School thus far....
School is no doubt a marathon race. There are many instances in classes where you know that you were dreaming and the gunshot had already gone off. Whats left for you to do is just to run as fast as you can to catch up with the rest of your competitors even though you know deep down in your heart that it is going to be hard.
I have been doing my best these few weeks. I admit i haven't been putting on my game face for most of my catching up as i know that if i start intensive mugging too early, all i get is an information overload and a headache. However, that doesn't mean i don't take my revision seriously as i do think i've done a good job preparing for BN3301 test. Too bad... I guess i got one true/false question wrong.
This run will never stop as being a typical singaporean, we are all running different races concurrently. It can simply be visualised as us taking so many modules in a single semester and trying to ace every single one of them. After catching up in BN3301, my next catching up will be my FYP before i try to catch up with BN4301. Its not that i don't pay attention in class. But there's just too much to digest and memorise. @.@ And when this happens, it causes my need to ramble to somebody and the blog seems like a good media most of the time.
Argh... I need to eat more healtily too. I need to start a breakfast routine. Cereal and milk sounds like a real quick fix to my laziness for breakfast habit. Remind me to get some cereals and milk tml.
Thank God for today. Sending a prayer to Him calms me down a little all the time. You know you might never get what you want, but you know you have His attention on your case. I mean... If you want to have someone on your case, might as well have the best One on it right? =)
They always say that Change is the only constant thing in life. I believe its true. That's why He is the one sole lighthouse... He guides me home when i am in need.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Take a rest....
I have been sick for the entire 2nd week of school. I guess, this is the body's way of telling me that i have been throwing too much shit on it and never let it recuperate enough.
It started as a unnoticeable sore throat which i thought can be eradicated with some strepsils and panadol flu if i start to have a running nose. No... Apparently for this time, my nose was prepared for a marathon. The sore throat (Monday) -> Flu package (Tuesday) -> Flu + Fever(Wednesday).
I was so sick on wed that my whole body was aching from the cold of EA. Almost died. I had to seek help in UHC in the end... 5 different meds... Gosh... Apparently, the meds ain't that strong as i am still a bit sick now. =( On the bright side, i got to see this cute girl in UHC. Dunno why she's there though.. She seems perfectly fine... Unless me.. All covered in my jacket.=P
I was quite out of action for the whole week but i still do my best to make my appearances... Like the 2 back to back OG outings. I was running on reserved fuels though and i certainly hope i din pass anything to my freshies. The outings were nevertheless very enjoyable as the freshies were really nice to hang out with. Had Quiznos Subs for the first time. Not to mention the ramen place we went to opposite of Pasta de Waraku in Marina Square.
I guess i learnt a lesson this week. That is to rest properly. I think i have too many things on at the same time already. Used to have sign class on tuesdays... Almost had squash ifg trainings on tues, thurs and sat... Contemplating salsa classes on tues... Hmm.. I guess its a good thing i am free from all of them for now so that i can jump start my system again. Once i'm healthy and up to speed with school work from tml onwards, i will start looking at CCAs.
OK! I will be catching up with my work from tml onwards! I will JIAYOU!
I have been sick for the entire 2nd week of school. I guess, this is the body's way of telling me that i have been throwing too much shit on it and never let it recuperate enough.
It started as a unnoticeable sore throat which i thought can be eradicated with some strepsils and panadol flu if i start to have a running nose. No... Apparently for this time, my nose was prepared for a marathon. The sore throat (Monday) -> Flu package (Tuesday) -> Flu + Fever(Wednesday).
I was so sick on wed that my whole body was aching from the cold of EA. Almost died. I had to seek help in UHC in the end... 5 different meds... Gosh... Apparently, the meds ain't that strong as i am still a bit sick now. =( On the bright side, i got to see this cute girl in UHC. Dunno why she's there though.. She seems perfectly fine... Unless me.. All covered in my jacket.=P
I was quite out of action for the whole week but i still do my best to make my appearances... Like the 2 back to back OG outings. I was running on reserved fuels though and i certainly hope i din pass anything to my freshies. The outings were nevertheless very enjoyable as the freshies were really nice to hang out with. Had Quiznos Subs for the first time. Not to mention the ramen place we went to opposite of Pasta de Waraku in Marina Square.
I guess i learnt a lesson this week. That is to rest properly. I think i have too many things on at the same time already. Used to have sign class on tuesdays... Almost had squash ifg trainings on tues, thurs and sat... Contemplating salsa classes on tues... Hmm.. I guess its a good thing i am free from all of them for now so that i can jump start my system again. Once i'm healthy and up to speed with school work from tml onwards, i will start looking at CCAs.
OK! I will be catching up with my work from tml onwards! I will JIAYOU!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
First week of school...
First week of school was alright. Its good actually to see everyone again after a long break from school. I finally get to see familiar faces again like yongkiat and even shimon again. Not to forget, i get to irritate Huiwen again by asking her, "When is our viva?" She is our viva booker when we had labs in year 2 and 3.
As module contents start to unfold, i can feel the need to really study hard this semester. FYP will start really soon and Design project has already started. MLE4201 started the ball rolling by being first to light the fire under my ass. XPS is a bit complicated and i need to brush up on my basics once more. My PHD student for my FYP is blur and in quite a mess herself. So i have no idea as of yet what i am going to do. My only comfort is that the 2 bioengineering modules i am taking seems to be interesting and that i would like to learn more. Remember when your elders told you that studying what you like is more impt? I can understand why they said it now. =)
My mood to study hasn't quite kicked in yet as after all, its still the first week of school. There's no tutorials or labs whatsoever and so there wasn't much stress yet and much time to burn off. However, i can feel the fatigue that i will be feeling soon in due time cause of my schedule and my obligations to other commitments, aka, BB etc...
I went for squash trials on Tues. It was a long shot but i went anyway. Engin squash players are really good and i am just too out of practice and stamina to play them. Nevertheless, i din suffer crushing defeats and so i was still quite happy to play them. Hmmm... Competitive squash... I do enjoy the adrenalin rush. I made another decision this week too. I decided to stop sign class for this time first and continue it on the next schedule. Reason? I missed the first 2 classes and playing catchup is really tiring. So.. I guess... Continuing with sign class after i have settled down in school is much better rather than spreading myself too thin.
Hmmm... I helped out kenneth yest to relief him in teaching the boys for CQ. The informations on what chapters i was supposed to teach came a bit late on fri and i din have my laptop with me for the whole day! So apparently, i was clueless. I had to rush a bit at night and revise a bit myself on saturday morning as i wasn't sure of what i am going to go through. Things happened and guoquan who was the Duty Officer had to leave early. I became the stand in DO for the closing parade. Lucky for me, all i need to do is to conduct the closing parade. Haiz...
After that was quite chaotic in my mind. I wasn't really prepared to teach as i had only went through the passage for 2 times. And this is definitely the first time i am giving lessons to boys whose names i don't even know. Yup.. I din had much activity in parade for quite a while and that all my stakes were in church camp and officers dg. Nevertheless, i carried out the lesson proper to these rowdy bunch of boys who were basically having fun. Mr Sie... Hmm... Imagine the boys calling me that. Its been a long time since someone had to ask for permission from me to go to toilet too. I din know what Kenneth did in his lessons and so i din know whether what i was doing was right or wrong. I just prayed that i will impart the knowledge properly. In the end, i think i did an ok job going through the entire 2 chapters in details for the day. The boys seemed to enjoy it too.
To be frank, I did all this with quite a heavy heart. I wasn't totally sure that i was prepared to do all these teaching and even to become a relief DO. I was hoping to have more of a trade course once again on the jobs as in that i can sit in and see how things are ran now. Everything seems to be like a crash course out of the sudden and ....... I have enough things to worry about already. All these which i commited for the next year, i seem to be a part of them in this year's programme now. And Kenneth wants me to continue for the next 2 lessons... How can i say no??? I need prayers... ='(
I went for DG today. Our motto was that even if there is only 1 of us who is attending DG, our DG will go on still. Today was the case and that the only ones there was me and my mentor and sponsor, Mr Or. As usual, we share about our week's happenings and all. After that, i was on duty in the youth service.
My quality in life lies in doing what i loved the most. There're many things i'll like to do. I'll like to travel the whole world. I'll like to buy a camera. I'll like to buy myself PS3 and rockband set. There're many things i want to do too! The last thing i need from anyone is plastering facts into my face saying that i'll have no time when i start working to play with my PS3 or whatever. I mean... Gosh... I'm like telling you all all the things i want to do when i have the money. I dun need any discouragement from my friends putting facts into my face cause my parents will be there to do it! Its really saddening just now that a simple mentioning of saying i want to buy a PS3 and the rockband set to play with my friends causing a uproar of sentences of discouragement saying,"You won't have time to play." Argh..
Sometimes its really hard to tell people that this is how you will like to enjoy life. I mean, these little things may seem very trivia or even naive when you are grown up but thats just how different people live their lives. You know... It like why people still orders chicken wings when they know for a fact that chicken thighs are more worth your money. The reason is really simple..
I feel happy doing it. =(
I value my quality of life very much. It comes with God. It comes with what i find comfort in. It comes from you all who i go out with. I don't need to have all the money in this world. I only need myself to be able to stand straight when i see Him.
Hmmm... Lastly, i just got to know that Vincent is gonna propose. All the money he is gonna put into the wedding prep and everything is gonna cost him a bomb. When he said that he is gonna blow a big hole in his pocket, i replied him a simple sentence...
"It is a worthy bomb to be blown. After all, many who wants to blow their pockets never had their chances isn't it?"
Alright... The new week has dawn upon us! Jiayou ba!
First week of school was alright. Its good actually to see everyone again after a long break from school. I finally get to see familiar faces again like yongkiat and even shimon again. Not to forget, i get to irritate Huiwen again by asking her, "When is our viva?" She is our viva booker when we had labs in year 2 and 3.
As module contents start to unfold, i can feel the need to really study hard this semester. FYP will start really soon and Design project has already started. MLE4201 started the ball rolling by being first to light the fire under my ass. XPS is a bit complicated and i need to brush up on my basics once more. My PHD student for my FYP is blur and in quite a mess herself. So i have no idea as of yet what i am going to do. My only comfort is that the 2 bioengineering modules i am taking seems to be interesting and that i would like to learn more. Remember when your elders told you that studying what you like is more impt? I can understand why they said it now. =)
My mood to study hasn't quite kicked in yet as after all, its still the first week of school. There's no tutorials or labs whatsoever and so there wasn't much stress yet and much time to burn off. However, i can feel the fatigue that i will be feeling soon in due time cause of my schedule and my obligations to other commitments, aka, BB etc...
I went for squash trials on Tues. It was a long shot but i went anyway. Engin squash players are really good and i am just too out of practice and stamina to play them. Nevertheless, i din suffer crushing defeats and so i was still quite happy to play them. Hmmm... Competitive squash... I do enjoy the adrenalin rush. I made another decision this week too. I decided to stop sign class for this time first and continue it on the next schedule. Reason? I missed the first 2 classes and playing catchup is really tiring. So.. I guess... Continuing with sign class after i have settled down in school is much better rather than spreading myself too thin.
Hmmm... I helped out kenneth yest to relief him in teaching the boys for CQ. The informations on what chapters i was supposed to teach came a bit late on fri and i din have my laptop with me for the whole day! So apparently, i was clueless. I had to rush a bit at night and revise a bit myself on saturday morning as i wasn't sure of what i am going to go through. Things happened and guoquan who was the Duty Officer had to leave early. I became the stand in DO for the closing parade. Lucky for me, all i need to do is to conduct the closing parade. Haiz...
After that was quite chaotic in my mind. I wasn't really prepared to teach as i had only went through the passage for 2 times. And this is definitely the first time i am giving lessons to boys whose names i don't even know. Yup.. I din had much activity in parade for quite a while and that all my stakes were in church camp and officers dg. Nevertheless, i carried out the lesson proper to these rowdy bunch of boys who were basically having fun. Mr Sie... Hmm... Imagine the boys calling me that. Its been a long time since someone had to ask for permission from me to go to toilet too. I din know what Kenneth did in his lessons and so i din know whether what i was doing was right or wrong. I just prayed that i will impart the knowledge properly. In the end, i think i did an ok job going through the entire 2 chapters in details for the day. The boys seemed to enjoy it too.
To be frank, I did all this with quite a heavy heart. I wasn't totally sure that i was prepared to do all these teaching and even to become a relief DO. I was hoping to have more of a trade course once again on the jobs as in that i can sit in and see how things are ran now. Everything seems to be like a crash course out of the sudden and ....... I have enough things to worry about already. All these which i commited for the next year, i seem to be a part of them in this year's programme now. And Kenneth wants me to continue for the next 2 lessons... How can i say no??? I need prayers... ='(
I went for DG today. Our motto was that even if there is only 1 of us who is attending DG, our DG will go on still. Today was the case and that the only ones there was me and my mentor and sponsor, Mr Or. As usual, we share about our week's happenings and all. After that, i was on duty in the youth service.
My quality in life lies in doing what i loved the most. There're many things i'll like to do. I'll like to travel the whole world. I'll like to buy a camera. I'll like to buy myself PS3 and rockband set. There're many things i want to do too! The last thing i need from anyone is plastering facts into my face saying that i'll have no time when i start working to play with my PS3 or whatever. I mean... Gosh... I'm like telling you all all the things i want to do when i have the money. I dun need any discouragement from my friends putting facts into my face cause my parents will be there to do it! Its really saddening just now that a simple mentioning of saying i want to buy a PS3 and the rockband set to play with my friends causing a uproar of sentences of discouragement saying,"You won't have time to play." Argh..
Sometimes its really hard to tell people that this is how you will like to enjoy life. I mean, these little things may seem very trivia or even naive when you are grown up but thats just how different people live their lives. You know... It like why people still orders chicken wings when they know for a fact that chicken thighs are more worth your money. The reason is really simple..
I feel happy doing it. =(
I value my quality of life very much. It comes with God. It comes with what i find comfort in. It comes from you all who i go out with. I don't need to have all the money in this world. I only need myself to be able to stand straight when i see Him.
Hmmm... Lastly, i just got to know that Vincent is gonna propose. All the money he is gonna put into the wedding prep and everything is gonna cost him a bomb. When he said that he is gonna blow a big hole in his pocket, i replied him a simple sentence...
"It is a worthy bomb to be blown. After all, many who wants to blow their pockets never had their chances isn't it?"
Alright... The new week has dawn upon us! Jiayou ba!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
From ODB... Mimic...
Was there a point in your life where your siblings starts mimicking what you were doing all the time and you got so frustrated with them that you just want to kick them in the butt?
I guess i did experience that stage in life before as i was the oldest in the family of my generation and that i had 2 younger brothers. It was rather irritating as i saw it as a threat to my individuality and that they were trying to share my identity!
Today's lesson was about setting an example of yourself.
We should be glad that when someone looks upon us as a model to be copied as, we can bring them closer to God. All we have to say to these little people is simple...
"Come follow me.. As i follow God.."
I thought today's devotion is meaningful as many of us are senior or older siblings to many others. They look up to us and whatever we do, they might follow. Let us discipline ourselves in our every act, word and thought. We will never know who is looking at us. We are not saints, but we will do our very best. =)
I'll be meeting my FYP prof tml. I think my supervisor will be a prof in IMRE itself. Gosh... I heard that the others has relatively simple fyp and that those of who have our projects from IMRE are gonna have to do a lot more. Hmmm... A bit excited tml as i will find out as to what i will be investing my time in for the whole year tml. Hope both of my supervisiors are nice. Haa...
Timbrefest tml!
Was there a point in your life where your siblings starts mimicking what you were doing all the time and you got so frustrated with them that you just want to kick them in the butt?
I guess i did experience that stage in life before as i was the oldest in the family of my generation and that i had 2 younger brothers. It was rather irritating as i saw it as a threat to my individuality and that they were trying to share my identity!
Today's lesson was about setting an example of yourself.
We should be glad that when someone looks upon us as a model to be copied as, we can bring them closer to God. All we have to say to these little people is simple...
"Come follow me.. As i follow God.."
I thought today's devotion is meaningful as many of us are senior or older siblings to many others. They look up to us and whatever we do, they might follow. Let us discipline ourselves in our every act, word and thought. We will never know who is looking at us. We are not saints, but we will do our very best. =)
I'll be meeting my FYP prof tml. I think my supervisor will be a prof in IMRE itself. Gosh... I heard that the others has relatively simple fyp and that those of who have our projects from IMRE are gonna have to do a lot more. Hmmm... A bit excited tml as i will find out as to what i will be investing my time in for the whole year tml. Hope both of my supervisiors are nice. Haa...
Timbrefest tml!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Answer to my prayers on ODB...
My comfort in Him...
I read this on the daily bread today... Whenever a child experiences hurt or sickness, he will cry out to his father and wail for comfort and help. The father will always tell the kid, "Dear son... Think of how good you will feel when the hurting is over and that you are feeling good after that."
Essentially, it is the same for our relationship with God. I admit that i suffered emotional trauma for quite a long time ever since my r/s din't work out and i guess just cause i was on IA, everything was made easier to be forgotten as i was terribly busy and though i was coping, i am normally too tired to talk about it to anyone. It was a catastrophic disaster in my world and the only thing that held me strong was the Father. Being very disappointed with myself and the r/s and having no one to turn to, i seeked refuge under His wings. These 6 months were a period of seeking Him and complaining to Him.
I told myself.... And i know that for a fact that whatever din't work out is because God had something better planned for me. In fact, i have been telling myself that for the past 2 years. I am still waiting for the time to come when finally, all my anguish is gone and the wait is over. I know it can't be rushed, but i would really want that day to come.
The only thing we Christians can believe in is that He has something good planned for us in the end. Through many trials and tests, i guess not only God, but we ourselves can see and testify for our hearts individually whether we have been God loving. No one is perfect. I am not either. But i'll do my best for He will have someone planned for me who will last with me forever. =)
John 16:33:
"These things i have spoken to you, that in Me you may find peace. In the world you will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, i have overcome the world."
He promises that we as Christians will enjoy fruits of our faith at the end of ends. I just have to cling on that...
The only question i can ask is... When will my wait be over?
My comfort in Him...
I read this on the daily bread today... Whenever a child experiences hurt or sickness, he will cry out to his father and wail for comfort and help. The father will always tell the kid, "Dear son... Think of how good you will feel when the hurting is over and that you are feeling good after that."
Essentially, it is the same for our relationship with God. I admit that i suffered emotional trauma for quite a long time ever since my r/s din't work out and i guess just cause i was on IA, everything was made easier to be forgotten as i was terribly busy and though i was coping, i am normally too tired to talk about it to anyone. It was a catastrophic disaster in my world and the only thing that held me strong was the Father. Being very disappointed with myself and the r/s and having no one to turn to, i seeked refuge under His wings. These 6 months were a period of seeking Him and complaining to Him.
I told myself.... And i know that for a fact that whatever din't work out is because God had something better planned for me. In fact, i have been telling myself that for the past 2 years. I am still waiting for the time to come when finally, all my anguish is gone and the wait is over. I know it can't be rushed, but i would really want that day to come.
The only thing we Christians can believe in is that He has something good planned for us in the end. Through many trials and tests, i guess not only God, but we ourselves can see and testify for our hearts individually whether we have been God loving. No one is perfect. I am not either. But i'll do my best for He will have someone planned for me who will last with me forever. =)
John 16:33:
"These things i have spoken to you, that in Me you may find peace. In the world you will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, i have overcome the world."
He promises that we as Christians will enjoy fruits of our faith at the end of ends. I just have to cling on that...
The only question i can ask is... When will my wait be over?
Monday, August 09, 2010
19th Company Officers' Retreat 2010
As can be seem from above, i embarked on a short getaway retreat with the BB officers to JB for a retreat which turned out really good for my own spiritual growth and also, i got to know more about the other officers. 19th Singapore Company is basically a family whereby we function together as a family unit with all of us covering each other asses especially when we run into trouble.
Day 1: Senior Programmes planning.
I believe that everyone thinks that a retreat should be a relaxing trip whereby all of us would just go for spas or whatever pampers ourselves. This wasn't the case for our retreat as our first agenda upon reaching our hotel was to meet up with writing materials in the seminar room.
We were at first stunned by the preparation the hotel made for us in the seminar room. We had multiple teabreaks that really kept us full and ready for more meeting. The tea and coffee there was marvelous in providing caffeine. The picture on top says it all. Unexpecting. The thing is, we felt corporate all of the sudden and that got us to sit down in a serious manner for the meeting. I guess this was very good as we had to plan the programmes for the seniors for the next year. Of cause, the meeting starting on a spiritual note with the topic of servant leadership on the table as the first topic. I think... This is exceptionally key that we remember our object here in the BB is the advancement of Christ Kingdom and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline and Self-Respect and all that tends towards a True Christian Manliness.
I guess... With 1 year away from the senior's programme, i lost track of my purpose in BB. I used to be contented and more interested in serving as a training officer in drills and whatever. This retreat had me thinking for a while as to ask myself in which area do i want to contribute in the BB. The answer that came to me is that i guess maybe i can contribute to the spiritual aspect of the BB. Character Quest (formerly known as Bible Quiz) was the only thing that was calling out to me from the wall of events where we can choose to take charge. Of course, Kenneth was there again and i was quite confortable with putting my name up there.
All in all, i was finally made in charge of Character Quest and Ropes course next year and these will be happening on the second half of next year. As much as i had experience in club activities, i am still quite green in the BB aspect of my life in terms of being an officer in charge. Oh well, i guess everythings the same with predecessors to ask for advice. Many issues were brought up in the meeting too and we all discussed well. Well, i hope that as i teach in the next Character Quest, i'll learn more. =)
The day ended with a 8 course dinner in a chinese restaurant. We had lots of fun talking and even making fun of each other during dinner.
Day 2:
We started the second day with devotion and small group quiet time. Jack and me were with Mr Or for our devotion and naturally, we shared our views. It was about what type of trees are we and whether we are producing good fruits with our actions and words. Somehow, after the devotion, i painted a picture in my mind... And this is what i shared...
Everyone is a growing tree. How big or how tall we are determines how knowledgeable we are of his words. For this tree of christianhood (life) to grow in us, God had actually planted this seed of faith in us whereby it marks the grown of our Christian faith. As this seed germinates and grows, this process is the faith journey in which we embarked on with God. The roots which grew out becomes our faith because it is with this faith that we are able to stand on our feet and become the good men we are. Thus, as the tree grows, our roots reach out far and wide and also deeply into the ground so that our faith becomes an anchor which sort of determines what we say and do. The ground which nourishes this seed of faith and after that the tree of life is God. He holds us upright with our faith in Him and He constantly provides us with nutrients of His words which can be thought of as fertilisers. These fertilisers are the people around you who keep you in check. They're the BB officers around me and my church as they nourish me with His words for my spiritual growth. With this, the world is never ideal. The atmosphere becomes the worldly place in which we are in and it represents the devil. He will continue to blow and rain on use till we are shaken so that our faith fails to anchor us. But! God is always they and as long as our faith grows in these adversities, we will prevail on the right side! I want to grow tall and spread my reach wide so that i can shelter for new seedlings and help them grow.
The picture in my imagination was so awesome and magnificent that when i shared it, there's really no proper way to describe it. I'm really glad that i have this chance to share as it is normally the leader who shares and us who listens. Hmmm... Somehow after this, i became one of the character development officer too preaching the scriptures.
p.s. i am glad to be a CD officer... I just pray God will help me.
Second day was a lot of shopping. A conclusion, M'sia is a good place to eat but is super chui in providing retail therapy. Everything except food was fundamentally as expensive as in Singapore. So i ended up not buying anything but ate a whole lot. Jusco was not bad as it was big and had lots of variety for shopping. Perlangi and Angsana shopping centre was -.-"
Nothing was really worth mentioning except food! There was this Abalone noodle we had for lunch. Though its only 1 piece inside, the noodles and the soup and everything was great! and best is it cost only about 3 bucks which is basically the price of a normal bak chor mee. Den, we went to a place called K-long i think... Haha!.. It was by the seaside and the seafood was fantastic! We had fried sotong, prawn, chilli crab, salted egg crab, kailan, fish (dunno what big fish is that), fried beancurd and fried chicken. I had 2 oysters! It was mega big and frankly i have never tasted such good and fresh oysters before! Seriously, i can eat them without lime or lemon cause there wasn't a smell! It was good. And as you can see now, i am not having a stomach ache. Food was really great! We had our own groceries shopping too so we had supplies for Community Shield (ManU vs Chelsea).
We (the older officers) has a HTHT drinking session after that. I had only 1 can of Heineken as i was dead tired already.
Day 3:
We're returning to Singapore! Its the National Day and normally on NDP as the parade marches pass, i'll feel damn patriotic. It never changed. I was still very touched in fact that i served as a sergeant. We came back smoothly. Captain had a punctured tire and all of us thought it was sabotage as the nail was real big. I guess the saboteur messed with the wrong bunch of people. =) We're Officers and Primers of the Cross after all!
Thats the end of my Officer's retreat entry. I'm really glad that i went for Oweek as an OGL. I'm really glad that i went for retreat. I really do...
With this, i would like to give thanks too. I have gotten my technical elective preallocated to me at 1 point! How blessed am i! As i read the daily bread online, i guess He does loves me a lot too. Wenhao.. If you are reading this, this is how i live my life. I casted my worries to God and enjoyed Oweek and my Retreat as i had already done all i could. I'll just wait for His miracles to work. =)
Awesomeness is God!
I went for ifg squash try-outs today. The people there were real good and i lost to both players i played. It was really fun and it really reminded me of how much i loved competitive squash. Its a pity i stopped though and played recreationally. But oh well, i guess when you gain some, you lose some too.
Kenneth and Andrew shared a lot with me and guo quan on the car in JB. They prayed for a long time for their concern to go away before the light is shone. How long will it take me then? Haiz... ='
As can be seem from above, i embarked on a short getaway retreat with the BB officers to JB for a retreat which turned out really good for my own spiritual growth and also, i got to know more about the other officers. 19th Singapore Company is basically a family whereby we function together as a family unit with all of us covering each other asses especially when we run into trouble.
Day 1: Senior Programmes planning.
I believe that everyone thinks that a retreat should be a relaxing trip whereby all of us would just go for spas or whatever pampers ourselves. This wasn't the case for our retreat as our first agenda upon reaching our hotel was to meet up with writing materials in the seminar room.
We were at first stunned by the preparation the hotel made for us in the seminar room. We had multiple teabreaks that really kept us full and ready for more meeting. The tea and coffee there was marvelous in providing caffeine. The picture on top says it all. Unexpecting. The thing is, we felt corporate all of the sudden and that got us to sit down in a serious manner for the meeting. I guess this was very good as we had to plan the programmes for the seniors for the next year. Of cause, the meeting starting on a spiritual note with the topic of servant leadership on the table as the first topic. I think... This is exceptionally key that we remember our object here in the BB is the advancement of Christ Kingdom and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline and Self-Respect and all that tends towards a True Christian Manliness.
I guess... With 1 year away from the senior's programme, i lost track of my purpose in BB. I used to be contented and more interested in serving as a training officer in drills and whatever. This retreat had me thinking for a while as to ask myself in which area do i want to contribute in the BB. The answer that came to me is that i guess maybe i can contribute to the spiritual aspect of the BB. Character Quest (formerly known as Bible Quiz) was the only thing that was calling out to me from the wall of events where we can choose to take charge. Of course, Kenneth was there again and i was quite confortable with putting my name up there.
All in all, i was finally made in charge of Character Quest and Ropes course next year and these will be happening on the second half of next year. As much as i had experience in club activities, i am still quite green in the BB aspect of my life in terms of being an officer in charge. Oh well, i guess everythings the same with predecessors to ask for advice. Many issues were brought up in the meeting too and we all discussed well. Well, i hope that as i teach in the next Character Quest, i'll learn more. =)
The day ended with a 8 course dinner in a chinese restaurant. We had lots of fun talking and even making fun of each other during dinner.
Day 2:
We started the second day with devotion and small group quiet time. Jack and me were with Mr Or for our devotion and naturally, we shared our views. It was about what type of trees are we and whether we are producing good fruits with our actions and words. Somehow, after the devotion, i painted a picture in my mind... And this is what i shared...
Everyone is a growing tree. How big or how tall we are determines how knowledgeable we are of his words. For this tree of christianhood (life) to grow in us, God had actually planted this seed of faith in us whereby it marks the grown of our Christian faith. As this seed germinates and grows, this process is the faith journey in which we embarked on with God. The roots which grew out becomes our faith because it is with this faith that we are able to stand on our feet and become the good men we are. Thus, as the tree grows, our roots reach out far and wide and also deeply into the ground so that our faith becomes an anchor which sort of determines what we say and do. The ground which nourishes this seed of faith and after that the tree of life is God. He holds us upright with our faith in Him and He constantly provides us with nutrients of His words which can be thought of as fertilisers. These fertilisers are the people around you who keep you in check. They're the BB officers around me and my church as they nourish me with His words for my spiritual growth. With this, the world is never ideal. The atmosphere becomes the worldly place in which we are in and it represents the devil. He will continue to blow and rain on use till we are shaken so that our faith fails to anchor us. But! God is always they and as long as our faith grows in these adversities, we will prevail on the right side! I want to grow tall and spread my reach wide so that i can shelter for new seedlings and help them grow.
The picture in my imagination was so awesome and magnificent that when i shared it, there's really no proper way to describe it. I'm really glad that i have this chance to share as it is normally the leader who shares and us who listens. Hmmm... Somehow after this, i became one of the character development officer too preaching the scriptures.
p.s. i am glad to be a CD officer... I just pray God will help me.
Second day was a lot of shopping. A conclusion, M'sia is a good place to eat but is super chui in providing retail therapy. Everything except food was fundamentally as expensive as in Singapore. So i ended up not buying anything but ate a whole lot. Jusco was not bad as it was big and had lots of variety for shopping. Perlangi and Angsana shopping centre was -.-"
Nothing was really worth mentioning except food! There was this Abalone noodle we had for lunch. Though its only 1 piece inside, the noodles and the soup and everything was great! and best is it cost only about 3 bucks which is basically the price of a normal bak chor mee. Den, we went to a place called K-long i think... Haha!.. It was by the seaside and the seafood was fantastic! We had fried sotong, prawn, chilli crab, salted egg crab, kailan, fish (dunno what big fish is that), fried beancurd and fried chicken. I had 2 oysters! It was mega big and frankly i have never tasted such good and fresh oysters before! Seriously, i can eat them without lime or lemon cause there wasn't a smell! It was good. And as you can see now, i am not having a stomach ache. Food was really great! We had our own groceries shopping too so we had supplies for Community Shield (ManU vs Chelsea).
We (the older officers) has a HTHT drinking session after that. I had only 1 can of Heineken as i was dead tired already.
Day 3:
We're returning to Singapore! Its the National Day and normally on NDP as the parade marches pass, i'll feel damn patriotic. It never changed. I was still very touched in fact that i served as a sergeant. We came back smoothly. Captain had a punctured tire and all of us thought it was sabotage as the nail was real big. I guess the saboteur messed with the wrong bunch of people. =) We're Officers and Primers of the Cross after all!
Thats the end of my Officer's retreat entry. I'm really glad that i went for Oweek as an OGL. I'm really glad that i went for retreat. I really do...
With this, i would like to give thanks too. I have gotten my technical elective preallocated to me at 1 point! How blessed am i! As i read the daily bread online, i guess He does loves me a lot too. Wenhao.. If you are reading this, this is how i live my life. I casted my worries to God and enjoyed Oweek and my Retreat as i had already done all i could. I'll just wait for His miracles to work. =)
Awesomeness is God!
I went for ifg squash try-outs today. The people there were real good and i lost to both players i played. It was really fun and it really reminded me of how much i loved competitive squash. Its a pity i stopped though and played recreationally. But oh well, i guess when you gain some, you lose some too.
Kenneth and Andrew shared a lot with me and guo quan on the car in JB. They prayed for a long time for their concern to go away before the light is shone. How long will it take me then? Haiz... ='
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)