Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Tim 4:16)

Thursday, May 31
Overnight Cycling! - PPB only

Start:
30th May 2007
1100pm

End:
31st May 2007
0630am

Est total dist: ~40km

Checkpoints:
Kallang KFC
Merlion Park
Labrador Park
Geylang Lorong 9

Interesting Sights Seen:
Lovers
Night Clubbers/Smokers
Empty Night Club with loud music
Police Road Block
Cars... Lots of them... passing beside you..


Words to describe the experience:
Suan-ness
"I'm gonna make it!"
Adventurous
Slope!
Flash -.-

I'm really getting old... Can't believe how i had to struggle through such a short dist cycling.. I remember how i did longer distances in the past and still survive.. This night cycling really took a lot of me to complete.. i was feeling the suan-ness when we were only half way thru!

Some videos for u all to enjoy.. I apologize cos i'm not very pro at cycling with one hand holding e handle and the other filming... but u get to feel what's it like to cycle with us! (note that i didn't take much pictures while on the move.. cos will be blurred due to low lighting)

The Club which is super empty


Cycling along Keppel Road - Orderly


Cycling along Keppel Road - Havoc!


Cycling through Clark Quay

-=P3ng=- | 5:37 pm

Wednesday, May 30
Reflections from studying Rom 11

It was really quite a journey studying rom 9-11 ever since 4 weeks ago. From studying for the overview, to uncovering the meaning verse by verse, word by word, i think this passage is by far the most amount of time i had ever spent studying on.

I was listening to John Macarthur's podcast as he commented how some guidelines in preparing lessons and sermons.

1) Perspective
2) Preparation
3) Pace
4) Personal
5) Persecution

of all the things, i remembered pace and personal very well cos it spoke directly to my current situation. I'm told that slower is better than faster and deeper is better than shallower. I cannot just skim through the surface of the text and spend most of my time simplifying the deep and rich meanings. I have to take time not only to study carefully but to teach deeper into each verse. then i remembered how for rom 10 my 2nd sun sch lesson, i constructed a frame and tried to force the passage into it. it was easy work. catchy headings, explain some key words and spend my time on the application.

listening to the podcast i was totally challenged to do it the other way. i gotta first study with the 4th P in mind. Personal. I gotta study the text not because i need to teach it, but because i want to find out more and how it will help ME in MY relationship with God. I honestly say that it is easier to teach than to apply into ur own life. So i spend extra time and effort doing that for the past 2 weeks. then i'm told NOT to fit the passage to the timing given to me. Sun Sch is 40mins... but if i need to, i'll spend more time explaining clearly a few verses than rushing thru paragraphs.

Rom 11 isn't exactly straight forward. Israel's history and future, God's character, reading the commentary is only the first step, i even need to take time understand what the commentary meant!

Now i really know what John Macarthur meant when it is really hardwork. But it is necessary to use God's word and allow God to teach His sermon, rather than me taking an idea and teach my own sermon. People need to hear God, not me... even if they are only youths, even if they are only a small class.. it is still important to be faithful to the text...

Prayer... It really did caused me to depend on God.. and i saw how God at times withheld understanding from me, when i seek to study the passage for the wrong reasons... and how it got easier when i seek His heart... I do pray this sun sch lesson (after being delayed by 1 week by His grace) would be one God will speak and impact all who hears, including myself...

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

Romans 11:33,36

-=P3ng=- | 2:57 pm

Tuesday, May 29
Stepping into 21

My environment is changing... whether i like it or not. The responsibilities i must bear, the issues i handle, the struggles i face....

I'm not sure if I'm forced to mature fast enough to adapt and tackle these issues, or that because I have matured over the past year and decide i should begin to tackle them...

Career is a big issue. It involves the Course you do in Uni and all the choices in modules and programs offered... It involves self discovery, where does my passion lie? What do i want to do? With it comes the complex problems that follow each choice... Equipped enough for Ministry? Opposition from parents? Money?

Yes, Money is another big issue. Not that i'm short of it. My friend puts it as he rather have to worry about too much than too little of it. At my age he earns 5 digit per month from investment. the idea that i could have been in his position did bothered me. i almost began to think of the endless things that i could do, the financial restrictions that affected ministry, the stress on my dad to support the family... but I thank God that God convicted my heart years ago reminding me of what is truly important. I know now that God has provided exactly what i need. If ever i keep thinking about what if i have that sum of money, i know i'm feeding a lust for money which actually implies that God shortchanged me and what He gave is not enough. WHICH IS NOT TRUE AT ALL. God gave me much more than i can ever imagine. Yea, this also means that next time if ever i'm to choose btw a high-paying physicist job and serving the Lord with much lesser cash, i will choose the latter. Haha, yea that means the girl i marry next time will have to support this stand or else i'll have a big headache...!

Ok fine, i won't ignore this fact. Stepping into 21 would mean preparing myself for a relationship. It is much more than what my member Javier sees. There's much responsibility and maturity required. I wonder if i'm ever ready for one and how i should respond when i enter Uni... Anyway Ben says he's gonna get a gf when he returns. =)

Lifestyle... being a light in sec sch or jc is a lot different in the Uni and workplace.. The "level" is so much higher and demanding. How you respond will reflect how valuable God is in your life. Everyone wants to fit in. I hope to when i enter Uni... But i know clearly of the things/habits/lifestyle that are out of bounds for me.. Then there's the CCAs i should join, the kind of friends i keep...


In the midst of all the problems, I'm really glad i have much guidance. If fact, I have the guide Himself - God. The way He revealed His word to me this period of time, i know He's preparing me to face the future.

There's a question that He kind of placed my head this morn(i dun think i'll use the word inspire though) to ask during this coming sat combined cg,
"The world is changing the bible. The question is 'Are you going to join them or are you going to let the bible change the world?'"

Which side are you standing at?

-=P3ng=- | 10:37 am

Saturday, May 26
Standing Up for what you believe in

One of the things that really caught my attention during the 2-day visit to TJC happened when i was helping out in the chest press station during the log event...

It was Delta house's turn to do that station.. For me, i was helping out to watch the safety aspects of it.. the judging and giving of no-counts was done by the current oac instructors... There was this guy, rather charismatic, wanted to boost the morale of his team by giving an encouraging speech during the rest time. I shall not quote the exact words as i can't remember. It went something like, "come on! this is our last station.. let's give it all we got! shout with me the timing if you can, shout anything you want! vulgarities, anything! No one is here to hear it! the DM is not here! Shout it out!" Then another girl followed "ya i'll bring Mr __ away if he comes!"

A social constraint was broken. It had an impact. When he mentioned about don't care about vulgarities, there was a change in the faces of those around the station. One thing was evident, it was uncommon to say something like that. Even though no one did say anything vulgar in the end cos all the participants were too tired to even talk...

But i was deeply affected... for not commenting on what he said... I actually kept quiet to a declaration against the truth... It was a great chance to be a witness but i took the easy way out by keeping quiet...

"That is not true. I believe that God hears what we say. Our lips are meant to give praise to God and speak words of encouragement to build others up. Praises and curses cannot come out from the same mouth. Try to encourage, it might not bring your team further, but it will strengthen your unity and team spirit."

The words were in my head, i only wish i had the courage to speak as i should... Forgive me O Lord.. how i kept claiming that i won't be silent, yet i am still afraid... May i be able to speak up for You should it happen again...

-=P3ng=- | 11:03 pm

Friday, May 25
The Things I Once Did...

While other jcs like CJC and SRJC are making their students mug for and take their h1 papers before the holidays begin, it was a totally different sight at TJC...


At the field there's tug-of-war.. well basically there's no lesson at all.. everyone get to participate and compete in one sport of another!

This is my fav..life size table soccer! wished to play it again someday.. haha


This is dodgeball.. it was in the tennis court..

(envious? =p well becky, although tjc ppl are really muggish, we do take time to enjoy!)

It's TJC's Sports Carnival and every year the highlight has been about the Temasek Titans.. well because it is organised by OAC =) i went down on thurs and fri morn to help out. kinda missed the feeling of playing like that, enjoying the sport, sound system, classmates cheering and participating...

here are some things that i once did when i was year 1, and organised it in year 2.. can't imagine me inside right? i did a lot of other stuff that i even amaze myself when i look back...




just when u think these guys are mad...girls participated in the competition too! now that's really amazing..




u might think i go back just to watch only. no lor i got help one.. haha! must help do demo for log throw.. it has been a while... the photos make it look very cool though!




this is my first time uploading a video.. hope it works.. note that this log throw is really dangerous (the log is heavier than it looks. catching it is really an experience!)




I've many thoughts and experiences.. shall put it in my next post.. =)

-=P3ng=- | 6:51 pm

Wednesday, May 23
NUS Orientation Package

Yup... it is here....! I received the mail last night and took my time to read through it in office today.

"Am I excited about Uni?" That was a question I've been asked quite a few times by different individuals. I wasn't at first. But after reading through and started talking about it with my friends, it hard not to be excited.

However besides the excitement, there's also a deep feeling of anxiety over the choices I have to make. At first I thought i was pretty much settled that I cannot stay in the Hostel and participate in Hall Activities as it will take up too much of my time and it might affect the time i have for my ministry in serving my cg. Then there's also which Camps to go to, which CCA to join...

It all boils down to one question - What is it that I really want?

That shall be my basis for my decision making. (Of course in line with the word of God) Do pray that through these activities and experiences, I will be clearer of what I will be doing in future as a career.

-=P3ng=- | 4:59 pm

Tuesday, May 22
Youth Sunday School Resources

Youth Sunday School Lesson Resources are now available for download if you want to it for reference or if you have missed the lesson.

I have the audio records, the powerpoint slides, and the lesson plans if you want.

Audio Records
Sun Sch 13 May - God in Control (Rom 9).mp3
Sun Sch 20 May - Man is Responsible (Rom 10).mp3

Powerpoints Slides
Rom 9 God in Control.ppt
Rom 10 Man is Responsible.ppt

Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan Rom 9.doc
Lesson Plan Rom 10.doc

*just msg me to send it to you...

Please note this is strictly meant for reference and should not replace your studying of the bible yourself =) Also note that there might be errors in my teaching and I welcome all feedbacks and corrections...

-=P3ng=- | 11:43 am

Monday, May 21
A Relaxing Weekend | Reflections by the Beach

Decided to just write down whatever that comes to my mind now... a lazy way to blog.. haha

Had an enjoyable weekend doing things i hadn't been doing for quite a while.

- eating at cheese cake cafe (it's my 1st time eating there!)
- stayed at kenneth's house (can't rem when was the last time i had a stayover)
- swimming at jeanna's house (last time i swam? err months? years? -.-)
- slacking and watched movie without care.. (Death note and Death Note 2 back to back!)
- lunch with Relatives to celebrate grandma's bday
- shopping at orchard (i still hardly know the place as well as my friends do)
- cycling to the beach (my bike's chains are covered with rust, tyres completely out of air and had to pump)

the weekend felt different.. and relaxing... wonder if i had been too restrictive of myself and my lifestyle.. nah! these type of thing can only do once in a while.. haha.. and we're going to another activity i haven't done for years:

25th May 2007
8pm Bedok Lutheran Church
We are going overnight cycling! WHOO!~
All are welcomed to join us if your parents allow...

***

It felt great. It really felt like leaving everything behind and just travel to meet God. Cycling along an old unforgettable path on my trustworthy bike, i seek to find my own little retreat. The silent and cool night with its occasional breeze was simply perfect in its own way. I missed that familiar sound of the waves, the rustling of the trees... I sat at my fav spot, part of me wondering why am i here, but i convinced myself i needed it more than anything. I had wanted to come back here since 2 months ago but never found the chance to do so...

Sitting at the breakwater undisturbed by 2 guys at the side fishing, i prayed and then answered the question, "How is my life now?" There were questions i longed for answers, uncertainties i needed assurance, but i told myself that not why i came this time.. it doesn't matter if they remained not addressed, just came to meet God as how He met me when i went there before i was a Christian.

Beyond the uncertainties and questions that has been on my mind recently, i looked back and couldn't help but thank God that i found Him. In Him, i found direction and certainty. There's nothing called meaningless anymore. Neither is there fear of the unknown. The change in my life had been shocking... A changed life now trying to change many others...

There were other things i thought through when i was there of cos.. wisdom is saying the things u need to say, and keeping quiet when you should.. *hint to CX* =p

Leavin the place, i found back my stability, assurance that life is in God's hands. Sovereignty vs Responsibility - Something i taught during Sun Sch yest. How glad to know I'll never have to keep worrying tat i might choose smth out of God's plan.. Yet that's not an excuse for me to make rash or irresponsible decisions...

-=P3ng=- | 10:59 am

Thursday, May 17
Treasure Digging

Haha, do you know what is called treasure to a JC student? (ok me and my friends 3 years ago.. i dare not make a sweeping statement here)

Notes! Valuable concise summarised ones of cos. I finally found time to sort through that huge pile of papers that had been sitting in my cupboard for 3 years. i needed to clear the worksheets and find back valuable notes... especially maths cos i think i lent to Carolyn and she lost it.. not very sure though.. but ya it was 2 years of notes summarised to my own understanding. so now while packin, i'm trying to find if i did left behind any other notes that might be helpful for my bro and all still in jc now...

i was going thru the worksheet and gp pile where i never realised the amount of paper, questions and words and formulas, numbers i've written for that short 2 years... wow! i even found a list of common errors in English, how to write essays and loads of other stuff.. i shall post a small part of it for amusement and learning for everyone! =)


Spelling

irregardless (x) --> regardless
accomodate (x) --> accommodate
arguement (x) --> argument
advertisment (x) --> advertisement
definately (x) --> definitely
enviroment (x) --> environment
goverment (x) --> government
hierachy (x) --> hierarchy
millenium (x) --> millennium
occured (x) --> occurred
potray (x) --> portray
sucessful, succesful (x) --> successful
inspite of (x) --> in spite of


yup that's all for this post.. haha! in case u think i cleared the whole pile of notes.. i only manage to go thru a third of it.. tough work man... zzZ

-=P3ng=- | 10:00 pm

Wednesday, May 16
Listening to God's word

Before going to bed tonight, I prayed….and the Lord revealed something about my attitude a few hours ago. I was at Dazz’s grandma’s wake and there was a preacher teaching on Psalms 23. I never expect that I would have a problem with pride, but I did.

Recently I had been given a lot of time to not only study the bible but also listen to good preachers. Ever since then, I had been inspired to teach the word of God accurately and clearly in cg and sun sch. The hours of studying, listening, and the bethel series helped a lot in my overall understanding of God’s word and I can quote or refer to a lot more passages now. But slowly I got proud.

I began to choose who I like to listen to. If the preacher is boring, long-winded, not concise, then in my heart I would lose interest and the importance of his message will fall drastically. The preacher at the wake had a weird style of talking, he taught in Chinese (I didn’t mind but I mentioned to prove a point) and he was talking about things that were very basic and that any Christian would know. I’m always glad when preachers explain the text and draw application with reference to the text better than those who talk on topics and hardly refer to the passages at all.

But God humbled me. The thing that I took pride in, He used it to rebuke and remind me – The word of God

1 Cor 2:1 “When I came to you, brothers. I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you to testimony about God.”

And in verse 3-5, “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power”

Paul also wasn’t a influential speaker when he was preaching God’s word. But this is to show how God can choose anyone to speak for Him as how it is written that God used the foolish to shame the wise in 1 Cor 1. It is to remind us that in any sermon, the thing I should be focused on is the word of God, not the preacher. That’s where God’s power is. And I think it might be God’s plan to allow long sermons, because only those who truly seek and thirst after God’s word will listen intently till the end. I still remember last sun when I was telling Ben ‘Hey I’m losing focus already.’ Then after a while when I found back my focus, he whispered to me ‘ I’m losing my concentration too.’ When I look around, I could see many members also restless already.

So then what should my response be? The thirst for His word is really given by Him. I prayed for that each time before I sit down to listen. Then I must open my bible and be ready to examine what he says and at the same time be open to listen to what new things I can learn, and also allow those things that I already know to be a reminder to me again.

I pray that God’s word will always have a high importance in my life and a strong foundation in my walk with God. I pray the same for you too.

-=P3ng=- | 9:39 am

Saturday, May 12
Driving alone...

yay, finally i got a chance to drive alone! ok, maybe it's just a short trip, but it's very different not having dad by the side keep pointing out my mistakes, my mother behind giving her 10cents worth.. and my brother also commenting and suaning me.. lol! yea you get the idea...

it was my first time... quite an experience... because the radio was playing FM933 chinese sentimental songs... then it's at night.. the street lights did a great job in creating the emo feeling with their orangish light... i actually could feel the lightness of the car now that i'm the only one in it... and at that moment, i could understand how my friend felt... the idea of just driving around hearing the sound of the engine.. haha i'm not a car enthu guy but even so i felt the urge to just drive faster, neglecting safety and stuff... now i understand why they need the road signs saying speeding kills... etc... cos it's really easy to be irresponsible....

yup... that's that.. back to work... got a lesson to teach tmr.. then there's soccer after service... and of cos.. there's service.. =)

-=P3ng=- | 8:00 pm

Friday, May 11
Spiderman 3

many told me they didn't like it... i was convinced this time i'm gonna watch it no matter wat... turns out i did have a different opinion of the movie after all!

I really enjoyed the movie, many complained that it was draggy, or too many conversations... but for me i'm thankful they kept the movie the way it was in the previous 2, having a message to bring to the audience, that it's more than just the action and the stunts.

i was reminded of a gp essay my jc teacher showed us during class. it was written by a peer and his essay was one of the best. the question was smth about superheroes still having a place in society today... i can only remember vaguely what was written, but there was a point he made about how superheroes, even though they are fictional, inspire us to strive and fight for what is good, someone we admire as a child and we look up to. Especially in our society today, we need heroes like them to stand up for the weak, uphold good values. etc.. (i wish i had a copy of that essay..) anyway, i am just thankful that spiderman 3 did not compromise in being all action and attractive but to still to the message they promote.

one of the obvious we see immediately was our superhero in his simple life, simple apartment, student, riding a scooter.. not very attractive.. then there's the part where he gave in to the alien suit and allowed his actions to be led by his feelings. how many times i find myself doing that, ending up in things that i regret? and there's also friendship, forgiveness, responsibility. (i like how the grandma puts it, A husband must be willing to put his wife before himself) and the final message about choices. "Our choices determines who we are as a person." and "We always have a choice to do what's right."

In its essence, it is correct. but to bring it a bit further is that our choices bring about consequences and we are to be responsible in our choices... because we will be held accountable at the end of the day.. whether it is our parents, our teachers, our bosses, and above all, God.

-=P3ng=- | 11:10 pm

Thursday, May 10
Election vs Freewill

http://www.gty.org/resources.php?section=articles&aid=231301

i was preparing my lesson on romans 9 and i found myself tackling one of the controversies and trying to understand the truth for myself. The excitement and frustration and patience in studying and researching... I had been spending the whole day studying on rom 9.. and i'm still far from grasping the passage clearly... well reality is i will never be finished in studying God's word...

the link above is really a good read... be patient and read... learnt a lot from it.. just need to organise my thoughts now.. memory overload!!

-=P3ng=- | 4:57 pm

Broadway Beng Returns

I must say.. I had a great time laughing.. outta control! lolz! guess i overreacted but oh well.. it would have been better if it was so crude...

Most of the things are funny because they reflect accurately the culture I am in. (While i do hear some of the jokes before.. it's just.. nice to laugh at it again... haha..) But this is the culture i was brought up in and is still being promoted today. The pursuit for money, 4D, gambling, the idea of striving.. The question would then be how to be a light in such a pagan culture? it's a truth to face whether i like it or not. coming to know the truth, there are lines to be drawn and practices that i no longer participate in. it is hard to swim against the current... but it's better than swimming with the current to death...

-=P3ng=- | 1:37 pm

Wednesday, May 9
Busy at work but not with work

I apologise for not continuing with my study tips, haha.. not that i have ran out of tips, just too busy and lazy to blog... Since last week i had been busy at work doing 2 things - Sun Sch Lesson and Sentosa Prog in June... spending fruitful time hehe...

everyone's like celebrating now, becky is declaring to everyone she finish exams.. well.. time to have fun! =D

tonight's my 1st time going to watch a Musical Pantomime. (cpt dada pants says it's not called a play.. but i dun really know the difference haha) Either way, i'm looking forward to enjoy myself tonight.. never spent so much to watch a performance before! lolz.. yup i never went for a concert before.. hehe...

ok.. back to study the passage.. mother's day coming soon.. need to do something special this year... hmm... jubjubee gave some cool ideas though hehe...

-=P3ng=- | 9:35 am

Wednesday, May 2
April Reflections as Leader of Spy001

I was reading my members' reflection letters and it just filled me with many thoughts i wish to jot down. On my april's Reflection Letter (RL), i've only mentioned mainly on my personal life. So this is part 2 i guess...

Much has happened in Spy001, a large contrast to my personal life. There's Dazz stepping down, Becky's friend drowned, Aaron had problems, Javier also had problems, Porter was encouraging, Jeanna.. well as usual =p

The storm kind of hit me hard and challenged me to respond correctly. Perhaps it is expected for leaders to stand strong in stormy weather so that the group can pull through. I'm still human and i have no secret formula to pull through difficult times. I found encouragement and motivation from God and His people. And I really want to thank God how I am not discouraged at all but desiring to do much more.

Just as how Paul advised Timothy, i heeded the advice that my ministry in my cell group must be supported on prayer.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, (1 Tim 2:1)

Dependence and reliance on God. I began to pray more often for my members, now even their parents, their unbelieving friends, their exams, etc. By praying, the concern and love for them grew, and i understood how i am only a steward looking after a group that is not mine and i don't have to depend on myself only.

*members, i'm praying everyday for everyone of you. do support each other in prayers too! =D

I must also thank God how He kept me watchful of pride. To be careful not to be boastful of the things that was actually done by God not me. I am only a servant.

My members had been encouraging. I'm the only one who hasn't shared the gospel to my friends yet! I'm planning and trying... please pray!

I really wonder what my members think of me. haha, a slave driver, a person who always kenna suaned.. well... in Spy001, life is never dull!

-=P3ng=- | 11:01 pm