update

Another update after a lonnnng while.
Life has been okay and floating along. The career's proceeding find but spiritually, I am dry lah. Seems to me that I am expected to do more than be. Sighz.

6B is their fun and crazy selves as usual. At the end of the day, will they be better people because of me? I dunno man. Its hard to say. But they are great kids all the same.

judas

Apparently there is a town in the Phillipines where they have a yearly ceremony where an effigy of Judas Iscariot is blown up by fireworks! Indeed, the guy cannot buy a break even after nearly 2000 years. Thats what I call a bad reputation.

faith

We all lack it at some point or another. We doubt, we disagree, we refuse to believe. Perhaps,we have seen cases where things did not turn out the way we wanted.

She didnt get healed
They didnt get the provision they needed
Troubling times remain

The psalmists went through these and more and they still clung onto God for sustinence. The difference? They were desperate enough the believe. Here, we banter, debate, ask and doubt. I wouldnt know why that didnt happen or God didnt seem to come through there. Its a fallen world. Does this negate my God? Only if you allow it to. Its not iron-clad scientific law. Things happen and we do not know the circumstances under which they did. When you are safe and fed, you have time to doubt. When your life is at stake, you cling on harder.

I still believe God's promises of provision, wellness, identity and purpose are there for me and I choose to claim them for my own. If you do not want to or doubt these for YOURSELF (you only know your own heart), then so be it.

update again

What an interesting day! Started with water polo finals in the morning where I witnessed one of the best shows of Rafflesian Spirit in a long while. The guys fought all the way and never said die although they were trailing. Although they lost to HCI 5-4, they reminded me of why I have been so proud to be a Rafflesian ever since I was 13. That imdomitable, can-do spirit that fights till the end was personified by Kory, Chen Kai, Pengfei et al. and they should be real proud of themselves. Cheers guys and may you bring back the gold next year!

Just watched MM Lee adress a group of journos and undergrads on the tele today. You may not agree with his politics totally but today, I was absolutely sold on his vision for Singapore. The man is nearing 83 and his intellect and memory are as sharp as ever. Not everyone will say he is a saint but here is a person who is absolutely sure of what he wants for Singapore, keeps abreast of what happens among the younger generation and is unafraid to pursue what he feels is the best vision for Singapore, even if it flies in the face of conventional liberal Western democratic ideal. I may be cyncial and skeptical at times of politics in Singapore but I was thoroughly impressed by LKY tonight. Whew, a true Rafflesian indeed...

april

Offical Opening went swell! Thanks to Dayna and the gang for putting up a great one! Its a quiet weekend as I took a break from YC and went for main svc instead. It was refreshing to have no duties for once. Went to Chinatown (?) for a look- see in the afternoon. Met the charming Austrian sausage seller. (Yummy Currywurst!) Visited the cavernous Acts Lifestyle Shop again. Got a book on Joshua. Es is back on track! Great! Praise God

return

Haha, my blogging high is gone and now I just come in occasion. Hello to all the s06bees who have found my blog. You are smart bees. Don't sting each other in your everyday interactions.

Life's has been busy, such is working life in Singapore. Enjoy your student life, kids. Things don't get much better when you grow up. Although you may get richer

rain

its been raining non-stop for the past 2 days and looks to be raining for the next 2. What a bummer

school

School commences today. Back to the grind and industriouness of it all. Its the people that make a difference I guess and this year will be a year of meeting loads of them. Cheers

happy new year

2006

A year of challenges both personal and professional. Need to stay close to God more than ever this year. Its almost a make or break year.

1

A Collision - David Crowder Band

The DC*B has been nothing but a tour de force of creative energy ever since a young David Crowder took it upon himself to write songs for university students at the Uni of Waco in Texas. Brimming with exuberance, unique imagery and a quirky take on a life of faith, A Collision starts with a take on the old Loretta Lynn song "Everyone wants to Go To Heaven", which segues into the beautiful "Come and Listen", the most plaintive song since "All That I Can Say". Highlights of this album includes Forever and Ever Etc, Wholly Yours. Do Not Move, A Beautiful Collision, etc. Open your minds to what is possible in the realm of Christian music and the DC*B won't disappoint.

two

Passion 2005: How Great Is Our God


This CD/DVD combo delivers the usual live rendition of favourites from the SixStep Records family. This year, Matt Redman, Charlie Hall, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin and Watermark's Christy Nockels are joined by acoustic duo Shane and Shane on this live recording from Memphis, TN in January 2005.

Previous studio efforts that seem a bit staid become alive in the live worship setting. These include tracks like Crowder's No One Like You and Tomlin's How Great Is Our God and Indescribable. Charlie Hall's Marvellous Light combines unusal imagery with a worshipful lyric while the whole project closes with the pensive, wonderous version of popular hymn It Is Well, which seems to lift the worship experience to whole other level with its raw hunger from a generation desperate for His renown

3

Jeff Feyo's "Surrender"

An album I thoroughly enjoyed from the heart and soul of SonicFLOOD, Jeff Deyo. Culling songs from his 2 solo efforts, Saturate and Light, plus throwing in some re-done recent faves ( a la the original SF used to do so well), this set, recorded in New Zealand at the Parachute Festival in January 2005, is a good showcase of how Deyo's songs and worship-leading are able to blend together to produce an atmosphere of worship. This is despite these songs not being the most congregation-friendly.

Highlights include the storming opener "Lose Yourself" and the most beautiful live rendition of "Bless The Lord"

four

The best Hillsong United album yet. In fact, the youth wing of the Hillsong church has been producing the best album from that Antipodian worship factory for the past 2 years. They best the more main stream August release by having a more relevant, punchier and edgier presentation and style, while Darlene and co. seem contented to stay with the tried and true (which is what their older audience demands). Both albums are just as worshipful but the United releases really are the better for the above mentioned reasons.

Look To You opens with the triple punch of Salvation Is Here, Tell The World (love the bassline on these tracks) and the title track. It then segues into the beautiful All I Need Is You, that is worshipful and passionate. Other tracks like There Is Nothing Like and the chant-like Shout Unto God capture the worshipful spirit of this youth movement very well. Closing with Rich Mullins' Awesome God was a master touch , making the best closure for any Hillsong live project in a while.

5

Here are my 5 favourite Christian albums of 2005.

Shane and Shane have always been a favourite of mine. They first caught my attention with their extremely emotive and worshipful It Is Well on the Passion 05 soundtrack. With 4 smash studio albums under their belt, the soulful duo came out with this CD/DVD project containing the best of their output so far. From the pensive Yearn and I Miss You to the upbeat Arise, their whimsical acoustic guitar sound and tight harmonies underscore the simplicity and beauty of their work. Definitely an album worth buying for more sophisticated and mature listeners

christmas

It has been a right quiet and beauitiful Christmas. Kicked off with a series of great outreaches for the kids. All clusters did better this year. We (and myself) have a long way to go before effectively sharing the gospel but I think many effective seeds were sown. Hope to see some of those come to fruition.

Service as usual on 24th. Sensed that it needed a spiritual element so I did a 20 min mini-sermon segment that didnt go off too badly on "Light Of The World". Hopefully a good start of things to come. Indeed, Jesus is the light of this season. Let's never forget that.

Adjourned to the Kueks for christmas party. It was nice and quiet an affair that was rather casual and relaxed. Lots of fun crapping and sharing and playing of games and feasting on gorgeous food. Thanks to Gene for putting this one together. I am grateful for these friends that He has provided. Appreciate you all. This year was way better than last year.

Went for service at Lighthouse on Christmas Day. Nice sweet service with powerful sharing and vocals by Booby Michaels. Moved off for lunch at Yoshi (not associated with Mario) Restaurant for a Japanese buffet. Yummy stuff but slow due to staff not reporting to work (must be hung over). I do love my family although they annoy me no end at times these days. Haha. Thank God for all of them.

update

To everyone's surprise, an update.

Holidays have moved swimmingly slow at this point. Not too much accomplished so maybe that can be better, but other than that, its been quite calm and peaceful and most importantly restful.

Since somethings are better left unblogged, lets just say that some efficiencies need to be re-looked at.

Has my concern with other families' business stepped over the line? But then, how can we take it to the next level?

Kok Guan was great in his sermom. We eagerly look forward to his return. When God's word is preached well and it hits the mark, its awesome.

So far this week, its been 2 weddings and a funeral. Life goes on

4 gorgeous people and 1 beautiful lake in Queenstown

 

hungry kids

 

The Franz Josef Glacier