The Polaroid Show

2007-01-06T10:53:00.000+08:00

Move over to zzaarr.multiply.com

Run To God

2006-12-11T00:47:00.000+08:00

I like this song, it was written by Jenn and for me it depicts a sole reliance on God, especially when we fail. So I sang it as a song of surrender to God and I really want to see him work in my life.

You can download it here. Enjoy!

Run To You
Give me a confidence
To face each passing day
A chance to see Your pow'r
At work in everyway
Do not be far from me
In times my witness fails
But keep me near the cross
Aand guide me while I'm here

The prodding in my heart
Reveals a hunger in my soul
The life You gave I dare not waste
Cos it's not my own
Grant me the strength to trust
In You in everything I do
Let every action, thought
And word draw me to You

To You
I’m sorry
I fell when I tried
But I failed
So I run to You

I Love Jesus

2006-12-07T00:08:00.000+08:00

I didn't know how else to title it, but there's this gurgling geyser in me that wants to burst forth for God!

I had a good time walking home from my bus stop home and I was praying and praying, talking to God like I really miss a long lost lover. God is a lover, in fact, he is the Lover.

Lover not in the sense of a human lover, he is the provider of life! Did you know that you're alive whether because he keeps you alive? It doesn't matter if you like him, love him or hate him, you are here only because of his grace.

I was thanking God for his sovereign grace, that grace that opened my heart to spiritual truths, the grace that kept me alive while I was an unbeliever, the grace that keeps me going on even when I'm downright tired running this race, grace that keeps me waking up each morning, grace that keeps my heart pumping and my lungs from collapsing.

How can anyone say that God doesn't love them?!

I have recently took Pastor MacArthur's advice to read my a book in my Bible daily, for 30 days and by the end of a month I'd have read it 30 times! And as he recommended, I'll be reading the 1st epistle of the Apostle John! So here is a famous saying by Saint John:

"We love because he first loved us" - 1st John 4:19

Never say or think for a second that God does not love you!

Demon Hunter's Deterioate

2006-11-25T12:42:00.000+08:00

I need a heart that carries on through the pain
When the walls start collapsing again
Give me a soul that never ceases to follow
Despite the infection within

2006-11-19T00:20:00.000+08:00

I am so angst-ridden. SO!

A most wonderful birthday

2006-11-10T01:55:00.000+08:00

My friends, I had the most enjoyable birthday in my life up till now, this, today, this evening, man it was enjoyable, surprise after surprise, elating, simply wonderful.

Let me recount the events of the events leading up to today, and to this wonderful day itself.

Wednesday Night - D Day -1

I was at worship practice with my worship team and while practising Sam blurted out, "Sorry I can't be with you at your thing tomorrow" and I was like, OH NO! I'm not supposed to hear that and I was a little disappointed that my surprise's cover was blown!

But! Sharon with her amazing acting managed to convince me that the only surprise was at Botak Jones in the afternoon for lunch with Joel and that all Samantha was saying that she would miss the lunch event.

Of course I didn't believe Sharon lah! But again, Sharon's amazing acting made me feel bad about expecting too much so I believed her that Sam was actually talking about that lunch at Botak Jones.

Besides I am a really simple guy and I am pleased easily most times! Really k! And so I went home and still didn't feel like it was my birthday even though I did get well wishes from various friends, most notably Joey, because he called and wished me! Thank you bro.

Thursday - D Day

The morning began slowly with Sharon buying hotcakes from Macdonalds and we watched a little bit of The Princess Hours 2, the korean tv serial and it sort of set the tone for the day, like you know, slow moving and stuff.

Somehow Sharon was tasked to pre-order our food for lunch at Botak Jones and I think she had such a hard time trying not to ordering as the person on the other side of the line wasn't making it easy. She was ordering for 5 persons and I was only expecting 3, Joel, Sharon and myself.

But I couldn't make out how many she was ordering so she did a good job masking it up convincing me thoroughly that this was the only surprise there was!

After that, we moved to Botak Jones and had lunch. When we got there, Jeremy called Sharon and I saw his name flashing, then I thought, "Eh something fishy is happening, how come Jeremy is calling Sharon?", haha I didn't think too much about it and we were the first to get there and there was no one to say surprise to me.

We picked a four-seater and Sharon was showing I dunno, funny faces? Then I just try to be funny and sat down, then lo and behold! The Botak Jones staff came by with 5 sets of cutlery and said "5 people right?", poor Sharon had no choice but to just nod her head, wahahaha, and I seeing how comical it was let out a big cackle and proceeded to a bigger table.

We sat there for 5 minutes and Joey and Daniel came from behind me and pinched my ear and wished me happy birthday, that was nice! Hahaha, I meant the wishing and that Daniel and Joey were there, and Joel joined us shortly and Botak Jones is good! Hahaha GOOD STUFF! Go try it.

After lunch, we rushed our way down for the 130pm of the screening of Step Up, which Joel keeps calling "Step Up In Faith" but the rest kept hearing "Step Up in Fame", haha, Joel I think the speech pathology course was a mighty good choice! Hahaha. Jokes aside, the film was well shot, good sound track, great dancing! However, the actors weren't good, and the plot was very predictable. I still enjoyed the show though, it makes me feel good and wanting to go for dance classes!

After the movie, we were supposed to go grab a drink and it was pouring really heavily! Sharon for some strange reason had to rush off to church to "collect something from Sister Poh Suan" and we had to go quickly, I was wondering what could be so important. She brought me there and instead of heading to Sister Poh Suan's cubicle we went to the music equipment cubicle and picked up my guitar, effects and some cymbals!

I was baffled and expecting to take a cab to Esplanade where I would play my concert of a lifetime to 5 million people, hahaha, that however, was not what happened. I was headed to Sound Bites for a surprise jam session and Sharon assured me that it was only a jam session and it wasn't anything more than that, I believed her.

Jason, Jeremy, Jeraldine and Daniel appeared! It felt just like old times, not so long ago, but it was good stuff, we jammed through the whole of "So This Is Goodnight EP" and some covers, Daniel had even designated which parts of the song I was to sing but it never occur to me what was going to happen. So I get to do something I love on my birthday and I thought that was great! And I was already happy and content being out with Sharon, but of course she had other plans!

We finished jamming at six plus and Jason drove us to Holland Village where we were going to have dinner at Sushi Tei. I somehow felt like I wanted to go there for dinner, somehow for some strange reason. Sharon did not have to coax me at all! The ride there was funny, Jon, Jeremy and myself in the back of the van, crushing one another. Haha..

When we got to Holland Village, Sharon needed to withdraw money and some strange force just made me follow her and the rest proceeded to Sushi Tei to find seats, right... Haha and we headed there after Sharon withdrew money, and she only withdrew $20 and I thought, "Wah she's going budget..." Hahaha...

When we got there, the manager asked if we had a reservation under Sharon and I was like, "NOOOO!! NOT AGAIN!!" and I stomped up the stairs sulking about how my surprises keep getting messed up, lol, but I didn't know what to expect anyway.

When I went upstairs, lo and behold (you'll keep reading this phrase I think), a whole bunch of my friends were there! WAH! And they wished me a really loud happy birthday! Super!

It was super, receiving the best gift yet, a group of my friends surprising me with their presence and I get to have dinner with them in my favourite Japanese restaurant. Mummy treated everyone and that was my good gift from my parents, I am so thankful to God for such loving parents! (I was initially upset that they didn't really ask me out for dinner) oops! What a fool I was!

As dinner finished, everyone started going off and it was all very natural, I tell you, Step Up's directors should have got my friends to act in their movie, they did such a good job acting as if they had to go off naturally, my parents grabbed my guitar and left, and I was left with Sharon and she said that she wanted to head to Cold Storage and get some candy?! She even went to the pet shop and wanted to check out the rabbits?! All this for what?! To stall time for me!

Then after buying the stuff she wanted to go to Wala Wala? I was like? HUH!? I thought Starbucks would've been a better idea but Sharon said they had one for one and it was good, so I acquiesced and thought to myself the night is not ended!

She rushed me and we paid for the drinks quickly and I saw the same people who were at Sushi Tei were seated and waiting for something to happen! Fwah! It was unreal man, that moment. I took it all and I can still see it now. My guitar was set up and I was to take the stage?! That was just great man! My 5 million concert!

Sharon even planned it in such a way for me to practise with the band without making it obvious! Is that solid planning or what? All in what, 3 days?! She rocks my toe socks off!

So I rocked with Daniel, Jeremy, Caleb, and Joey, and the we sang some originals and a some covers, it was great! Because why? I had practised earlier! Man.

After the set, they sang me a birthday song and Sharon was holding my cake and I blew out my 22 candles! It was wonderful, the joy in my heart, so nice and warm and fuzzy. I love you Sharon.

Thanks also to Cheryl Chan for the cake, it was very yummy, my favourite cake from Secret Recipe, the chocolate banananana cake!

It's still so vivid now and I just wanted to type it all down and savour the moments I had. Some pictures are already on Jon's Flickr, see it at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vii_haven/sets/72157594367907712/

Finally the blow by blow account of the day's events all down, now for the reflections..

You know what I felt at the dinner? I felt that I am so undeserving, how come these people love me so much and will grace me with their presence, how come God loves me so much and chose to bless me and give me great friends who love me? And then at the gig, how come?

You know what this whole celebration of my birthday reminds me of? It reminds me of God's grace poured out so abundantly over my life! Grace O Lord, your kindness is amazing.

I was thinking that man, celebrations are a waste of time and resources, then I saw and savoured tangibly the blessings and grace of God and my being cries "God, you get the glory!". This surely hasn't been a waste of time, and it was a foreshadow of how God delights and sings over me with love, I just am so blessed and loved, in a way that I never knew was possible.

I want to thank you, my friend, brother or sister, for gracing my evening, taking time of your busy schedules of exams and stuff and coming for this event and making it so wonderfully special to me.

I want to thank you my brothers for helping Sharon, planning, brainstorming with her, playing in the band with me, teching me for the guitars, thank you Joey, Joel, Daniel, Jeremy, Ricky, Caleb, Jon, thank you brothers.

I want to thank my family, my mummy and papa for loving me unconditionally even though I'm SUCH A HEADACHE! I know, I cannot stand myself sometimes. I wanna thank Jared, my cousin for taking time to show that he loves me, thank you cuz, brother.

I wanna thank my darling girlfriend Sharon, for putting hours, sleepless nights and cracking her brains to put this whole thing together, I'm going to have a hard time outdoing you, but I will try, just you see! I love you bi!

Lastly but surely not the least, I wanna thank God for working so marvelously in this whole party thingie, for allowing me to perform at Wala Wala, for holding the rain when we had to go and get the guitar, for sending the buses and the cabs when we needed them, for giving me wonderful parents, for giving me a super girlfriend who loves me so-h, and for friends who bless me and love me unreservedly, even though I do not deserve it, and Lord for you, for loving me in such a real and powerful way, in ways undeniable even if I was the densest numbskull, I would know that you, my God loves me.

And in typical Polaroid Show fashion, I leave you with this verse:

1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Praise the Lord, Soli Deo Gloria! To God be all the Glory!

PS: Strangely, but beautifully, Martin Smith is singing in my speakers, "To God in Heaven be the Glory!" Cool or what?! HalleluJah!

Everyone Doesn't Wait

2006-11-08T17:08:00.000+08:00

It is said time and tide waits for no man, well, add to the list Borders Bookstore waits for no man too!

I spent one day to think about whether to take the job at Borders, decided that it was the best deal for me now, and then I find out that the posts have been taken! ARGH.

Brothers Who Encourage Me to Fight On

2006-11-06T11:54:00.000+08:00

Friends, thanks for reading, I mean I know I haven't been updating and all. Yup. Been slack and free, so I didn't update.

This my friends are brothers in Christ whom I listen to when I am feeling tempted, they encourage me to "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and ... run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1b)

They may be grinding their vocals and you can't hear the words, but the content they are singing has to be at least shouted, when they don't scream they play a nice rock ballad.

Everytime I listen to the song Undying and read the lyrics along with them, I feel a sense of uplifting in my soul and strength to fight on!

Here's that portion of words..

Tearing through these days I find the tolerance to strive and push on
I know what lies beyond this life for me is already won
No one can take away the blood that covers over my fall
Without the blood of perfect life I know I’m nothing at all
So now I reign forever hallowed in eternity’s hand
No man can shake me from the everlasting ground that I stand

- Undying by Demon Hunter

You can check out their songs at http://www.purevolume.com/demonhunter and read an interview here: http://www.wisemenpromotions.com/interviews/demonhunter.htm/ enjoy and be uplifted!

2006-10-23T14:54:00.000+08:00

Don't hide your broken heart behind a smile

Pragmatism in the Church

2006-10-07T12:44:00.000+08:00

I am not as moved now as I used to be by the tyranny of the urgent and by the need to respond to every trendy view that blows across the cultural sea in America. Well past midlife, I have a deep confidence that the best way to be lastingly relevant is to stand on rock-solid, durable old truths, rather than jumping from one pragmatic bandwagon to another. - John Piper (26/04/1998)

It's alarming that the church today sometime undiscerningly jump onto so-called "christian" movements just because the majority is raving about it and because statistics show it raking in the numbers.

Since when has the numbers game been in play in the case of religion? Is not quality more important than quantity?

The Old Things Passed Away

2006-09-21T18:58:00.000+08:00

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Before I became a Christian, I had a lot of pre-conceived notions and beliefs. For example I believed that the myths about ghosts and hungry ghosts festival and things like that, but now I don't, largely because they are not biblical.

On the other hand there are biblical ghosts and we know that spirits do exist.

For me it's been a sanctifying of my mind, revamping, sort of, my mind with compliance to the Word of God. We must shed the old things and leave it behind, we shouldn't keep half-truths or falsehoods stuck in our head, including worldly attitudes and superstitions. Shed it, drop it, replace it with the truths of God!

Psalm of the Moment

2006-09-20T15:49:00.000+08:00

Psalm 101
The Psalmist's Profession of Uprightness.
A Psalm of David.
1I will sing of lovingkindness and justice,
To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2I will give heed to the blameless way
When will You come to me?
I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.
3I will set no worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not fasten its grip on me.
4A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will know no evil.
5Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy;
No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure.
6My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me.
7He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house;
He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me.
8Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
So as to cut off from the city of the LORD all those who do iniquity.

For The Ladies

2006-09-15T09:30:00.000+08:00

I found this Modesty Heart Check , which I think it's really good advice from some godly women to check your dressing!

Guys gotta check our hearts and our eyes.

Telling the Truth In Love

2006-09-13T16:01:00.000+08:00

Ever heard the phrase, "telling the truth in love"? Ever wondered what it means?

R. Albert Mohler Jr. says this:

"Compassionate truth-telling means, not only the accurate presentation of biblical truth, but the prayerful and urgent hope that the individuals to whom we speak will be transformed by that truth and respond to the grace of God in Jesus Christ." (Excerpt from Sex and the Supremacy of Christ)

You see, there are two things about telling the truth in love, the first is the truth and the second is in love.

We must of course present the truth as it is, and not water down the message of sin and grace and condemnation for all who do not believe just because we do not want to disturb civil peace and want to practice "tolerance". Some might even say that when we speak the truth as it is, it is not in love!

How absurd. If we really love our neighbours we have to tell them the truth about where they are heading as a consequence of their sins, that's real love.

Now, the second part I may not have practised and never knew what it mean, that is the pre-telling part, that is to pray sincerely and hoping sincerely for the persons' souls to be converted! We should have right motivations for sharing the truths of God and not hope for some reward or for them to feel condemned but present a balanced message of sin and the grace and mercy of God.

Rockin' in a Band

2006-09-06T07:45:00.000+08:00

I had the strangest dream, I joined a band competition with Joey, Caleb, Lisheng? and Eulalia?!?!?

And we got through to the finals leh! Strange strange, like making up for Superband and it was in english? And I was elated in my sleep then I woke up and was disappointed it wasn't real. Hmm.

Praying for Healing

2006-08-29T10:22:00.000+08:00

Mark 1:40-41 (NASB)
40And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."

41Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."
Mark 1:40-41 (NASB)

Here is an example of humble prayer when asking for healing, instead of a presumptious way of demanding that God heal this person and that person.

I believe we should approach Jesus in an humble manner and ask if He's willing first.

TIRR #004

2006-08-28T08:02:00.000+08:00

Ever hear people say, "If God is not the Lord of all, He is not Lord at all"?

That is usually used in the context of someone's personal yielding of every area of his/her life to the Lord. That kind of God in control of our lives affects us.

There's the kind of control by God which we call the sovreignty of God and as I was worshipping yesterday, a revelation dawned on me!

If God is sovereign over my life, then He must be sovereign over my unbelieving parents' lives too. Why do I say that?

Because how can God be sovereign over my life if God is not in control of their's, because their lives affects mine.

So unless God is in control of everything, He's not in control at all.

If God is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

God Keeps Me to Keep Myself

2006-08-22T07:34:00.000+08:00

Inspired to read the verses mentioned below for devotion after a sermon and I listened by John Piper brought them to my mind.

Jude 24-25
24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,

25to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Wow God can keep me from stumbling! And I must keep myself from stumbling also by keeping myself in the love of God.

Jude 20-21
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Jacob Prasch Teaching Seminar 2006

2006-08-21T11:07:00.000+08:00

26th and 27th August that's the coming Saturday and Sunday, Jacob Prasch will be coming down to give a conference on the following topics, I will be going so contact me please if you would like to go. The link to the full brochure can be found here.

I personally find him a very good teacher, biblical and giving a good understanding from the jewish perspectives the from the Bible. He prays in Hebrew! Power man. Haha. I'm personally looking forward to asking him questions on Sunday!

(1) The Rebellion of Korah (26 Aug – Sat)
Numbers 16 - The Man Whose Prayer God Will Answer
What was it that caused God to heed the prayer of Moses and how we can learn from this today?
 : 3:00pm to 4:30pm

(2) The Attack on the Remnant (26 Aug – Sat)
Isaiah 36 & 37 - The Attack on the Remnant
The strategy of the enemy and how God says to react to it.
 : 5:00pm to 6:30 pm

(3) When God Writes (Evangelistic - 26 Aug – Sat)
The Bible is the inspired Word of God but find out which of those passages were literally written by God Himself!
 : 7:30pm to 9:00pm

(4) So It will be Done Unto Them (27 Aug – Sun)
Obadiah 15 - “So It Will Be Done Unto Them”
How contemporary events are fulfilling this very prophecy.
 : 4:00pm to 5:30pm

(5) The Ships of Tarshish (27 Aug – Sun)
Why do good men align themselves with bad ones?
 : 6:30pm to 8:00 pm

(6) Jacob on the Hot Seat (27 Aug – Sun)
Your chance to pick Jacob’s mind! Ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask! Seek understanding and find out the truth from the Jewish perspective!
 : 8:30pm to 9:30 pm

Bad boy

2006-08-07T22:05:00.000+08:00

I was a bad boy, that's why I needed Jesus.
Once in a while, I con myself into thinking that I don't Him.
Then I realise how bad I become when I am without Him.

It's not a matter of whether I needed Jesus then.
It's a matter of needing Him every second of my life, and how much I choose to yield to Him.

Every day is a battle,
Every minute a skirmish,
Sometimes there are sweet respites
Other times I am caught off guard

I hear Him saying to me, "Keep praying so that you do not stumble and sin".

Jesus I am a bad boy and I need you.
You keep me sane in this spinning world of madness and evil.
You purify me each day as I sin each day.
You keep me as I keep on praying.
I just need You, Lord.

TIRR #003

2006-08-03T20:23:00.000+08:00

My dad recently found out that the Jews and Arabs are actually cousins and the recent Middle Eastern conflicts have perked his interest a little.

As he was driving me to work he started talking about it and he asked a question related to the Triune God (Trinity) and though I knew the answers it was hard for me to explain in mandarin.

So you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna attend chinese service to better verse myself in chinese evangelism, so who's coming with me?

TIRR #002

2006-08-03T12:17:00.000+08:00

669 days have passed since I started blogging here at The Polaroid Show (TPS) with this post and I actually had something like a random yawp like Joey's except it never got past issue 1 and so now I'm gonna try and revive it, see I say try because that way I excuse myself from any failure to continue it pass issue 2.

Ok so here I go,

Why is it people like to use the term camwhoring when they take a lot of photos of themselves ? I wonder why they demean theirselves by calling themselves a cam whore? Click below for the entry on Wikipedia for "Cam Whore".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camwhore

While you're at it, check out this link:
How to become an obnoxious internet cam whore in five easy steps.
It's quite funny lah.

So the next time you wanna say you're camwhoring, think again, please.

O and uh if you were wondering what a TIRR is, it's short for thoughts / ideas / realisations / revelations!

Half Mast

2006-07-24T13:48:00.000+08:00

Regarding my life

2006-07-22T00:46:00.000+08:00

I
have
to
retreat
re-examine
repent
re-align
and
restart

A Reply to Joey's Random Yawps

2006-07-20T11:23:00.000+08:00

Since Joey keeps saying that I don't update when I tell him to update, like pot calling kettle black and since he says that I don't read into the details of his blogging, I have decided to reply to his random yawp blow by blow.

Umm yeah.

It'll do you good before reading this post to head to Joey's blog to read his "random yawp" episode five.

Eh Joe how come you type the headlines of your posts without any capital letters? House style issit?

Anyway..

Work:
I think it's good that we keep such an open outlook to work especially when we are [o]verworked, underpaid, underappreciated", knowing that in all that we do we do it as unto the Lord! And many times I fail to see that you know? But I'm still trying each day, to renew myself and my mind to keep it fresh and open and be a good testimony at work.

I wanna share this verse with you bro, (and readers):

(Colossians 3:17 ESV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

On a side note it is 88 more days till my ORD! Woot!

Hong Kong:
You missed out the camera, or maybe you didn't set out to buy it in the first place? This post on Hong Kong is like the Author's Preface or something, or like a really meaningful quote at the start of a book usually by someone famous and passed away or a verse from the bible or something but you said, "I have bought everything I've set out to buy, and more." Which is kinda catchy and meaningful.

Thanks for the Mango Collon and Shark's Fin Pretz!

Family:
So sweet! I sometimes wish I have siblings, and I do! A brother like you, where to find? When Pastor Benny spoke yesterday about with intimacy comes authencity, and I thought of you! Yeah. And of course we all know Maisie is a gem!

O and plan a them for your family dinners for each month! Next month, Mexican, followed by Italian or something, haha.

TeamR-age:
That's good to hear bro, I have to drop by sometime to kick some balls but first I gotta at least be able to run the field without dropping dead and having my lungs collapse. Right now I'll try to remember the team in my prayers.

Ministry:
You know bro, I really admire your passion for the youth ministry and it is something I'm praying to God for, that is, more love for His people, especially those younger than us which we can big brother. And I also wanna teach cell leh, haha when you take a cell, can I guest teach? .D

In Bob Kauflin's blog he listed one reason why people should attend the Worship Conference his ministry was organising, I quote,

"Mark Altrogge will again be giving the announcements. Up until now, you may have thought of announcements as a boring but necessary part of events like this. Mark will change all that. Although many know him for his songwriting, it's his world class announcement gift that sets him apart. Those of you who have attended past conferences know what I'm talking about. It was quite a coup getting Mark this year, but fortunately he was able to take a break from his world tour, where he's promoting his new book "Announcements - Key to Revival.”

Hehe, I thought the quote was quite funny, announcements, the key to revival. Heh.

The Hopes:
The Hopes rock, like totally. So much love and loving! Will miss out this Friday's teaching by you but I'm sure it won't be the last!

Studying:
Yes I agree that Pastor Benny's was great, 'cept when he cited Mother Teresa as an example of a godly person displaying God's mercy, I somehow cannot take it when people use her or other catholics as examples, you can call me sectarian or biased or a rebel.

And I am really glad that your love of the Word has been re-ignited, may we all want to know God and His Word!

Love Life:
,P

I think I was hardly a silent reader, I had lots to say and this is a really good way to blog, blogging off other people's blog, but I had that much to say about your post and I didn't have to think like super hard.

Strange Initials

2006-07-19T10:18:00.000+08:00

I bumped into someone in Sispec with the initials E L GAY, hehe. El Gay. Hehe.

Theology Without Application

2006-07-10T10:10:00.000+08:00

"Another early conviction that has never waned is our commitment to the local church. Therefore, our primary interest from the beginning was not merely how to articulate our doctrine, but how our doctrine should be applied in the lives of individuals throughout our churches." - Excerpt from the faq of Sovereign Grace Ministries.

If we know a lot and yet do nothing with that our theology is nothing. I have to watch my own life even as I'm learning theology and doctrines.

Unless this knowledge changes me, then this knowledge is almost as good as nothing. Like Rachel says on her msn, it's not about knowing the truth but how the truth revolutionizes our lives.

Yummy Love in My Tummy

2006-07-08T12:31:00.000+08:00

Fried onions, chopped sichuan vegetables, lettuce, ginger, tomatoes, fish, scallops!

All these went into my fish porridge for a Saturday afternoon lunch! How awesome is that!

Who knows my mum is a great cook?

Ha, you're missing out if you don't!

Inerrancy and Infallibility of Scripture

2006-07-05T11:23:00.000+08:00

"We believe the Bible is the Word of God written; it is the revelation of the truths of God conveyed by inspiration through His servants to us. As such, it is infallible and without error." - excerpt from Assemblies of God's (AG) Official Position Paper on the Inerrancy of Scripture

I was glad to find that the AG's Position Paper spoke strongly about the inerrancy and infallibility of scripture. Yet I wonder in the many sermons that I have heard pastors from the AG church, I recall one sermon preached along these lines.

In my many interactions with other pastors, I wonder how much this of them hold strongly to the belief of the infallibility and the inerrancy of the Bible.

It was a problem that has rampaged the church through the centuries and as long as there are opponents of the Christian faith, even in Spurgeon's time there was the so-called "Downgrade Controversy".

"Though many doctrines came to be questioned, such as eternal punishment and the deity of Christ, the major issue above all else was the inspiration and absolute reliability of Scripture." - excerpt from Paul Mizzi's essay on Spurgeon and the Downgrade controversy

I don't think there's anything new today and the authority and intergrity of the Scriptures are constantly under attack and we as Bible believing Christians must make a stand to defend the Scriptures. (1 Pet 3:15)

We cannot and must not, for the sake of denominational unity water down the Gospel!

“If an act of sin would increase my usefulness tenfold, I have no right to do it; and if an act of righteousness would appear like to destroy all my apparent usefulness, I am yet to do it. It is yours and mine to do the right though the heavens fall, and follow the command of Christ whatever the consequences may be” - Charles Spurgeon

For more click here for the paper by Paul Mizzi on Spurgeon and the Downgrade Controversy.

The AG Official Position Paper on the Inerrancy of the Bible can be found here.

A Child is Born!

2006-07-04T11:33:00.000+08:00

An sms from Jenn:

"Hi guys, I'd like to fulfil a promise I made to u. Chia Ee, Josh was born at 0751 this morning! Pls pray for us, papa Jenn"

Hallelujah praise the Lord!

Doctrinal Purity in the Assembly of God Denomination

2006-07-03T11:10:00.000+08:00

John Wimber, until his recent death, taught how to do signs and wonders and how to prophesy, and charged a stiff fee for attendance at such seminars. And some of the techniques the Vineyards still use, such as moving one’s hands slowly back and forth a few inches from a subject’s body to feel for hot spots to see where God is at work, or letting one’s mind go blank and speaking forth whatever thought comes, open the door to the occult. Biblical prophets never learned techniques.

These people gave what is called “present truth,” or, “What is the Spirit saying today?” These utterances had authority equal to the Bible.

I got this quotes from this article. It's titled ADDRESS TO THE DOCTRINAL PURITY COMMISSION, check it out, I believe the author is an ordained Assembly of God minister. I think our church today might be joining into this so called "latter rain" movement.

God Of The Smaller Things; He Heals

2006-05-27T07:50:00.000+08:00

The following account is a personal experience and should not govern anyone else's faith.

I woke up at 3:30am not being able to go back to sleep since 2:30am, and decided to game a little. After about 2 hours of gaming I tried to go back to sleep.

I have been sick for the past 2 days and although it's just fever, the feeling of being ill is dreadful. And no matter how small the suffering it helps me appreciate firstly, Jesus' suffering in our place and those who are much sicker than I am. (Can't imagine dying from cancer and stuff)

Anyway as I was going to sleep nagging pain started to hit my leg, the viral attack sorta pain if you know what I'm talking about. I couldn't sleep and I started to fidget and roll about on bed and then I heard in my heart, "Peace, child"

Then I wondered if that was me talking to myself or if it was really God, I heard it repeated a number of times and then I felt a small jolt in my leg and the pain was gone. I couldn't believe it, it was as if God confirmed that it was Him speaking to me.

I stopped moving, waiting for the pain to return, it didn't return and I fell asleep.

I woke up at 7:00am and a bird was singing outside my window and again I couldn't go back to sleep, I looked out my window and saw the beauty of God's Glory:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
-Psalm 19:1b

So I sat up grabbed my guitar and crooned in my sore-throat-ish voice "Your Love O Lord" by Third Day. (dunno if it's the correct title)

I actually felt hungry! And I had breakfast and here I am sitting before my computer to blog about God's goodness.

Right as I was sitting down to blog, the pain returned and I closed the blogging window. I went to read Matthew Henry's commentary on Ezekiel and guess what I saw him quote:

“Remember, O my soul! and never forget what communications of divine love thou didst receive at such a time, at such a place; tell others what God did for thee.”

So, I can't not testify about God's goodness upon my life. Glory to God!

What Would You Do?

2006-05-23T09:03:00.000+08:00

When you hear someone say "God is f***ed up"?

Perfect Peace

2006-05-16T09:11:00.000+08:00

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

-Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

I pray that we will all stay our minds on God and trust in Him because He will keep us in perfect peace when we do that.

Blogs

2006-05-15T11:00:00.000+08:00

Blogs are for people who have no time to spend with other people so it's like a delayed meeting place where people can "meet" you when they are free.

Tagboard and Links

2006-05-12T02:02:00.000+08:00

Can you see my tagboard and links? I see it fine in camp and at home... Let me know so I can correct it... Thanks

Someone To Live For

2006-05-10T11:17:00.000+08:00

I have nothing to live for, not now, don't feel it, don't really do it you know?

I should be living for God right?

I'm so empty, and I bought Gorillaz's Demon Days, it's got an "empty" mood to it.

What is Joy?

2006-05-09T09:41:00.000+08:00

What is joy? I know the verses about joy, but I don't experience it like David does/did. How?

2006-05-08T22:13:00.000+08:00

Why is it we hold on to something like our lives depended on it when it doesn't?

We cry because we want comfort of some sort, so I'd rather not cry if I'm with someone whom I think won't comfort me. So it wouldn't be awkward for you and I.

It's good that some people move on, pushed by the currents of time, better than what one's past held for them. Some people are not worth it, like I.

We are all loved by someone, could be anyone, if there's no human there's God.

Confessions

2006-05-08T18:49:00.000+08:00

I find myself gasping for air, not in a literal sense, like I'm trying to live and it hurts to breathe. I think I'm over melo-dramatic, but I also think my problem/s are very real.

I don't find counsel from God nor godly people, maybe I do, but I feel they don't have time for me. Did Jesus have time for His 12? Paul for his churches? How much time should we spend with those younger in faith?

Instead of finding refuge in God, I find it in worldly things, in sin even. I think I sin double cos I turn away from God (1) and I turn to sin (2).

I find my refuge in roleplaying games where I live in a wholly different world, I have "things" in that world, I have "friends", I make decisions which make no real impact to anyone else, I don't know what to decide and I feel no one understands me, not my parents even.

My knowledge of the Word of God cannot be applied to myself, I cannot give myself advice, suddenly my mind seems a blank because I've been playing so much games, drowning myself from reality that all I think about are those things, my mind is dead and my heart buried.

And I sit behind a computer to blog my sorry state like it's a cry for help, is it? It could be. When everyone from this place is gone I start feeling shitty, I start to sin, but I stop and catch myself instinctively before it goes out of control, before it grasps my mind and I cannot stop myself.

I don't know how I will take concern now because I always tell myself that if you cared enough it wouldn't wait till now. So it's not really a cry for help. What do I want?

Truth time, I don't know. I don't know what I want from God, what I want from myself, what I want from my friends, and my family.

Then again, maybe I do. I want a sense of belonging and I want love, maybe I don't want it, maybe I need it. Like I was made for it, a creature hopelessly needing love and needing belonging and finding none until we give up our search and turn to God.

Everything is going wrong, why am I getting fat? I think I couldn't care less anymore, could I? One thing is certain with me, I am very confused.

I don't know what plans to make what I want to achieve and my dad calls me lazy and sees my refusal to seek any form of self-improvement as laziness. I wish people would see beneath this stupid "facade" they see, because it's not me, not really. Ramble ramble ramble. I don't know what to type anymore but I want to go on because my demons are climbing out from this pit called my heart, one by one by one.

If Only

2006-05-08T14:12:00.001+08:00

Feel the pain teaching us how much more we can take
Reminding us how far we've come
Let the pain burn away from our hearts
We have time to start all over again
Feel the pain teaching us how much more we can take
Reminding us how far we've come
Let the pain burn away our hearts
We have time to start all over again
Feel the pain teaching us how much more we can take
Reminding us how far we've come
Let the pain burn away from our heart
We have time to start all over again
Well if you would shine your love down here oh Make our hearts as perfect as new
Oh if you would shine your love down here oh
I promise I'd reflect right back at you
Oh I promise I'd reflect it right back at you
Oh I promise we'll reflect it right back at you - Copeland's When Finally Set Free

2006-05-04T23:23:00.000+08:00

I'm just a teenage dirtbag baybeh. - Wheatus

2006-05-04T15:12:00.000+08:00

I have reached a all time fat.

2006-04-27T21:00:00.000+08:00

I brought new shampoo to camp today,
I finished shampooing my hair and was moving on to my face,
With the facial wash in my hand and my mind on the new shampoo,
Guess where the facial wash went?

2006-04-27T10:12:00.000+08:00

Whirlwind
Laziness
No updates
I don't think anyone reads and absorbs why bother, not a platform to share anyway
Too screwed up

Quote of the Day

2006-04-20T11:13:00.000+08:00

"Grace is a power! Not just leniency."

- John Piper on Justification by Faith through Grace

What do you think?

Changed by the Power of God

2006-04-18T11:51:00.000+08:00

"Sanctification begins with renewing your mind... We gotta know it... You ain't gonna get there by holding your hands up swaying back and forth and singing a seven eleven chorus... Same words, seven words, eleven times, you don't get there that way, not gonna happen..."

- John MacArthur Jr. on Sanctification

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
- John 17:17 (NIV)

Don't we know that it is not psychology, or experience that changes the soul of a man but it is the word of God that sanctifies us, that makes us holy.

This change does not happen just by knowing it in our minds, but it surely has to start there. We have to know our instructions before we do it right?

How does a child know that touching the flame is hot unless he was warned by his folks that it will hurt him? He knows it will hurt him. (Or he tries it out himself, either way he knows)

If you are wondering why I am so strong on this bible thing it is because I believe it's the sole authority on life, not the church nor a man's words but the bible.

It is my conviction, do you believe?

"It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken. "With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,"
- 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NIV)

Do you believe?

Ask me for the sermon that MacArthur preached, I'll lend it to you, he might do a much better job explaining it to you.

"And Father, at the end of all this, one thing must be affirmed, that we could try with all our might, we could try with desperation to do this on our own, we can't. And so we're reminded of what our Saviour said three times in the upper room, that He would send us the Spirit of Truth. O God we know that the sanctifying of anyone is the divine work through the Word by the Spirit of Truth."

- John MacArthur Jr. in his closing prayer after the sermon

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
- John 14:26 (NIV)

Can I Lose My Salvation? Hebrews 6:4-9

2006-04-12T08:33:00.000+08:00

An examination on Hebrews 6:4-9,

Hebrews 6:4-5
v4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
v5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,

When I read this passage, I was convinced that that this passage taught that a person who was saved can lose his salvation, until I read up a little more on it.

Hebrews 6:7-8
v7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
v8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

When you read verses 4-5 in context with the verses following you can see that, those that have had "rain" fall on it can have 2 effects, one receives a blessing from god (v7) or that "land" bears thorns and thistles. The effects of having this rain is such a privilege, but one of the tragedies is that one might reject that outpouring.

Hebrews 6:9
v9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation.

Now this verse clears my doubts about it, because it the Writer of Hebrews is writing to people whom are saved and the case mentioned in verses 4 & 5 should not apply to them. What is it then?

I think it is a warning to those who might be in that Church but are not truly born again, is it possible? I think it is. Take a look at Judas, he spent at least 2 years with the Lord, heard from the Word of God (pun) and performed miracles, was He saved? I don't think so. I don't think he lost his salvation, if he was truly changed in his heart I don't think he would've betrayed the Lord.

So it's a very strong warning for us to check whether we are truly born again.

John Piper writes a better article here I got most of my ideas from this article and from yesterday's bible study! Read it here.

I Like to be Touched

2006-04-07T08:56:00.000+08:00

The Five Love Languages

My primary love language is probably
Physical Touch
with a secondary love language being
Words of Affirmation.

Complete set of results

Physical Touch:		10
Words of Affirmation:		7
Acts of Service:		6
Quality Time:		6
Receiving Gifts:		1

Information

Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.

Take the quiz

Wahahaha... How come only I like to be touched, so far I've seen many do not like to be touched. Hmmm..

Why Obey?

2006-04-05T13:44:00.000+08:00

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. - John 14:23 (ESV)

We see here simply that we keep Christ's word because we love Him. We do not obey out of fear.

John Wesley on Arminianism

2006-04-05T09:21:00.000+08:00

With regard to the two first of these charges, they plead, Not Guilty. They are entirely false. No man that ever lived, not John Calvin himself, ever asserted either original sin, or justification by faith, in more strong, more clear and express terms, than Arminius has done. These two points, therefore, are to be set out of the question: In these both parties agree. In this respect, there is not a hair's breadth difference between Mr. Wesley and Mr. Whitefield. -John Wesley on Arminianism

He says that Arminius and Calvin agreed both on Total Depravity and Justification by Faith! Hmmm, now here's something new I learnt, perhaps you can learn too!

Read the full article here.

The Sad State

2006-04-05T08:48:00.000+08:00

I quote John Piper in a article he wrote, see the full article on Charles Spurgeon here.

"I had lunch with a man recently who bemoaned the atmosphere of his Sunday School class. He characterized it like this: if a person raises a question to discuss, and another reads a relevant Bible verse, the class communicates, "Now we have heard what Jesus thinks, what do you think?""

Don't we hear this in our churches as well?

Slower Please

2006-04-02T22:33:00.000+08:00

It's been so long since I've stood on my two feet
I'd really rather lay here and pretend
But people like you and me never get that peace
It comes from denying that everything is so screwed up
It's so screwed up - Some words from Mineral's Slower

Do you realise something different with my posts?

2006-04-01T14:08:00.000+08:00

The Way We Were / Try To Remember
by Gladys Knight And The Pips

Memories like the corners of my mind
Memories
Misty watercolor memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were

Oh can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
And if we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me
Would we?
Could we?

---

I think they said it better then.

Sin Is

2006-04-01T11:26:00.000+08:00

Sin takes everything good then twists and warps it disguising itself to be right and good, confusing humans to think that what they do is right. Love into lust, creativity to destroy, love into "free love", self-ishness to selfishness..

I hate sin. Show me what is right and wrong.

2006-03-29T23:59:00.000+08:00

I secretly think that everyone has a secret blog when they say that they don't.

Do you? Out with the truth!

My Pa Rocks

2006-03-27T21:38:00.000+08:00

I told him I'm playing badminton tomorrow over sms.

He replied telling me to train hard to get a gold medal for the Commonwealth games then can get $75k!

GAargh!@

2006-03-25T11:14:00.000+08:00

After one year of signing up for driving lessons, and wasting my $80 dollars, I have taken the first step of getting my basic theory! I passed!

Thank you LORD! And all who prayed!

God's Perhaps

2006-03-24T15:18:00.000+08:00

Cecillia said at BS on Tuesday evening, "God's perhaps is better than Man's guarantee."

How true can? Haha.

But there are also things that God is certain about, for example:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." -Romans 8:1

God's guarantees are better than anything!

Are we ready for the Lord's return?

Thank you LORD!

Yonex Super Power Cup at Jurong East

2006-03-24T13:01:00.000+08:00

Daniel Wong, Jenn, Johann and myself played badminton at Jurong East Complex earlier! I thought it was a good time of fellowship while I got some sort of a workout.

I really enjoyed the game and I was perspiring, so I think that's good! I hope I managed to keep my heart pumping more than it normally does! But the important thing was that I enjoyed it, even though I lost every game I played with the exception of a doubles game I partnered Jenn.

Endorphines, yay.

Anyway it's high time I start losing the fat already, a healthy diet and regular exercise, the way to a healthier life and a more effective life for God!

for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. -1 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)

See even Paul says that bodily training is of some value! Haha.. The Bible endorses physical exercise! And we do all things to the glory of God! (1 Cor. 10:31)

So who wants to join us the next time we play? All you need is your badminton racquet!

Living By Faith

2006-03-23T14:43:00.000+08:00

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

We hear this verse quoted a lot, now what is it that is the "things hoped for" or the "conviction of things not seen"?

Yes, there are a whole lot and many of us might know them by heart but there are crucial few things which we must know and one of these crucial things is to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to die to reconcile those who would believe in Him to God.

He is also our Lord and Saviour, Lord first then Saviour.

Paul condensed one of these "things hoped for" in Romans 1:1-5.

Can we say that we will continue to live in faith when we are under persecution? Note that in greek, faith (pistis) and faithful (pistos) are almost synonymous, so to live in faith is to be faithful, not only when times are easy but especially when times are tough.

Why?

Matthew Henry in his commentary of Hebrews 10, said that those who are in natural states are in darkness and Satan (and the world) has no problem with those in darkness, it is only those that are in the light and truly born again that will suffer persecution.

These trials show where our faith is placed in, whether they are placed in our circumstances or in God, who tells us that our longsuffering will have great reward. (Hebrews 10:36)

2006-03-22T11:24:00.000+08:00

There were 11 R-age-ers at Bible Study last night! Sharon, Jenn, Joey, Johann, Joseph, Andrea, Grace, Rachael, Rachel, Esther, and myself! I think it's the highest ever! Thank the sweet Lord! Andrea and Grace was blessed from last night's session, which probably means they will keep coming back. Great!

Other notable people who were present are SW, SW's sis, Daniel Ho and Beni!

So cool man.

---

A few of us adjourned to Al-ameen for supper, Jenn, Daniel and Beni. Good stuff! We talked a great length about theology, relationship w/God and other stuff.

And what Daniel told me really spoke deep into my heart that I can remember today, "Your first personal responsibility is to ensure your own personal salvation." not, the salvation of others.

Yes we must make disciples of the nations but how do we do anything if we are not disciples of Christ? So I prayed that I will have a deep and abiding relationship with God, not just of knowledge but experiential knowledge!

What Do You Know About The Spirit?

2006-03-20T08:58:00.000+08:00

How did you find yesterday's sermon? I feel it was imbalanced and ministry time was rushed and I don't know how to say. Anyway read this quote I got from an article..

Today we find believers confusing baptism with fullness, the gifts of tongues with spirituality, and I am constantly hearing and reading of believers worshipping, glorifying and praying to the Holy Spirit. This is wrong and must not be done. All of our adoration, worship and glory must be given to Jesus Christ. Even Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 16:14: “He shall glorify me.” I am literally appalled at the lack of real biblical teaching on the fullness of the Holy Spirit. A. W. Tozer was right when he stated: “Satan has opposed the doctrine of the Spirit-filled life about as bitterly as any other doctrine there is. He has confused it, opposed it, surrounded it with false notions and fears.” Tozer was right!

Read the full article here

You know I did not know the verse mentioned here until last week at Bible Study? There are many more things about the Holy Spirit that we need to know aside from His power and His gifts, much much more. And there has to be a balance in the way we teach Him, if not we run the risk of placing so much emphasis on the Spirit Himself when the Spirit is supposed to glorify Jesus. The worse thing that can happen than that is when we so decide to run after gifts and not the Giver.

No giver, no gifts.

2006-03-18T16:31:00.000+08:00

The best don't die.

Love God = Obey God

2006-03-15T10:20:00.000+08:00

Bible study yesterday was great! The Word of God was spoken and taught. God Himself has spoken to me through His word.

Benita blogged about this verse and I too will blog this verse:

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. -Jesus speaking in John 14:15

Wow.

If someone says that He loves the Lord then He must obey the Lord, one who does not obey the Lord does not love Him. Is it this simple? I think so.

I read it again today, in verses 21 and 23, the same words are repeated again. Do you see how serious obeying the Lord is? I was reminded yesterday and realised today the importance of it. If Jesus says it three times in a chapter, it MUST be very important.

2006-03-13T08:05:00.000+08:00

I had good family time with my mum's side of the family yesterday, pizza, kueh, wine, f1 grand prix and seeing Manchester United kick good b...all!

During dinner my aunt suggested that I work overseas a few years to get good exposure and my mum actually agreed! Thank God for a load of my heart, He knows when we are there are stones in our hearts and God chooses some strange ways to work and relieve it.

The most important thing I have to learnt is to trust and obey and He will surely unfold His purposes for me, in His time.

---

From Here

2006-03-09T09:26:00.000+08:00

A friend asked me how I was and I replied "I don't know what to do after army."

Beneath the I don't know what I want for my future lies,
insecurities,
hopes,
fears,
uncertainties, (which are somewhat like item one)
and the greatest fear of all is failure in the sight of man,
a great many are watching.

I know that I should not be governed by man's opinion of me.

I don't know how, tell me how.

2006-03-08T09:55:00.000+08:00

I sing alone on my way home
Along with Gibbard
Singing, "Don't wake me I plan on sleeping"
I glance over my shoulders
Wondering if I sound out of tune
Right when I sing without checking
Someone walks past me

I try my best to stay in tune//

The Word of God Pt. 1

2006-03-07T08:56:00.000+08:00

I believe in my heart of hearts that the Bible is the very Word of God, without which we will not know God Himself, nor know God's will for this earth. We will not know what purpose we were made for, and how He was going to fulfil that purpose.

In it we see the character of God, we see that He is most holy and almighty, yet in His greatness He is motivated by His love for us to create man to have fellowship with Him not because He was lonely but because He wanted us to see His glory, which is better than anything this earth can offer. We see also His graces and mercies in the Old Testament, promising an even better Testament (covenant).

And I will say this, without the Word of God, the church will not know about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ the Son of God, fully God and fully man. Oral traditions would have been marred along the way through time and through men's minds but by God's grace, He inspired men to canonise the new testament, the new covenant, which tells us His way to Salvation from our sinful natures and our sins.

So my dear friends, treasure the written Word of God, hold on to it and go not beyond its teachings, what is written therein is more than enough for our good, do not even try to override it because fearful judgement awaits for those who try. Hold it in the highest regard, live it as best as you can. Know God and live the eternal life now. For John 17:3 says:

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. - John 17:3 (ESV)

PS: O yes! How can I forget to exhort you! Thank God for the Bible! Yes. Hahaha...

2006-03-07T07:59:00.000+08:00

I always keep my phone near after fights.

***

Alas there was no call.

2006-03-06T14:10:00.000+08:00

I'm sinking in as the reality sinks in slowly.
Stupid sternum sinking sensation.

Encourage One Another

2006-03-03T10:16:00.000+08:00

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. - Hebrews 3:13

You know this verse is so important for us especially in such an age like this where we are faced with temptations and distractions everywhere we turn. Sharon and Jenn have encouraged me in my struggles and I remain mindful of God's holiness that should be evident in a believer's life.

So do your part as a believer, brother/sister and exhort each other to love, holiness and good deeds. Let us be candles that shine in this dark world, making sure that no candle burns out because it was too far from the Fire.

Sorry bro I'm a horrible friend, sorry all that I've failed to show concern to. Sorry.

What Is TOSOG?

2006-02-22T11:44:00.000+08:00

I finally blogged on TOSOG's blog. Finally. Did you even know that there was such a blog?

It is a musical side project of CFS, music with a quieter touch, and the blog is a lyrical blog where we post lyrics, poetry and muses.

In Camp On Mondays

2006-02-20T23:53:00.000+08:00

I like doing duty on Mondays, I get to watch my favourite show Grey's Anatomy. The show portrayed something very real today, Burke, the hotshot surgeon is always so domineering and confident whenever he is with the other doctors but he becomes a softie when he is in the presence of the one he loves.

But he was let down by Cristina (Sandra Oh's character), not because his need wasn't real maybe because Cristina had bigger problems than he did. So I guess I shouldn't automatically assume the worst of my partner, but understand there are bigger things in life then my own worms in my well.

Wow, I learnt two things from watching an episode of a medical drama. It leaves me strangely hopeful and museful, fills me also with a tinge of sadness knowing that not all nice things are good things and not all good things materialize when we want it.

I was about to ruin this post by saying when you can catch the show, but oh well, I won't. Good night.

O, and I am a real softie with Sharon, ask her. Hahaha.

Time To Re-open The Shop

2006-02-20T21:13:00.000+08:00

You know I really miss jamming with Jenn, Jon and Vanessa. The vibe is just different when we jam. The jams are worshipful, sometimes more worshipful than the worship practices in church.

Maybe it's because we are such good friends and the chemistry as musicians is umm.. like real chemistry? The correct elements put together causing a explosive reaction!

This picture was taken at Jem Nation 04 where CFS came in third after two rounds of friendly competition. Jem Nation was a different competition in that, there was less stress and I was free to express myself in my art! This is my favourite photograph of me playing the guitar! I like!

This was from the same competition, same set, Jenn's still rocking! And soon he'll be rocking his baby to sleep! Yeah baby yeah! Hahaha.. get it?

Super Banned

2006-02-19T21:49:00.000+08:00

We (The Strollers) are out of the Superband competition... and... I'm so happy 'cos I didn't feel there was any meaning left or to begin with in this whole competition.

Yay! Rejoice! Surprisingly some people have been praying that we don't get into the competition, namely Rick's parents, Mel Fam and myself! Haha..

O well, we're out and I'm really happy, 1 big rock off my chest, I now have more time, energy and money to focus on the more important things in life!

Just today, I felt like I was unequally yoked with the only non-christian in my band and it was like using my gifts for this thing that might not directly affect the Kingdom of God. I believe God could've used us for His glory still.

I feel creatively stifled and well some other personal comments which I shall not put here because it's not nice and since this whole thing is over, we do not have to deal with it already.

But I want to say that through this whole competition I have put in my best, went for the practices, and played my best during the auditions. I have tried my best for God's glory so I don't think anyone can fault me for that.

Still it was a good experience and I concur with Joey that we need to invest our time wisely and doing the most fruitful things, for the days are very very limited so we must make good our time on earth!

Soli deo Gloria! To God be all the Glory!

I also want to thank Sharon darling for being there for the audition and today's results show! Thanks too to Xiu Qing and Jeraldine for supporting your boys and supporting The Strollers! To the band, it was fun playing with you, will jam more in church!

Thank God for everything that He has taught me through this whole Superband thing and thank you LORD that I didn't get in! YAY!

I Need Grace

2006-02-17T13:52:00.000+08:00

Grace to live as the Word of God commands:

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" - James 1:22

Grace to exemplify the fruit of the Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" - Galatians 5:22-23

Grace to submit to authority and doing the right thing:

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14

James admonishes us to not only hear the Word of God but follow it as well, and seriously, it's not easy. This is precisely why I need the grace of God to carry such things out.

It is my hope that you might submit yourselves to the Word of God too, join the saints who've responded to our Lord's instruction in John 8:31,

If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine

We need your grace Lord!

Hunger for God & God-things

2006-02-13T12:05:00.000+08:00

How is everyone in the Lord? Good I hope!

Sunday's service was good. Why? The worship team did a good job, I think our standards are going up, still there's much to improve! Our God deserves our best, because He gave us His best, He gave us Himself.

I was able to worship and I was burdened in my heart during the time of worship to intercede for R-age, especially during the chorus of "Glory" where the words go

"Lift up your hands, open the door, let the King of Glory come in"

I don't mean to judge as I was where they were before. But there seems to be a lack of hunger for God in our worship, there's a lack of hunger for God's Word that is truth.

I also got to pray for Chan Hong, Ah Qiang and Sherilyn. I wish we would all just go for God you know? Haiyah, how to say?

Eating More Than Ever: I Am Still Hungry

2006-02-08T11:20:00.001+08:00

I believe my tummy is bigger than ever. Two reasons, I have never been this big sized before, like compared to when I was 16. I hope I don't get any bigger. The other reason is that the number on back of my Levi's jeans is not dropping.

Just last night, I cooked instant noodles for dinner after Bible study and went out for prata after that! I'm hungry.

I'm hungry for the Truth too! Last night saw an unprecedented amount of R-agers at 2Tim2-2 Bible study! The people present were Suhui, Jeanie, Rachoo, Joey, Johann and myself! I am so encouraged! I pray more will come and more will stay through out to see what God has in store for us in His Word when we just eat from His Word!

Come for Bible study k? We will not be satisfied with just chasing His presence and all these feelyweely things, we must know Him through His Word!

Consider this, "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, lets us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God," Hebrews 6:1

We must grow beyond these elementary teachings! Come to BS! I learnt much about the life of Paul yesterday, it was like a history lesson from the Word of God, I loved it because the Word of God is so real, these people were real people, it's not like these fictional characters you see in fantasy stories.

Hungry Like A Hungry Dog

2006-02-06T23:59:00.000+08:00

I didn't know what title to put, so yeah, I've had 2 meals in the past what, 6 hours? And I'm still hungry! I had full meals mind you.

I don't have tape worms in my tummy, cos I'm fat and my tummy has never been bigger, maybe those are worms.

I wish they were worms, then I'll just have to remove them and I'll be slim again! YAY! Not.

I'm in camp, on duty and I just caught half and episode of Desperate Housewives (DH) and a full episode of Grey's Anatomy (GA). GA is great stuff! Honest, raw, what with all the blood and 8kg tumours and peppered with kissing scenes, it projects itself as "real" you know? Not like I know half a cent about how medical interns really behave and all that. But yes it seems real enough.

I'm still hungry. In case you are wondering what I ate, though I doubt you'd be, but it's my blog and I'll tell you. I had rice with fish, sotong balls, a chicken wing and cabbage, standard fare from Singapore Food Industries (SFI) and at about eightish my big boss, a Major bought some food back, and I got pineapple rice! I was hungry then so I was delighted! And I ate it. And now, I'm still hungry! I had 2 packets of Stickos! You must try it!

They are these little sticks of vanilla or chocolate (your choice) wrapped in what can be best described as thin popiah skin baked! Great stuff! Bursting with sweetness! (Sweet = Sugar .:. Sugar = Fat .:. Fat = Liang)

ZZAARR!!

That is my new email address! Yes, you read it all right! zzaarr at gmail dot com

I didn't know what else to choose because everything cooler than zzaarr was taken so I chose some inane and boliao sound which I heard when I typed the letters z-z-z-a-a-a-r-r-r out.

I had to change my email because brin_liang for my msn was from really long ago when I though 'brin' meant 'blade' in French when it didn't and only today am I making a public confession because I've been quite embarrassed about it!

And my email tired_uninspired is not very favourable for me especially when I'm looking to enter the creative/media industry in the near future! An internation representative of Curtin half-joked that she wouldn't accept my application for design school based on my tiring and uninspiring email address.

So yes email me at zzaarr at gmail dot com. Thank you very much!

I feel brutally honest tonight. And GA makes me want to make good tv and leads me to wonder how I can use tv to glorify God in the Highest! Good night friends, love you.

O btw guys, Joey Tan blogged, like after 25 years of hiatus.

Time Flies: A Year Together

2006-02-06T10:49:00.000+08:00

Sharon and I turned one year old as a couple on Friday 030206! The evening started when I popped by her workplace to surprise her with a sunflower bouquet. I had wanted to get a yellow gerbera for her but there wasn't any, so I got her our favourite couple flower, (right baby?)

(If you go to the Archives of this time last year then you'll see the pictures)

I wore the same t-shirt as I did a year ago! Haha not like you care.

We went to Michaelangelo's at Chip Bee Gardens and had a wonderful dinner, Shar had a creamy seafood pasta. (I forgot the italian or french name for that dish) And I had a french duck thingie. Tres bien!

O! We opened with mussels cooked in a white wine sauce! Nice! Haha.. Then we ended off with a round of desserts, I had their famous sticky toffee pudding while Shar had a ice cream cake sorta thing. Kinda conned into it cos they described it so nicely when it actually it was only ice cream, cut into cake shapes! Don't get it ok? Waste money.

Here are some pictures to prove we were there! Happy One Year BABY! Yock, eh wait You still Rock my world! (I merged You and Rock!) Yock my world!

Time For Angbaos and Heaty Food

2006-02-02T11:27:00.000+08:00

I'm so proud that we have the knowledge of heaty and cooling foods.

Ok these few days have been interesting starting with sending Daniel off right before. Miss you bro.

Then going to Chinatown with Shar and her family on new year's eve, man was it crowded! I hope I never get to such a crowded place again! EVER! ('cept for Heaven, but I believe Heaven should be quite spacious right?)

Following all that was some visiting and some rotting and a movie.

I caught a picture of this bus, I think it's quite funny.. CHECK IT OUT! ROUSY CLOUDS!

Is this a rousy cloud accompanying the setting sun? Hehe.

Thinking Thinking

2006-01-28T00:22:00.000+08:00

I kept my phone near
Hoping you would call

Supaband Not So

2006-01-23T10:31:00.000+08:00

We got there early, at 5:10pm when our slot was 6:00pm.

Waited till what, 7:00pm? Before we went in to the studios and wait for our turn, to realise that we're the 2nd last group to audition.

It was our turn at 8:45pm, I think, I'm not sure. While I was fiddling with my guitar right before getting onto stage, my guitar string broke! I wasn't even strumming! I was plucking! And the strings broke!

It felt like a dream man, and I thought to myself, this cannot be happening man! But it did, and so I used the, uhm, guitar they had there, it was drop C tuning?! Ya and I was panicking and all and the guy told me my guitar was too loud, so I turned it down!

When the whole band started, I was too soft.

And the judges cut us after the first chorus of the song.

Come to Bible Study

2006-01-19T22:20:00.000+08:00

:)X: Woah! Thanks for sharing, Kiddo!!!

Eh Jenn you mean Cecilia didn't share this?

O friends I got all those references from this Bible Study!

You should come for Bible Study!

But these verses will not mean anything to you unless you fully believe and grasp it.

You should come for Bible Study!!

And unless you come for Bible Study or some other Bible Study that is in-depth but than just the surface then you will not fully understand what these scriptures means and if you do not fully understand then I don't know if you will fully enter into these beautiful promises that God gives to us.

You should come for Bible Study!!!

We want to experience God's Word in our lives, we want to experience His blessings and His promises from the Bible.

So you should? Yah you know.

Go to www.2tim2-2.com and choose a lesson that suits your schedule!

Why Attend Bible Study?

2006-01-18T08:25:00.000+08:00

Bible study was great! So refreshing to the Spirit and it spurs us on!

You should really join me for it! I'm not referring to anyone specific, so if you read it, then you are invited.

The teacher Cecilia Perh is great, she's very clear and concise, and of course Biblical! (duh?) So please try to make it for this kind of input for your life if you are Christian.

Why?

Because James 1:21 says the Word can save our souls:
v21: Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

Because 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says the Word equips us for every thing:
v16: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
v17: so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Because Hebrews 4:12 says the Word pierces our hearts and judges:
v12: For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

There are many more, you should check out, Acts 6:1-4, 2 Tim 2:15, James 1:23-25, Psalm 119:105, 2 Peter 1:19, 1 Peter 2:1-3 and Hebrews 5:14!

So don't come and tell me some people need the Word more and some others need experience. We can experience God through the Word because God backs His own Word up!

David Crowder Band's Blog

2006-01-16T16:03:00.000+08:00

Eh look what I found in the CD sleeve of "A COLLISION", David Crowder Band's latest record?

It's David Crowder Band's blog, CLICK HERE? for the link!

It's got pictures of their tour coach, scroll down, it's a nice blog!

Intertwining Things

2006-01-16T11:26:00.000+08:00

"Conviction of sin, the marvel of forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by Gods grace." -Oswald Chambers

May I never forget.

Superband, We're Thru

2006-01-14T21:57:00.000+08:00

We as in, Jeremy, Rick, Caleb and the singer, Matthew..

And right, I'm not that excited.. Strangely..

My lead singer, seems very serious about the competition, when I on the other hand joined to have fun and to see how far we can get, like Manrong said, stacking about against the competition to see your own standard.

The stress level is, very high, feels like the first time I play a gig.. not really lah.. haha but the stress level is really high. It was kinda fun, but very stressful.

Auditions mean there's no time for soundcheck, they had monitor speakers but they refused to put anything through. Then rent for what? And it's not like the monitors are in strange positions, each instrument has one speaker leh! Ga, nevermind, we're through.

And next week, Sunday, we'll be playing at 2nd round of auditions, I wonder how it'll go and honestly I don't feel all too comfortable still, about peddling my talents in some self-glorifying competition.

We'll see, I believe in all things I can still glorify God, show me Lord!

***

Hanging out with Caleb was great after YA service, and I'll be attending his cell tomorrow, and he's teaching! How cool..

O and teaching cell for the very first time was fantastic! I think! Haha.. Sis. Poh Suan actually thought I had prior experience to teaching, but was rather shocked when she found out that I didn't!!! Hahaha..

And I get to teach Hebrews 9, the week after next! I thank God for the opportunities He's given me to teach! Cool man..

What's Up?

2006-01-13T00:20:00.000+08:00

Lots man! Haha..

Just got back from band practice not too long ago.. Manrong says this is good to see our standard stacked against other bands.

If my band gets into the voting rounds, you must vote k? Auditions are this weekend! So is IDP Australian Universities Fair! Must REGISTER!

Recluse is recording..

I'm teaching cell for the very first time tomorrow!

I have some shooting jobs coming up! Food! Yum! And some college pageant thingie, how fun!

So what's up with you?

Humourous Lewis

2006-01-12T14:13:00.000+08:00

Here's a fond recount of Walter Hooper, C. S. Lewis' personal assistant/secretary..

"Sensing that he liked being left alone a little while after lunch, I asked if he ever took a nap. 'Oh, no!' he replied. 'But, mindyou, sometime a nap takes me.'"

I would've like to know this man!

Human Weaknesses

2006-01-11T16:56:00.000+08:00

I think that our weaknesses like our tendency to fall sick or muscle aches are signs that God tell us that we are not God and do not have control over everything.

Band Checkup: Downtown Singapore

2006-01-05T08:53:00.000+08:00

You'd think that a band with sucha name would be some cheesy band from Singapore right? But after you read that you'd surely know that it isn't! Tried to search for a biography but couldn't find.. Their band website a bit koyak..

Doesn't the front man look like a malay?

They sound like Anberlin + Mae topped with The Get Up Kids vocals! A little Thursday-ish too!

On A More Serious Note

2006-01-04T16:23:00.000+08:00

From here on I will be posting my theological ramblings and devotional reflections on c-riously.blogspot.com/

I got the idea from this other guy, wooq.blogspot.com/ he is one cool guy, check him out!

My New Instrument of Praise

2006-01-03T16:39:00.000+08:00

Here are pictures of my steal from the recent Swee Lee sale...

It is a Gibson... and it's got a nice case! I love it!

It is a Les Paul... with ol' skool Les Paul tuners!

It comes with the gold vintage volume knobs...

And she was made in the US of A!

Here she is, in her nice furry "bed"!

Catch her in action on the 8th of January at Ngee Ann City, Civic Plaza at 3:35pm! Heh, I'll be playing with Recluse.

PS: I still haven't named her, what should I name her?

Fish Me

2005-12-28T13:51:00.000+08:00

This next ramble was actually supposed to be about how my feet are dragging itself forward, on and on...

Walking, I felt like my feet were dragging one before another
It didn't feel like I was doing the walking
I didn't feel the pain

Then I saw a Kingfisher
And I wondered
My King, won't You fish me out from this pit I'm in?

An Interior Monologue: A Bloddy Mess

2005-12-28T09:01:00.000+08:00

O look what I've done
I think we need some damage control
My sin has found me out
Why am I still dealing with this, now?
All it has done and will do is leave me empty and wanting more
I'm obssessed
Gorge my eyes out
I need a total inside makeover
I need a heart transplant
Burn these things out of mind
Have I had enough?
What do I choose?
I am wretched, scum, filth, shit
Do I choose Love and Life
Or Evil and Death
O the strain on my soul
The pull of Good and Evil
What mess?
I can only manage, a collision of dunno what
I feel like puking
But I'm so hungry
Can I eat and pray more than people who do not eat at all?
Does not eating make my prayers more effective?
What happens when a prayer is uttered by someone vile but seeking a way out?
God hears that too, right? Right
I'm that vile
No?
But all have sinned and fall short the Glory of God
My God my God
I need you
To whom shall I go Lord?
Turn my eyes to You?
But I cannot see
Blessed are those who not see and yet believe
I believe, help me with my unbelief
How come I know so many scriptures but I still feel like this?
Trust is a must
Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon thine own understanding
I don't want to be gnostic Lord
I want to be epignostic, if there's such a word
Does this ever end?
Will I ever get over this?
Maybe but should I get over this
Satan will surely send other things my way
And God will allow it and use it for His Glory
For my own good and for His Glory
I cannot do this on my own
Really cannot make it
This struggle will never end, the essence is the same, only in different forms
Help me God, please help me
Not that I'd be made much of
But that You'll be Glorified
Please?

God Says it Better

2005-12-19T08:59:00.000+08:00

You know it's one thing to encourage someone with your own words and another to encourage someone with words directly out of the Bible.

God somehow always says it better than man, (duh) and the peace that comes with hearing the Word of God is serenity for those who fear Him.

It's terrible for those who do not honour Him, it can provoke thoughts and wake a soul up from spiritual slumber.

But "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:7

So I suppose it's a good thing if you fear the Lord! Fear Him, Fear His wrath, Fear dishonouring Him.

Know Him, know His Grace and Mercies, know His Love.

We Are Upward Bound

2005-12-16T08:18:00.000+08:00

Yes we are, not we were.

Just because the youth camp is over doesn't mean we have to go back to our life and live as the world does. We can live as God has intended us to!

We have been to the Most Holy Place and have tasted the presence of God. Do you know what this means? It means our lives have to change, because we cannot enter into a Holy God's presence and not feel the weight of our sins. We must have a desire to be Holy!

We must live a holy life as is fitting for Saints of God, in our public and private lives and in our dealings with people. Not just with people we like but also with people we don't like! Likeable people are easy to love but the real test comes when we meet the so-called unlikeable people! Can you imagine if God loved us according to how likeable we were?!

Remember, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth and light of the world? He doesn't tell us to try to be, instead Christians are simply supposed to be this salt and light!

You may agree wholeheartedly right now! But remember the final DG we had? Our spiritual act of worship is not just in our hearts but with our bodies too! (Rom. 12:1-2)

Consider also this verse:

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

So no matter where we are, be it at home, school, work or church, or even alone, let us live a life worthy of our calling!

Sounds tough doesn't it? It'd be tough if we tried it on our own strength, but remember Philipians 4:13? We can do all things with Christ who strengthens us! Cliché? Maybe, but it's true! Learn how to rely on God's strength!

So now, since we have received such a great blessing of God's presence, let us not be like the Dead Sea, having only input and no output! Let us bless someone and shine for the Glory of God! Let us continue this journey from glory to glory! We are Upward Bound!

Salty Sweets

2005-12-07T09:19:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered why phlegm when caused by excessive sugar tastes salty? Haha..