'cher

My first teachers' day as a teacher. Lol. Its a different feeling for sure. Pulled out one of the silliest sketches in the morn for the TD concert. Guys and gals turning up in their old RJ uniforms. I would have as well, if not for the fact that I saw the last of size 32 trousers about 4 years ago. Also, my shoulders have gotten (c)hunkier so, yeah, the shirt would just rip apart like Bruce Banner in a frenzy.

Love the little notes, cards and gifts from all the students. Thanks guys and gals for your kind words. Hopefully this young teacher has not let you down yet. Hope to be of more mentoring service to you all in the run up to the promos and beyond? Kudos to Alps, Ying, Jon, Yam, Zhaohan, SinWei, Justin, the Wussies and the crazed wackiness of 1S06B, 1A01E and 1S03F. One could never ask for a more interesting, caring, fun, crazy, intriguing 1st batch than you guys. Shout out to the Raffles Rock people too. We'll see through this first year together, yeah?

Went to SAFRA Yishun, ate, bowled, laughed, slept

restricted

Those of you who have long read my posts know how less controversial it has gotten over the months. Perhaps I am maturing (hopefully), but its just that as you get older and attain certain posts in life, you just cant be as free as you would like in your words. You cannot say whay you think all the time because people are watching and judging. So while I was looking thru student blogs (yes i was bored and tired), I marvel at their openness and directness. Its a gift guys, hope u treasure it

thoughts

Just thinking. As I start my career, I realise that it is becoming increasingly difficult to serve in ministry and keep up the standards I set for myself in my career. I could do both but then I really would not have what we would term a life. It is totally true: serve God all you can as a student. Once you hit the marketplace (whatever you call it) your form of service has to take a different form.

The problem is that it will be difficult to tear myself from certain commitments. Worship leading has been great, but I most likely may have to give it up, esepecially when I czannot see myself leading week in and week out of vintage worship. The heart to lead in the area is not there. I would gladly lead the guys but to sit through 4 hours of meetings to do that may mean that I have to give that up as well if it is insisted upon. Now I know what the young adults go through

CD

CD buying spree again

Tissues and Issues – Charlotte Church
Evermore – Planetshakers
All The Earth – Parachute Band
Get Lifted – John Legend
Daniel Powter- Daniel Powter
The Story Goes – Craig David

Lovely…

future

Snowed in by marking again. Oh well. Part of the job I guess. There is joy in this, but I must endeavour to find it.

Anyway, I read Piper who says that it is not gratefulness that should spur us to obey God, it is faith in future grace. In others words, an acknowledged dependency on a God that will sustain us and bless us. Really interesting because the Bible never said that we should obey out of gratefulness. That would be reducing salvation to a transaction which is reducing it really. It is by faith that great works are accomplished and it is by faith we shall live by.

technology

Wow, now you can actually use Word to edit your blog. What an interesting prospect….

entry point

There are things that are shams these days. There was one today. Makes you think why people are apathetic. Its quite bleeding simple.

worship

Worship was good this weekend. Its coming after FOP and all and I think our congregation may have gotten a bigger picture of God and seen what is possible in worship and their actions have started to match their hearts. Its wonderful when we look for the next level and find it? Why would anyone settle for anything less?

clones

Festival Of Praise was very good for me this year. People who know me know that I am a person who just likes things to be done differently after a while. I am not someone who can do the same thing, e.g. sing the same song over and over and I always look for something new. That brings with it all the positives and down sides as you can imagine. So Martin Smith and Delirious? coming for FOP was a refreshing wind (as per the theme) for me. Granted, their style of worship isn't for everyone and at times, they lost 80 percent of the audience on songs like Rain Down (which I lost my voice on).

However, I don't think I worshipped as deeply as I did last night for a long while. I don't know whether it is the blatant smugness that I know something others don't, but it's just the way that I was made I guess. Nice to see Hillarious do songs from Passion as well, with How Great Is Our God, Agnus Dei and Dance In The River (Tomlinesque) being done. Chris Tomlin next year, Pastor Kong, please?

Colin Dye and his crisp Londoner accent brought a good message about Exodus 33 and the hours just flew by. Martin Smith's voice was really excellent... Aiyo, I shall stop being a fanboy. Anyway, I thought I saw Sun on stage singing back-up but then I realised it was her clone. Creepily, that was one of many Sun clones. Haha! Its the Island fo real! Aaron also noted that when P Kong claps, his CHC choir claps and they follow him real close... Ahaha. Such an influential Rafflesian! I know CHC is not for me at this point. I kinda love Kong, Sun and their ministry et al. , but in this case, there is no spiritual connection and I could not conceive myself following a man that closely unless he was my personal mentor. Oh well, thats why God made different churches for different people I guess

Graduate

Humming along

Just a post to check in. DK and LJ got married. It was sweet. Too bad I was too busy meeting parents. Oh well, at this stage, career takes precedence I guess.

Nothing much happening apart from work.

SonicFlood was good live. It was a fun Sonic Fest. Good work Glenn

FOP this week