One moment he might be chatting with you, the next moment he is gone. You might have met him for coffee last week, but now he is no more.

Is that all to life? Do we just live on this planet called the Earth by chance? Do we just live - to die? Do we come together by chance, then one day decompose into fertiliser or dust blown away by wind? What happens after that? Who makes the call for everything to come together.

What is the plan for us? Being 'homo sapiens' created to be capable of improving ourselves, as beings that knows what is right and wrong, going to educational institutes to sharpen our understanding in science and technology, coming out with new gadgets to improve our living.

Are we really in control of everything?

We want take control of many things - TV, aircon, steering wheel, the press, movie censorship, crime...
We cannot control - LIFE

The God that created the universe, the diversity of flora and fauna, insects and animal, and vast oceans and wide mountains, the bright blue sky and the dark cloudy one, HE is the same God that brought us, humans, into existence, to spread the love of Him, to have a intimate relationship with Him. When things around us are spinning too fast and things seemed to be out of position, remember to go to the centre of this tornado to find Him, there you will find peace.

Can God show Himself to real to me? I can't see Him, and I can't see, touch, smell, Him. If He wants us to acknowledge Him, why didn't HE appear to us directly?

God says:" My child, my lovely child, why can't you look around you? I have been showing myself to all my children in the face of this planet I called the Earth, thru the galaxy, the sun and stars, the rainbows, the bright blue sky and vast oceans, the open green pastures and wide mountains - so that you may witness my power and majesty...

I have also planted different kinds of plants and flowers in your midst, seeds that bear fruits, the caterpillars, earthworms, snails and ants, features of plants favouring its pollination, fertilisation, seed dispersal, a system that sustains itself again and again - for they represent how detailed my plan can be. "

Slow down for a while and take a look at the Nature, there you will find Him.

Let God be at the centre of our Life, let Him who has the best plan and purpose for what HE has created carry out His plan in us, thru us.

Learning to draw using software . . .

2007-06-17T17:09:00.000+08:00

Just got to know this friend of mine, Zhi Rong, and he is coming into NUS Life Science this coming semester. I just went to his blog and saw his artwork (above) which took him 3 days working on the software Artrage. I must say he is good!

So i also downloaded the programme and try doing it.

Look what i have just drawn,

Hee! not as grand as Zhi Rong's, but i guess i still need some more practice to max the software...

My Charcoal Drawings

2007-06-10T14:37:00.000+08:00

I was attending charcoal drawing class in 2005. Just want to share with you my drawings.

I really pray that God will use my talents and gifts to advance the kingdom of God.

when the Police car kiss the Bus . . .

2007-05-31T23:26:00.000+08:00

On 31 May 2007, 0845hr, i was on bus 106 along tanglin road when i suddenly heard a loud bang under my seat at the rear of the bendy bus.

The bus stopped at the bus stop just in front and the captain came out to take a look. A police car, while filtering into the main road did not notice the bus which is going straight across the junction, and hit the rear of the bus.

(Watch out for the right bumper of the Police car.)

Really thank God that no one was injured.

The Lord is on watch...

Why Good Friday and Easter day?

2007-04-06T00:00:00.000+08:00

Do you know why is there Good Friday and Easter Day?

Easter is not about easter eggs and easter bunny. These are just commercialised products and business ideas that came out to earn profits from it.

Most importantly we need to know the significance of this event, why your Christian friends are so excited about it and ask you to attend Easter service with them.

The Full Story of Easter!

(http://www.whyeaster.com/story/full.shtml)
(pictures from iLumina)

About 1960 years ago, Jesus and his friends and followers were in Jerusalem preparing for the special Passover celebrations.

At the same time, the chief priests and other Jewish officials were meeting at the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest, to discuss ways of capturing Jesus quietly, and killing him. They wanted to kill Jesus because they hated how popular he was with the people and thought he might take some of their power away, and also more importantly, they did not believe Jesus's claim that he was the Son of God. "But we can't do it during the Passover celebrations," they agreed, "because the people might riot."

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's twelve disciples, went to the chief priests, and asked, "How much will you pay me if I betray Jesus to you?" They gave him thirty silver coins. From then on, Judas watched for a chance to betray Jesus to them.

On the first day of the Passover ceremonies, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where are we going to eat our Passover meal?" Jesus replied, "Go into the city and find a man carrying a water jar and tell him, 'Our Master says, my time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.' " So the disciples did as he told them, and prepared the meal there.

That evening, as Jesus sat eating the Passover meal with his disciples. Jesus broke the bread, blessed it and said, "Take this and eat it, for this is my body, which I am giving for you." He then took the cup of wine and gave thanks and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my blood which is poured out for you."

Then he said, "One of you will betray me." The disciples asked each other who would do that. But Judas knew he was talking about him. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to a local beauty spot, the Mount of Olives, and Jesus said to them, "This very night all of you will run away and leave me." Peter, one of Jesus's best friends, said to him, "Even if everyone else leaves you, I never will. Even if I have to die with you, I will never let you down. I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."

Then Jesus took his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray. Pray for strength against temptation." He went a little way from them, knelt down and started to pray. "God, my Father, if it is possible, please take this burden from me. But do what you want, not what I want." Jesus stayed there and prayed for about an hour.

When he returned to the disciples, he found them asleep and asked them, "Why are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, for your spirit is willing, but your body is weak." Then he went away for a second time to pray, "My Father, if it is not possible to take this painful thing from me, and if I must do it, I pray that what you want will happen." Jesus went back to his followers and found that they had fallen asleep again, so he went and prayed a third time. When he came back the last time, they were still asleep so he told them, "Wake up! It is nearly time for the Son of Man to be betrayed by sinners! Here comes my betrayer."

After the meal, Judas had gone to the high priests and made arrangements with them and the soldiers about how they would know Jesus. "The one who I kiss is the one to arrest.", he said. When they arrived where Jesus and his disciples were, Judas went up to Jesus and kissed him and said, "Greetings, Teacher." And with that, the soldiers arrested Jesus.

Jesus was taken to the court of Caiaphas (the High Priest), the teachers of the law and the Jewish Elders. Peter followed at a distance into the courtyard. He sat down with the guards to see what would happen. The priests and the Sanhedrin (the name of the Jewish parliament) brought lots of witnesses who told lies about Jesus. But nothing could be proved and Jesus would not say anything to defend himself. Finally the High Priest said to him, "I ask you under oath: Are you the Son of God?" Jesus replied, "You say that I am." Then the High Priest said, "He has spoken against God!! Do we need anymore witnesses?" The other priests replied, "He should die for what he has said!"

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to Peter and said, "You were with Jesus of Galilee." Peter said, "I don't know what you're talking about." Then he went out to the gateway where another girl saw him and told the people around her, "This man was with Jesus of Galilee." Peter said, "I swear I don't know him!" After a little while, the people standing around the gate came up to Peter and said, "Surely you were with him, your accent gives you away." (People from Galilee had a different accent to people in Jerusalem.) Now Peter became angry and said, "I don't know the man!!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went outside and cried. He had denied knowing Jesus because he was scared that he might be arrested.

To sentence someone to death, the Jewish leaders had to have the Roman Governor's permission. So even thought it was late at night (and against Jewish law!) they took Jesus before the Roman governor, Pilate, who asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied, "Those are your words." The priests and chief elders then began accusing him and still, Jesus did nothing to defend himself (much to the amazement of Pilate). The governor said, "Don't you hear how they're accusing you?" But still, Jesus didn't say anything!

Pilate didn't know what to do with Jesus. Because he didn't think he had done anything wrong, he sent him to the Jewish King Herod. Herod was pleased that Jesus had been arrested and questioned him, but again, Jesus said nothing. So Herod made fun of him and Herod's soldiers beat Jesus up. Then Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate as he didn't know what to do with Jesus either!

It was the custom, at the time Passover, for the Roman governor to release one Jewish prisoner chosen by the ordinary people. At that time, they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. When Pilate asked the crowd who they wanted released. The Priests stirred up the crowd so they called for Barabbas. Pilate asked them, "What do you want me to do with Jesus, who is called King of the Jews?" They answered back, let by the Priests, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Pilate asked them, "Why? What crime has he committed?" But, they shouted even louder, "CRUCIFY HIM!! CRUCIFY HIM!!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, he took some water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. (This is where we get the phrase 'washing our hands of something' when we want to show that we don't want the blame if something goes wrong!) Then Pilate released Barabbas. Jesus was flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The governor's soldiers took Jesus into the governor's palace and gathered around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him and then twisted together a crown of thorns and rammed it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" They spat on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had beaten him up, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As the soldiers led him away, they grabbed a man named Simon, (who was from Cyrene and on his way in from the country) from the watching crowd and made him carry the cross because Jesus had been beaten so badly, he was too weak to do so.

When they came to the place where they executed people, called Golgotha or 'The Place of the Skull', they offered Jesus cheap wine to drink to help stop the pain, but after he tasted it, he refused to drink it. When they had nailed Jesus up on to the Cross, the Jewish rulers among the crowd sneered at Jesus, saying, "If you are so wonderful and the King of the Jews, save yourself." An inscription, in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, was written on a bit of wood and put over Jesus' head on the cross. It read, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS." Jesus prayed to God, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.'

Two thieves were being crucified at the same time as Jesus, one on the right and one on the left. One of the criminals who hung next to Jesus hurled insults at him, 'Aren't you the Christ? Why don't you save yourself and us, too!!" But the other thief disagreed with him and said, "Aren't you afraid of God since you are under the same sentence? We are being punished because we did wrong things. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus told him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in heaven."

This happened about 12 noon, and from then until 3 pm it was dark because the sun did not shine! At 3 o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, My God, why have you left me?" Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice again, "It is finished!" And he died. A Roman centurion, was standing in front of Jesus and heard his cry and saw how he died. He said, "Surely, this man was the Son of God!"

Because the next day was the Sabbath (Saturday, the Jewish Holy Day), the Jews didn't want the bodies left on the crosses. Later, an important Jewish council member called Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus's body. Pilate gave his permission for Joseph to remove his body. He and Nicodemus (another council member) took Jesus' body and wrapped it in strips of cloth (which was the Jewish burial custom). Near the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden that Joseph owned and in the garden was a tomb that no one else had ever used. So they buried Jesus in this tomb.

The Romans put their best guards at the tomb and the Jewish Leaders had a massive stone rolled in front of it to stop Jesus's followers stealing the body and saying that he had come back to life.

Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdelene, one of Jesus's followers, and some other women went to the tomb to put spices onto the body to stop it smelling. When they got to the tomb, they discovered that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. They wondered what had happened! Suddenly two men dressed is white robes that glowed appeared in the tomb.

The women were very frightened, but the men said "He is not here! He has risen just as he said." Then the women remembered what Jesus has said.

The women left the tomb and went to tell the other disciples about what had happened. The others did not believe the women because it sounded like rubbish! But Peter and John got up and ran to the tomb and found it empty with only strips of cloth lying in it. When they saw the empty grave,they believed that Jesus had risen. Then the disciples went home

Mary stayed at the tomb and was very sad and crying. She turned away from the tomb and saw Jesus there, but she didn't know it was Jesus. "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Jesus asked her. She thought it was the gardener so said to him, "If you took Jesus's body away, please tell me where he is so I can go and see him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned to look at the man properly and saw that it was Jesus. Said said to him, "Rabboni!" (this means 'teacher' in Hebrew) She when to hug Jesus, but he said, "Don't hold on to me, because I have not gone back to heaven yet. But go and tell my disciples that I am going back to heaven." So Mary went back and told the disciples all about what had happened and that she had seen Jesus alive!

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Later on the same day, two of Jesus's followers were walking from Jerusalem to a town called Emmaus (about 11 kilometres or 7 miles). They were talking about what had happened over the last few days. They were joined by a stranger on the road and started walking with him. It was Jesus but they didn't recognise him. Jesus asked them "What are you talking about?" They told Jesus all that had happened and about the women going to the tomb, the Angels telling them that Jesus was Alive and the other disciples finding the tomb empty. Jesus then explained to them about what the old Jewish prophets had said about Jesus coming back to life (although they still didn't recognise him!) When they had finished talking, they were near Emmaus. It was getting late, so the two men asked Jesus to stay the night with them.

They sat down to dinner and Jesus said grace. As he broke the bread to eat, the disciple realised it was Jesus. (They might have seen the holes in Jesus's hands where the nails had been.) They were amazed and ran all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples in Jerusalem what had happened!

They found the other disciples in a locked room because they were scared of being found by the Jewish leaders. While the two disciples were saying what had happened, Jesus appeared in the room and said "Peace be with you!" They were scared and thought Jesus was a ghost. But Jesus said "Look at my hands and feet, it is me. Touch my hands where the nails went in. A ghost doesn't have a body!"

He showed them his pierced hands where the nails had gone in and they believed it was him, Alive! Jesus ate some fish with them and explained why he had died and that he would soon go back to heaven. He also explained that he would send a helper, the Holy Spirit, to live in and help all of Jesus's followers. He told them not to leave Jerusalem until the Helper had come. He also told them to go and tell other people about him and that he loves everyone so much he died for them.

But there was one disciple who wasn't there when Jesus first appeared, his name was Thomas and he doubted that Jesus really was alive. He said that unless he saw the holes in Jesus hands, he wouldn't believe that he was raised from the dead.

The next week, the disciples were in the room again. This time Thomas was with them. Even though the room was locked, Jesus still appeared to them. He showed Thomas his hands. Thomas touched him and said, "My Lord and My God!" And believed that Jesus was alive.

40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, he got his followers together and took them out to Bethany. He prayed for them and while he was doing so, he was carried back up into Heaven. A shining cloud covered Jesus, but suddenly two men dressed in white shining clothes stood next to Jesus and said "Why are you looking into the sky? Jesus who you saw going into heaven will return the same way!"

The disciples went back to Jerusalem as Jesus had told them to do. A while later, the disciples were in a house waiting to celebrate Pentecost (the Jewish harvest festival). Suddenly there was a sound like a strong blowing wind in the house. They saw things like flames of fire that came and rested on each of the disciples. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, the helper just as Jesus had promised.

They went outside and to tell people about Jesus and found that people from lots of different countries could understand what they were saying. (People from different countries were staying in Jerusalem then for the Pentecost festival.) The people didn't understand this was possible, some people thought they were all drunk! But Peter said "How can we be drunk? It's nine o' clock in the morning!"

The disciples found that by the power of the Holy Spirit, they could speak lots of different languages. They told all the people about Jesus and what he did for everyone. Over 3000 people became Christians that day!

People have been telling others about Jesus all over the world ever since.

My dear friends,

I want to tell the world that

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

I've found my purpose in my life, not chasing after wind, carrying trophies in my hands, but knowing that my eternal rewards are in heaven. I want to be like a star shining in the dark universe, guiding and drawing people closer to God, with my life as a testimony of what God has done in my life.

Jesus did not promise us a carefree life after receiving Him into our life.
- No bed of roses

But he promised us that He will walk beside us thru the deepest valleys and highest mountains.
- Thru good and bad times

Many times we fall, we hold sinful thoughts, lust, greed, lies, unwholesome talks.... do we really want to keep repeating these issues that keep us away from God? Are we really worthy for Jesus to died such a sinless death?

Are we taking Jesus seriously?

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

But many times we think that we are always in control and capable to make things happen our way. We boost to people around us about our wisdom, our capabilities, our strength.

"This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23-24

The old has gone, the New has come - I'm Jacob

2007-03-18T23:30:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone! I'm Jacob!

Just went for water baptism last sunday 110307.

I am really blissed by how God showed himself to me, thru His Word, rebuking me, encouraging me, correcting me, thru my brothers and sisters around me. Things might not be smooth at the moment, but it could never be better without God's love in my life. Knowing God makes me find purpose in my life, priorities in the decision i have to make. It is because i know who is watching over me, He who is everlasting, always present, always awake.

Thru these months of gaining my parents' consent for my water baptism, i found myself growing in love and respect for them. I have found many instances where i can share to them about Christianity and the fullness of the bible. They even see that the prayers that they challenge me to make being answered shortly.

Even though i have been thru a 6-day cold war with my parents recently after i went ahead with my water baptism, God is always with me at this very lonely period. The assurance that He give me is so great, He can resolve things with me as i face with greater persecution and insults. Those immediate 6 days after my water baptism was total silence at home. I cried out to God to help reconcile my relationship with my parents. However, one part of me was unwilling to take the first step to break the silence, perhaps its my ego and pride. Thank God that the coldness started to melt when i gained courage to strike a conversation with my Dad, buying his favourite peanuts, and also discussing about cars... my mum also started to talk to me, preparing the chicken essence for me... Today my dad even aked me to pray for safety and smooth operation for my cousin. I really hope to see my family drawing closer to God each day.

Friends who are out there, i would really like to see you open your hearts to understand and hear more about this God that loves everyone.

Easter is coming! Let me share to you the Joy of Easter!

a Slippery AYE, E-brake from 80km/h to complete stop 0km/h

2007-02-18T00:00:00.000+08:00

It was a rainy evening. On 16 Feb 2007.

I was driving along AYE on the first lane (fastest) at 80 km/h with a heavy drizzle.

Suddenly I saw the brake light of the yellow cab in front of my vehicle, coming to a complete stop.

I followed by jamming my brake paddle to the max immediately, but my vehicle clashed into the boot of the cab in front, and came to a stop.

Shocked by the impact, I was hoping in my heart that no one was injured. I put on the hazard light and came out of my vehicle in the drizzle to take pictures of the damage and settle with the driver of the cab. Apparently there was this biker who skid while he was riding on the first lane and the cab jammed brake to avoid him. But my vehicle was not able to stop in time.

I really want to thank God for his protection over the passengers on board my vehicle and also the pregnant mother on the cab. None of them sustained injury from the accident.

Thank You Lord!

Valuable Lessons for Drivers/Drivers-wannabe:

Keep a distance that is far enough for you to come to a complete stop at the speed you are driving.

Be alert always, ready to react to situations accordingly.

Remember that the braking distance is much more longer on wet slippery roads.

Points to take note should you be involved in an accident:

1) Come down your vehicle and check if there is any people injured. (if yes, need to make police report.)

2) Take pictures of the damages of the vehicle in front of you. (whoever bangs into anyone's butt is at fault and accountable to his damages.)

3) Exchange contact no., Name, I/C no., License plate no., take note of time and location.

4) Quickly drive away from the road, not to obstruct traffic.

5) While driving off, take note of the temperature meter on your panel, make sure the needle does not hit High. (or else the engine will get too Hot and catch fire and explosion if continue driving.)

6) Once there is an opportunity to park your vehicle safely, look at the bottom of the bonnet to check there is no leak, or drippings from the front. (that might be the coolant water from the radiator, check also any oil leak. If positive, do not attempt to drive off the vehicle.)

To end off, I would like to wish all Drivers - Safe Journey Ahead , especially during this festive season.

Be responsible, be Alert

looks like Oink oink Pigs are coming to town Soon !

2007-02-03T13:11:00.000+08:00

Hello All!

Chinese New Year is coming! I can hear the Pigs coming!

Artsfantasy presents to you:

"Chinese New Year Special Deal"

- Big Piggy -

( $6.00 per piece, $10 per pair )

- Small Piglet -
( $4.50 per piece, $8 per pair )

Please support my small small business if you really like the crafts i have made. Thank You!

If you are interested in any of the items, please feel free to sms me or send a mail to the email address below:

artsfantasy85@yahoo.com.sg

Disclaimer: All items are subjected to availability.

Orders to be placed 5 days before actual delivery date.

Thinking of buying cards? Choose handmade cards this CNY!

KyuuBox Production-金猪卡

(Highly recommended by Artsfantasy)

Outside

Inside

"Okie..Feeling bored with the traditional CNY card...Want to go for something special...Have no fear..Kyuubox is here...I am proud to present 2007 金猪卡(Golden Pig CNY Card)...I am planning to put it on sale for anyone who is interested at $1.80 per card to put it into KyuuBox Fund...To make it a more auspicious opening..I will be having an Early Bird Special(Today till 21st Jan)..5 for the price of $8.80...So that in future i can produce much more hand-made,creative and interesting festive cards which i love to make...Last year, most of my production were delayed...even though it was finished they were too late to be published...So this year...i started it earlier since i am having break now...I will post the sample photos below..interested personel..please place your order 5 days in advanced by contacting me through mail ( daryll_sim@hotmail.com) ....So why wait..Come on and make this coming CNY an unforgettable and auspicious one for your friends and relatives...=) Oink!"
( extracted from Wei Qiang's blog )

For those who are interested on '2007 金猪卡(Golden Pig CNY Card)',

please contact Wei Qiang through mail ( daryll_sim@hotmail.com) for more info.

Gifts 'n' Cards

2007-01-30T23:00:00.000+08:00

Hi all!

Valentine's Day Special

Arts Fantasy proudly presents to you:

" I lOVE Y0u" - Valentine's Day card

" Send this card to someone you love, put on a smile on his/her face"

Limited edition. 40 pieces worldwide. $3.oo per piece.

And what is Valentine's Day without flowers?

Visit http://www.valesandtines.blogspot.com/

- So get flowers with a 'I Love You' card for the one you love. -

Other Multi-Occasion Pop-up Cards

- Ups n Downs -

- Common Goal -

- Step by Step -

Arts Fantasy Woodcraft Gifts

( All wooden crafts are treated with protective layer to ensure long-lasting )

- Holland Windmill -

($10.00 per piece)

- Watermill House -

($6.00)

- Ferris Wheel -

( $5.00 per piece)

- Harley Davidson -

( $8.00 per piece)

- Statue of Liberty, USA -

( $10.00 per piece )

- Eiffel Tower, Paris -

($10.00 per piece)

- Guitar -

($4.00 per piece)

- Grand Piano -

($4.00 per piece)

- Vintage Car 1 -

($6.00 per piece)

- Vintage Car 2 -
($6.00 per piece)

- Swan -

( $4.00 per piece, $7.50 per pair )

- Carousel -

( $8.00 per piece )

- Plane -

($4.50 per piece)

- Helicoptor -

($4.50 per piece)

Please support my small small business if you really like the crafts i have made. Thank You!

If you are interested in any of the items, please feel free to sms me or send a mail to the email address below:

artsfantasy85@yahoo.com.sg

Disclaimer: All items are subjected to availability.

Orders to be placed 5 days before actual delivery date.

last day of 2006, a brand new 2007!

2006-12-31T13:46:00.000+08:00

Today is the last day of year 2006.

Time is really fast.

I start to think of what i have gone thru this year.

2006 is a exciting year for me.

Army.

Army is the time where i am most fit, the peak of my physical fitness. From training as a trainee to training my trainees, i really found joy in setting a good example to them and impart whatever i have learnt, my experiences to them, and hope to see them become a good soldier, doing their part in the security of the nation. And have to thank those who have taken care of me during my service to the nation. They let me see how things work in the army, how to relate to one another in this serious and complex organisation call the SAF. I will remember those lessons i have learnt: relating to authorities, integrity, RSAF 9 core values, teamwork, precision, honesty, responsibility, initiative, flexibility, planning, contingencies and communications.

NUS.

Coming back to the studying mode isn't easier for me, especially after 2 years of camo cream on the face, eating of combat ration, and wearing the helmet. Really thanks to my seniors who helped me along the way, with their past year notes and Lab Reports! Those are really valuable stuffs! So i decided to archive my version of notes and tutorials neatly so that i can help my juniors in the future. And i really enjoyed the time with my new friends in school. Eating together at the pink tables and i will always entertain them with really COLD jokes. ( Laughing aids digestion ) Rushing for lessons and squeezing onto the forever crowded shuttle bus. Studies wise was not easy for me. In the beginning of the semester, i was really lagging behind, lectures after lectures, drifting further and further away, not able to do the tutorials. I was really afraid that i will do badly in my first semester. Especially my statistics module and organic chemistry module. I even scored 24/100 for the organic chem mid term test and 17/40 for my stats quiz. My heart sank deep, as i knew i was way below the average. i really want to do well. And during the reading week, i decided to pick myself up again and asked God to come in and help me understand the modules before the final exam comes. For 3 weeks, from the start of the reading week to my last paper, i went to school everyday to study with my brothers and sisters, really want to be there for one another during this intense period of studying. Praising God and worshipping Him whenever i feel stretched and saturated, starting to daze, and i was recharged everytime i prayed to God to calm my heart and give me the peace and assurance i needed at that time. And recently the results for this semester was out. Although i didn't do really exceptionally well, but this is really God's grace for the final results. My organic chemistry turned out to be one of my best module, got a B+. I wouldn't say i regreted. Because i have made used of the time i have to do things with my best effort, not just studying very hard, but also take time to serve God's kingdom, encouraging, sharpening one another.

As i reviewed my 2006, i really thank God for being in my life. Things might not happen to be the best-ideal scenario, but I am sure it is better, now that i have God in my life to go thru the ups and downs in my walk. Life is not about getting lots of metal cups (some call them trophies) that can collect rain water in the rainy december or laminated a4 construction papers stacked in our drawers (and some call them certificates). We have limited time on Earth, and somethings are not within our control. So i believe what we want is to do something that will last, in our lifetime, and even eternal. Leaving deep impression in people's life, helping one another out of periods of dryness. Making sense of what is happening around us and to us is important, cos that is a process that is the determining step, whether a lesson learnt anot.

Looking at the new year resolutions i have drafted out for 2006, i score 3/5.
One of the 2 that i have not accomplish yet will not appear on my list for 2007, cos i know when the time comes, it will be from God, the someone that God has planned for me. No rush, cos lots of other important things to do.

Actually i encourage you to start drafting out your resolutions for 2007, write it on the first page of your organiser. And remember to keep in view of them throughout the year. Think of things/areas that you want to see yourself accomplish.

Let's make this coming year 2007 a fruitful one!

may Love, Peace and Joy follow you, always!

2006-12-23T12:45:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas !

(Please turn on your volume and click on the music player on the right)

Recently i have been very busy making cards for my dear friends.

Limited edition! only 120 pieces ard the world!

I always like to see the smile that is on your face.

And i always believe in the human touch. That's why i have been doing things with my own hands. Yes, although it takes time to do, but i believe you guys don't mind a card made with a sincere heart, wanting to bless your Christmas this year!

All together i have written 100 cards, and it took me two nights to write them all...hee!

These are cards that are waiting to be sent out this Christmas.

Sealed in envelope, ready to be dispatched to your home.

To all Christians, brothers and sisters, Merry Christmas! To us, Christmas is not all about sales! shopping, lightings... its the day God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to come to planet Earth, just to restore a meaningful relationship once again between God and men.

To all my friends, enjoy the lightings and sales, and also take this chance to ponder on the meaning behind Christmas.

Spend your Christmas with your loved ones. May Love, Peace and Joy follow you, always.

'LORD is with us' thru this battle, through it all!

2006-11-29T21:40:00.000+08:00

This exam period is a battle to me.

However, the preparation for my first exam after i received Christ is an exciting one! I grew in reliance and trust in the LORD more.

Since last Sunday i have been going to NUS everyday to study together with my brothers and sisters from my church. We even occupied a tutorial room in Engin Faculty as our permanent study room. The feeling of studying together is really different as we are constantly being cared for and encouraged whenever we feel saturated or feeling unwell, there are always brothers and sisters to talk to, or simply put down our readings for a while as we pick up our guitars and sing praise and worship God.

We also brought food and tibits and contribute to the snack area.

And thank you winnie for the longgan+red dates soup she has prepared for those who are studying very hard for their papers. So gandong!

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

Proverbs 11:25

And i really gained strength from Him who strengthens me thru this period, coming back to Him and ask for more memory space and healing for my flu.

Some of my friends asked me why am i wasting time praying or read the bible or attend service every week. I would always reply to them that there is time for everything. Time to focus and study, time to eat, time to rest and most importantly, time to come back to God for refreshment and continue to receive His Word daily.

Paying Taxes to Caesar - Matthew22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

This short passage from the bible tells us that whatever that belongs to God we give it to Him. Yes, definitely, being a Christian-who-happen-to-be-student is definitely not easy, and that we might not have free time as much as our classmates. But we trust God that life is NOT JUST about scoring well in exams. What's greater is our purpose in our life. And be sure that we also want to excel in our academics to bring Glory to our God.

I also receive a vision from God regarding decorating our study room. Prior that i have been praying to God for things that i can do to encourage my brothers and sisters during this stress period. The image i saw when i was praying was so clear that i was so excited and prompted to start doing the artpiece immediately after the prayer, although i knew another voice in me told me i should be studying for the upcoming exams. The image i saw was a piece of white paper with the exact words 'LORD is with us'. I guess God wants me to create this banner so that whenever we feel lonely and stressed, thinking whether we could pull thru, we will be able to look back and know that God is with us, watching every step we take.

I felt so touched that my brothers and sisters would put away their revision stuffs and send me to MPSH and prayed for me just minutes before the door opens. And after the prayer, i would feel confident and calm, doing my very best and let God handle the rest. Now i also enjoy praying for people going for exam and hear their victory when they return to the study room.

It is really exciting to do things for God and not for man. Drawing closer to Him during this intense period. And i pray for more intimacy relationship with God.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."

Psalms 28:7

oh my God! I'm ORGANICHEMOPHOBIC!!!

2006-10-26T23:44:00.000+08:00

Ah!!! Oh my God! I am organichemophobic! I really feel like i am struggling with this module CM1121- Basic Organic Chemistry. It seems impossible to remember everything! Those who are with me, guess you will be nodding your head away... its so different from the JC organic chem we had...haiz...STRESSED!

Next monday is our mid term test for this module. Siao Liao! The lecturer keeps on teaching and teaching, at the same time the whole LT seems drifting further and further away from mainland, initially still at Straits of Singapore....South China Sea...international sea...further...further...Ahhhhhh... can you still see me? lucky i got internet wireless as i am floating and typing this entry from somewhere in the south china sea... or maybe its Pacific Ocean...anyway i just can't see the shore!!!

But my God is everywhere! He is watching from heavens above...his creations. During my revision for organic chem, i prayed for a while everytime before i dive into the new chapter. My wisdom is finite, but He who created the heavens and earth has a infinite wisdom. Jesus told us to leave our old self and follow Him, doesn't mean to leave our brains behind.

" The LORD will make you the head , not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that i give you this day and follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom" Deuteronomy 28:13

"If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" James 1:5

He definitely has all the answers to the tests that we are going thru. Because He is the beginning and the end. Meanwhile as we pray to God for wisdom , we don't sit on the wooden chair and rock the chair, sitting by our laptop to keep pressing the refresh button, waiting for the answers to be sent to you via email... We are commited to work to our very best, using the time available, wanting to partnership with Him during the preparation and going into the battlefield. LORD, we want to bring glory to you and be a good living testimony.

Hello brothers and sisters, I decided to do this blog entry despite being stressed over by my organic chemistry test, because I know everyone of us are going thru our own challenges, and just want to encourage you that the LORD our God gives when we ask. Share your burden with Him, and share the thoughts you are going through with the brothers and sisters. He who refreshes others, will be refreshed.

The LORD is with us!

The Ant and a Contact Lens

2006-10-18T23:22:00.000+08:00

I am really encouraged after i read this forwarded mail.

Hope you are blessed by this story as well. Cheers!

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens. "Great", she thought.

"Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry." She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there. She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm,and she prayed that she may find her contact lens .

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains.

She thought of the bible verse "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth" She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me..."

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it?An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it! The story doesn't end there.

Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption,

"Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You."

I think it would do all of us some good to say,

"God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will."

God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him.....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

“ Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. ”Proverbs 3:5 - 6

"He has to throw a Brick at us." Don't go thru life too fast!

2006-10-17T23:02:00.000+08:00

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day: If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you! Send this to every "beautiful person" you wish to bless.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow,sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. Read this line very slowly and let it sink in... If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Phases of my Life

2006-10-11T15:38:00.000+08:00

Really thank you for coming to my party. Hope you didn't mind the crowdedness on that evening. Hope it is an unforgetable one for all of us.

To those who did not receive my invitation, sorry for that. I wished you were there with me too but i have limitations. You can ask those who were there with me,whether there was space to accomodate more people.TOTAL STRENGTH: 62pax! 4 room HDB flat. Rock the house man!!!

official logo

Entrance to my house.

In the morning i started my decoration work at 9am and i finish at 2pm. Then ate lunch. Though organising a party at home requires the whole family to tidy up the house and clear up after everyone left. But i insisted to do it in my house. Because i like my guests to feel homely. I don't like the cold cold feeling in function rooms and clubhouses, so plain. I like to do decorations.

My 21st Birthday cake. 5Kg.

Some asked: " Why is it a female cow?" i would reply: " Because this cow is Mooooo (Mu, in chinese we say its female)... Haha... COLD?

My JJC friends, 02S4, Once 2gether Steady 4ever!

Let's make it a point to gather everyone thru such events...though some so you are either working or studying.

Airforce Friends! I will always remember the crazy things we did, and the times we watch out for each other.

My lovely Carebears OG! nus -Science Orientation Week'o6

Can you see its really a good mix of young handsome guys and pretty girls?

Going to lectures with me, and also seeing each other at the pink table area... Let's play hard and study as hard this sem!

Young People's Performing Arts Ensemble.

Wei Jing and Wanrong, let's meet up some day... So long never update on each other..

I thank God for putting me in this spiritual family of brothers and sisters. Serving the Lord with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind, and all our strength.

my family!

Wow... so many present... good good!

My elder brother, thank you for this shirt you bought for me! Nice!

and younger sister, thank you for your effort in the Multi-media clip.

My 21st Birthday Rally Speech to all whom i love deeply :

Life is a journey. Keep on walking, when faced with challenges, don't avoid it, overcome it, learn from it, and be sure that after every obstacles, you are stronger than before. Do your task with integrity, give it your best effort. Take care, look after your counterparts, offering them your time to listen to them. Life is NOT JUST about getting a degree in uni, or getting promotion. Studying hard to score in academic and working towards promotion is definitely GREAT, but what i am trying to say is that there is more to life. Life is not JUST spending time on Earth,but making everyday count. Live your life to the fullest. Cherish everyday, every hour, every minute. Don't regret! Maybe you can ask yourself what is your purpose in life? Money? Chasing after wind? or you would choose to invest in Friendship, Family, and Love for those in your life. After i came to know Christ last year, i've learnt to cherish the people around me, the little little things they do and witnessing their lives poured out for people whom they love. Appreciate whatever that is in your life. Pause ,reflect , Move On! Don't dwell in your old self anymore! Be someone who leaves an impact on people around you (in a positive way).

I really thank God for watching over me and my household and i pray that God will use me, continue to bless me so that i can be a blessing to you!

for my MM clip, please click on the URL: http://justjasmine.net/21bday.wmv

may take a few minutes... download if you are very interested. Hee!

21st Birthday Giftsssssss...

2006-10-09T22:40:00.000+08:00

First of all i thank you for all the gift . I like them very much. And all of them are practical and i will definitely use them.

Perfume and deodorant. I like the yellow sweet smell one, with a bit of lemon... refreshing.

Guess i will smelling good from today onwards...Thank You!

Clothes, running attire

Soft toys....

Fossil watch, really good taste. i like it very much, cool!

Painting craft pens, guess i will be making use of it to make more cards for people around me le....haha... your birthday coming?

Candle holder,

"You are the light of the world. Acity on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew5:14-16

Zip canvas file, for me to put my lecture notes and stationary, studying hard....

Piggy handphone cushion rest. Lucky its big enough for my N70 phone. i like piggy! cos they are like everything no problem, so relaxed...no worries...

I really need time to play this, using chisel and hammer, slowly carve out the dino fossils...but i think i will enjoy it... thanks

Philip Mini-Hifi, with USB plug-in function, thanks, and the FIR cd with signatures of the three of them... still got so many Music Videos...yeah! Goes perfectly into my room, i need music to study!

little Chick Chick...my new toy!

2006-09-24T21:25:00.000+08:00

from the previous blog entry, i talk about McSpicy DOUBLE, now you see a chick. Don't think that i am so hungry that i even eat small chicks...nonono...i am also a animal-lover...
This is just my new toy! Her name is Xiao Ji Ji... Thanks to Shu Yi who got me this toy, it really blessed me. It adds to my collection of toys on my bag...

Have been doing my reading... for my module: SP1201 Freshmen Seminar

Need to do oral presentation next week when term starts...panick...buttleflies in the stomach, whatever.

Few days ago i fetch my mum to je ntuc. I did not do into the cashcard carpark cos wanna save money on parking, so i stayed in the car and wait along the side of the road. So while waiting i took out my readings... This mid term break, although is 1 week, i is really short. Because there are really lots of things to rush out, assignments, tutorials, revisions, presentations... I really pray that the rest of it would be fruitful and i can be productive.

Keep fit, Gain Weight, McSpicy DOUBLE meal!

2006-09-24T20:48:00.001+08:00

One week ago i went running with Jan. It was a refreshing one, plus it was my first time running to kent ridge park. Do you know there is actually a lake around our school? i think the run was about 6km or more. Jan brought me to the highest point of kent ridge park, overviewing the keppel harbour and sea and beyond. Such a nice place. After that we ran back to school as the sky gets dark, the YIH slope to engin is a killer... even the bus is struggling to climb up...
I really felt God's strength with me throughout the run, plus Jan was running with me, keeping me in suspense on where we are going to run to, what to expect(reach there then you will know), how much more...

After cooling down, 1930hrs, wanted to get dinner but when i went to Techno Edge (engin canteen), all stalls were closed except vegetarian food stall. Being a hungry man who just came back from 6km run, the veg food would not be able to give me enough protein to build up. So, left with no choice, i went to MacDonalds just beside the canteen, ordered McSpicy DOUBLE meal! Feast!!! Hope the end of my semester 1, i will gain more weight and not so bony, so not easily blown away during strong wind season in near December. Cheers to my 'Bye Bony, Gain Weight' program. All are welcome to join this programme with me and let's meet up and feast together!

staIRS n slOPes - ups and downs

2006-09-19T01:27:00.000+08:00

This is my new study space. Recently upgraded to wireless modem, can use my laptop anywhere on the house loh! Yeah!....see, my fav area in my house, got guitar to play with whenever i want to sing to the LORD! Laptop is just within the radius of my study desk, and my bed is just beside the study desk, ahhhh..the force is getting stronger than ever! Still got my big cushion which my jc class gave me for my 18th birthday, and my ah niu (cow) smiling away as i enter slumberland whenever i open my organic chem textbook...

new ring files! come in 4 colours, so sweet!

Erm...everywhere in NUS in stairs, Stairs, and more STAIRS! Studying in NUS is a extreme sport. U sweat, muscles contracts to propel yourself up the hills. of Cos, there are downslopes also, what goes up must come down.
Life is full of ups and downs. Sometimes we feel tired and weary from things that happen around us, cos we don't know what's going to happen after we reach the top of this slope, but take heart that as long as you follow the right path, u will definitely reach the summit one day, where u will rejoice!

1st RED bomb received!

2006-09-19T00:42:00.000+08:00

Guess what, few days ago i received a RED envelope containing a red card...with the following words:

A Wedding Celebration
Recently, my friend and i were discussing on future. Questions like when is the ideal age i think i would get married ?how many kids ? ...

Just for Laugh

WOMAN
When she is 18 - She is a football, 22 men going after her.
When she is 28 - She is a hockey ball, 8 men going after her.
When she is 38 - She is a golf ball, 1 man hitting on her.
When she is 48 - She is a pingpong ball, 2 men pushing to each other.
MAN

At 20 - A man is like a coconut, so much to offer, so little to give.
At 30 - He is like a durian, dangerous but delicious.
At 40 - He is like a watermelon, big, round and juicy.
At 50 - He is like a mandarin orange, the season comes once in a year.
At 60 - He is just like a raisin, dried out, wrinkles and cheap.

I have faith that marriage can be pure and everlasting, especially when both of them knows God purpose and Word. Marriage is not just a piece of paper that both sign and keep in a cylindrical cardboard holder. Marriage is a vow that both make, with God as witness, it would be valid to have and to hold, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us apart. But it seem too early for me to think of marriage now. Now still in yr1 NUS, give me another 8 yrs? Erm...

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs16:9.

However, i would like to

Wish my former army superior Mr Jackson and his fiancee Miss Fiona, a blissful marriage.

Sotong on an Anchor

2006-09-12T21:26:00.000+08:00

Abstract: Yeah...really tired these few days.

Aims: To be able to manage time well.

Procedure: The last weekend did not have time to study much.Tutorials and lab reports to worry about. Furthermore, unlike the first week, now i hardly have time for revision.

Fig 1.1

Observation: Think i am lagging further and further away from where i used to be, lost in this ocean...floating sotong. As i was floating under the sea, i found an anchor that is firmly stuck on the seabed. I just cling on to it and i found peace in the midst of the stormy sea. The current is strong, family objections on me being 'too' involved in church events and coming back home late. Whenever i studied til late night, my mum will say that i torture myself by getting so busy. While i was thinking thru all this, i really turns me off and i started to doubt my commitments to Him. However, the fishes around me advised me to cling on to the anchor even firmer at this periodof time. I choose to pray before i study, before i start my day. Suddenly the anchor started to withdraw and i felt lifted up, relieved. In the midst of murky water i saw LIGHT! Getting brighter and brighter. i decided to cling on even tighter, soon i will be in the light.

Conclusion: i will continue to trust the Lord that as i commit in serving Him, he will not short-change me. And when i feel tired i will be able to find peace within. And in harsh condition we should even depend more on Him who can give us strength.

So much on my sotong, let's enjoy eating sambal sotong.

Rack-up-a-Urinal!

2006-09-05T11:11:00.000+08:00

STUpid STupid stupid! Let me bring u on a tour to a male toilet in NUS...

You open the door of the Gents, you are walking towards the row of urinals. You chose one of them and proceed towards it. Once in position, you unzip and look down...

PANG!

You have just BANG your head on this rack that is fixed just above the urinal.

Introducing the Rack-up-a-Urinal!

The intention: it is meant for you to put your files or laptops when you are in the toilet.

However, the casualty rate is HIGH!

so,..BEWARE! Don't look down...just rest your head on the Rack-up-a-Urinal!

p/s: can NUS Management PLEASE remove this Rack-up-a-Urinal before more innocent freshies injure themselves? Your effort is much appreciated.

I have experienced the Rack-up-a-Urinal twice.

Have you?

RSAF Open House! So open, Sunburn....

2006-09-05T10:47:00.000+08:00

Abstract: I went back to my camp recently, Paya Lebar Air Base, for RSAF Open House.

Aims and Objectives: To catch up with my fellow soldiers who are on duty, and also to look at limited souvenoirs.

There were lots of static display of aircrafts.

Observations:

I really like the aerial display, especially when the F-16 flew in front of us and suddenly speed up and chiong vertically up into the sky and disappear into thin clouds.
There was a performance by the Red Lions, commandos parachute unit. Nice Clouds!

Conclusion:Fond memories when i went back my camp, with the pink i/c in my wallet, coming back as a civilian. This is the base that i have spent most of my NSF time in.

My officers who took care of me and gave me opportunities to advance. My fellow specs, we gone thru so much. My fellow trainees taught by me, spend your best time in the service. You reflect what i have taught you, make me feel proud of you! I can't wait to see you guys in the civilian world. Be Patient.

We have made it! 10km only? Finish already?

2006-08-27T20:17:00.000+08:00

Yes! 10km Annual Sheares Bridge Run...really glad that i manage to survive the run. I did not walk leh....haha lots of people... i enjoyed the run very much, so happy - endorphins released into the blood stream and bind to the receptors.

Let you know more about endorphin in our lives...

Sugar rush
"Time and again you've experienced the intense effects that food can have on your moods. Cakes, cookies, and fudge are known as pleasure foods not only because they delight your taste buds but because they can make you feel calm and happy - at least temporarily. This sugar induced sense of euphoria comes from several chemical mechanisms in your brain. First of all, the sheer pleasure of tasting a chocolate treat or powdery donut stimulates your brain's pleasure pathways and the release of dopamine and endorphins, the chemicals that makes you feel exhilarated. You also get a quick surge of energy as the sugar hits your bloodstream. Unfortunately, that energized feeling lasts only as long as the sugar rush. Once your blood-sugar levels drop (about an hour or two later), you're left feeling drained and out of sorts.You become an addict looking for another hit."
Taken from
http://pages.prodigy.net/unohu/endorphins.htm

I want to say something to milo!

I love you, milo. Especially when u are iced cold. Thank you for being with me when i am feeling down. When lecture is early in the morning, u are there to start my day. When i just finished my run, u r there to quench my thirst. I can't imagine life without u! Thank you.

Although it rained heavily, we endured and persist on and ran thru the finish line. Maybe after more training in the future, i will attempt the 21km half marathon. Oh..i say MAYBE right? haha...see how lah... Hope tomolo we u guys see me in sch i will not have cramps or aches and be lame. Anyway i am Lame. Haha..lame...

as WISE as serpents, as INNOCENT as dove, as BLUR as sotong?

2006-08-20T15:24:00.000+08:00

Erm..
my feeling after going thru the 1st week?
Excited but at the same time worried.
There are lots of things to catch up. Regret and thought i could have read up a bit more so i would not be so sotong during lectures. I really want to catch up immediately when doubts arises cos i think if not, this blur sotong ME will drift further and further away.

Now let me analyse my modules.

CM1121 - Basic Organic Chemistry
Sounds basic to u? Come and attend the lecture lah! The scottish lecturer wants us to copy from his slides presentation. This module in IVLE is quite empty. No notes attached. Looks like we have to copy like mad during the lecture, at the same time catch what he is murmuring in his scottish accent. Aiyoh yoh!

ST1232 - Statistics for Life Sciences
So far so good. I love the lecturer! Although he got a HongKong accent, i am really drawn to listen during the lecture as he tries to explain the concepts in simple form for understanding. He even got a powerpoint presentation on:

Introduction to Myself.

I was so stun when i saw it! This lecturer is so professional! Ha Ha...It is interesting finding out that some statistics shown in newspaper are biased and does not take into account some important factors which are crucial in getting a good conclusion.

PH2110 - Logic
Screwed. It's so chim! Finding logic in sentences, whether they make sense. Breaking apart sentences to look for flaws. I am not going to S/U this module, cos i am sure God will help me work it out in the days to come. I pray that one day i will understand what logic is about, preferably before the exams...haha..always look on the bright side of life...

SP1201 - Freshmen Seminar
Fun. I like it very much. The first lesson was 4-6pm. But we overshot by half hr. Too engrossed with the problems to solve.
1) There is a new idea proposed by a scientist. He says that there is a new way of travelling, cheaper, low fuel consumption. Hop on a helicopter from Thailand, it raises and suspends in the sky, after 5 hrs, it reaches top of India, and here u are in India. Would u buy this idea? How can u convince the public whether this idea is feasible?
2) There are 3 missionaries and 3 cannibals at Changi Point Jetty. There is a small canoe on the shore. Capacity is 2pax. All 3 missionaries know how to row a canoe, but only 1 of the 3 cannibals know how to row. Important note is that whenever there are more cannibals than missionaries on either shore, there will be a feast. How would u arrange them, all the 6 of them to reach P. Ubin safely?
Ok... those questions allow us to gain confidence to speak up in the class and also think out of the box. Cool! I think i will learn alot in this module.

LSM1103 - Biodiversity

Just had my 1st practical last Friday. I enjoyed the lab session, not only because its air-con, but also to get to see bacteria running around on the microscopic slides. They are so gan jiong. Welcome to microbiology. I feel that as so cool to understand about bacteria, how some of them prevent themselves to be destroyed by the antibodies that we eat. Hey! These guys are really clever. Although we can't see them with our naked eye, we can stain them and examine and differentiate them under microscope. During the lab, the Prof popped in and posed some questions. And before he left, he asked for names so he can try to know us more. Being a innocent boy in lab coat, i told him my name when his eyes rested on me after a few sweeps. I was thinking how could he remember our names. But my friends reminded me of his ability to remember the bacteria species names. eg. Steptococci pyogenes, Staphylococci aureus, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli (E.coli), Salmonella typhi, Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax), Treponema pallidum (Syphilis). Oh man! How could someone remember so many names? Ooopss looks like i have underestimated Prof's ability. Sorry Prof! Please dun call my name in the middle of the lecture. I promise i will be attentive during the lecture. Please! I will pee in my pants de!

I also enjoyed wearing the lab coat. Wha... like very pro like tt! going around the benches to look at different microscopes... like forensic scientist. Yah i heard from John that there is a new HongKong serial show, Fa Zhen Xian Feng. About using forensic science to crack the cases. I would really want to watch it.

To my Brothers and Sisters who are in Uni with me now, remember that we are children of God.

We are not Students who happen to be christians,

We are Christians who happen to be students.

However, we always want to excel in our studies so that we can be a living testimony and bring glory to our God.

But we need to take Jesus with us wherever and in whatever things we do, not to rely on our own strength, because He really want to go thru circumstances with us. Amen?

NUS..here I come...!Yeepi!

2006-08-15T16:12:00.000+08:00

I really enjoyed the Science Orientation Week. CareBears rox! I would really want to thank the seniors who are involved in the making of SOW'06. Success! I am glad that i have a chance to know so many friends who will be the people that i will go lectures and tutorials with. Hey must help one another leh..

One of the SOW events was NUS Flag Day on 08 August 06.
Our OGL, Carebear PaPa, draw lots and our OG was assigned Bedok.
We struggled from the West to reach Bedok at 0730.
We started selling flags. In the beginning, the tins were empty and when the first coin dropped into the tin, it gives off a loud 'Klong'. So happy, as the tin starts to fill up and gets heavier. Until my hands feels tired.
During the Flag Day, I met a cute little boy who say to me: "Thank You, Papa" when i pass him a sticker. Shocked haha!

NUS Rag Day

Everyone was sacrificing their sleep time to help out in the rag. Although we did not get the shield this time round, i am sure that the preparation work itself has brought many to be bonded with the Faculty of Science.

Haha....i think life in the uni requires the undergraduates to be independent. A lot of the decisions have to be made by ourselves. Which modules to take, bidding, checking the net whether there is any assignments to be done, print out the notes...

Yeah... new laptop... nowadays keep going online most of the time, lots of things are uploaded to the webby... I pray that although the first few lectures we are like blur sotong, we will be enlightened by the senior's notes and smart friends around... Have Faith!

Donate Blood! The Joy of Giving!

2006-07-22T01:14:00.000+08:00

Wahaha... While i am in a daze waiting for my uni recently, suddenly i was prompted to go and donate blood. It has been 3 years since i last donated. I still remember how enthu i was during my jc days to donate in the blood donation drive. During my 1st 3 months, i was still below 45kg, therefore cannot donate. So i kept eating chicken chop, pork chop for recess, lunch, add fries, wedges, meshed potato. Then when the next donation drive came, i was 45kg, just right, but my mum say just right still cannot donate. i was so so angry that i aim to overshot the basic weight of 45kg. So i continue the intensive Weight Gaining programme. Then the donation drive came for the third time and guess what? i was 50kg! Woahoho! So happy!

Donating blood is an act of great human kindness. I really want to bless people this special gift. Being able , fit and healthy to donate blood is a privilege. Somemore mine is o+ , definitely can help even more people.

So recently i went to outram Health Science Authority to donate blood. And i took a few pictures of the process. I feel that it is not as painful as what the patients are going through, both physically and emotionally.

1. Registration. Fill up the form with lots of questions abt your health, travel, and sex history.

You are required to answer every question truthfully. Any answer which is false or misleading should render you liable to prosecution for supplying false information, a offence punishable with a fine of up to $20,000 or with imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both under the Infectious Diseases Act (Cap 137).

2. Test for haemoglobin level in copper sulphate solution.

3. Proceed to the comfort chair, start to apply iodine.

4. Ready to be injected with anesthesia. A bit pain = an ant bit for 1 sec.

5. Here comes to main needle that resembles a Yakult straw (exaggerating, should be toothpick bah...) . Not painful anymore. You just see the needle SLIDES into the vein.

6. Now You see blood flow thru the tube to the bag. So cool. Next squeeze on the rubber heart to speed up the blood flow.

7. Wait and see the 450ml bag slowing being filled. When the whole process ended, i requested to hold the bag for a while. A bit warm warm one...haha...

8. After that i continue to rest on the chair for 10 mins before i proceed to the cafe to exchange coupon for a cup of hot milo and cake, before i continue my day's activities.

The staffs are all very nice and polite. I want to urge you to think about going to donate your blood for the people in need. Blood is precious and is a special gift. If the body can make new blood to replace, why not donate? I should say the process is very safe and fast. 45 mins.

I would really encourage you to experience this joy of giving.

my Taiwan tRip

2006-06-18T16:44:00.000+08:00

Planning to go taiwan on your own? fun! no need to scare. Although i initially quite sian to plan the trip, i discovered the beauty of finding ur own way around in a foreign country. Unlike travelling with tour agent, they plan for u where to go, how much time u can have at tt particular place (whether u like it anot). However, travel by free and easy, u can learn to look at a map and ask your the locals what bus to take. u buy ur own tickets and eat what u want.
10 days for taipei, tainan and taichung, (includes hotels,flight,food,entrance fee,transport and gifts) is around $1600.

31 May 1300, Terminal 1, Changi International Airport. Jetstar Asia 3k 521.

31 May 1730, Terminal 1, Chiang Kai-Sek International Airport.

On the way to Royal Castle Hotel, Ximenting. It is a nice hotel. Though not big hotel, the staffs are very polite, eg: when you come back at night, they will say: 辛苦了，早一点休息哦! Makes you feel at home. Inside room got hot n cold water cooler! 5 mins walk to Ximen MRT Station. I highly recommend you this hotel when you stay in taipei.

Police Car

These are some chinese movie ads and popstars-endorsed brands:

　　　　

Now we look at the mrt train...

MRT E-Z card
500 NT(400 NT + 100 DEPOSIT)

...Yellow Taxi...

The Food

The dessert is super good! Very satisfying!

Next is this Ah Zong Mee Sua...$45NT.

Yehliu is a place to see natural rock formations...

Take express bus( bound for Jinshan Youth Activity Center) of Kuo-Kuang Co. at its North Station of Taipei City. Bus comes every 20 minutes. Then take express bus( bound for Keelung ) of Keelung Co. or Danshui Co. to Yehliu. $92NT.

Jiofen

From Keelung, take a Keelung bus on the Jinguashi line and get off at Jioufen. $44NT.

It is said that long time ago there were only nine families in Jiufen. Before the roads on land were built, all materials were transported via ships. Thus a habit was formed that nine pieces of same object were purchased at one time for reservation. Hence, the place was called Jiufen .

Alishan

Take train from taipei to chiayi in the morning 0730 reach 1040. $600NT.

Construction of the Alishan Forest Railway was commenced in 1899 by the Japanese. Intended to transport logs down the mountain, it has a 762mm gauge, a gradient of 6.25%, and a minimum turning radius of 40 meters. Traffic was opened on the 66.6-kilometer stretch between Chiai and Erwanping in 1912, and was extended up Alishan to a full length of 71.4 kilometers in 1914. The railway climbs from 30 meters above sea level to 2,216 meters, has 49 tunnels and 77 bridges, and passes through a cross-section of climates and terrain types.From Chia-I, the railway travels along relatively flat terrain for 14.2 kilometers before beginning the long climb, corkscrewing around Mt. Duli, climbing 200 meters over a distance of five kilometers. The railway then travels on to Pingjena Station. From here it zigzags up the mountain, reversing direction at each new section of line as it gradually ascends Alishan.Intended to transport logs and carry supplies, the railway has now become an integral part of the Alishan recreation facilities. After the Alishan Express was established in 1984 (requiring 3 hours and 15 minutes for the complete journey), some of the carriages of the original trains were converted into hotel accommodation. A number of locomotives are also on display at the Old Railway Display Area located near Jauping Railway Station.

when i alight the train at chiayi, i forgot to take my lugguage which is left on the metal rack above my seat. I only realise it 15 mins after that...the train had already left...though i was really panicked, i made a short prayer before thinking what to do next. i ran tothe duty desk and told them what happened. The officer on duty was really helpful. He immediately called the next station to sent somebody to check the train. I waited for 20 mins before i know that my lugguage will be sent to the station when the next train heads to chiayi.

Lucky ah... thank God for such a service.

From Chiayi we have to transit to another Alishan small train to go up the hill.

The small train ride was slow but fun...rock n rock rock...

3.5hrs ride..rock n rock...

After reaching the top, i checked in Alishan Gou Hotel...Many people go to Alishan to watch sunrise...In the morning 0430 take another train up to the tip.

Suppose to see this

But that morning got lots of fog, so didn't manage to see the beautiful sunrise..so took the above picture in the hotel.

Actually i only see this.

Sun Moon Lake

Stayed at a hotel next to the lake. Nice view. In the morning i woke up early so that i can have quiet time praying and reading the Bible on the rooftop.

After that took a boat to go around the lake.

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

See..even took photo with him...

Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is a multi-purpose leisure fishing port developed by the Taipei County Government. There are magnificent floating piers and a spacious park, with a bridge in the shape of a boat spanning across the harbor and a wooden path stretching over 300 meters at the waterfront. It is relaxing to lean against the fence enjoying the breeze and sights at the Danshuei River mouth. In the evening, this is the best place to watch the view of the sunset.

ORD loh! Here is my PINK ic, where is Yours?

2006-05-30T00:26:00.001+08:00

ORD loh!

Here is my pink IC , where is yours?

HAHAHA!!!

Throughout my NSF life, i have been hearing people shout ''ORD loh!'' . At that time, i don't understand why they are so happy.

now its my turn. i finally understand why.

2 years 2 months

i didn't know i can come so far.

Yeah...ORD is king!

On 29 May 2006, my friends and i, after getting our ''long-lost'' PINK ic, we shouted and jumped in the lift of the admin building. When the door opens at 1st storey, we regain control and walked out of the lift.

Oh... so cute... i laughed at my pink ic picture...hee,

I am very happy. On the way home, i ponder on the things i have achieved in army days, and especially those people whom i have met on the way. i really cherish time spent with you brothers! We trained together , sleep together, eat together, being punished together, punish trainees together, slack togther, chiong together, relax one corner.

ORD loh!

When i reached home i started washing my equipments : helmet, boots, uniform,sbo, field pack. Because i will only be using it 4-yrs later after my uni studies for In-Camp-Training.

For people who haven't got ur PINK ic, DON'T PANICK!

Cos your day will come some day.

I am sure the ICs are being kept in some metal cabinet, at some highly secured area, by somebody. Hee...

ORD loh!

Now going to Taiwan liao, enjoy life.

"Eat-Eat-Eat" plus "shop-til-drop"

Jealous? I will bring pictures and goodies to share with you.

Meanwhile, miss me loh! hahaha....

Don't cry.

~~do rui me arts n crafts~~

Happy Nui Year!

M.A.D on 12 Oct 2008

Dim Sum lunch buffet

Hillsong - Desert Song

Why did Jesus had to died?

Spiritual Habit of Worship

Both a musician and instrument

In the first place, do we even have the right to sell our organs?

Ian's Water Baptism on 13 July 2008

Song of Songz

Teh Peng's 9D-8N stay in my house

At different stages of lives ...

Teh Peng - the little kitten

UNI Camp'08 : Points to Follow -Thru

TONG DAO ZHONG REN - Singers Outing

Tong Dao Zhong Ren - Artists Outing

Countdown to 2008

News Update!

Merry Christmas!

Post-Exam Ubin-Changi Beach Outing

How to enter the Gates of Heaven?

Because its Christmas . . .

Love the sinner, Hate the sin!

God, threatened by science?

ORD loh!!! Congrats!

Run and Run . . . Rain rain go away!

We've climb the highest hill - Bukit Timah Hill!

Festival of Praise 2007

an average Joe . . .

Update: 2nd hostage dead, rest of the 21 still alive

Update: Taliban claims 2nd hostage shot dead

Taliban: Hostages will die Monday 1530hrs

Phuket Trip ( 180707 - 210707 )

Alpha Camp - Deco

We're not in control of everything

Learning to draw using software . . .

My Charcoal Drawings

when the Police car kiss the Bus . . .

Why Good Friday and Easter day?

The old has gone, the New has come - I'm Jacob

a Slippery AYE, E-brake from 80km/h to complete stop 0km/h

looks like Oink oink Pigs are coming to town Soon !

Gifts 'n' Cards

last day of 2006, a brand new 2007!

may Love, Peace and Joy follow you, always!

'LORD is with us' thru this battle, through it all!

oh my God! I'm ORGANICHEMOPHOBIC!!!

The Ant and a Contact Lens

"He has to throw a Brick at us." Don't go thru life too fast!

Phases of my Life

21st Birthday Giftsssssss...

little Chick Chick...my new toy!

Keep fit, Gain Weight, McSpicy DOUBLE meal!

staIRS n slOPes - ups and downs

1st RED bomb received!

Sotong on an Anchor

Rack-up-a-Urinal!

RSAF Open House! So open, Sunburn....

We have made it! 10km only? Finish already?

as WISE as serpents, as INNOCENT as dove, as BLUR as sotong?

NUS..here I come...!Yeepi!

Donate Blood! The Joy of Giving!

my Taiwan tRip

ORD loh! Here is my PINK ic, where is Yours?

do rui me arts n crafts