Last days...

What can I say? Today was my last day at Bedok Green. I have been here for the past ten weeks and it's been an enriching experience.

I leave with mixed emotions. Slightly melancholic but nonetheless relieved. Gerald said that Bedok Green's mild compared to North Brooks.. But I'm happy that I don't have to face the pandemonium anymore. Hah.
But it is kinda sad leaving the school. I stared at my desk one last time. I had tidied the place and cleaned up most of the mess that had accumulated. And it was 1pm, clocked 5 1/2 hours-time to leave.

I would never forget the countless naggings of the DM, the clutter of recess breaks and nosy little sec 1 brats. The cheeky smiles on their faces when they ask really out-of-point questions...

"Cher, you like miss *** anot?"

"Cher you how old?"

"Cher can give me a lift a not?"

Somehow, when you look back, these little monsters seem saintly.

I could still recount the first days when I had just entered the school. Felt really dumb. Couldn't find classrooms, don't know how to use the photocopy machine. Hah.

I remember once being reprimanded for letting the whole class go for a toilet break. They took up more than half a period. Bad mistake.

Well, some students I'll never forget; some I just can't wait to. Joking. It is always great to work with these people. Somehow, they bring a satisfaction you can't find anywhere else. The joy of impartation. As I look back, I wished I had done more. That always happens in retrospect. Well, too bad.

So thank you all who have made my day; for better or for worst.

Most of all, I hope that with my prayers and little effort, the bowl of salvation will be tipped upon Bedok Green. So, Gerald Tan, please go in and reap the harvest. Hah.

Last but not least, the company of friends I made has been great! You three are the craziest bunch of people I've known!

So that's it. One look and it's all gone behind. Memories. These are really good ones to keep though.

So untimely. Death's sickle swings and life no longer breathes through a person.

My friend's classmate's Dad just passed away. So I read, from his blog.

In a twinkling of an eye, a once-cheerful figure of the household has now become a distant memory.

Sometimes, death causes fear. None of us have tasted it, albeit many with close encounters. Many are fearful of the unknown.

It does also cause contemplation and introspect. It makes us wonder, why God chooses to let live and send some into eternity. Well, this I do not know. I wasn't there when the dimensions of the earth were measured.

One thing I do know, is that death makes me think about my life. It makes me ponder over the activities I go placed in my schedule. It makes me wonder what there is in life that is actually worth all my effort.

I was talking to another teacher and he asked me,' So do you really want to do accountancy in NTU? Come and teach."

To make the long story short, it was a choice he would never regret.

It got me thinking, at least a little, of my future.

I really wonder what lies ahead. The next 3years in NTU are for sure, but what lies ahead?

I would really never know. But one thing's for sure, "the man that does the will of God lives forever."

Help me trust You Lord. Because you hold eternity, who better than you to make plans for me?

In the face of death, I think much of those who have not known Christ. It makes people think of their life in eternity.

So dear friend whose classmate's parent has passed away, do take this chance to share the gospel. An untimely event placed in the will of God makes for a perfect slot on heaven's timetable.

It's nice to wake up at 930am, knowing you don't have to leave house in shirt and pants.

Well, today was a off-day for Bedok Green in lieu of polling day.

Caught a late movie last night with the guys.

Ate at Suki in the afternoon.

So happening!!

Well, it's been a good day of rest. Thought I'd blog before I head off for Vocal class.

Nothing new's happening recently.

Was doing my devotion this morning on Psalms 25.

v1 says," To Thee, O Lord,I lift up my soul."

Went to Daryl's house and catan a game. We met for lunch earlier.

In Charles Spurgeon's Treasury of the Psalms (If I am not wrong), he made a really good point about lifting up my soul. That belongs to Daryl, so I could read it only at his place.

As I read Psa 25 in the morning, I really wondered what it was like to lift up my soul.

Spurgeon said something like this:

It's like coming to God with all your sins and baggages. And then you start lifting them off. slowly, you get lighter and before you know it, you are soaring like an eagle.

Wow, it was really quite cool. No wonder my leaders always asked me to read more books. It does give insight into the Word of God. It helps us to see things from a different light. It helps you put into words the knowledge you have.

So young ones reading this and aspiring to teach the word of God, read more books! haha.

Da Vinci Code Premeire

I went to watch Da Vinci Code with my family on Thursday. It was lousy. Perhaps because I read the book and went through GCE. Half the time I was predicting what happened; the other half was spent rebutting all the doctrinal disputes. Hah. For entertainment, I give it 1 out of 5 stars.

Other than that, I had a sideshow going on beside me. Dad was being his usual foggy self in the cinema. He was rambling about some things and it was really loud. Quite embarassing. If that wasn't bad enough, midway through the show, he belched.

"Buuuuurrrrb!" followed by a sigh of relief. I wanted to zap myself and turn invisible. Oh man.
The worst thing was that it smelled real bad.

It's true, what magazines say, by 50, it's amazing that old men would actually bother about personal etiquette. Well, I tried to look at him amidst the darkness, but all he did was foxed his eyes on the screen. Oblivious.

Well, at least he combs his hair.

I really can't remember.

Well, I wanted to blog since evening 5pm, but I haven't got down to it yet.

Went for dinnner with Dad, and thought we'd go back after eating; we sat down and he drank teh tarik.

Well, the past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster. I don't know why, spiritual attack maybe. I would feel dull all of a sudden and my thoughts would turn negative.

"You're not good enough..."

"You ain't fit to be a leader..."

Well, such thoughts kept popping up. I just knew they were wrong. It didn't spur me to love God, it just immobilised me.

Thank God for His grace and love, when I spent time with Him, I felt so much better.

Hmm, don't know why these few days events that would poke me keep coming my way.

Well, doesn't matter, because God's got the day!

Today one of my students really gave me a black face. He was upset over his paper. It affected me because I got kinda upset and angry with his reaction. He didnt' show much respect and his attitude was rude. But I've gotten over it.


Looks like a gloomy entry, but it really isn't.

It's not just a feeling, but I know that He is real.

All these have proven one thing: Living in His presence and promise can enable victorious living.
I don't feel as downcast as I'd felt last time.

One last thing, bit the inside of my cheek when I was eating ice-cream. I claimed healing, and it's healing faster than usual. Praise God!

Well, from FF Bosworth, the process of trust and faith is more important than the perceivable healing. Lord, help me grow my faith!

Tell your story

Many of us hear anecdotes of God working in people's lives. We clap. We appluad. We feel happy and we thank God for the work He's doing.

We go up to the person and tell him, ' Well done man!' and we give him a pat on the shoulder.

We hear of healings taking place in our friends' lives; when they pray for others.

We hear of prayer meetings among others that are full of passion and zeal.

We hear of people sharing the gospel fearlessly in schools.

We read of great man and women of God from time past and we go, "Wow!" We examine their lives and we tell ourselves, these people sure were man and women after the heart of our Saviour. We feel proud. We marvel at how God used them.

We always hear stories... when will it be our turn to tell OURS? Will a time come when I would be the one preparing my testimony? Will I be the one praying in faith? Will I be the one sharing the gospel? When will I read my OWN story.

So many a times, I fall short of doing it. Being on the ground and putting my hand to the plough.

"It's great work you're doing there," I shout from the side. "By hey, don't involve me, I ain't wanna get my hands rough."

Standing at the threshold of Revival, and yet I stumble. Wading in the river and yet, never jumping in.

When will it be my turn? When can I tell others I prayed in faith? Shared in boldness?

The disciples were in the boat. They saw the miracle. They saw Peter walk on water. But only Peter experience it. Only Peter knew how it felt like to step on water and not sink. Only Peter.

A story would always be a story till it becomes yours.

I pray I'd write my story, share my testimony and do the very work that God has called me to.

Only the great Author can pen the tales of our lives. Will I be willing? Will I have the faith?

Lord, make me strong.
Because I am of little strength.
My feeble arms cannot carry Your word.
Please help me Lord, because there is no other joy than pleasing Your heart.

Encouraged and Inspired!

Wow, it's amazing, the things that are happening these days among the younger ones. Was just talking to Leslie in the car. Amazing things are happening!

For the record, I am very very encouraged by you guys and girls. Your desire for God really encourages and inspires me!

At the rate you're rising up, you can take over the lifegroups. Hah.

Well, it does make me ponder and look at my life. I really want to be the best I can for God also!

At such a thunderous pace, my prayer is for all of us to move on together. It's exciting when one presses in to His presence; imagine an entire youth group!! Imagine the impact we'd make for Jesus.

Lord, help me be a participant of this great adventure!

Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze

Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace

Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown

This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure

Steven Curtis Chapman- "The Great Adventure"

"Uncle, Xiao Mai Cao"

Well, nothing much to write; just thought it'd be good to update my blog once in a while.

Today isn't just one of those contemplative days where you introspect and find many things to talk about. All I feel now is lethargy; perhaps due to the lack of sleep.

Anyway, we went cycling on thursday night. Met up in PP. Daryl and I got caught in the rain at Paya Lebar.

We received a message from Douglas. It read:

The rain will stop soon.

Well, we looked at each other and decided to cycle, regardless, in ten mins time. And we did.

Lo and behold, we were soaked through our skins and our 'jeremies'.

When we reached PP, the rain stopped and poor old us were cold and clammy.

We saw the rest of them as they arrived, dry, comfortable, in high spirits, ready to set off. And here we were, hanging our socks to dry, airing out feet. Hah. It was really funny to me.

So we set off for Malaysian ground and then we made our way to Kent Ridge, near NUS. I drove Doug's pickup most of the time. Only stalled once. Hooray. Kinda forgot about the clutch. Whenever I stopped, I occasionally forgot the need to clutch in. Hah.

Then we made our way down to Marina Bay to play Daytona. Here check it out.

After that it was home sweet home. Man, I had LG outing the next day at 12. It was game-over.
Well, I survived it though. We went JQ's place for a nice lunch and a chill time of hanging out.

Went out dinner after outing with Mum, Gran and Bro.

Mum wanted to order drink for my brother. A man holding a bucket of ice passed us and she shouted to him

" Uncle, Xiao Mai Cao."

He ignored us completely, and went to his seat. Oh man, embarassment was thick in the air, and all over my mum's face.

Poor old man, could not get over the insult. He kept on staring amd commenting. Hah. What a sight!

So yup, that was the past two days for me. It's been a neat week. I have decided to schedule my time each day so that I would not leave time for myself to slack. A natural tendency to just sleep in the afternoon is one that I want to eliminate.

Out.

PAP or WP?

Well, in lieu of polling day tomorrow, I will give my two cents' worth on politics.

I laughed, when I heard the news this morning on 93.8fm. It was pretty humourous. PAP candidates were commenting on opposition rallies. Said something like,' A lot of people attend the oppositons' rallies. You cheer them on. This is their only chance to scold the government. YOu cheer them on! But at the end of the day, remember, vote PAP!'

So funny!

Anyway, I would vote for opposition for only one reason - to keep the PAP humble.

I'm pretty pro-PAP. Well, the reason's simple : Imagine Low thiow Khiang as PM. SO uneloquent. Just imagine any Oppostion Candidate sitting on the MAS board. Oh man. I think we can start retrieving our granddad's fishing rods and start purchasing sampans.

A little exaggerated, but I can never picture an opposition candidate up as one of our ministers. Well, the truth is, PAP has done a pretty good job albeit all the shortcomings. Comparing what they have done and what they have not, I think the former stands out more. SO based on that, I will give my vote for PAP.

Then again, I'm under Chan Soo Sen, whom I have never seen before. Hmmm, looks like he's letting his grassroot leaders do all the work..

Ha.

Car Servicing

I just went down to Komoco Motors at Ubi, beside Comfort driving centre.

The servicing plus repair costs up to 1k! Oh man! So pricey! I really regret making that rash exit from Balestier Primary.

Anyway, Sunday night, we went cycling. A few of the older ones. It sure was cool! I clocked 3:08:22 and cycled about 60km! My first time cycling so long!

I would never forget the Changi Coastal Route we took. We circled the peripheral of Changi Airport!! It felt never-ending. Haha.

Another major event to note : I am marking mid-year scripts totalling 350. As of now, I am left with 120 scripts! Hooray!

Well, yesterday night, as I was going home, I was reminded of myself.

I wondered how my leaders used to view me. Slacking away in JC, putting on a mask. Telling my leaders I'm ok when I'm actually not. I bet they knew everything, just that they didn't force it down my throat. Wonder what kind of conversations they had with other leaders,

"Aiyah, don't know what's wrong with him! See la! Get into a relationship! Nevermind, his choice! Can't force him..just let him burn his fingers..."

or maybe

"Dunno man, felt so burdened for him..don't know what he's doing..."

It felt all too familiar last night as Daryl and I chatted a little on the journey home. I wonder what my leaders thought of me.

Is it how I feel right now about my lifegroup? Hah. Probably.

One thing's for sure, they never stopped believing in me and praying for me. That's why I am what I am today.

I will pray for you younger ones! Because we believe in you. We believe God has mightier plans for you.