Kid's Games
Kid's Games
The past three days had been filled with screams, kids, new friends, fun, sun, rain, mud, milo, sports and did I mention, kids!!
Kid's
Games was a programme organised by The Salvation Army for primary school children. I am not really sure about its purpose or motive or motto but I am positive it's for a good cause. After all, I've been there since Monday.
The first day was indeed fair weather for everyone, not too sunny, just cloudy enough. Cooperation between the marshals and group leaders was good compared to other Christian events I've participated in. The kids were as usual, wild and fun and naughty and loud.
Come second day and the weather took a turn for the worse. The morning was blistering hot and there was a downpour after lunchtime. Thus what happened was first I became a very dark "bird", and then I became a drenched wet "bird". Give thanks to God that nobody got sick because when the raindrops started falling, the entire fellowship personnel played in the rain. Poor hengyi was at the receiving end of our joke in the wet weather.
By the third day, almost everyone, kids and leaders alike, were becoming "roasted". The sun shone without mercy in the morning and although cumulonimbus clouds gathered up high, we were blessed with fairly good weather. The day ended with the kids in high spirits, they received medals and everyone had loads of fun.
And there is a better part for me, I made new friends. There was Jason from APC, a swimmer cum water polo player, a lamer and "liar" and a funny guy to be around with. Then there was Kathy, she's a sweet girl, it was nice partnering her when we were game marshals. Last but not least, there was Joshua from BPMC, a tennis and floorball pro and another great fun guy to have as a friend. Great "mo qi" when we were on the same marshal team for a couple of
games.
But throughout these 3 days, something else was going on at the same time. A conflict within my very heart, one that caused tears and sorrow, frustration and helplessness. It would seemed that I've lost directions in God. Sigh. Die.
cuRrent soNg chOice : Come On by Ben Jelen
A Long Long "Rainbow" Story
A Long Long "Rainbow" Story
To all who noticed the absence of blog updates, I apologise. The week had been fairly busy, and the coming week will get even easier with more events such as Kid's Games and Growth Camp'04.
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Flash!
It was monday, the sky was pretty, the weather was fine, but koda's heart was in turmoil. There was supposed to be a recee at Changi for a particular chalet that will be used to hold the Christmas events in December. Originally meant only for those exclusive personnel, it was later opened up to the entire zone because of one single individual. Koda's zone leader turned the recee into a chance for a mini gathering with that particular individual. And a gathering, with that individual, where people talked and shared was definitely not something that koda needed in his road of recovery.
Still, koda went in the end. There was supposed to be prayer on koda's part, to seek God's guidance on this matter. But there never was, koda went out of a different reason in the end.
He felt unfair at first, since other people had invited him along for the recee a long time ago, but koda knew that only one word was needed from his zone leader to refuse his tag-along on the trip. He was not needed. Yes indeed, up till the day prior to the recee, all that was requested from koda was not his presence, but his camera. He was totally unnecessary, if not for his camera.
Koda felt furious, but at what he was not totally sure. Was there a feeling of being used? A hint of being what they called "extra"? Or perhaps, koda is just a small little petty guy. Whatever the case, the choice was made and it was carried out, koda went.
And the morning went by without any problems, there was no conflicting emotions or any actions that were uncalled for. Koda left the group in the afternoon.
*******
Flash!
Tuesday came and it was time for Student Center (SC). Koda went to help out but there was virtually nothing to be done. The street bandy court was set up and sticks soon began to swing. The evening later turned out to be something rather enjoyable.
Swimming, and not at a public pool but at the pool of one of koda's best buddies around. Better still, there were no parents who looked down from the window every ten minutes or so. Even better still, the pool came with underwater lights and when twilight came, the whole pool lit up. And guess what, he learned how to dive into the water properly.
Yet the best thing of all was this - Koda was not swimming alone, he was with friends, with buddies, with brothers. It was fun, he was happy.
*******
Flash!
Koda finished all his stuff and rushed down to a very good friend's place for a mission. He took the last bus and arrived there well past midnight. The streets were quiet, a few strangers still loomed about though.
Upon arrival, work began immediately. The mission's completion was of most importance and absolutely necessity. Koda's good friend - Erly's wedding present was in the making. A one thousand pieces jigsaw puzzle to be finished by 8am that very day, and there were only five people working on it.
Imagine this very beautiful and romantic scene: Mickey and Minnie Mouse, standing on a small balcony, with two glasses of champagne. There was a velvety green curtain, gorgeous red roses, a town so complex it looked almost natural, busy roads with tiny-looking vehicles and a sunset too awe-inspiring and radiant to be possible.
*******
Flash!
The sun rose, and another day had arrived. Wednesday was to be filled with street evangelism. The target: Bishan and Toa Payoh.
However, on the morning of that lovely day, a union was to be fulfilled. It was the wedding ceremony of Erly and Erman. It was almost unbelievable, Erly's only 19 and Erman 25. Yet this two had decided to spend the rest of their lives together at such a young age. Perhaps it is what the secular world called "the power of love", and no, it was not a shotgun marriage.
*******
Flash!
Thursday morning was another time for fun and exercise. The Aljunied Swimming Pool reopened on that day after months of renovation. And what a startling discovery, those below 18 only needs to pay $0.50 for entry into the pool.
This time round, koda learnt free style from hong. He used to be only able to swim frog style. The very hot morning (think literally hot) ended with a quick sun tanning session on the deck chairs.
Noon came and went, and hours were then spent on the street bandy court again.
*******
Flash!
Sun burnt marks the beginning of the day. Even though tanning oil was applied on the day before at the pool, somehow the back and forearms were still at the mercy of harmful sunrays and skin peeling.
Itinerary of friday for koda started with street E, followed by a trip to the airport to send his father off. There was a sumptuous lunch at Swensen's where he had teriyaki chicken with pesto spaghetti, calamari rings and apple crumble topped with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce. YA fellowship at Funan the IT Mall where for the first time, Jonathan joined them. The last destination of the day switch from K-Box at Marine Parade to Ada's place at Bedok, where more pasta and cheesecake awaited.
*******
Flash!
Kid's Games training in Church followed by yet another trip to the airport. This time, koda's friends and their families were flying to Melbourne, Australia for a short vacation.
Sad to say, somehow conflicting emotions arose at the send-off. Something was amiss and koda was scared. He was frightened that what he fear may come true. (Please do not misunderstand, there is nothing wrong with the plane.) At that point, Koda knew that he needed to start disciplining his heart and mind. Precautions to be taken, and thoughts to be observed.
*******
Flash!
And there you have it, an exciting one week for koda for sunday soon came.
*******
CUrreNT SonG CHoiCE : I'm Your Angel by Celine Dion and R Kelly
For the easily tempted and undisciplined.
For the easily tempted and undisciplined.
No, I am not talking about shopping
(although I did buy a shirt). I am talking about eating.
Today had dinner at Marche
(it's a french word) with my folks and sisters and I experienced food, food and more food!! I had tempura fish with potato wedges and mayo, pan fried potato rosti with sour cream, strawberry milkshake, a combination of "ginger, spinach, apple, tomato, and something else" vegetable juice that is good for reducing cholesterol, tiramisu cake, mango cheesecake, fried rice and an apple tutti frutti.
Now as I was saying, Marche works on a system whereby you only pay at the end when you leave the market restaurant and the ordering style is kind of similar to buffet. You order, you scan the marche card, and then you eat; and of course then you pay.
Since my dad would be the one footing the bill, and I was severly starved, I decided to eat to my heart's content. Therefore, if I ain't wrong, my weight should be a little over 64 now. Is that a lot or little? Or is it "um um ho"
(hokkien, means just right)?
P.S. Still not in the right mood/mind/condition to write or think about spiritual matters. Oh well, pray for direction and future in GBC's fellowship and a renewing mindset plus attitude towards serving, and friends and family's salvation. Thanks!!
2 bbq and still going hot
2 bbq and still going hot!!
Today had another bbq, this time with the fellowship at paris ris
(*that same old place again),and yours truly was in charge of food
(do not worry, nobody was poisoned).I would say the bbq did not go as well as planned, firstly in terms of estimation of food, once again there were leftovers, and secondly there was not much response to the gospel.
After today's bbq, I realised that actually the amount of time available for barbequeing the food and the people doing the barbequeing are actually also important factors as to how much food should be bought in comparison to the number of people eating. We had to clear up everything around 8pm and there were still chicken wings, otah, satay and a plate of bee hoon left. As usual, some of it were taken home by us but this time round, we gave it to some friends of hong and I, who were also barbequeing at a nearyby pit.
It was indeed a great thing to see lousy
(*my friend's nickname) again after so long. I believe that the last time we hang out together was months back when I popped by CCHMS for NCC. I am sure most of you have that same kind of feeling before, when you meet an old friend who used to be tight and close with you back in sch, and it was fun catching up. Well, I'll be seeing him and the rest of the company again in two weeks time, at guess what? Another bbq!!
(-_-!!!)
currenT sonG choicE: Orange Coloured Sky by Laura Fygi
Group 2
Group 1
where's that shuttle?
waitin' for the shuttle
let's go peeps
hey did i forget anything?
goin' home
i also want pressie
it's a bird!!
let's watch TV
be careful, it's hot
let's bbq
in front of Escape
hey tis' no saloon
san-ghost
neyton's muscular leg kickin' big ben
hunks in the room
smile girls
dun get lost at nite k
walk @ nite
nite walk
hey costa sands rawks!!
class chalet' 04
C'mon Chalet Baby!!
C'mon Chalet Baby!!
Hey people, I just came back from class chalet this morning and there is only one word to describe it: "wow". It was great fun, compared to those in my secondary school. There was bbq for two nights
(*although I only went for one) and there was movies
(*though unfortunately, it was not exactly very healthy), PS2 and games. The only horrid thing would be sleeping, first night I was sleeping on a yellow mattress-looking thing
(*which ain't very soft) among the other guys on the first floor; and on the second night, I pretty much froze in the bedroom. Oh neyton came along too,
he's our senior mentor and a great fun guy, I think other than me, he was also the only one who only woke up in the afternoon on the second day.
Well, I would definitely look forward to spending another holiday with this bunch of classmates and friends again but that would be like, so many months away, and besides, I think we have to think of something else other than another bbq and chalet. Maybe we can all go to some nearby island and play?
Had a real funny time "disturbing" willis at the chalet too. But well don't worry will', you are not the person in my heart because there is nobody in my heart right now. I love u but I don't love u, get it? If you do not, teddy bear sing song then.
(*inside joke)
Current Song Choice: Before I Fall In Love by Coco Lee
Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
J. Oswald Sanders said, "Christians are meant to be a separated people." But do not misunderstand, he did not mean that Christians should all live bunched up together on some far-away land or high mountaintop, away from the world. He meant that Christians most definitely, almost always face persecution and that if Christians stand up for what they believe in, they will definitely be viewed as a separate part of the world by the majority of non-believers.
However as Christians, no matter how strong the persecution, we should and must still stand strong in the face of darkness and disbelief. Fear not the Devil if we put on God's armour of faith.
(*Ephesians 6:11)
"Jesus also never suggested that Christians should isolate themselves from worldly people and leave them for the devil. He Himself was once the object of bitter criticism by the Pharisees..." quote Sanders. The term "salt" was used by the Lord because He wanted to tell us that we as His servant and children should reach out to the unsaved, be among them and not isolate ourselves while we let their souls waste away. Salt is supposed to be in the soup and on meat, not on a separate plate by itself.
I was reading Sander's
A Sufficient Grace for QT yesterday while at the chalet. The chapter was actually on Christian backsliding but the sub-chapter on The Paradox of Incomplete Separation (*the above 3 paragraphs with my own opinion thrown in) actually served as a reminder to me with regards to evangelistic events. The gospel must be shared. It's a fact but just that for myself during this two months of November and December, I would not be doing any "people-related work" at all.
I do regret the wrong steps I took that now resulted in me being able to do only behind-the-scenes-jobs but at the same time, I also understand the reasons why. I need to stop and relearn and rethink stuff. With the original attitude that I had, even if I am now allowed to do follow-ups, I am quite sure that I what I am doing would not please God at all. And it all boils down to pleasing God, not man.
Take for example, tuesday's cheesecake making session and tomorrow's youth bbq. I need to be absolutely sure of the reason behind me being involved and serving. I need to be sure that I am serving God and only God when I am teaching the students how to make a cheesecake and preparing the bbq food, and I can't have any other motives for doing so. Reasons like for e.g. seeking compliments from people for making a good cheesecake would be wrong. To serve is to glorify God, not myself.
Yet however, at the same time I feel that I am still lacking something. I know that I am not seeking human praise but I am still unsure about whether are my actions God-pleasing? I feel that I do not have any kind of conviction that tells me I'm returning to the right path and is now walking in God's Will.
Psalm 23
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Spend the morning in CCHMS's open house with the girls and had a rather boring time listenening to the new vp's
(*mr pek i think) speech and introduction of the school to interested parents at the lecture theatre. Ran into my old "arch-enemy"
(*principle mr yue) and he asked about my results. Seriously, I doubt he cares especially after I deliberately and purposefully refused his so called "advice"
(*he wanted me to drop my biology) and went to a poly instead of a jc.
Lunch was at Singapore Post Center, a place we used to go to during those good old days
(*seems like we've aged). After which we left to make our way to Victoria Concert Hall for a local drama production - the Iron Man Story.
Sypnosis:
Ex-convict turned pastor. Neivelle Tan was a hotshot street gangster back in the 1960s. Still under the control of colonial British back then, Neivelle Tan was also a regular of the prison and had earned himself the nickname of "Iron Man". After spending countless fragmented years in the prison, Neivelle Tan crossed the path of the pastor in charge of the prison fellowship but it was only until when Neivelle was locked up in MSC (*no idea what that stands for) did he became in contact with the source of his Salvation - God, and scraps of a bible from a fellow prison mate.
When Neivelle's mum died from cancer, Neivelle faced the deepest trough of his life yet. No prison hardship or bloody gang fights could be compared to the lost of his mother. It was at that point that Neivella realised that God did indeed heard his prayers during those 14 days in MSC and that God has always been with him. It was Psalm 23 that opened his heart to the eternal light. He accepted Christ and was baptised by that same pastor.
The show reminded me of another Christian movie known as the "Source of Love". I saw it at a private screening by Church of God Mount Olives together with big guy and his relatives. The common point of both productions was that it took a loved one's death for somebody to believe in the love of God.
Synopsis:
The main character (*let's call him MC since I cannot remember his name) was a first generation Christian, with a sister who later in the show believed in Christ, and two parents who think that Lord Jesus Christ is a foreign "angmoh" God. He worked hard for the sake of the gospel and served the Lord wholeheartedly.
MC's parents rejected the gospel again and again but God spoke to them and touched their hearts after the unfortunate demise of MC in a road accident. MC recorded a video of himself preaching the gospel with the target audience being his parents before his death. It was the combined effect of his departure and the videotape, empowered by God, that moved his parents.
I was just wondering that why are people so silly. There are so people everywhere are sharing the gospel to unbelievers and instead of accepting the gift of eternal life given by Lord Jesus Christ, they choose to allow the Devil to rule their lives.
(*Yes, even for those punks who say they have freedom and they live their life for only themselves, they are the slaves of Satan.)
Please do not misunderstand, I do not mean that in order for somebody to believe that Christ is the one true God, there must be deaths of family members, that there isn't any point in believing in Christ unless someone died. That is also not the intention of either "Iron Man Story" or "Source of Love". I am just puzzled why people can be so obdurate. Place the truth in front of them, and they choose instead to shut their eyes and be blind to it.
Follow
Satan, follow
Lilith, follow
Baal, follow
Buddha and you will end up in
Hell for eternity. Yes I'm talking about
Hell, the most horrible place that ever existed. Imagine a place that is
fiery and has
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(*Matthew 13:51) Imagine being there for eternity and there is no way of escaping. Yes eternity. Imagine you have lived to say, 90 years old or so and you thought your life would end when suddenly, you find that it will not. Instead, you carry on being 90 and you continue to live on and on and on, without an ending. Imagine spending that kind of life in hell instead of heaven. Our life on Earth right now is but a little dot compared to eternity. Think maths, our life over eternity would be 1/10^x where x is infinity, a very big number with lots and lots of zeros at the back.
And just today, I had a conversation with
Satan.
Satan: Why do you carry on doing the job of God? Does it gives you satisfaction? Are you really happy? I know you feel unappreciated and disappointed, why not let me help you give up?
ME: Away from me Satan, you may think you know me but you don't. Yes, I do get satisfaction because whenever I see a new baby believer, I am happy and I know that yet one more time you are defeated. So what if I feel unappreciated and disappointed, that is not important at all. The good works of Heaven is what is important. Plus, God will always be there to encourage me and care for me.
Satan: But you are wasting your time, there are so many things you want to do. You want to go swimming, go and have fun, go and watch videos and movies. If you give up now, I'd help tp bring you happiness.
ME: I do not want your kind of happiness for it is not happiness at all. I feel into the trap of temptation of yours once and I will not do so again. I can overcome it, and if I need help of any kind, there is always God and my brothers and sisters-in-Christ.
Satan: You are forgetting that your efforts so far have failed, it's already two months over a year now and you have accomplished nothing. If you are under me instead, the results would have been different.
ME: Of course it'll be different, it would have been worse. Time isn't what counts here and I am still growing. Baby believer or not, I serve God, not you devil. You cannot continue to tempt me, trick me and lie to me but I know God will always be there to save me.
eveyone say cheese!!
group foto!!
