That's it.

Well, after 4.5 months of SOT, this is it.

It's over. I'm really going to miss it.

The people, the teaching and preaching of the Word, atmosphere..

Well, not that we're not going to see each other again, but I guess that's the end of the season of our lives. Many of us will move on to our work, some back to university, but there'll always be time for kopi, but since we're all so busy people, we might probably wait till kingdom come( literally. Haha) before we can get a meeting with 100% attendance.

I'm really quite bored with loading photos with people so I'll just do 'things' this time.

Here's the church's underground auditorium. It is the largest pillar-less auditorium in Asia or South East Asia. I wonder how they do it. There's really quite many many tonnes of bricks above us.

Here's the receiption area.
The lift lobby.

The view from the pulpit. I never really got the chance to go up there to take pictures.
The glorious church building. I haven't seen another such amazing piece of architecture in Singapore. =) This is a parting shot while I was on the bus.

But well, nothing to be sentimental about the building. I'll be back next Saturday for an event. Haha.

Not very happy

with myself.

There's some basic courtesy that I still haven't ingrained in myself.

Today while I took Marcus' car back from Marina square, when everyone in the car left, I didn't go and sit in the front. And Kevin, Vicky and Myrna noticed as well. I feel v embarrassed. No excuse, so many things that I should have learnt by this age still never learn. Hai.

I realized that when I look back that there's still so many things that I'm still so inward looking about. Things that I notice that I should be doing yet don't.

But iron sharpens iron. I'll make a change today to watch for these small things. =) Hai. Still ah, cannot make it leh.

But nonetheless I had a great time with everyone today. Our time together is coming to an end. I'll miss everyone.

From SOT to SMU

Now I'm at the last two weeks of my Bible school and the first week of SMU has just started. It just feels a little weird to be in Bible school in the morning and then in SMU in the afternoon.

It just that you seem to switch identities. Ha..

It's a case of from dynamic pastors, teachers and apostles, evangelists like:

to hopefully not too boring profs. Haha.

And:

to.Hmm, now that I've put both together, I must say both are really interesting pieces of architecture!

But I've been focusing in class so far. Not supernormal effort from my part, but i think my time in SOT has made me more focused when listening. Especially since for the first 4months of SOT I didn't even open my laptop, so I'm really used to listening in class now. I used to play mini games in classes but I seem to have had curbed the habit. Ha...

I know I'll miss SOT alot, but that season is about to be over. Another season in my life is coming and I'm praying to move to another level in God in this period.

Batam Mission Trip!

Phew! Had another tired but superb weekend!

From Friday morning been going non-stop till Sunday afternoon.

Friday morning had SOT, and then in the afternoon we had a preaching test! It's was a great experience and I really learnt alot. I think most of all I gain confidence to speak in front of people and be expressive at the same time. For me, my energy level when I speak is always lower because of my lack of self-confidence. But after the second time preaching I felt much more confident that I could do it.

But it's really amazing. To see people who are younger than me.. like 20 ( Jody in particular) have such revelation of Scripture and then preach it so well.. I just couldn't help going 'wow' when she was preaching =) I'm just very impressed with the young people that the church is raising up. Not that I'm old.. Hah..

So at night we had cell group. I injured my wrist doing catching for ministry. =P Need to learn how to do it right. Finished only 11 pm like that.
The next day it was Batam we go!
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I woke at 5 am and we took Marcus' car to Harborfront there! Well, to cut the long story short, I'll use pictures. From left: Marcus, Me, Myrna, Chew Yan, Mingli, Hee Wei, Willy, Keith
Here's the people from SOT Team 20 who went for the trip!

Here's us in the ferry.

Here's the 1st session that the Indonesians had for Saturday. It was a morning service so the seats were not filled. Nonetheless it was a great service with about 200 people and a great word by Bobby. Here's the church building. It's actually very new. I read the plaque, it was opened in 2002, which is about the same time as the Jurong West church.

We actually participated in one of the Emerge competitions. This is a telematch where we lost horribly to the Indos! There were 6 teams and we were the last. Haha..

We took a picture together with the stage.

Here's the pretty host of the Beauty Pageant competition, Charlene. =). Charlene was in the programs Committee for FOC. Well, at least the FOC trained you a little to be ra-ra for the pageant. Good job hosting it! Especially its your first time and you had no rehearsal!

And a great discovery... DONUTS! Did you know that this brand of donuts was actually donut factory's Plan A to bring donuts into Singapore? But seems that J Co didn't want to franchise it to donut factory so they did a duplicate. Bad move by my opinion. Ha...

And as Singaporeans what do we do? I think the whole team to Batam bought about over 100 boxes! Haha. talk about donut smuggling! And you don't have to queue cos the Indos are not as well.. crazy about donuts as us Singaporeans. Nonetheless, it's good business for them. Haha.

Here's a parting shot. We played Polar Bear/ Mafia on the boat and I kept getting killed. Seems like the murderers don't like people who talk too much. Haha..

I reached home at 1240 am Sunday morning and went for service again later in the morning at 7 am. I felt I experienced so much in a day that it felt like 2 days from the time we left for Batam and back.

I felt like my eyes opened when I saw the Indonesians in the service. It really made me see how near God was everywhere. It didn't matter where I was, or what language the people spoke, the way they worshipped, God's presence is still the same in Singapore or Indonesia or anywhere else. Even though it was a short one day, but I felt I saw alot in just that short time. Praise the Lord =)

For this time, it's not really a REAL REAL mission trip. The food and amenities were just too good. Quite okay food, clean toilets! Haha.. next time.. I'm really getting excited about the next mission trip. It's much more interesting when you travel for ministry then just to go and 'feed' yourself.

Random shots:

Be responsible! Well it seems like the people who gave these knew who to give it to. HA =)

Here's me and my cell leader.

Here's the two sweet sisters from my team who took the liberty of using my camera to take this. Ha.

and the brothers...

Uni-Y Freshman Orientation 07 Video

Finally Vincent has done up the video for the Uni-Y Freshmen Orientation Camp! It's a little long at 13 mins, but you can see from the video what i've been busy with for the past 5 months. Ha..

Thanks Vincent =)

God of my Forever

We sang this new song at church today..

God of my youth I remember
Your call on my life took me o'er
Your love has seen me through all my days
I stand here by Your grace
On this altar I've written my life
Tells of a story I have with You my Lord
I want the world to know

Chorus
God of my forever
And forever I'm with you
My life is saved with a price
your sacrifice redeemed my soul
God of my forever
And forever I will sing
My greatest honor will always be
To serve my Lord and King

Wow, what a song..when Alison started singing and practising while I was helping out at the bookstore outside the main auditorium I already felt like I was going to cry any moment that type. What an anointing upon her voice.

And then when we were singing the chorus during the service, tears started falling. I haven't cried in God's presence for so long already, and this song really touched my heart. The presence of God was so strong..

I imagine myself in my old age, and I will remember, that the God that I serve now will be the same yesterday,today in 2007,in the future in 2008,2009..2030 ... until forever.

While I was worshipping God, I saw a vision in my heart of palm trees. The truth is, my heart always longed to travel, to see nature in its untouched state, to see the world. But there's too much to do for now in Singapore, in church and in my personal life. And I do see the need to sacrifice the pleasure for His kingdom now...

But I just felt God say, Don't worry, one day, you will see the sights you long to see..

Yes, I said to God, when it's all over, one day I can see all these.

But God replied, No, you'll see it in this life... this and all that you desire to see..

I truly believe that in this life, I'll travel all that my heart desires to, and see all that I have to see. So when you ask me why don't I want to go exchange for now.. well.. I hope you get an idea why. It's not about living a life of enjoyment, but a life of sacrifice. But much as we want to live a life of sacrifice, God will never shortchange us. Whatever we sow, we will reap.

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Had an amazing two days with Rev Dr A R Bernard preaching in church.

Rev Dr A R Bernard is one of the most influential personalities in New York, as an advisor to the NYPD, to Major Bloomberg of New York, and board member of the NY Economic Development Board.

He said so much for me to take in these 2 days. I need to take sometime to reflect on it before I pen my thoughts.

And I attended a business dinner with 1000 other church people where he preached again regarding finding our life purpose in our everyday life.

And on my table, I sat with ALL my subzone youth leaders, about 9 of them, which are all female! And that attracted alot of comments from the passing by people. Haha...

Pastor Kong also came by the table and gestured to everyone and to me, that I'm the only guy at the table! Well, Pastor, now you know the plight of my subzone. How can female leaders raise up male leaders. Can la, but not easy leh..Haha.. But Pastor is really very nice la, he came over and asked if everyone was doing okay and enjoying themselves.

Well, and actually I got the seat at this dinner because one of the youth leaders couldn't make it. And she gave up the seat for me. Thanks Jeanie, if you ever gonna read my blog.

And really want to thank Jac for sponsoring my mission trip to Batam too! That time she gave me a financial blessing for my birthday that gave me a shock cos it was such a huge amount, considering I was a student and we only knew each other for like 2 weeks? Haha.

Thank God for a church and for a people who believe in giving generously =). I want to do the same when I have the ability as it is done to me now too.

Well, in summary, had an amazing weekend! Next week going Batam! Not for golf, or for holiday, but for helping out to execute a youth conference we're doing for the people in Batam! Haha.. Will be another memorable week for me the next week!

Talk about having the naturally supernatural life. Woot. =)

SOT team 20

Here's something my teammate Willy did for his mortal. What an amazing piece. Well done Willy. Excellent!

Anyway these are the people in my Bible school team. A good mix of working people and students and all great people! Hope we really do have sometime to go out together, really the CHC people are the busiest people in Singapore man. Want to find one day to go out also tough. Haha.

Tired

Just finished an Exam on the Cultural Mandate.

Today Pastor preached about the ministry of the Prophet + Apostle. I feel really blessed by the messages and really appreciatve Pst Kong is here to teach us.

Pastor today shared about how he proposed to Sun. They had the most interesting courtship, or the lack of it.

The most interesting thing to me was that the night before their marriage (26 Dec) they were doing the evangelistic Christmas outreach.

Sun went home at 2 am and Pst Kong at 4 am. And they got ready for their marriage and Pst Kong almost overslept. He said another pastor had to wake him up! lol.

And the night after their marriage they went home, literally threw everything into their luggage and went to a church conference in New Zealand for their honeymoon!!

What a life. I wonder how many people can take this kind of life. Haha. But where they are now is the result of how they chose to live their life. =) Praise God for role models.

FOP

Just came back from FOP.

Had such an amazing time of praise and worship, and it's refreshing to hear different genres of worship music from Don Moen.

I love the song God is good all the time, especially the country part. Haha

I love Pastor Phil too. He captivates me from start to end of the sermon. I don't even bother to take notes cos everytime I listen to him, I'm just so wide-eyed and trying to absorb everything he says.

Back to Bible school tmr. Tmr's Pst Kong! Woot!

Finished Uni-Y FOC

Phew! Finally it's over!
I'm a little sad that the fun's all over, but I'm glad 4 months of work can be put aside. I remember thinking to myself:This is season of my life is over. back to normal life.

Then I remembered: Bible school is not normal life. Hah.. Season upon season. Abnormality upon abnormality.

Anyway FOC was superb. Had every camp's usual set of boo-boos and mistakes, but from reading the feedback forms, I know that I didn't waste my 4 months with my team planning for this event.

This is the Heroes game played at the last night. In the middle you see our future Uni-Y mascot. Haha. OPTIMUS PRIME! Superbly done by Vincent ( as usual).

Here are some feedback I read. Got alot of negative ones regarding the food, ha, but that one I already knew but we couldn't do much about it since the caterer is already confirmed. Just rem next year must ensure better food only. Also a few of the programs as well, but I think overall the feeling was v good.

The most fun & interesting camp i had attended.

Purpose of camp was very meaninggul though actual execution of charity work could be better. Games and activities were definitely fun!

The integration of bonding, orientation, CIP made this camp unique, breaking away from the standard either strictly orientation or strictly CIP camp moulds which is a very good idea.

Fun factor: Comparing with all the other camps I attended( I.e Bondue, FTB, Asoc), Uni-Y is the best so far. Comm Service: I thought it was a really good experience =) All in all I'm glad I signed up for Uni-Y=)

I especially liked this one:

Camp Comm was very attentive to everyone's needs.

And then there was one:

Camp Comm helped us looked for our missing members!

Actually, there were two members that went missing for a night game, which got me worried. And its one guy and one girl. EVEN more worried. But found them in the end la. Luckily, nothing was up with those two..If not they were going to get it. Haha.

But at that point I remembered the parable of the lost sheep. Haha. Two missing sheep among 80 people. But even at the end of the camp, I heard comments like: Are Uni-Y people all so nice one?"

Haha. Praise God. Never waste my 4 months. At least we did make an impact. Have to really thank the team for that, but I will blog more about it another time. Right now I have:

1 x Exam on Wednesday

2 x FOP to attend

2 x Book assignment to read by Tuesday after the next.

10 x Sermon outlines to prepare by Friday.

1 x Mock Cell group evaluation test

on top of my school schedule, so this is the time I can afford for now. Another time. Vince, quickly do up the Heroes game video!