上海滩

I have also posted another picture of the Bund previously. These two pictures will serve to motivate me to save enough money to bring my parents to Shanghai. =)

Ephesians 4:29

One of my new year resolutions for this year is not to let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth so as not to stumble my fellow brothers and sisters. One thing I feel that I am a person who want things to be done in an orderly manner. Hence at times when I do not get the help which I need, I will start to utter rubbish and hurt people. This includes the messages which I sent over emails or sms.

For example, I am a person who really detest people who are late for appointments. In fact, I cannot even stand people who are late for just five minutes. I hate to wait but God still want to train and test my patience. Most of the time when I am meeting people, I will be the one waiting. As a matter of fact, I actually had sent out a sms before telling that person, "Don't be late." and it caused much unhappiness with this person eventually. There was one time when we are going to rehearsal for a singing session for the home visit and I purposely came late because I want others to wait for me for a change.

Secondly, most of the time when someone sort of mention my name in a not so good manner, I will not hestiate to reply to "retaliate". This is so typical of me. Therefore, the verse in Ephesians 4:29 really serves as God's constant reminder for me to change. Actually, a close brother has actually talked to me about stumbling people with my unwholesome talk before over emails. Therefore, as I enter into 2006, I made a resolution to change my behaviour.

So far almost half a year has gone and I must say that I am still changing in progress. Like what a pastor in another church has mentioned in his message before that all of us being Christians are all carrying a label which is "Work In Progress". We will all never become like Christ 100% till the day when He comes back for us and we all partake in the Sacred Wedding Banquet with Him. However, I feel that I should make my progress ongoing instead of staying stagnant.

Okay, I really want to make it a point to change into the person whom God wants me to be. Father, let be me united with You so that I can be one with You in spirit. (1 Cor 6:17)

Stages in Life

Everyone goes through different stages in life. We are living in this dimension of time and space. Hence, time being a dimension which never stops from the moment it begins enable us to have different stages of life. We cannot help it but go through these different stages like infant, child, teenager, young adult, adult and elderly. Today's sermon, my pastor mentioned that time is life. How true it is. We are growing older every second.

My point for this entry is this: I feel we should enjoy each and every stage of our life. For infant stage, I strongly believe all of us enjoyed it very much. Haha, all we do most of the day is sleeping soundly and when we are hungry, we just cry or make some noise for attention to get our milk. Fun right, isn't it? We do not have to study or do any other work beside sleeping. (That is if you termed sleeping as work! :P) Oh yes, of course when we are awake, we are observing our surroundings while our young brain is absorbing experiences much faster than a sponge absorbs water. Ok, no doubt all of us enjoyed that stage very much with no problems to highlight. hehe.

The next stage is child stage. Wor, this is also fun because we get to play with interesting toys, we learn to walk on our own now, we learn to talk and we can express ourselves with all our learned emotions and expressions. We also run a lot and climb 'new heights' in our houses. Then, we start to go to school to go through education. We make new friends and we get to share our joy with new people beside our parents for the first time. I enjoyed my time as a child too. =)

Following that is teenager stage. For me, during this stage, I went through a lot as I enter puberty. It was not easy for me as I faced different kinds of pressure while in secondary school and while I was growing up to be a man from a boy. I also have serious insomia problem at that time. However, I feel we should also enjoy this stage because once we pass through this stage, we do not get to go back again. Time will definitely do not allow that, man.

Next, young adult stage. Hmm, I think I have passed through this stage as of now. At least, I am nearly 30 years old now. This stage poses me with new responsibilities. All my actions now carry with them consequences and if I am not ready to face the music, I better behave. Haha, that's all I can say about this stage. Of course, serving the army falls within this stage and yes, very importantly enjoy army! You will not get to wear your No. 4 ever again after you have RODed. Enjoy going for IPPT, range and ICT. Never will you get to wander in the jungle after you gone through this stage unless war breaks out... CHOY CHOY CHOY!

Now, I am in adult stage. Haha, oh no! The second last stage of life. Learning to face up to situations, trials and problems in life. Going through it now and upon reflecting, I have to make sure that I really enjoy this stage of my life. If not, when I reach elderly stage, I will regret man.... hehe...

No comments about elderly stage except maybe learning taichi?

Ok, friends. My point is let's enjoy every stage of our lives because one thing for sure is we all do not get a second chance of going through it again. Instead of looking forward to our next stage, let us make full use of our current stage and create fond memories bah, shall we? =)

Army Song

Recently while serving together with my new army friends, an army song dawned upon me:

Training to be soldiers

And fight for our Land

Once in our lives

Two years of our time

Have you ever wondered

Why must we serve?

Cos we love our Land

And we want it to be free

To be free

Stand up and be on your guard

Children having fun

While we are holding guns

Have you ever wondered

Why must we serve?

We love Singapore

And we want it to be free

To be free

After my disruption, I feel more joyous now serving the army compared to three years ago. This song certainly affirmed me all the more why must I serve. Because I love my land and want it to be free. Whatever I hold dearly, I must protect. =)

Not an advertisement for army though. (",)

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Father Lord, I hope to be made right in your sight again. Pls pick me up after my fall...

Post-Graduating

Upon getting my final semester results, I am finally graduating and will soon be in the workforce. However as I think back the years beginning right where I started my education till today where I will be getting my degree, I realised one thing: All the credit DOES NOT BELONG to me.

All the credit as to whether I graduate with a First Class, Second Upper, Second Lower, Third Class, Merit or Pass degree, does not belong to me. All credit belongs to my parents. This is because they are the ones who has given up everything just to see me through my education years. They are the ones who has spent even their graveyard savings on my education.

Hence to my brothers and sisters who are graduating with a diploma or degree soon, let us honour our parents. Do not let all our years of education go down the drain just because we think we are great when we earned our certificates. Let us always remember that what we are today is all because of our parents' effort on us. Let us express our gratitude to our parents today.

Consolingly Encouraged

On Monday, I received my final semester results. Upon receiving the results, at first, I feel quite disappointed because I felt that I should have done better in some subjects and even the final classification of my degree. However, after gazing and reflecting upon the results for the past few days this week, I begin to have changed views of the results which I have obtained. One thing for sure is that I have received a consolation prize which I feel that I should not have achieved it at all in the first place. Overall indeed, God is the one who have seen me through and blessed me in each and every grade which I scored in the total of 41 subjects.

Based on my poor results for these 6 semesters, I feel that I do not deserve a honours at all. However, God still blessed me with at least a honours. Hence, I must say that I am consolingly encouraged. Think this is not a correct English term but I will like to use it just that hopefully I can explain the feeling which I am having at this moment.

Another thing which I have learnt throughout this circumstance is, "do not compare with others". This is one thing which I have learnt from God in His Word in the Bible. John the Baptist is one good example of this lesson. Even though, he knew Jesus as the Chosen One and Saviour of the World, yet he did not have a single chance to receive Him into his life. All he can do is to point others to Him. When his discples still did not get his message of who Jesus is, he said, "He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30) Indeed when his discples was complaining to him about Jesus having more disciples, he did not even compare himself with Jesus.

As a matter of fact, I found myself happier when I did not have to compare myself with my friends who have all done much better than me. I thank God for putting me in this situation so that I can indeed learnt the value and importance of this "comparing" lesson. I feel glad that I have done my best in my studies and God being the faithful one did not even shortchange me a single "cent". Cheers. =)

God's Sovereignty

Do you know what is sovereignty? Okay, before I share with you all a liitle bit of my experience with God's Sovereignty yesterday. Let us define the meaning of sovereignty which are namely as follows:

1. Supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a state.
2. Royal rank, authority, or power.
3. Complete independence and self-government.
4. A territory existing as an independent state.
(Meanings are extracted from yourdictionary.com )

In our case here for God's Sovereignty, I will feel that the first three meanings fit in quite well for God. This is because He exercises Supreme authority and power, independant and is always in control of all things and situations.

Oh yes, I have returned back to army to resume my disruption and this is my first Sunday after one week in the army. Realised that the army is very different from my time in service about three years ago. Upon taking up of a minor role in my branch, I need to help out to issue stores which are required for our National Day Parade rehearsals on every Saturdays.

Yesterday was the first combined rehearsal and the whole day long I was rushing from place to place either to issue stores and communication equipments or issuing rations like packed lunch, teabreak and dinners to all the soldiers. It was a hot day but I do enjoy the sun as I serve. Overall, although it was tiring but I enjoyed every moment of it serving. It was quite different from last time during my NSF days before when I would normally find it a drag to do all the work and somemore on Saturdays. Haha, however now I find it a joy to be able to serve and what more serve my country in preparing to celebrate her birthday.

It was close to the end of the day and it was almost time to pack up to go back camp. At this moment, I was doing a final check of my communication equipments before loading it into the mini bus. Suddenly, I found out that one of my ten chargers is missing! I was shocked and was looking for it at every spot which I might have placed it but alas it was not found anywhere. While searching, my mind was thinking of all the scenarios which may happen if this charger is reported loss.

On the way back to my camp, I was praying to God. I recognised Him as a Sovereign God who is always in control of all things. Surely, I know He is control of my current situation. After I had prayed that prayer for the missing charger, I free my mind from worrying and look forward to His Godly timing where He will make a way out for me whether it is to be reported loss or it will be recovered.

After reaching camp, I did a thorough search for the missing charger and even searched the mini bus. However, it is still not to be found anywhere. No choice, I have to dismiss all the storemen now and leave all things to God. Before I did that, I made a final call to one of the warrant officers which I have loaned out the charger to and I knew from my superior that he is also helping me to look for it in his base. Who will know that this warrant officer replied me over the phone that he has found the missing charger! Actually, it was dropped into his ops box accidentally and he will pass me back on Monday in camp. Thank God! He has indeed shown His Sovereignty over all matters.

This experience for me has allowed me to know the presence of God everywhere and He listens to our prayers but answers them in His own Godly timing. =)

Busy

Busy in army. Got things to do and at the same time, I think I will be spending less time online. Furthermore, my saturdays may be burnt up because of NDP. Brothers, bear with me for a while as I gather my thoughts and pen it down in this blog.

Haha, you can stop coming here for the time being cos there will not be any major updates as of now. However, pls do pray for me that I will be living a pure and honorable life in front of my Father. Thanks, brothers. =)