Decisions and Risks Taking

It is interesting how little decisions we make affect the efficency of life little things.

I arrived at the bus stop only to realise the bus just went past, then I thought ok, be smart check with iris when the next bus is coming.

The sms tells me 13 mins to the next bus, so I thought to increase efficency I should just walk to another bus stop where there are more bus choices.

Took me 10 mins to almost reach the bus stop, then at the traffic junction, I saw the NEXT BUS coming (the one that will take 13 mins), I have to run to catch the bus. So in the end, I could have simply waited at the bus stop right?

Ha, but I thought it was a interesting experience, if I never tried this option, I will also not know if I can catch a earlier bus? In this case, I did not, but who knows in another case, I may have succeeded!

Well the morale of the story is, we nees to try, the decisions we make do affect our lives, but if we never try, we never know where is the final frontier!

Ha! My penny of thoughts for the day :)

How many will understand?

I recently bought this video from Spiritclips. The amazing thing is it seems especially for the male gender they do not seem to be able to understand it at the 1st viewing, i wonder is it really that tough to understand? I have attached it here.. will love to hear your views if you can understand the message in the video. Haha!

The Art of Building

The time of the year has come again.

To arise and build, to see how God is going to bring the church to the next level.

I am excited for another time of great growth personally too!

Even as we are seeing the building coming to pass in our minds, i was just wondering how a physical building is being built.

In the recent months, the free space next to my house started construction to become new blocks of flats by 2010. (Hai, i thought that area was just supposed to be a park, now they are building flats that will block the view from my bedroom)

You know, so many months have passed and yet they are still just tilling and breaking the grounds, laying the foundation; many a times the air gets quite dusty that i seldom open my windows nowadays.

Being so close to a construction, causes me to realise that truly, from the day the ground was broken to the day of the completion of a building involves great work, details and TIME.

Though we are giving to build a stadium that we are yet to see physically, the process of having faith and tenacity to press on and believe likens the patience and time needed to build a real building. Though the going can gets tough sometimes, but the end result sure outweighs the opportunity cost!

I will look towards the finishing line, picturing the building in its completion!

All ready!.... Let's go!

People you can meet on the Bus

It is interesting how people will choose the go the long way just so that they are always in familier grounds.

Conversation between me and a stranger who sat next to me on the bus:

Stranger A - Can you tell me where to drop off for Orchard MRT, the bus stop opp Tangs?

Me - You will like to go Tangs or the MRT?

A - MRT, i want to take train to Novena

Me - Then you can drop off at the next stop at park mall, Douby Ghaut MRT is just across the road, the same north line will take you to novena

A - No, i want to go to Orchard MRT, the one that when i exit i can see Tangs one.

Me - Ok fine, but this bus does not stop direct outside Tangs. I will let you know when the bus is nearing Orchard MRT station.

(The best thing is when the bus stops near Orchard MRT at the back of Wisma, i told her to alight, she looked at me with suspicious eyes and keep asking am i sure it is Orchard MRT, i wanted so much to say if you dun believe, you can dun alight)
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Sigh, i mean it will take the bus another 15-20 mins esp at this peak hour where we may experience jam on the roads,to reach Orchard MRT, i mean if she had taken the train at Douby Ghaut, she would probably reach novena faster. Just because taking the train at Orchard is what she is used to, comfortable at, she do not want to step out to try new options?

Many a times, we are so used to our familiar surroundings that we fail to step out and try new options, refusing to accept changes willingly, always wanting to be in our comfort zone. But often just what good it does us? Sometimes it cause us to go round one big around to achieve something that we can do much faster by walking a straight line?

We need to all move on, move on new horizons, explore new grounds, look at the sunrise from a different angle, whatever it takes so that we are not always staying at the same level! Ha!

Resurrection! Finally

Well, after 1 yr 1 mth and 8 days, finally i decided to revive the long lost art of blogging in my life, it is not that i had nothing to say or dunno what to say but simply did not manage to blog it down.

Have you ever experieced those times that you have simply too many words to say and end up nothing just come out? I reckon that my brain simply moves too fast for my mouth and hands to respond..

There are always so many things that go on daily, so many thoughts to ponder about, so many things i cannot understand, or still trying to understand.

I wish i can do better,be more understanding, have more patience but sometimes i just wish i can just be me. The me that is joyous,fun-loving and just simply enjoys good fun and not needing to be concerned about so many things that other ppl ought to be responsible about...but i have learnt to manage my expectations this year and be more at peace with myself.

But i really thank God for all the great help and udnerstanding ones around me who will tolerate my every fuss.

Been thinking about one word recently- PASSION. Just what drives you to do the things that you do? Hmm, will talk about it more in my next blog.

This entry is just to test if anyone is still surfing around my long dorment blog, hey, if you did read my entry, post a comment, so i know at least i am not talking to the cosmic atmosphere... Ciao!

FOP + Anni. Afterthoughts

Posted a similar titled post in the 5566 blog, but this one is more about my personal experiences and thoughts for the event.

You know though i have realized long that God dun like "comfortable" ppl, but i have always tried to convince (or i should say deceive) myself that it will not happen to me "this" time.

Once again, i was assigned to do WEST. It seems that my fate always lies in East or West, i done East for a year and now i have done West since Dec 04. And yes i have been keeping track... cos i noticed i started preparing my 1st notes during that time. And so i thought to myself, ok not too bad cos i oredi had notes and a basic strategy that has worked. So i just need to amend a bit. That's it.

Once again changes are the only things constant, when i first got the ICs allocation, i was flustered trying to find the best matches to handle the zone. When i finally managed to work it out after much difficulty, i was informed of another major change that will uproot most of my plans. Humans always have this problem with change isn't it? Initinally once again i was lamenting that everything had to change. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me to adapt to the changes and be positive towards it. So once again, i made new plans for this new ELITE team....

Then throughout the week, last minutes changes, frustrations come from people that i do not think should give me such problems. I was upset and asked God why did such things had to happen. Then it seemed i heard his voice vaguely to ask me to just bite the bullet, trust in Him and move on, He will show me the way....

Ok then, i went for the 1st service with worries and fear in my heart, with all the "what if" questions in my mind, thinking if He will come through for me, if my team can carry the sector well? As if God wanted to make it even more challenging, i was told to standby to open doors at 6pm... my ushers could barely got into position and my 2 traffic ICs have yet to arrive. Though beforehand i oredi thought of a worst case scenario and how to deal with it but i still could not help being worried of what will happen. Of course once again God showed me that He will carry me through if i just lean on His strength. Though there were some upsetting hiccups and lack of team work + communication among the ICs, overall we still managed to scrape through.

Slowly through the services, we continued to build up better teamwork and understanding, by the time we reached the last service, everyone was looking out and covering for one another. This was actually the greatest wish i had hoped for them too. As brilliant leaders individually, i hoped all of them can complement and work well with one another to push their potential to another level.

Also the attitude and the hunger of the HOG ushers really touched my heart. They really reminded me of how we were like when we were their age and when our ministry was just as small as theirs. Their fire and passion to serve the Lord is something we must never lose. It was not that they were more talented or had better attitude but simply a heart that just want to serve. They flowed so easily with our leaders and we had an enjoyable time working together that when it was time to part, we did not want to leave.

CHC ushers in the zones performed extremely well too for the last service, based on the fact we barely had 24 ushers for the whole zone and we managed to survive! i am so proud and honored to be part of this ushering team of ushers who had never failed to stand in the gap and rise up to the occasion. Many of my ushers touched my heart; and this time it was not the youth but the adults that warmed my heart.

Most of the time, people are told of how adults ushers would hesitate to commit to such services and seldom will support the whole event due to their busy lifestyle, but i had adults who bited the bullet together with me and went through all the services; one even stood with the leaders together to stand guard for the zone.

When i looked at them from the terrace, my heart was filled with gratitude and i nearly felt tears in my eyes even as i thank God for the great things He has helped me learnt throughout all these days..that in essence it simply means "Just do your best and trust in the Lord, it is not by our talents or abilities but by the power and might of the Holy Spirit. If you cannot see the way, cannot see the path, just simply trust His heart"

Thank you Lord, for once again teaching me a valuable lesson on your ways and i hope many of you have learnt important lessons too... let's continue to grow and move on with the Lord!

And of course not forgetting a group photo... see what is it with the victory sign? We truly had a memorable and enjoyable time with megumi, her husband and their young church members.... sincerely pray that Yuki (the one with the long hair) will accept Christ soon and the rest will continue to grow strong in the Lord, just looking into their eyes you can sense the great potential God has for the church and the next time we hear from them, we hope there will be much more youth added to the church! 

Also a fun cycling time... though of course i took the car, if not with my poor bike skills you may not see me back in s'pore......... 

Look at jeremy's pose... dun you think he really got some hot photo stuff going on there...........maybe he can consider switching his career....... 

See the victory sign again.... in almost anything.......... 

Funny Shot..... We were having so much fun though most of the time we can hardly communicate in a common language! 

One more ... CHeese! 

We went to a park at a lake nearby to have some fun... look we are really enjoying ourselves.........Dunno why but frankly Jap loves the victory sign... so we join in too! 

and the grand prize winner was our Dear Bro Alex! 

And these are the prizes up for grabs! 

Nobu organised a game of treasure hunt for us ..........as you are see, we are wreakingthe place in pieces 

This is the entrance to the church, it is also used as a study place for students duringt he weekdays, this is how they reach out to them....it is not big but a very cosy place 

"H Jang" (somehow just cannot remember his name except it sound s bit like Ba Chang : yellow shirt) and Nobu. Nobu is the first christian saved in this church since Oct last year... He is really hungry for the Lord, always attentive and wanting to learn more... you will never imagine that he used to climb on roofs and play catching with police around his neighbourhood... ha!
 

At the church svc the next day, Alex and i took turns to share our testimony.  

Megumi and Lotte...... Lotte's desire is to be a singer one day.... 17 this year, she is taking steps to her dreams, taking vocal lessons and also sometimes leading at praise and worship. However she is still a young christian, less than 8 mths in the Lord i think. 

First day visiting megumi's church- We had a great time of introduction, really experienced what it means to relate spirit to spirit, when all lanuages fail, there is the HS as our connector... somehow we felt a sense of affinity with them 

had our most satisfying and delicious meal here in Osaka... This is a International Marketplace building near panasonic centre in Osaka... Really GREAT food! You see all of us eating happily? If you have a chance to visit Osaka, you got to go to this resturant and try! The set meal includes both a udon and don in 1 set! 

Jap youth, look so good they can eat to their hearts content while waiting for the train! 

Day 3 - Tired faces of travelling on trains.... Byw when can we reach our next stop