Listen to His voice calling out to you...

Cort Bass

Thursday, 24 May 2007

Today i went to Swee Lee Music Shop at Bras Basah to look at the stuff there. Before long i came to the bass guitar section, and behold, i saw the bass which took my breath away. It's a dark brown matt finish Cort bass guitar, and even though i did not request to the staff for me to try it, i know that the sound and tone of the bass will be good. The more i looked and fiddled with it the more i liked it, and i knew that this could be the bass which i was searching for as the replacement for my current TGM bass. Alas... the price is $1200. Even though i knew that i could borrow the money from my mom to buy it, i decided against it, for i had already decided that i would save up for my next bass guitar. i knew the "risk" of not being able to get the Cort bass due to other people buying it from the shop before i could save up the amount, but i thought that it was ok. For all i know, maybe the new stock will have a much better bass guitar, for the same price. So i will just have to be patient and not impulsive in purchasing such expensive equipment. i give myself a target of 1 year from today to get my new bass guitar. Meanwhile i will just have to be satisfied with my TGM. Maybe i can think of a name for it, like Jasmine (acoustic guitar).

Time to think about my mission trip, and the coming sem! Stop thinking about bass! haha...

giving thanks at 21:59 :)

Gen12ii Commissioning

Wednesday, 23 May 2007

On Monday night there was this Gen12ii commissioning and SOLEAD (School of LEadership And Development) trainees graduation ceremony, at Faith Methodist Church. At first i thought it was just another Crusade event, and the focus would be more on the graduates rather than the students going for missions. i was wrong! It was such an enjoyable and refreshing time, we were all reminded about what it really means to be passionate for the Lord and His work. During the prayer time some of the youth came to pray for me, i was so touched! In fact quite a lot of people from my church turned up, including Uncle Beng Hong. Too bad, pastor could not make it. After the event i had more surprises waiting for me! Edward Zeng came too! He was my platoon mate in unit, a great Christian brother who's also a good drummer in his church. i think God used this event to encourage me and to remind me that the brothers and sisters around me are supporting me as well! i feel so blessed with them around!

Today i'll be having my mission team meeting in the afternoon, after that i'll be rushing down to Changi Airport to send the Central Asia Prayer Team off , i hope i'll be able to catch them before their flight at 8pm! After that i'll be following Alvin Chee to his place to meet with some of our soccer fanatic guys to catch the Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan! Though i'm not a fan of either Liverpool or AC Milan, i still chose to stick by the "tradition" of catching the important matches of the season, including the FA Cup final last week. Tomorrow i'll be meeting the Mass-E comm for lunch! Miss those guys so much, we really enjoyed working and worrying and praying together last sem! Oh yeah, Dillon actually shared about the Mass-E during his interview on stage! i guess he was also as excited as us during the planning, it was really a testimony of God's providence and faithfulness!

Ok i better go have my lunch before i'm late for the team meeting again! God bless!

giving thanks at 11:01 :)

D-team 06/07

Monday, 21 May 2007

Yet another academic year has passed so swiftly. When school reopens in August, i'll be in Year 3. That's like being a senior already, even though i still feel like i'm a freshie. Everyone will move up by a year, and the current Year 4s will be graduating. Just like Glenn and Paul's batch before them, it's like a bittersweet farewell, we should be happy that they are going out to the marketplace to spend their next phase of their lives, working and also bringing the Good News to wherever they will go to. However, Crusade will lose such talents and outstanding servants, and not to mention the friends and buddies who are like a family to them. Oh well, time to look forward and to move on with God's plan for His ministry!

After looking back at this 1 year of ministry in Crusade, i found that, unsurprisingly, i have grown so much spiritually, and learnt so much about myself and of who God is. Being in the Discipleship team has really opened my eyes and stretched my understanding of discipleship so much. i now see the importance of discipleship, of being intentional, of not just thinking about myself and how much i have grown, or how much i want to learn, but it's really about God and His people. As David Mak (affectionally known as "Mak Mak") said, "Ministry is always about God and His people, and never about us." By putting our focus on God and people, we indirectly help ourselves to see things God's way, and to be other-centred and other-minded. God will also use the people around us to encourage us, to help us realise that as we focus on others, we ourselves are growing as well. i thank God for His grace to me as i continue on my journey of service to Him, making mistakes and learning from them. He is truly the God of the second chance!

My mission team went to Singapore Poly last Thursday for witnessing training, because we will be doing campus witnessing in Khon Kaen as well. After 2 hours of walking and talking, i felt that SP is really open to the Gospel, most of the students whom Charlton and i talked to listened to us without rejecting. i pray that these seeds sown will grow in the future, and Christians in SP will be able to reap the harvest! In fact, the harvest is already ready for reaping!

Thank God that i have officially raised my full support for my mission trip!! i thank all who have supported me, special mention goes to Uncle Beng Hong, Joseph and Miao Jun, Michelle aka Bear, Dr Looi Kok Poh, Danny, Caleb and Jennifer, Mr and Mrs Chew Ek Hoe, and Auntie Lily Phang!! i also want to thank all those in the youth who have prayed and are still praying for me and Michelle as we prepare to go to Thailand. You know who you are, God knows who you are! Not to mention those in Crusade who are supporting us in fervent prayer! Please continue to pray for the rest of my team as they continue to raise their financial and prayer support! At first when i signed up for the Gen12ii mission trip, i had reservations that i would be able to raise enough support, despite telling myself that "if it is God's will for me to go for missions, He will provide". Now i realise that the folks in my church are so passionate about missions, and they readily offered to support me financially and in prayer, even before i asked! Praise the Lord! i'm very encouraged by that, and feel very joyful! haha... =p

To those out there who feel down and out, take heart! God is in control, and He will never fail or forsake us!

giving thanks at 15:18 :)

Finally... A new post...

Saturday, 19 May 2007

hmm finally posting something here, after "playing cheat" by plagiarizing from some inspirational sources, haha. anyway just a quick update, my support raising is almost done! i thank God, that He is really faithful to His servant. i remember during Meta camp 2006, i was assured of the thought that if it is God's will for me to go on mission trip, He will provide. And He did! praise the Lord! As for my mission team, i think we are a bunch of wonderful people, and i'm excited to go on the mission trip already! hopefully we can bond as a team and work together in Thailand for His glory.

After the previous ST meeting, i have been allocated the post of taking charge of the Evangelism committee in Engine Region (Campus Crusade). There were names given to me as well, for me to call them up to challenge them to be in the E-comm next academic year. i pray that God will lead me as i take up the challenge and also for the rest of the comm, even as those challenged are praying for their decision.

Ok, more updates next time! i will try to come here to update more often, before i head off to Thailand on the 4th of June. Excited! =p

giving thanks at 21:16 :)

Want A Donut?

Wednesday, 2 May 2007

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course in his or her freshman year, regardless of his or her major. Although Dr Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class. One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. He asked, "How many push-ups can you do?" Steve said, "I do about 200 every night." "200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?" Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time." "Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson. "Well, I can try," said Steve. "Can you do 300 in sets of10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor. Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it" Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class. Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?" Cynthia said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?" "Sure." Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?" Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott.

Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?" Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?" Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them." Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then." Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?" With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!" Dr. Christianson said, "Look! , this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk. Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?" Sternly, Jenny said, "No." Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved. Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely. Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it. Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set. Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?" Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!" Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come." Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him?" Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut" Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?" Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut." "Steve, will you do ten push ups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down. Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room. The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?" Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you." Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?" Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda.

Then Dr Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?" Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?" Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone, I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes." "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten." Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile. "Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding "Not all sermons are preached in words." Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

giving thanks at 19:04 :)