Goodbye 2006, Welcome 2007

2006 is a year that passes like a flash to me. As a matter of fact, every year passes like a flash but this year, it is too eventful for me and yet still passes like a flash. There are a total of two major changes in my life for 2006. The first change is from a student life back to army life. The second change is from an army life to a working life.

At the beginning of 2006, I remembered that I was rushing for my Final Year Project (FYP) and also preparing for my final exams in my final semester. It was quite a stressful period for me as I saw the deadline for my FYP report approaching and also the presentation after my final exams. I was very concerned about who my moderator for my FYP is. The reason being that, if I was assigned a very strict moderator, I will have a very difficult time answering his demanding questions.

All praises go to God for seeing me through all things and you may have known by now, I have graduated back in June this year. This was where my first major change began. I started to apply to go back to army to resume my disruption to serve back my remaining four months of service. It was a period of uncertainty for me as I am not very sure how the army looked like after three years. I heard that it has become 3rd Generation (3G).

Going back to my old familiar camp was a very memorable experience. I saw how the camp has changed after a new coat of paint and renovations. The computers used were no longer those old army computers but new Pentium IV ones complete with LCD monitors. Wow! Met up with my familiar army friend as she is a regular and still works in the same branch as before. Again, time passes like a flash and in no time, I have ORDed with a green certificate and ready to go out to the real world.

The second major change was from an army life to working life. If I have lamented that student life in NTU is nothing but stress everywhere, I am too naïve because working life is truly where the stress level peaks. This is simply because you are solely responsible for the things under your care. Hence, if you happen to make mistakes, you will need to be prepared for a good scolding by your boss. I am still adapting to this life and learning new things along the way. However, I am glad that I have began a brand new chapter which will last a long way, at least till I retire. Thus, no major changes for the time being.

Looking back at 2006, I can see that I have gone through these major changes in my life with God’s purpose set for me even way before I was born. How I have landed in my current company and department was also planned by Him. Going into 2007, I will want to live up to His purpose for me in my life by truly mediating upon His attributes.

Blessed New Year Ahead.

The Attributes of God

Because God is a personal Spirit, I will seek intimate fellowship with Him.

Because God is all-powerful, He can help me with anything.

Because God is ever-present, He is always with me.

Because God knows everything, I will go to Him with all my questions and concerns.

Because God is sovereign, I will joyfully submit to His will.

Because God is holy, I will devote myself to Him in purity, worship, and service.

Because God is absolute truth, I will believe what He says and live accordingly.

Because God is righteous, I will live by His standards.

Because God is just, He will always treat me fairly.

Because God is love, He is unconditionally committed to my well-being.

Because God is merciful, He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them.

Because God is faithful, I will trust Him to always keep His promises.

Because God never changes, my future is secure and eternal.

i am fine now

Thanks, everyone who has been spending their precious time to care for me for this past week. I will like to tell you all, “I am fine now.”

I really thank everyone who has poured out their concerns for me. I have learnt a valuable lesson from God and as I walked out of my downtime, I thank God for putting me through this test. If not for this test, I think I will still not be able to understand how to grow stronger in times of trials.

I have grown more accustomed to my job now and felt no longer so stressed and traumatized about going to work. Adapting quite well now and I will say my relationship with my colleagues is improving too.

I feel that although time is never on my side, it can heal all wounds and hurts. I will like to give everyone time for healing and also God’s spirit to be our mediator so that truly we can all experience the wonderfulness of reconciliation. =)

江湖

我生病了。

The Wedding Banquet

I cannot come
I cannot come to the banquet, don’t trouble me now
I have married a wife; I have bought me a cow
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum
Pray hold me excused, I cannot come

A certain man held a feast on his fine estate in town,
He laid a festive table and wore a wedding gown
He sent invitations to his neighbours far and wide
But when the meal was ready, each of them replied:

I cannot come
I cannot come to the banquet, don’t trouble me now
I have married a wife; I have bought me a cow
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum
Pray hold me excused, I cannot come

The master rose up in anger, called his servants by name,
Said, “Go into the town, fetch the blind and the lame,
Fetch the peasant and the pauper for this I have willed,
My banquet must be crowded, and my table must be filled.”

When all the poor had assembled, there was still room to spare
So the master demanded: “Go search everywhere
To the highways and the byways and force them to come in.
My table must be filled before the banquet can begin.”

Now God has written a lesson for the rest of mankind;
If we’re slow in responding, He may leave us behind.
He’s preparing a banquet for that great and glorious day,
When the Lord and Master call us, be certain not to say:

I cannot come
I cannot come to the banquet, don’t trouble me now
I have married a wife; I have bought me a cow
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum
Pray hold me excused, I cannot come

Blowing In The Wind

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man? (Yes ‘n’)
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand? (Yes ‘n’)
How many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind,
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky? (Yes ‘n’)
How many years must one man have
Before he can hear people cry? (Yes ‘n’)
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind,
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea (Yes ‘n’)
How many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free? (Yes ‘n’)
How many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn’t see?

The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind,
The answer is blowing in the wind

Do I Truly Know my God?

I was pondering over this question at least for this past week. Since opening the door of my heart to my God, have I truly been spending time to know Him? Realizing that my life is currently busy with work, ministry and family, am I truly spending time to know Him? If I say that He is a close friend of mine, what have I knew about this Friend?

There are just too many attributes of God for me to know and find out. I think I will spend the rest of my entire life and I will still be unable to find out everything about Him. I truly need to understand Him so that I can walk close with Him to go through my life. He is my Creator. He is All-Powerful. He uses His power in my behalf. He is Present Everywhere. He is Always with me. He Knows Everything about me. He is Sovereign. He Directs my life. He is Holy. He gives me power to become Holy. He is Absolute Truth. His Truth sets me free. He is Righteous. He helps me to live righteously. He is Just. His Justice works for my good. He is Love. He helps me spread His Love. He is Merciful. He Expects me to Extend Mercy. He is Faithful. He Enables me to be faithful. He Never Changes. He gives me to rest in Him. Many, many things to know and find out about Him.

I want to truly understand my God if not the life I live will be wasted. I want to know all about Him so that I can share His attributes with the people around me. The entire Bible is rested on His attributes. Unless I spend time reading His Love Letter, I will never even get to know one of His many attributes deep enough. In addition, I need to understand that all the reading of His Word is not for my own intellectual knowledge but simply to know this Close Friend of mine.

If I truly know my God, it will affect my friendships, my work, my leisure activities, the types of literature I read and even the music I listen. If I do not have the right view of God, how can the people around me even begin to see Him as He is? The right view of God will change not only my life but the lives of many people around me magnificently.

Let me get to know my God deeply so that I can get to love Him back in the same manner which He has loved me. Father, guide me by Your Holy Spirit in getting to know You.

Final Two Mini Events for 2006!

Event #1:
Cell Gathering on 30 Dec 2006

Event #2:
Night Biking Trip for WatchNight Service cum Supper on 31 Dec 2006 to 01 Jan 2007

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重点 (Key Point):
You can get to see C.S. in person! ~haha~
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Friday Reflections - Reloaded

It is Friday again. Another week has passed and weekend is here in less than 2 hours. Wow, super fast. Time has passed by every person without waiting for anyone. Who can say that time has waited for them even just that one moment? I dare not say so for myself.

Although I do agree the fact that work can never be finished, I simply need more time. I started to realize that as a matter of fact, twenty-four hours a day is simply not enough for me. Can I have more than twenty-four hours? Maybe give me another twenty-four hours to make forty-eight, can? Then, I can use that extra twenty-four hours to spend time jogging, reading or resting my mind.

Everyone has the same twenty-four hours. The difference is how do we spend that amount of time. It is just like our cash on hand. The same amount lies in everyone’s hand when the clock strikes twelve midnight and a new day begins. Right now, I will say that I spend more than half of the amount I am allocated to my work. The rest goes into sleeping, eating and leisure time like internet.

This week passed by very fast in the midst of me trying to finish the tasks assigned to me on hand. I am learning new things everyday and currently still learning. There is just too many things to pick up in my job. I need more time but time is not on my side. That is why tomorrow I plan to go back to office to finish up some of my work.

I am developing my passion for my work and beginning to find my job more and more interesting and challenging. However, stress is definitely present and what I can do is to learn how to work with stress and not be overcome by it.

A poem by C.S
Manage Time and Manage Stress,
Do your Best while God will do the Rest,
Remember to Rest well so the mind can wonder Less.

My Hobby - Running

I am also not sure when did I start to fall in love with running? I think it must be during the time when I was doing my exchange program in Shanghai last year when I started to run. As I ran to cover more and more distance, I truly enjoyed the joy of completion after a run. Maybe that's why my new resolution for 2006 is to run a marathon. Haha.

As I mentioned before, I did not run a marathon this year though. However, I did cover a distance of about 42.2 km in two instalments namely, Army Half Marathon (AHM) on 27 August 2006 and Standard Chartered Singapore Half Marathon 2006 on 3 Dec 2006. Received two medals after the run and here are the medals:

2006 is coming to an end soon. As the whole world welcomes 2007 next month, I will like to make a resolution for 2007 - To run a full marathon of 42.195km. =)

Friday Reflections

This week has been a busy week for me. Actually, it has always been for the past eight weeks. Every week is eventful. So many things happening and new challenges posed. This evening, my week ended with KFC. Some leftovers from my department Fridays afternoon tea.

It is Friday night again and this is the night I feel the most relaxed for basically tomorrow is Saturday. Since I started working, Saturday becomes the day where I will do my preparation for BS and cell meetings. Not too good because it is a bit rush. Sometimes, I have to squeeze in worship preparation as well. Doing everything yourself can be tiring and weary. At some moments, I do feel where is everyone when I needed help?

Weekend is very precious. I agree to this statement fully now. Throughout the week, I have been busy with work. Everyday knocking off just to go home to sleep for a few hours before waking up again to go to work. It is like a routine cycle. Waking up at 6am every morning to take my breakfast and then do my quiet time. Sometimes, even play some songs before I rush to bath and catch my bus at 7.33am to go to company. Yes, 7.33am, the bus is so punctual everyday.

Coming to a weekend, it is also work. Preparing for bible study, cell and coordinating the worship. Doing my best only to know that actually few will be coming for the things I prepared. However, it has also became a routine to me that few will attend the meetings but I still want to carry on with this work. This is one responsibility which I have taken up and I have to see to its completion. The shepherding role.

I was reading Psalm 130 during lunch hour today. Felt ministered by it and decided to share here:

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

Just reflecting. 1 December is over. =)