This week has been mad. Swamped i tell you. swamped with things eating my time and attention. I was just apologizing to Kenneth last nite because I hadn't done a single bit of my NISS [the new bible study] homework. Monday to wed i had exercise so i didn't get home till like 1am thurs... needless to say the rest of the day was tiring coz i had to work. then the rest of the weekday nights were spent doing breakout final preps and writing my article for the weekly. the only time i had was sat night. haha... it's like cramming 6 days of NISS into a few hours on sat night. haha
ended up sleepin at 2 if i'm not wrong... but managed to finish my niss. amazingly enuf i was able to clear what i needed to. hhaaha... but this week has really taken it's toil on me.
haha it's funny, i stopped blogging to chat and now i'm continuing the entry... an hour later... anyways, today was quite ok... church and all. meaningful songs and i thot it was done quite well. pastor gave a good message too and had some efficient and good meetings after that. :)
still glad the breakout comm is going strong and doing well. once again, writers blog i mean.. block... so yeh, take care peeps.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tribute to God and to Alvin
I wrote an article for my church weekly this week. it was published and thanks be to God, many were encouraged. :) Amen. :) Glory goes to God coz He gave me the words to write. anyways, here it is.
I have a friend, Alvin. I knew him from the Army and when I knew him, I got to know he was a backslider. Seeing how the rest of my army friends would ostracise him because he was a bit weird made me make a commitment to God to reach out to him. It was during one of those normal boring guard duties that I took the chance to dig deep and ask him more about his life. It was interesting how he was open as he shared about how he became a Christian and why, due to some conflict with people, stopped attending church. I guess it was either me taking interest in his life or just the chance to share with someone but we hit it off pretty well and I told God that I'll work on bringing him back to Christ.
Amazingly, we were posted to the same workshop and although most pitied me for ending up with him for the rest of my army life, I saw it as a confirmation from God that He wanted me to specifically talk to Alvin about Christ. Over the months, I reached out to him constantly and poked him time and time again about church going. He promised to try his old church again and he did. Occasionally, he'd stop going because of other commitments but I was glad that there was some progress. Over time, we tried starting a prayer meeting in the workshop but apart from Alvin, most weren't too interested in giving up their break time to meet and pray together. Interestingly enough, Alvin and I had some mutual friends whom he had known from Poly and Poly Christian Fellowship. As I spoke to them, I found out that the Christian Fellowship didn't know how to talk to him or reach out to him and actually gave up on trying. It was amazing how God put him into my life so that His work would not be stopped or done in vain. I viewed that as yet another compelling evidence to never give up with Alvin. Outside of work time, Alvin and I would also go and chill out or have a meal together since his girlfriend's place was close to mine. I really enjoyed the fact that God was allowing me this chance to watch a brother grow in his faith and inch closer and closer to the Lord.
However, November 2007, due to a review in his medical status, he was posted out of the workshop to become a storeman in our HQ, Jurong Camp. I personally was taken aback at the sudden re-posting and was disheartened that I had lost a good friend. I didn't let distance stop me from maintaining a good friendship with Alvin and whenever I went to Jurong Camp, looking him up for lunch was a habit. I enjoyed his company and the laughs he brought but he also represented a sense of achievement and accomplishment as I saw how he came back to Christ.
Last Saturday, I got a call from his girlfriend at about 1plus. It was simple, straightforward and unforgettable. “Joel, I don't know who else to call. Alvin met with an bike accident and has passed away.” I stood there in my room stunned as my brain slowly took it all in. My knees buckled and I crumpled to the floor. He has just recently obtained his bike license and I used to joke about how dangerous he would be on the road. Suddenly, it wasn't that funny a joke anymore. In that matter of seconds my whole weekend and life changed. My friend had just died and I couldn't do anything about it. My mind slowly soaked up the details and information as internally, I didn't want to believe it.
I dropped all my commitments, save church, to be there for his girlfriend and family. It took a lot from me and even now, a week after his passing, I still find it hard when I think of my dear friend. However, what I want to say is that if I had ignored God's soft prompting to reach out to him, if I had done the logical thing and mocked him along with my fellow friends, I would be living in regret and guilt now. Brethren, what I can say is that God works in impossibly mysterious ways and although I miss him from time to time, I am so glad I will see Alvin once more in heaven. I hope that all of us take this as an opportunity to re-look those we know who need the Lord. Don't ignore a prompting if God has given it to you because we never know how long we have on this earth with these friends. A burden given by the Lord has a reason and we might not understand it, all He asks is that we obey the still small voice. I started this article with 'I have a friend' and not 'I had a friend' because I know that one day, I'll see him in heaven again and he will always be my friend. I pray you will see your friends there too.
In memory of my dear friend and brother in Christ, Alvin Ho.
I have a friend, Alvin. I knew him from the Army and when I knew him, I got to know he was a backslider. Seeing how the rest of my army friends would ostracise him because he was a bit weird made me make a commitment to God to reach out to him. It was during one of those normal boring guard duties that I took the chance to dig deep and ask him more about his life. It was interesting how he was open as he shared about how he became a Christian and why, due to some conflict with people, stopped attending church. I guess it was either me taking interest in his life or just the chance to share with someone but we hit it off pretty well and I told God that I'll work on bringing him back to Christ.
Amazingly, we were posted to the same workshop and although most pitied me for ending up with him for the rest of my army life, I saw it as a confirmation from God that He wanted me to specifically talk to Alvin about Christ. Over the months, I reached out to him constantly and poked him time and time again about church going. He promised to try his old church again and he did. Occasionally, he'd stop going because of other commitments but I was glad that there was some progress. Over time, we tried starting a prayer meeting in the workshop but apart from Alvin, most weren't too interested in giving up their break time to meet and pray together. Interestingly enough, Alvin and I had some mutual friends whom he had known from Poly and Poly Christian Fellowship. As I spoke to them, I found out that the Christian Fellowship didn't know how to talk to him or reach out to him and actually gave up on trying. It was amazing how God put him into my life so that His work would not be stopped or done in vain. I viewed that as yet another compelling evidence to never give up with Alvin. Outside of work time, Alvin and I would also go and chill out or have a meal together since his girlfriend's place was close to mine. I really enjoyed the fact that God was allowing me this chance to watch a brother grow in his faith and inch closer and closer to the Lord.
However, November 2007, due to a review in his medical status, he was posted out of the workshop to become a storeman in our HQ, Jurong Camp. I personally was taken aback at the sudden re-posting and was disheartened that I had lost a good friend. I didn't let distance stop me from maintaining a good friendship with Alvin and whenever I went to Jurong Camp, looking him up for lunch was a habit. I enjoyed his company and the laughs he brought but he also represented a sense of achievement and accomplishment as I saw how he came back to Christ.
Last Saturday, I got a call from his girlfriend at about 1plus. It was simple, straightforward and unforgettable. “Joel, I don't know who else to call. Alvin met with an bike accident and has passed away.” I stood there in my room stunned as my brain slowly took it all in. My knees buckled and I crumpled to the floor. He has just recently obtained his bike license and I used to joke about how dangerous he would be on the road. Suddenly, it wasn't that funny a joke anymore. In that matter of seconds my whole weekend and life changed. My friend had just died and I couldn't do anything about it. My mind slowly soaked up the details and information as internally, I didn't want to believe it.
I dropped all my commitments, save church, to be there for his girlfriend and family. It took a lot from me and even now, a week after his passing, I still find it hard when I think of my dear friend. However, what I want to say is that if I had ignored God's soft prompting to reach out to him, if I had done the logical thing and mocked him along with my fellow friends, I would be living in regret and guilt now. Brethren, what I can say is that God works in impossibly mysterious ways and although I miss him from time to time, I am so glad I will see Alvin once more in heaven. I hope that all of us take this as an opportunity to re-look those we know who need the Lord. Don't ignore a prompting if God has given it to you because we never know how long we have on this earth with these friends. A burden given by the Lord has a reason and we might not understand it, all He asks is that we obey the still small voice. I started this article with 'I have a friend' and not 'I had a friend' because I know that one day, I'll see him in heaven again and he will always be my friend. I pray you will see your friends there too.
In memory of my dear friend and brother in Christ, Alvin Ho.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Dedicated to Alvin Ho Kah Yun
This post is dedicated to my dear dear friend Alvin Ho. You were a good guy, a great fren and a closer brother. Words fail me to understand why you've been snatched away to be with God now. I can't say I understand but I will accept that it is in His almighty plan. I'm just thankful to God for the chance to know you, to work with you and to pray with you.
I will miss you so much. I already do. Thank you for being my friend, my confidante at times and my brother in Christ. You don't know what you meant to me.
They say life goes on, but life without you inside is going to be way different. I pray you are in a better place, with God. I'll miss you buddy.
"Alvin Ho, formerly from our depo posted to Hq died in a traffic accident in Malaysia. News from Bn Hq"
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
"...When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me..."
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
"...When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me..."
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Pay Day
Today's pay day. guess who finally has 4 digits in his bank account. guess guess.
i'll give you a hint: me.
MWHAHA. yayz. i'm so happy. first time in my whole NS life i have 4 digits. and this is like a really rare thing coz even before army, it wasn't easy getting and keeping 4 digits... so here's to the hope once again of staying sustainable. :)
even though today was a really really busy and tiring day... i'm so happy.
everyone should make the 10th of every month something to look forward to.
i'll give you a hint: me.
MWHAHA. yayz. i'm so happy. first time in my whole NS life i have 4 digits. and this is like a really rare thing coz even before army, it wasn't easy getting and keeping 4 digits... so here's to the hope once again of staying sustainable. :)
even though today was a really really busy and tiring day... i'm so happy.
everyone should make the 10th of every month something to look forward to.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Coz you had a bad day...
Today wasn't a great day, it was quite bad... but i guess i've had much worse... jus wanna blog bout it coz it gives me an avenue to rant. :)
Work today was a bummer. It was a super long day [hours dragged on forever] and i got a bit pissed off at work today coz my juniors were just blatantly sleeping on the vehicle... it's quite irritating when i kept having to wake them up coz i dun want them to get in trouble. decent courtesy would be to wake yourself up or try not to sleep... yeh, so in the end found myself having to walk away from the vehicle many times just to keep myself from scolding them or saying sumthing i might regret. i like this bunch of juniors, dun wanna spoil that.
Then after work FINALLY ended, took a bus down to tampines to connect to bugis... but i missed my tampines stop coz i dozed a bit... ended up taking the long route to bedok mrt. which was super crowded... got to bugis, met up with M.Seah and J.Foong and had a nice time chatting over dinner. I'm glad we still meet up and we're still quite close to each other. :) we had a fun time swaan-ning Seah bout his officer appointment... we two are sergeants see. ahha. Yup.
So Seah told me a new way to go home, decided to go with him. supposed to be faster. ended up waiting for our bus for quite a while and then after he got off, i got off to get my connecting bus 10. waited for like 15 minutes and i was messaging to avoid dying from boredom... then i looked up and ZOOM bus 10 went by.not just that, it went by and splashed water on my jeans and feet lor. i was like. WTH... sheeeet. ended up at that cold rainy dark bus stop for half an hour. lost my transfer concession coz waited too long and had to run home in the rain after that.
Oh, and it's 5 minutes to my extended bedtime liao. supposed to sleep at 11. sigh
Work today was a bummer. It was a super long day [hours dragged on forever] and i got a bit pissed off at work today coz my juniors were just blatantly sleeping on the vehicle... it's quite irritating when i kept having to wake them up coz i dun want them to get in trouble. decent courtesy would be to wake yourself up or try not to sleep... yeh, so in the end found myself having to walk away from the vehicle many times just to keep myself from scolding them or saying sumthing i might regret. i like this bunch of juniors, dun wanna spoil that.
Then after work FINALLY ended, took a bus down to tampines to connect to bugis... but i missed my tampines stop coz i dozed a bit... ended up taking the long route to bedok mrt. which was super crowded... got to bugis, met up with M.Seah and J.Foong and had a nice time chatting over dinner. I'm glad we still meet up and we're still quite close to each other. :) we had a fun time swaan-ning Seah bout his officer appointment... we two are sergeants see. ahha. Yup.
So Seah told me a new way to go home, decided to go with him. supposed to be faster. ended up waiting for our bus for quite a while and then after he got off, i got off to get my connecting bus 10. waited for like 15 minutes and i was messaging to avoid dying from boredom... then i looked up and ZOOM bus 10 went by.not just that, it went by and splashed water on my jeans and feet lor. i was like. WTH... sheeeet. ended up at that cold rainy dark bus stop for half an hour. lost my transfer concession coz waited too long and had to run home in the rain after that.
Oh, and it's 5 minutes to my extended bedtime liao. supposed to sleep at 11. sigh
" Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around"
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around"
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
BreakOut SubComm Poster Designing 070108
Can I say with ease that I love the BreakOut SubComm to bits? So hardworking, so committed. I've got SUCH an easy life with them around. lolz.
Met up with the BreakOut SubComm girls last nite [Sera.Tong] 'siam'-ed the camera but she was there] to design the poster for the upcoming BreakOut: PlayStation. It was a fun time of crazy-ness and yet SUMHOW, discussion on what needs to be added on and what needs to be taken out. I guess it's rare that I design a poster with the help of others, most of the time i'd jus do it myself and get it over with. However, this time was refreshing to have their input and their suggestions added on. :) Surely worth the petrol and parking. haha.
Things are really looking good for now, the BreakOut team looks real set to go and minister to the people. Now we're just praying hard that the people show and they have enuf fun to want to bring their friends. I can't emphasize this more. Like how I mentioned in BAYFGM, there's NO POINT planning BreakOuts if you don't come or don't get your friends down as well. We don't plan this coz we love planning activities [though we do], we plan it for the YF to participate and enjoy... we plan it for you.
Look at the BreakOut Sub Comm, look at the Exco. Don't let our efforts go to waste. Come, come for YFs and stuff... you won't regret it. I have never.
BreakOut: PlayStation
26th Jan 2008, 2:41pm, Chapel.
26th Jan 2008, 2:41pm, Chapel.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
First Post of 2008
Yeh so I'm kinda late for the first post of the new year.. considering how it's already the 6th day of the new year... well, i've been a bit busy with YF and church and work and stuff... yeh, apologies... new year's was good... we chilled at the Puas house which was super uber fun. We played this chinese game...
yes, you MAY stop re-reading that sentence... I DID play a chinese game.. and i WAS quite ok.. i even got to the top... for like, a few seconds but hey! i was there. ahha
It's called 'MA TONG'... yeh, toilet bowl [which i thot meant pail at first but hey, who needs to know that]... and it's a rhythm, chinese game... aiyah, go learn it from someone else and when we've got another big-group-get-together-thing, we'll play it... coz yeh, it's ACTUALLY fun. well, Lynn might not think so. :P ahha
Other than that, we didn't get to use the frog 'awkward silence' thing at Watchnight. like super bummer... haha but watchnight was good... people jus kept coming to the front to give testimony. it was quite a thril... and some of them were really meaningful and i'm glad they came to share.
Ju gave testimony about her grandma which was real good... so happy she shared and FIRST summore. :)
Yups, so here i am, slacking on a sunday evening.. watching the Italian Job on TV. so cool. heh it's like THE mini cooper show. S_xy to the max. :) but aye, i'll settle and be content with my kick as_ honda fit. haha...
I'm glad things are going good nowadays. i mean, i'm at peace with everyone again... and i hope everyone's at peace with me. Have a good 2008 people. heh
yes, you MAY stop re-reading that sentence... I DID play a chinese game.. and i WAS quite ok.. i even got to the top... for like, a few seconds but hey! i was there. ahha
It's called 'MA TONG'... yeh, toilet bowl [which i thot meant pail at first but hey, who needs to know that]... and it's a rhythm, chinese game... aiyah, go learn it from someone else and when we've got another big-group-get-together-thing, we'll play it... coz yeh, it's ACTUALLY fun. well, Lynn might not think so. :P ahha
Other than that, we didn't get to use the frog 'awkward silence' thing at Watchnight. like super bummer... haha but watchnight was good... people jus kept coming to the front to give testimony. it was quite a thril... and some of them were really meaningful and i'm glad they came to share.
Ju gave testimony about her grandma which was real good... so happy she shared and FIRST summore. :)
Yups, so here i am, slacking on a sunday evening.. watching the Italian Job on TV. so cool. heh it's like THE mini cooper show. S_xy to the max. :) but aye, i'll settle and be content with my kick as_ honda fit. haha...
I'm glad things are going good nowadays. i mean, i'm at peace with everyone again... and i hope everyone's at peace with me. Have a good 2008 people. heh
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