Youth Camp 2008

It's been a long time that I've blogged. goodness. But i guess it's also coz these 2 weeks have been mad for me. Youth Camp and Leader's Retreat have been taking up my time. Even now, i'm in leader's retreat. Taking some time off my sleep to jus update this coz there's been quite a lot of things that have happened that i don't wanna forget about.

I really do treasure the times i just go through my blog or my journals and all and see the past. what i wrote and how i felt at that point in time. it does remind me of what God was teaching me during that point in my life. :) so that's why i dun wanna forget to blog about youth camp and lr so far. :)

Youth Camp came and went and it felt like the longest camps in church that i've had in a long time. i guess i've been super looking forward to this one too coz it's prob my last and it's been a while since i've been able to attend youth camp proper. There was 3 years of poly and 2 years of army that really got in the way of youth camps. :) so this year was not only a time that I was in the camp comm but also a full time camper. What i realized half way thru the camp though was that I was the oldest camper there. so scary. but so blessed too. You know how they say that u should return to the next generation what u got from the generation above you? Well it's really true and it's honestly really blessed to see the younger generation stepping up to serve and lead. It's 100%-ly encouraging to see them just take over and take charge. I thank God that His work in Shalom is still going strong and i pray that He will never give up on them and likewise, they will seek Him first in all their ways, church or not.

Camp comm was something that i was glad to be in this year. Each one really did shine for Him not only in this camp but in every meeting. Nick, Debbie, Qiang, Julia, Joella, Arthur, Sherwin, Shannon. People who work together and pray together will ultimately see God work in the midst of them and be we are so thankful for so many instances where God showed us His fingerprints in our plans and in our execution. Thank God also for WONDERFUL weather that He blessed us with. So many times, we take for granted such a simple aspect of God's goodness...
My group was SO fun. :) we really made ourselves a little crazy for each other la. A lot of it was initiative and shamelessness. :) 22 years old but i felt that if i didn't do a lot of things first, the younger ones wouldn't. :) so my strategy to make CHARITY the most enthu group and most crazy fun group was to be the first to be crazy and fun. if no one's willing to be that, then the group would never have fun. :)

We had a great monitoress too la. chelsea was quite a roit and she truly kept the group alive with the "C is for..." song. :) yayz. ahhah. And i must commend her on her taking charge of the group too. :) i know it's not too easy to take leadership like that when there's not much preperation and things to do. but chelsea really did a fantabulous job at it. :) so i'm also quite proud of her. :) YAY! C IS FOR CHELSEA!!!!

Angel Mortal board was FUN FUN FUN. I was really glad that we did the board this year. It was real fun to encourage people and get to know more and more people thru the board. My angel rawked too. Gave me stuff like nice little 'mysterious' notes and MEI JI CRACKERS!!! haha. yayz. :) but yeh, it wasn't too hard to guess who my angel was la. as much as the handwriting was SUPPOSED to be changed, i guess i know the person and the way she writes to be fooled la. mwhehe. :) yeh. so thanks for everyone who wrote notes and all :) it was really something that i'll keep with me for a long time. A day before camp, i actually took out some of the old notes that i have kept. And i found quite a few angel mortal letters from like 2 years ago... camps that have come and gone. :) so surely, i'll look back on these notes i just got and smile even in years to come. :)

Yup, so i learnt much about how to be an example in this camp.Elder's talks were good and the workshops were also very interesting. :) I pray that the youth will learn that God is not only their God but also their friend and saviour. :)

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Be An Example. YF Camp 2008

Starbucks day!

I'm TOTALLY there... totally.

A peek at 25th Nov

So J.Chen gave me this idea last time about leaving the blogger [for my case, email box] open the whole day and from time to time, jus come here and blog. so let's give it a shot. You are about the view a simple working day in my life.

9.47am.
Well it's not like i just walked in... but it's when i decided to try out this blog by time kinda thing... i'm here cutting post it notes coz i found like 7 boxes of uncut ones and i end work this friday so it's getting a bit stressful. ahha Z says jus try your best, not like it's that impt anyways... so good good. Xiu smsed this morn saying she won't be lunching and Cal's also not joining coz she's got an interview. So i think it looks like it's jus Phil and me. Looking forward to thurs when the whole gang [hopefully] would be lunching again. Yup. Kinda quiet in the office now. Z went for breakfast and i'm jus cutting post its.
Thoughts are flying to last nite and the chat i had with a fren. it's nice to know that things are all well and fine. Guess it gives me motivation to get online esp recently when there's not much to go online for. mmm. back to post its...
note to self, rhyme more... you need the practice. :)

11.08am.
Deciding where to go for lunch. today seems to be jus phil and i. so we're thinking of either cine or singtel. :) benefits for both i guess. hahaha. Just called up my IDP agent to clarify some course fees issue before i sign on the dotted line and apply for visa. :) it's actually happening. so cool. i'm looking forward to going really i am. but shhh k? haha... Currently i'm quite smitten with Taylor Swift's songs... they're real nice and the words are quite cool too. it's for the drop dead romantic la. so if you're not the sweet kind, u might not like it. I love "Our Song" "teardrops on my guitar" and "picture to burn" :) yuppers... work's pretty ok today. jus cutting post its. :)
just a glimpse into my emotional/mental state now. i'm kinda torn as to what to do. I have the part of me that says stuff should be resolved and i shouldn't be acting the way i am. But then i dun think it'll make a difference and it might make things worse... so it's either burn bridges or jus suffer in silence. mmm not sure. :)

1.27pm
lunch was good. bad coz i wanted chicken drumstick rice and there wasn't drumstick so it was jus normal chicken. but hey, who really cares bout the food la. :) Phil's great company. u can jus have lunch and he'll jus talk and entertain the whole way. :) all i need to do is laugh along and listen. haha. Guess i did stone for a bit coz he thot i was a bit stoic today. maybe i am, or maybe i'm jus stoning. not sure but i have a relaxed mind today. not willing to push it further than it needs to be to function. Or maybe i'm jus deep in stoning thot. Z jus messaged to say she won't be in the office till 3 coz she's at lunch. And i'm going to Taka later at 3 coz i need to go collect some stuff at the dry cleaners. So that means i have till 3 to slack/cut post its. Then at 3, i'll go to taka till bout 3.40? Come back and cut more... 4pm. Then it's jus another 2 hours till i'm off today. This week is DRAGGY. i thot today was wednesday lor. was making lunch plans for tomolo then i realized it's only tues. gahhhh. :) Anyhoo, i've thot about what it'll be like when i'm no longer in spore. So diff... no more chicken rice, hokkien mee, nasi lemak and prata easily accessible. The horror!!! but Phil says i'll get used to it. how true. Sigh. i guess i'll have to get used to not having a lot of things i have now. food, friends... mmm i'll make do. i've got my killiney ice coffee with me. Hope i dun feel sleepy today. This blog by timing is coming along quite cool. :) Super long entry i'm forseeing.

2.41pm
I'm pretty happy with the way my hair is falling today. Changed parting last nite so was expecting it to take a few days to get used to it... and the way it's falling now is much better than i expected it to. so i'm quite pleased. no huge change but it's a small change to make sure that when it gets longer [gawsh it's taking FOREVER] it'll fall the way i want it to. :) whee. random thot. thanks xiu.

3.40pm
Joel wonders to himself how he messed up so greatly. And he wishes he could go back to where we were a few years ago. He knows he's messed up too much to even have that. And thus he's sad. boo hoo. totally. haha

5.39pm
Just came back from Taka. Went to go collect some stuff that were pretty overdue. HAHA. :) who cares la. they keep it, i'll go collect it. I came back in a super good mood. dunno why. maybe it's jus getting out of the office for a short while that changes everything. Or maybe it's the fact that i'm meeting A.Yeo for dinner and catching up. Really treasure this BROTHER coz he's always been someone i've kept closer than a brother. And i'm glad that we're still really good coz i'd hate to lose a frenship/brother like him. Anyhoo, after that i plan on getting donuts and popping by to church to surprise the counsellors with nice yummy sweet treats. yayz! totally happy. hahaha. oki. back to cutting post its. work's ending soon. another reason to be happy. S.Soon came to my desk jus now and she was like JOELLLLL u've got 3 more days left!!! ahhh!!!! And i was like wah, you're counting down for me ah? ahah :)

5.54pm
Time to wrap it up. this has been an immensely interesting and fun way to blog. sorry it's so long but i must say that random thots the pop into my head pop out so quickly unless u blog it down. Today has been a good day. Frens talking over MSN and Emails... going to Taka and having long breaks in the office where it's jus me, the post it notes and my laptop [Taylor Swift serenading] :) and yet, the day is but half done. i'm so glad hahah whee! what a good day so far.

Till tomolo! [Might do this again since this is immensely fun] Ciaoz people and God Bless. remember, He will never leave you nor forsake you and He's holding your hand.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Last week @ SingTel

So this is the last week that i'll be working at singtel and prob working at all before i continue studying. It's kinda weird to think that it's ending. I've only been at SingTel for bout 4+ months... But i've seen so many people come and go.

Inez, Sophia, Jason, Guansin, Sarah, Nathania, Aaron, Calista....

I've got so many farewell cards from each of them that I feel like a perm staff here. Haha. But i guess it's good too coz i've experienced F1 through and through. From the planning, to the actual event and now the post evaluation. :) it's been useful to say the least. Being in a department that I've never worked in before or have any experience in... It's been much more than an eye opener. :) My bosses and superiors have all been nice people. Save for a few occassions that have gotten me down by their demands or whatever, it's all good coz it's part and parcel of life or of work... It's also a learning lesson to manage and deal with your boss...

I'm glad for the people God has placed me with in this working life too. I've always been one who dreaded eating alone when i work. I was a temp staff at some insurance agency before doing paper work data entry... And i lunched alone every day there for about 4 months too. It was a horrible feeling coz it's like lunches jus mean putting food into my body and listening to my Zen... It wasn't even in a convenient place so there was little variety too... Gosh i remember those days... Not fun. :) But in SingTel, i've NEVER eaten alone. Can u believe that? :) It's either with other interns, bosses, colleagues or with frens from other companies... My lunch company these few recent months have been the highlight of my work days sometimes. It's a bunch of peers that are from everywhere around the somerset region. Cal and Xiu are from Dhoby Gaut and Phil's from Clarke Quay... But we meet for lunch every day without fail and I have to say that many times, they're also the reason why i come to work everyday not dreading it. :) Emails from them also help to make the work day SO much better. :) I'm just thankful for the friends that God places in my life, however unexpectedly. :)

Yup, so as i close this week, i pack my things with bittersweet feelings. To know that i made a difference here and to the people whom i've interacted with this 4 months, i hope i made a positive impact. It's interesting to know how each phase of your life ends and another begins... This is literal for me now. And whee! Can't wait for december... :)

SingTel, always bringing you the best.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Cooler Heads Devotional

November 18, 2008

Cooler Heads

A man of understanding is of a calm spirit. —Proverbs 17:27

A Christian I know was angry with someone at his workplace over a perceived injustice. A colleague listened to his grievance and sensed that his temper still ran high. He gave him this wise advice to consider before confronting those involved: “Cooler heads prevail.”

As we interact with others, disagreements are inevitable. The discerning believer understands his own heart and takes steps to deal with conflict diplomatically.

Proverbs 17:27 tells us: “He who has knowledge spares his words.” This means keeping in check a multitude of opinions that could ignite further anger in others. Someone who displays wisdom will think before speaking, and then will share only insights likely to be helpful.

The Proverbs also give us wise counsel on the emotional side of controlling our frustrations. “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” A mature person exhibits understanding by keeping cool in conflict. Problem-solving is enhanced by an even-tempered approach.

The next time you become angry, stop and prayerfully reflect for a moment. Ask God for a calm spirit and the right words to say.

Remember, cooler heads prevail. —Dennis Fisher

The best time to stop an argument is before it starts.

Mummy's better

Yay, Praise God... Mum's back home and resting [kinda. Still running around although we tell her not to] Really thank God that the operation was good and now is the recovery stage. It was good that the infection wasn't serious and rectify-able... Coz it could have been MUCH worse.. And as always, i won't go into gory gross details about how the eye can be infected. Let's jus say it's an impt asset we all don't wanna lose. We so often take for granted such things like sight, hearing, voice... Those sorta thing... But thank God that He reminds us with stuff like this. We must always ask ourselves how God can get glory out of this and what can we learn about Him thru all situations.

Whether it be the fear of losing your sight or someone u love or to the simple every day issues of bitterness and the struggle of people relations... God always has a plan and a purpose for everything. It's just whether we want to go around walllowing in self pity/bitterness/blame-game or do we want to be mature spiritual people and seek God in it.

It's scary to think that we don't have control over so many things.. But i guess that's the beauty of it all no? That God's in control and when we think we steer our life, God rebukes us by takin over and showing us how helpless we all can be. :) You may think you have your life planned out, u know where you'll be in the next 2 years, 5 years maybe even 10 years.. Then everything can change overnight coz of sumthing that happens... Reminds me of like ants running along a long line towards the nest... Then on comes this human who puts an obstacle in the middle of the chain of ants... Routine, structure, organization is suddenly thrown in mass hysteria. But only for a while. Then the ants find another way and the chain just goes around the obstacle. Circumventing a problem... Ants. Just like us... But the difference is that the person who puts this 'so-called-obstacle' has our good in mind... And how often we think we know better. :)

I end work here at singtel in 2 weeks. My 4 month stint is coming to an end. Bittersweet feelings as always to leave. Don't know what's lying ahead of me and yet still happy to get some break from the drudgery of coming to work everyday. But i shall have to commit myself to certain self-improvement things when i'm free-er. Skills and training i guess...

Yup... Thank God for many things in my life too that are well, helping me to see God in the daily.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Eye Operation

Mummy jus got wheeled into the Eye Operation... praying hard that nothing will go wrong, everything will be done painlessly and that she's get back her sight proper. :) Scared but God is in control.

I;m sitting here in the hospital ward waiting for her to come back. I've no "eye-deer" what time she's coming back and all and i must say it's scary. but i guess there's no way u can truly learn dependency on God if you've never really felt helpless. which is exactly what i feel now. :S

pray for her oki?

Shalom YF Camp 2008 Publicity

Dinner and Dempsey IceCream

So two nights ago, i managed to have the priviledge of taking a good fren out for dinner. It's been a while since we've been able to talk proper and catch up over a meal so it was surely the highlight of my week... And it didn't disappoint at all. As it always doesn't, the whole day was filled with happiness and surprises. Managed to get off work on the dot [like the past few days thankfully] and chionged home for the car. I'm glad i did coz there's no way i'd have gone to dempsey without a car. Trust me...

Girls, if u have a bf who can't drive, you're TOTALLY missing out on dempsey. And guys if u can drive, GO TO DEMPSEY at least once... It's a nice place... Jus dun go alone with a girl lest she get the wrong idea... Hahaha

Yeh so we had a simple not-so-cheap-but-i-thot-it-would-be dinner at a hawker centre. Which was great coz i realized that when i meet frens out for dinner, it's hardly ever hawker food... It's like a mental image i have to break... Why can't people still catch up over hawker food? Why must it be pasta mania or cafe cartel or fish n co... U get my drift... So yeh, the food was so-so but that's not impt rite? :) glad that i managed to get an update from my fren who was kind enuf to keep making sure that i wouldn't stray too far away from each other to stay accountable. :) And likewise, i updated my side of things [not much coz i live a boring life]... It's good to hear how people struggle thru things coz it shows their vulnerable side and when u see that, u know they trust u enuf to tell u certain things. It also helps u open up to share. And that's what a brother/sister in Christ is all about rite? Sharing in the body of Christ and working thru problems with the help of each other and God. God speaks thru individuals too and affirmations or rebuke can also come from these close frens u have. :) That's why it's always better to hear another's opinion rather than yourself.

Sharing pain is akin to sharing joys too and i'm glad that we were able to rejoice over a certain issue that my fren's facing... It's a good thing and we're just glad that God is opening up doors and yet still helping things remain in control and progressing ever so slightly. :) Just pray that we'll all keep close to God and that it'll all work together for good.

After dinner [which i felt was rushed coz of parking and also coz we had destination2 to go to], we drove by to pick up my fren's mother and sister and drove down to dempsey for ice cream... Ben and jerry's... What a way to enjoy life no? :) so it was a good time to fellowship over ice cream... And live band! What a double treat! Glad that we were all able to talk and enjoy each other's company. I will really seriously miss this kind of close fellowship when i leave... It's why i'm initiating such now... Coz i'm jus afraid that i'll have no time for it later and then when i fly, i'm gonna so regret. :) My fren's close to my heart and so is my fren's mother... It's something i dun wanna lose when i fly... So i'm glad that it was all possible. :)

But of course it's not so much about where we all went and what we ate that makes me want to record this post down. It's the fact that when i'm overseas and looking back, i'm gonna smile remembering that in spore, there are people i care bout and i want to remember never to stop being accountable even miles away... Coz it's when you're miles away that u need it the most.

Praise the Lord for friends and family.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

RollerCoasters

I guess i'm going through a state of mind now that's not very healthy. Things are pulling me up and down and up and down. It really feels like sometimes, i'm just riding a roller coaster and i never know when it's gonna shoot up to the heavens in an estatic state of joy or gladness or dip down low in states of personal disappointment or fear of what's to come. I wonder to myself sometimes whether this is all part of life. I wish to myself sometimes that emotions, feelings, moods and thoughts would jus be plain, simple and routine. Then I think how boring life would be without all these things.

But that's not impt coz we are all on the ride of life and it's whether we choose to enjoy it or not... Aint it? :)
Glad that a lot of decisions in my life has been settled in the past few days. Gives me a sense of comfort as to what's going to happen to me in a few days/weeks/months time... And i am really looking forward to the future now i guess. :) so different, so new, so exciting.

It sucks to see friends fight... Esp when they're all Christian. Like some movie character said... Why can't we all just .... get along?

People change, feelings change [that's a song btw] and i believe it to be very true. When i look back on myself a few years ago [yes, i was thrown into this state becoz i recently dug out some real old photos of me... You'll see them on facebook soon. Lolz, let me upload them]... I am amazed at some decisions i made and some friends i had. Not bad in influence. But more of where they are now. Lots of my sec sch frens are all living their own lives and i barely keep in touch with them. Thankfully there are still a few people who i regularly contact and have helped me along the way... Thanks matt. :)  And some friends i made then, those i was close to.. I look at them now... And i barely even know them. The choices they make, the people they keep, the lives they live. And i wonder to myself... If they can change so much, if what they said last time do not linger true now... Have i changed that much too? It pains my heart sometimes to see these friends becoz more often than not, i choose not to try to get to know them anymore. It's like there's no point banging on a closed door... So i just pray that God would watch over them and keep them in the Way [and no NISS class, i'm not talkin bout the jewish way. Lolz]

But then i look at the present and the future and i see so many potential people coming up and into my life that it's jus excitingly fresh. I saw potential in someone on Sunday that really made me think to myself whether my life should be about me and my plans. Or shouldn't it be to devote myself into people who can be guided towards spiritual maturity? Scary thot but i was likening it to how I was moulded by someone whom i respect so much... And i wonder whether or not it'll be even able to be someone like him, to someone else.... It's wonderful to think. :) mentorship is lacking in my church but what am i doing about it? Sitting and complaining? :)

Yeh, so that's just my thoughts at the start of Tuesday. Mid week [k fine, not really but let me lie to myself ok!!! Lolz]... I'm glad i have an outlet. Not a completely good way coz it's still a public outlet. But at least sumthing i can air my thoughts on. Have a blessed week.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Doubting His presence

When things start opening up and the light shines through the windows, then do you really get comforted by the fact that yes, God still cares and that He wants to let you know that He's there.

So why can't we remember Him in times of trying and times of uncertainty? Hasn't He proven Himself to us over and over again that there shouldn't be a doubt as to whether God's there? Yet, I find myself struggling over and over again to ask whether this is in line with His will, whether it's what He wants for my life and whether He'll be there to see me through it. :S

I dunch know what it is but i guess that's just my thoughts for now... And it saddens me sumtimes to think that we, as humans, are always doubting the fact that we are humans and not gods. And we're always thinking God's not god but merely someone we turn to when we need.

Mmm ok i'm getting random but i hope i made some sense. Sigh. :)

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Patience

I sometimes wonder to myself whether patience is worth it. Even Jesus got angry when righteously it was ok to be angry about a certain issue. Of course i'm not saying I'm Jesus but there are many times I feel my patience is just tried coz I just suck it in and let it out in a long sigh or a breath...

Consoling myself that it's just a short while till I don't need to worry bout these things.

But why does it seem like it's not worth it? I know snapping back isn't going to solve anything and thus I seldom... But it's not easy taking it and taking it. I'm scared one day, i won't be able to control myself and patience would be a thing of the past. Please God, cause me never to.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Dance like no one's watching

I watched this episode of Cold Case a few weeks ago about this dude who was killed and only found a few years later. Story behind it was that this dude was an aspiring dancer and his father was very against the idea [bcoz his wife was a dancer and she died so he was all bitter and stuff]... But it really stuck with me because it also touched on the subject of dancing being the-end-of-the-line kinda 'profession' and ultimately not for guys.... But like all good shows, the father did approve at the end bcoz, ironically, he saw his wife in his son and didn't want that to disappear.... So sad that his son ended up dying. But yeh... Besides the point.

Dancing has always been viewed as a lesser form of the arts for males and is normally and commonly associated with the female species. Many have tried to break out of that mould and proved to the world that yes, dancing IS also a guy's art... But my point i'm bringing in today is that with so many MORE types of dance other than ballet... Maybe it's even becoming more and more accepted, socially and mentally, as a uni-sex hobby. Of course, you do get the occassional effeminate guy who prances around the stage in tights and a leotard... But i think it's more than that. Dancing is an expression and an outflow of feelings of a song or a dancer. Some dancers who REALLY put in everything and dance like they do, really portray the feelings of a song and do it wonderfully.

Then of course there are stuff like hiphop, street jazz, ballroom, salsa, breakdancing, j/k pop.... The list goes on. I think that dancing is great and dancing helps you be who you aren't in that little few hours... To feel the song and to, as cliche as this sounds, dance as if no one's watching... That's really something i enjoy and guard jealously. Like the instructor says.... For this hour or so, feel the music and want to be some celebrity or dancer you see on stage. Leave who you are outside the door and don't feel paiseh to dance. Coz if you hold back, you're gonna spoil it all. And i believe that is so true. Thankfully i go dancing alone so it's MUCH easier to leave who i am outside the door and jus go in ready.

Hmmmm. Jus spewing thots coz it's pretty lax at the office today.... And also coz i'm going dancing later. Mwhahha :)
I'm sad to think that this might all end in Nov and i might not be dancing for a while. Maybe I'll try to dance when i've left work. Grinz. So yeh, for those who are interested in joining dance, i recommend StudioWu... They're slow in pace and helpful... Jitterbugs is out of the way [for east siders] and Oschool is just a league on it's own... Too tough for beginners. :)

Dance Like there's no one watching... Coz honestly, no one watches.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Pic of Desk Updated

Hey, just snapped 2 panoramic shots of my desk at work. It's 2 separate pics that's why u can see where they join.. But the desk is too big to take a nice panoramic shot of the whole table. If i zoom out, then u can't see the details like the pictures and all. Haha

<<desk.jpg>>

Whee! Can u see? There are SO many pics everywhere... My little memories of SingTel and the people i work with i guess. :)

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

A Good Friend's Birthday

Thursday's my good friend's birthday. I only knew him thru the army and yet when i saw the facebook reminder, it tore at my heart. Both at how i'm glad it's his birthday and yet how i haven't seen him in such a long time. He was my little project in the army, my commitment to God and my accountability partner in my unit. Glad to know him as a friend and there are so much i wish i could remind him of and laugh about it. Thank God that He brought him back to the faith.

Met up with Lam, [an army fren] today for lunch and when i came back to the office and saw the facebook reminder of my other fren's birthday, i wished that i had met him up for lunch and laughed about the times in the army. How our superior would scold him for asking stupid questions or not knowing how to do simple maintanence tasking. How I would stand up for him and be the middle man between him and the bosses; the role of a sergeant i guess.

I remember how last year when we were still very close, i smsed him on his birthday; This time a year ago. He was stuck having an exercise outfield and i popped him a birthday sms. It was really fun to just poke fun at how he's sharing his birthday with mosquitos and wild boars. Now, a year later and i wish i could drop him an sms telling him how his uni life must be so damn boring or how he must be really sad coz we haven't gone out in a while...

It's good to have friends in life. They remind you of the good times and pull u thru the bad. It aches my heart to know I'll never be able to tell my fren to have a happy birthday. To remember that he passed away from a bike accident in feb. That that last birthday outfield WAS his last birthday. But his memory lives on and his face, we will never forget. Cherish those around you for u never know when we might have our last birthdays either.

Happy Birthday Alvin. I pray you're smiling down from heaven. Share this slice of cake with me and laugh over the times we had. In 2 days, we celebrate your birth, but more so, we celebrate your life. I miss your stupid voice Alvin.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Part Time Work in Nov

Hi guys,

If anyone of you reading this has a job lobang for November period. Let me know ok. I'm looking for a part time job in Nov that pays $6or more per hour... But i can only commit to Nov.

So if you know of any, let me know. Thanks.
Other than that, it's jus another day at the office. There was a nice breeze when i was walking to work. Quite shiok. Reminded me that Mondays don't always have to be sian-i-fied. :)

Weekend was good. Thank God for a good message by Leonard. Thought i brought home was this:

Being Vs Doing.
If you BE what God wants you to BE, you'll naturally DO what He wants you to DO.
But if you DO what God wants you to DO, that doesn't always mean you're BEING who God wants you to BE.

Like always, it's a heart issue compared to an action issue.

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Webcam's fun

I must say that webcamming with frens jus make the conversation so much "fun-ner" heh.

MSN can't aptly portray the emotions and expression as video can. ahhaha. :) fun fun.
Weekend has been good so far. YF and christmas song practice. :) glad that it's going good i suppose coz i was looking forward to this weekend to break the work week.

totally gonna get it for posting this pic. :) but hey, where's the fun in life if u dun dare to live once in a while.

Blinker Blondes

OH MY GOODNESS. read this. super funny.
Two blondes were driving down the road.

The blonde driving looks at her friend in the passenger seat and asks her to see if her blinker is working. So the blonde looks out the window and says, ''Yes. No. Yes. No.''

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience

Nakama

I've been reading to catch up on my bleach manga and it's interesting coz there's this underlying theme that keeps coming up here and there in battles and lull periods of the manga... This word called "nakama". It's meant to refer to a fren who's as close as a brother or sister. Someone you fight to protect, defend to save and are willing to die for.

I personally think it's a powerful expression about how strong bonds are formed amongst people. To think of your life and to think who are your nakama you'd fight to protect. Those people you'd give up your life just to ensure that they have theirs. To fight and go through whatever is necessary for them. Scary to think of what you'd do just so that you know they're safe.

It also made me think of what God did for us. Sent Jesus for us. so much more than what we can ever do to each other as mortals.

It struck me today too that it's been quite a while since i've actually physically done things to show people i care about them. Maybe it could be coz i dun think i believe in 'nakama' being used flippantly nowadays. Maybe it's coz it's just a period of my life that i've mentally chosen to have very few close frens, thus less 'nakama'. But a bit of me tends to prefer this. But i dun wanna go too much into detail coz it'll just defeat the whole idealogy of having close frens. But doing something for someone recently just brought back that joy that i used to have a long time ago. There are lines that you shouldn't cross, but it's a pity when you limit yourself so much [for fear of what people might say or think] that you stop showing you care. Sometimes i think i'd much rather show care to my frens than to listen to what people might gossip or say. Words are cheap, attack someone else.

To those who mean the world to me, my nakama, you'd know who you are and i believe the lord has put you people in my life to give it more purpose than it already has. And i thank God for the blessings he gives me in the forms of angels in my life. Friends are everywhere but i believe that that's where they stop. Nakama aren't found around you, they're found in your heart. And your heart is interestingly not within you, it's found between you and your nakama. It's created and watered everytime you spend time with these close friends of yours and as it grows, it'll only get stronger.

To friends, to my 'nakama's, thanks for seeing me thru frustration, joy, pain... i treasure you and i pray that God would help me to be humble about all of this and to be a nakama to you too.

P.s. Happy Birthday to JiaMin and Debbie.

Regards,
Joel Tan

Holiday Backlot

Holy smoke. I get to work and i receive like a dozen emails with text that go sumthing like

"Joel: Please.... Blahblah"

And i'm like WTH. You go holiday and then throw everything back to me?!?! And it's like quite a lot of emails la.

Sigh. Jus spoils my mood la. Then both of them away. There's a rule where you're not all supposed to disappear at one time lor. Ah heck. Anything wrong i'll jus quit lor. :)

Regards,
Joel Tan
Brand Experience