The Tiger's Den

Vietnam Part V (end)

2011-04-05T02:14:00.001+08:00

Our final day of adventure. CA and Chris wanted to visit some Museum with Vietnam's revered leader's dead body in it. I decided against it as I wasn't very interested in looking at a dead body and went shopping instead.

Finally managed to help my mum find the stuff she wanted for my sis' wedding at Dong Xuan Market. After buying that a few gifts for my LG members, I went about to look for what I really wanted, a red Adidas jacket! It was so hard to find, and there was language barrier. After walking round and round the whole area for 30-45mins, I left the market and ventured to another place recommended by the hotel staff and finally found it! With some hard bargaining, got my red jacket for about US$16. I cannot find in Singapore or HK! And almost 20% of the young people in Hanoi was wearing a blue Adidas jacket.

Took some last crazy photos with the friendly hotel staff.

At about 12+ CA and Chris returned to the hotel and we went for our final meal in Hanoi, to eat Bocha, some local favorite. Finally its an authentic meal! Cheap and super filling. Luckily we reached there early, we had to climb to dunno 4th or 5th storey before we had a table and after we finished, there were like so many people standing and waiting for their turn. Totally satisfied!

Our real real last meal was at the shopping mall near the Ho Chi Minh International Airport. I had sausage friend rice + their KFC. Chicken was really tender!

Overall this trip was awesome! Had 2 great travel buddies (1st time with them overseas), great companion, fellowship, deep discussions, as well as others, awesome experience, flexible traveling and relatively low cost! Spent a total of S$630 (estimated for myself) on air ticket, hotel stay, food and the shopping I did (bought a Nike shoe, Adidas jacket and some t-shirts for myself and brother, gifts for LG and select friends, sorry for those who didn't get, I really went on a budget and ran out of Dong/US$). Would I go back to Hanoi again, I causally saying YES! and probably would like to visit Ho Chi Minh properly this time :)

Thanks Chris and Cien An for the trip! :)

As a record, the exchange rates were 1S$ - 16,500 Dong and 1US$ - 20,500 Dong and 1US$ - S$1.27.

Vietnam Part IV

2011-04-05T02:03:00.000+08:00

Woke up at about 4am (again) to alight the train. Ha was really helpful as she even wrote out an itenary for us for our 1 full day sight-seeing in Hanoi. She even left us her mobile and email address in case we needed help. She studied for a short period learning Mandarin and her Chinese name means Autumn lake.

Anyway we were picked up and sent to Charming II Hotel at wee hours in the morning. Managed to check in and catch another proper 3-4 hrs of sleep, before we went down for breakfast.

The hotel staff and the management were really friendly and helpful. For our 1+ day of stay there (including the early check-in) we were only charged for 1 day's stay, had 2 breakfast buffet at no extra charge and a welcome door gift of fruits and a wine bottle. All for US$78 for the 3 of us. The beds were ultra comfortable and I slept like a baby ......

We 1st visited the Army Museum. Some must-see place for Vietnam's history. But one weird incident outside the museum. We were approached by 2 ladies who talked to us in good English, only to find out after a while that they were from Red Cross and looking for donations. All was okay but during the donating part, this one lady was relatively aggressive and kept telling me to donate a certain amount and held on to my money kept asking me to top up saying what I gave is not enough.... diaoz..... is that donation or "forced" contribution? Luckily her more sensible colleague said anything is fine. I was low in currency then...

Entrance fee for Museum was acceptable, just US$1 but you had to pay another US$1 for your camera. So we just found that >_<" so most of our decorated war pictures are with Chris' camera! I just snapped a handful.

Next visited a temple area which name I forgotten. Lots of Chinese words used in the decoration but most of them don't make any language sense.... I was quickly bored and just sat outside while the rest explored.

Think during our Vietnam trip, the overall impression was very good just that we had 2 incidents with bad/dishonest taxi drivers. Give you an example. On a trip to and fro, same distance, one charged us a transparent and small < US$1 (or 14,000 Dong), while the other was > US$5 (115,000 Dong) and still counting! Although the amount is really small, but the feeling of being ke-tok was so bad... almost 10X the difference?!! Plus the driver was getting aggressive when we told him we wanted to get off the taxi early. So as he was talking loudly in something which we do not understand, his meter just kept ticking away. Later, asking the hotel staff, we were told that there are alot of dishonest cab drivers around. Just be sure to take the cabs with the "Taxi Group" labels on them. For me, the experience is check the meter and see if they tell you what's the charge Dollar amount/Km, with included Km counter. That should be most transparent.

Next we visited this supposedly famous restaurant for fish (in the lonely planet as well). Was quite run down and a bit arrogant feeling from the staff. "Only one dish in our restaurant - price 150,000 dong".
In the 2010 version of the guide book, we were told it cost 80,000. The hotel staff said 2 months ago was 100,000. Now its 150,000! almost double from the guided cost. Is inflation really that crazy or the restaurant was taking advantage of its popularity being inside the lonely planet? I would likely to think the latter as most other places were still charging reasonable prices. But inflation is quite visible as you see the attraction signs at most places having revised prices.

Lastly, we visited a famous church at Hanoi, surrounded by shopping places. Very beautiful church and the people inside were singing some songs though sounded a bit like chants as there were no music to go with it. We left shortly when the sermon started as it was totally Greek to us.

Back at the hotel, we joined the chill out group as they just finished celebrating a birthday for a hotel guest. Met these 3 Americans (one was actually my senior from Michigan and was teaching English in Vietnam for 3 years while the other two were a couple doing a few months of traveling in Asia).

Dinner we went to GranSport, another so-call Lonely Planet recommendation. Food was okay (not out of this world) and reasonably priced. Found out that the owner was a Japanese who just went back after the earthquake. 10% of the dinner proceeds was to be donated to help Japan.

Went back early to catch up more sleep......

Vietnam Part III

2011-04-05T01:39:00.000+08:00

This is the hotel that we stayed in. Pretty good for about US$78 for the three of us. Much better than what I had in mind.

The 2nd morning at Sapa, we ventured on our own to Cat Cat to see the waterfall, without our guide, Ta.

Caught this little boy carving out the designs on stone....

I call this a prelude to the bigger waterfall....

Here we are....

We tried bamboo grilled rice, potato and vege wrapped bacon...

View here is definitely awesome....

Resting before going back... having one last look at the scenery. The little hut's owner quite high tech, surfing the internet.... vietnam's more connected than I thought.

Back at our hotel resting. The Chef (this tallest vietnamese lady I've seen so far as most of the locals are relatively short) jio us to do cooking class with her (the day before) but at a cost of US$18/pax, and tired from all the walking, we prefer to just order and be fed...

Checking out the church at Sapa..... empty but a few visitors came while we were inside... Its kind of strange but they had graves at the back of the church with incenses in-front of the tombstones..??

The story of Jesus through the ordered pictures (I didn't take all the pictures though as CA took them).

We decided to venture to try a local looking restaurant as there were many gangster (coz looked very fierce) looking youths in it :P Food was tasty though a little oily and the chicken was tough.....

Going back to the train station, finally we get to see how it looked like (as opposed to 4-5am while all was dark). Loads of Chinese tourists....(since border to Yunnan is supposedly just 1km away from the train station). Too bad we didn't have much time to go visit the border, would be interesting.

Bought take-away at a posh looking French-themed restaurant.

Had a very very interesting cabin visitor, since there were 4 beds, our last guest was a very fashionably dressed Vietnamese lady, Ha.
She came in and climbed straight up to the upper bed as we already occupied the other beds (think we wrongly occupy hers :P).
Then we initiated to talk to her and boy, was her English good, as we found out she studied in Belgium for 1.5 years and she was a government scholar now working in a NGO (12 years?? something like that as she is 2 years older than me) that helps the minorities, traveling from mountains to mountains to visit many of the tribes (total of 54 tribes) and helping them in terms of education, how to better their lifes, etc. One thing that struck me was that she commented that she didn't know whether she was really helping them (or was there any use). We even ventured into talking about politics, and Christ (the important topic) as well as finding out about her views on religion. Each of us shared a portion of our mini testimonies. She even encouraged us to visit this Christian organization, Taize, which she was very impressed when she visited during her schooling days in Belgium. Too bad, she didn't allow me to take a photo of her :P

After talking for like 2-3 hrs, all of us went into slumber......

Vietnam Part II

2011-04-01T22:02:00.000+08:00

The inside of our train cabin.....

We arrived at Ga Lao Cai train station at around 5:30am. And we were like the last ones to alight the train as everyone was gone! All the elderly Ang Mos (mostly French) that we saw the night of boarding the train had already left. Shortly, we found our hotel driver. It was strangely cold there... when we last checked before going, was supposed to be only 17 degrees minimal.... this totally didn't feel that way. Even now I check the weather (1st April 2011, but this is no joke) it shows 22 degrees but the weather is totally crazy there. Later on, we asked, our guide even said, it snowed 1 week before we came (never snowed there for 8 years) and 2 days before was bright sunny days. The weather has gone crazy! Click here for the weather and here for Sapa information. According to websites and Lonely Planet, April is the best time to go....

Anyways we were too early for trekking when we reached the hotel, so we had a long breakfast, coupled with devotions, readings from Ephesians 1. What a way to start our trip! :)
Breakfast was US$5.5/pax FYI

We chose the private guide which include 3 guided tours to villages, prepared lunch and a more flexible timing to start at 10am, with partial vehicle transportation.

The room felt freezing cold as well and we all huddled to a small little heater. I was totally stressed at having to sleep in such cold and started scanning around the room and thank God I found switches and buttons to our heated mattresses! CA quickly went to catch some rest before our climb.

Soon, it was 10am and we dragged ourselves to go trekking..... but quickly it felt refreshing in the early morning smell of the air, clear, cold and fresh though very foggy.... we were told by our handsome looking guide that the best times are actually more towards planting and harvesting season starting in May-Aug. But currently it is also a little unexpectedly cold.

Our guide is an English-speaking, young and energetic 25 year old. He even worked in M'sia for 3 years but was so lowly paid that at the end of the trip he barely just broke even as he borrowed money to go there. There were like tribal dressed females everywhere, following different packs of tourists like us. And I soon found out that most of them can speak some broken English. They were attentively friendly and helpful throughout the trip, which I would explain later....

After walking for a while, certain areas, the midst/fog was cleared and we frantically took out our 2 DSLR and 1 compact to take pictures.... lovely and awesome views...

Not very dangerous trekking but pretty slippery and muddy and we were ill-shoed for the place. Should have brought or rented boots instead. Chris even fell down a few times and eventually the ladies even held their hands to bring them about the more slippery areas. I managed my balance but had to rely on the guide 1-2 times as I was sliding down...

Finally at the rest point, we see a large number of tribal ladies all rushing to us to sell their souvenirs (along the way we see them hawking their stalls everywhere... but our group was less aggressive). Feeling sort of uneasy, not to help them, we just bought from the 3 ladies that followed us through that long journey. After that we had a quick lunch break and carried on our trek.

This time round, we told them firmly that we won't be buying any more stuff and not to follow us.

Finished the trek at around 4pm and was fetched back to the hotel which we took a much deserved bath (last time was in Singapore). And we watched a 2 hr old HK musical drama in the hotel. Super entertaining and perhaps we just were too tired to go out and explore since it was still misty. We quickly visited the night market which was hardly visible and superbly cold and went for an early dinner instead. Food was good. We had many drinks and talked about God, and other things related to men. Had a good time confiding in each other for a good 2-3 hrs there. After which we turned in early and slept like babies....

Vietnam Trip Part I

2011-03-31T21:33:00.001+08:00

Thanks to Chris who planned this whole trip himself, both Cien An and me got to hitch along a "mysterious" and exotic trekking trip into the northern parts of Hanoi. It all started when I overheard from a bro during our Wed prayer meet (pays to go for prayer meet :P) about a pending trip to Vietnam by my ex-shepherd. Since I was going to be totally free (bummer) I said, I want to join, and without even realizing what we were really doing, I committed myself to this trip haphazardly.

Actually I'm so thankful that I did. It was a refreshingly good break for me, a pure holiday, not for work, not for missions, not for any other agenda except to let free.... :P

sometimes we do need one of these trips.

We flew with Jetstar, which had these unfriendly flight times (7:15am) which added much more to your total fare in terms of taxi fare. Anyways, it was a little scare for me on that faithful day as CA asked me to share cab with him. But in the morning while on the cab, I frantically smsed him and called him but there was no response (530am). So I had to go up to this apartment, knocked on the doors and even shouted (softly coz 5am) but still no one. Finally I managed to get him through James Ray's phone.... CA totally zonked off as he only just returned from a overseas trip and was using a new unfamiliar phone as an alarm clock. Anyways, to cut to the chase, we still managed to check in with some time to eat breakfast. And here we go......!

Weather in Ho Chi Minh city definitely was as hot as Singapore. We arrived there 1hr later, 8:15am (2 hrs flight but you gain 1 hr), and had a 4 hr transit time. Luckily for us, the city area is just a short walk away from the international airport. Never seen such near civilization and we just jaywalked to a nearby cafe.

CA picked a "high class" cafe as we weren't too sure about the road stall cafes. We weren't too fussy as it was comfortable, not too expensive and had Wifi. Had my 1st taste of facebook blockage. Vietnam blocks fb, just like China! 2nd meal of the day which cost 202,000 dong or roughly US$10 for the 3 of us (pretty expensive by Vietnamese standards as we found out later on).

Next, it was another 2hr flight to Hanoi and which we sort of hopped on a cab that didn't really know our final destination well... till now I'm not really sure if he took us for a ride as the cab fee was quite high and he didn't know his way. The taxi driver even got impatient as we were questioning if he knew where he was going (apparently he didn't) so we decided to get off early. When we paid him in full, he sounded super glad... The hotel staff whom we asked later on said its around the price for a cab to where we wanted to go to but it just didn't feel certain...

Anyways, took a short walk to the hotel, taking photos along the way... it was definitely much cooler/colder in Hanoi.

Upon reaching our hotel (but we will only stay 1 night 2 days later), Charming II Hotel (newly opened) along 31 Hang Ga Street, Hoan, Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam (email: booking@hanoicharminghotel.com), we went on only 1st Lonely Planet recommendation to eat at Highway 4. Such a strange name, I kept thinking we were going to some highway. Met up with 2 Australian ladies sitting beside us and a cute little baby girl called Audrey. Later we found out that they were staying at the same hotel as us...

Food was pretty good, the pork was a little bit too dry though but overall satisfying though a little bit westernized/chinese-nized if there was such a word.

Our day's journey did not end yet. Next we made our way to the train station to board our 8:30pm train for Sapa. The external of the trains looked very old but the inside was pretty clean and decent. And we quickly slept due to exhaustion from the early morning till late's travel.

Funny Pics again

2010-09-16T18:31:00.005+08:00

A Short Expedition to Mt Ophir!

2010-08-31T23:44:00.013+08:00

Haven't been writing for a while, so feel that I need to reprise my skills for blogging, at least it will make me think, recall, reflect, on what I've done.

This much awaited trip was supposed to be done in July but somehow, we procrastinated all the way till September. Realize something, sometimes when you really really want to do something, you got to take charge. Argh... that's alot of work though but the "rewards" and the satisfaction of the pat on the back, that I've done it, I could do it, I did it, is priceless.

Of course the other things that I couldn't plan, was all the things God did for us. For example the weather, which according to Deb, was supposed to be rainy, but the weather was fantastic for the climbing day; the directions there, as you know Malaysian road signs are pathetic (sorry to have to say, but even my Malaysian brother said he is fearful driving in Malaysia). Okay, maybe being fair, you can say I'm too pampered by the clear and or ample signs in Singapore and US (depends on which state). Even the directions on the websites of the resort and the national park was like go on North-South highway and exit so-and-so exit. Sounds simple but along the way, there was so many splits. Even google maps wasn't really helpful especially when one didn't want to incur the $20 a day roaming charge...

Okay anyways in my frantic last minute searches for information on how to get to the park and accommodation:
I'm just going share my method of going there although there are many other methods which you can find on the internet.
My own version of directions is take the 2nd link at Tuas, after that you will be on the North-South Highway, on E3, after that go towards KL-Melaka to get onto E2, go all the way for 169km (check with the road marking signs of distance on E2) and exit at Tangkak-Muar.

View Bt Batok to Gunung Ledang Resort in a larger map
To ease confusion because read on blogs that although you could opt to go to the park and sign up with a guide (compulsory), it is not advised to do walk-in and even when I email the park manager, they said usually will take 2 weeks in advance. However, the time which we went was fasting time, so it was not that tough to get a booking. The number given on the website is CORRECT, just that it is very very hard to get through (wonder why, they go for fiesta or something?). Thus if you call, try calling earlier or email them, they will reply but just about few hours to 1 day.

Its strange but the day before, the official Gunung Ledang National Park website is suspended? Maybe they want to discourage people from going close to monsoon season?

Anyway, some contacts which I copied before they suspended the website:
Contact
Gunung Ledang Branch
Taman Hutan Lagenda,
Gunung Ledang Johor National Park,
P.O Box 77, Batu 26, Jalan Segamat,
84020 Sagil, Tangkak, Muar,
Johor Darul Takzim

Tel : 07-2237471 (I through this once) / 07-2242525
Fax : 07-2237472
HP No : 019-7772057
E-Mail : muhaz65402@yahoo.com (I got helpful replies from this as well)

Recognized Consultants
MOI Adventure: 019-6162268 / 017-2607551
Colonel (R) Daud : 013-7735980
Caterer
AN Catering : 017 - 6588195
D’Madu Catering : 019-7659827 / 019-7072999 / 017-7552121
Salwa Bayot Ent. : 013-6805977 / 012-6607355 / 013-6036199

Endau-Rompin (Peta) Johor National Park
No 11, Tingkat Bawah
Jalan Bawal 1, Taman Kahang Baru
86700 Kahang, Kluang
Johor
Tel: 07-788 2812
Fax: 07-788 2813
Email: peta_er@yahoo.com

Head Office / Ibu Pejabat
Perbadanan Taman Negara Johor
Aras 1, Parcel C2S, Sayap Barat,
Kota Iskandar, 79100 Nusajaya,
Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Tel: 607-266 1301
Fax: 607-266 1302
Email: jnpc@johorparks.com
Website: www.johorparks.com.my

This is roughly cheaper option than going through the resort by S$50-70.
But if you are lazy like me, the Gunung Ledang Resort really offers great convenience at relatively reasonable prices. I contacted Mr CY Tey and even bargained slightly with him :P guess I was lucky it was off-peak season so got a S$20 discount.
http://www.ledang.com/
Just call the Singapore number
Gunung Ledang Resort Sdn Bhd Gunung Ledang Resort & Adventures Pte Ltd
Bt 28 Jalan Segamat 84020 Sagil Tangkak 200 Turf Club Road #01-61A Turf City
Johor Malaysia Singapore 287994
Tel : 06-977 2888 Tel : 6462 5891
Mr Tey's Hp: 9729 9332

Some links to read more about climbing the Mt Ophir:
Blog 1: Quite detailed
Blog 2: Readable
Hotel we stayed at: Cheap, new and close to walkable places

Reaching the resort after midnight - due to a lot of uncertainty driving there as road signs were like pointing everywhere, or partially "hidden". Advise is really check the detailed directions in Malaysia and don't rely on the website general directions. Pay if you must to use your data roaming for GPS. Really... :P

Slept about 6+ hours before we woke up and ate as much as we can to pack the carbs....
Taking a ride to the Ranger's office and where the entrance is.

Before we even started, we were tired....
Took the Sagil trail, the supposedly more scenic and longer trail. And to my disappointment, the path to the waterfall is no longer linked! You have to drive there now... argh... but nevertheless, we had a fun time climbing.

The stream (our only water body) that crossed our paths was surprisingly icy and Van's expression is priceless! haha...

Just 1-1.5hr more to hit the summit!
Last leg was ropes and ladders... but we finally made it! From up here, looking down at God's creation, it was awesome!

I would say staying at the Gunung Ledang resort was the most convenient way of climbing the mountain, though really, ata 30-45min drive away town you could get much better hotel rooms (instead of a chalet) and cheaper rates (RM80 per room vs S$60). Rest of the night and next morning was discovering Muar town which was one of the more busy and interesting places for food (more in the morning than at night). Think I'll definitely go again! Any drivers interested?

Spending time with God...

2010-07-30T23:37:00.003+08:00

Missed tonight's Festival of Praise because we were slightly late and the queue was horrendously long!

Anyways, spent some quiet time doing my own singing and trying to seek His words for me.

Ended up with some verses which I'm not sure of the connection but will list them down for record's sake.

Romans 3:23
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Ephesians 5:9
9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

Daniel 5:12
12 This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."

Ecclesiastes 7:11
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing
and benefits those who see the sun.

I'm guessing that, yes, I am a sinner, Lord, but you have washed our sins clean with your grace and mercy and called us to be holy. You are the light and it is you who have brought us out of darkness to live as your children. We need your wisdom, to be able to understand what your will is in stored for us. And wisdom from you, would be a very good thing? So God, please spare me some wisdom, so I may understand your will more :P
Amen lord...

Today's humour

2010-07-29T15:04:00.002+08:00

Gotta try this one day....

Power Pizza!

Just some silliness/cutesy stuff chanced upon.. a picture tells a thousand words..

2010-07-26T14:30:00.004+08:00

Many church related articles in the last 7 days!

2010-07-21T12:12:00.001+08:00

Hope I find some time to read all of them but meanwhile, just posting them here so can read at my own leisure.

Many recent articles on churches in Singapore

2010-07-21T12:04:00.004+08:00

From the Straits Times
Article (1) Jul 17, 2010 - Are mega sheep stolen or saved?
WHILE the loss of even one family is keenly mourned by smaller congregations, it is worsened by the knowledge that it is a mere drop in the ocean for the bulging megachurches, with tens of thousands of members.

Observers say megachurches, which burst onto the scene here in the 1980s, now unquestionably dominate the Protestant church scene in terms of numbers, growth rates, offshoots, income, staff strength, programme offerings, visibility and international reach.

A megachurch is popularly defined by America's Hartford Institute for Religion Research as a cluster of very large Protestant congregations with weekly worship attendance of 2,000 or more.

By that measure alone, at least 19 churches in Singapore qualify.

The biggest five independent churches here - which are run autonomously and report only to their own church council - are City Harvest Church, leading the pack with 33,000 members, New Creation Church (20,000), Lighthouse Evangelism (12,000), Faith Community Baptist Church (10,000) and Victory Family Centre (6,000 members over seven venues).

Three other large denominational churches with over 6,000 members each are Trinity Christian Centre from the Charismatic Assemblies of God fold, St Andrew's Cathedral, the largest Anglican church here, and Wesley Methodist Church, which has the biggest Methodist congregation.

Then there are at least eight other influential churches with 3,000 to 5,000 members in weekly attendance. Two are Anglican - Church of Our Saviour and St John's St Margaret's Church. The others are Grace Assembly of God from the Assemblies of God fold, and independents Covenant Evangelical Free Church, the Church of Singapore, Hope Church, Cornerstone Community Church and RiverLife Church.

At around the 2,000-member mark are Bethesda Cathedral, another independent church, and two other Methodist churches - Barker Road Methodist Church and Paya Lebar Methodist Church.

But this numerical definition of 2,000 attendees alone is insufficient and misleading, says Dr Roland Chia, professor of Christian doctrine at Trinity Theological College. 'Megachurches have more in common than just size. These include worship style, use of contemporary media, and the way these churches are organised,' he says.

They also tend to have a charismatic senior pastor, inspirational preaching, rock-concert style of worship, a large staff and a multitude of social and outreach ministries.

Spectacular growth
Without a cross, pew or hymnal in sight, Singapore's big five megachurches boast spectacular year-on-year growth. New Creation Church registered 12 per cent annual growth over the last five years.

City Harvest's membership grew at an even more breathtaking 15 per cent yearly over the last decade - peaking at 27 per cent in 2000 and slowing, relatively, to 5 per cent in 2006. Since its founding in 1989, its size has ballooned over 1,600 times from 20 to 33,000, an exponential surge seen only in the first New Testament churches.

In fact, Singapore's megachurches punch well above their weight in growth and numbers, despite coming from such a small population base. In a 2008 book titled Global Pentecostalism, University of Southern California researchers Donald Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori, who spent four years visiting churches in 20 countries, singled out City Harvest's inventiveness and outreach, declaring 'it may not have a rival in the history of Christendom'.

Now contrast the local megachurches' double-digit growth with that of other popular denominations here.

The Presbyterians saw a more modest 4 per cent average annual growth over the last decade, the Methodists 2.4 per cent, and the Anglicans 1.6 per cent. In fact, City Harvest's attendance has already outstripped the largest denominations that used to reign here.

City Harvest's 33,000-strong fold exceeds the 32,460 Methodists who attend 44 churches here on average weekly. It has already outpaced the Anglicans' average attendance of 20,577 spread over 27 parishes and the Assemblies of God's 21,809 among 49 churches.

All trends indicate that the independent churches are on the ascendant here. Observers estimate that the 160 independent churches in 2006 have since proliferated to over 200 - and counting.

This mirrors the situation in the United States, where almost 90 per cent of the 1,200 megachurches are growing, and at breakneck speed. A 2008 Hartford Institute survey found that their average attendance growth rate over five years is around 50 per cent, or about 10.66 per cent year on year.

Growth at the expense of others?

The big controversy raging here is whether megachurches have grown at the expense of others and one another. Do they poach from other churches, instead of pursuing the 'unchurched'?

The megachurches roundly refute that. Executive Pastor Derek Dunn of City Harvest points to in-house surveys which show that 60 per cent of his members are first-time churchgoers. 'We don't go for transfers,' he says.

Faith Community Baptist Church's Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong maintains that nearly 90 per cent of members were converted at his church and baptised there. The rest come from transfers.

New Creation Church's deacon Jack Ho concedes it has 'some regular visitors from other churches' but says the number of official transfers is 'negligible'. He trots out the latest figures: 'In 2009, our average attendance grew to 18,087, a growth of 2,790 from the previous year. During that period, we had 2,325 salvations, which means new conversions account for 83 per cent of our growth.'

The exact profile of megachurch members is another touchy area.

Megachurches like City Harvest have assiduously put out membership profile surveys to debunk long-held impressions that their members are predominantly poorer and less-educated heartlanders, for whom the prosperity gospel - centred on the notion that God blesses believers with riches - holds particular appeal.

City Harvest has even collated data on its website to show that of its salaried adult members, the biggest group or 42 per cent are 'associate professionals and technicians', followed by 'professionals' (21 per cent) and clerical support workers (17 per cent).

The jobs are further broken down by industry, with the three top groups in finance and insurance (13 per cent), education (12 per cent) and administrative and support services (11 per cent).

Notably, the average age of its members rose from 19 years in 1993 to 28 years last year. In 1993, the working population formed only 16 per cent of its congregation, but this spiked to 49 per cent last year, indicating ever more salaried members who are able to tithe.

So although established denominational church pastors used to sniff that megachurches consist mostly of aspirants and the nouveau riche, that could well be changing.

Dr Fong Choon Sam, dean of academic studies at the Baptist Theological Seminary, says it would not be a surprise if megachurch members have now overtaken denominational church members in 'economic power', since many young careerists, business owners and professionals are there and 'like attracts like'.

But just in case this revision of status is not widely known, megachurches often parade a bevy of celebrities and rags-to-riches entrepreneurs in their services. A big part of their routine here is celebrating success.

At the recent Asia Conference hosted by City Harvest, there was an 'honour roll call', with 77th Street entrepreneur Elim Chew, national badminton player Ronald Susilo and Singapore Business Federation chief executive Teng Theng Dar coming on stage to take a bow on opening night.

This is not unlike Californian megachurch Crystal Cathedral's founder Robert Schuller, who often interviews Olympic champions and celebrities onstage, in a calculated alignment with winners.

And this works, as success begets more success, says sociologist Mathew Mathews, a visiting affiliate with the National University of Singapore's Asia Research Institute, who has researched and written extensively on megachurches. In Singapore-style religion, he notes, people gravitate towards the big, efficient and successful.

'Singapore is big on excellence and professionalism. Think of the airport. The megachurch model is a very tight system, from professional ushering to sound system set-ups,' Dr Mathews says. 'There are methods to pay tithes by Internet and Giro.'

The 'sense of being part of a success story' is seductive to many.

'Megas have successfully revolutionised the image of Christianity - making it trendy, cool, and market-savvy, especially to the young,' he says.

'The megachurch phenomenon is an urban thing...like the hypermarts. As Walmart and Carrefour rose, the reaction of small churches was like small-time retailers. They wondered whether it was going to help business or create problems.'

Dr Fong Choon Sam, dean of academic studies at Baptist Theological Seminary

'We have not embarked on any church growth strategy. We have not done any evangelistic rallies in 10 years. The growth is natural. When people's lives are touched, if they have breakthroughs in finances, family or health and they find their needs are met, and they find that the Christian way fits with their walk, we don't have to tell them 'Bring your friends and family to church.' They will come themselves to see who is this God who provides miracles.'

Deacon Jack Ho, New Creation Church

'Unfortunately, many churches convey an image of a God who is, apart from forgiving and compassionate, rather demanding in wanting us to do a laundry list of things to 'extend His Kingdom'... Whereas I used to leave a church service feeling condemned and burdened that I can't live up to God's standards, I now experience the joy of a Christian life, which motivates me to want to share about God's goodness. In short, out with performance and in with being a new creation and its logical consequences for everyday living.'

Professor Tan Ern Ser, sociologist, New Creation Church member

------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (2) Jul 17, 2010 - How will things all play out?
Youth dancers from Faith Community Baptist Church. The church's Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong says: 'The Bible does promise prosperity in body, soul and spirit. Yet the Bible also speaks about the benefits and blessings which come through suffering.'

SO HOW will this spiritual salesmanship all play out? As mighty megachurches and multitudes of tiny churches slug it out for believers, who will prevail?

Theologians say that Singaporeans' romance with megachurches is still at the honeymoon stage. They have not seen the downside of too much money or the downfall of American teleevangelists like Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker, says Dr Daniel Koh, a theological lecturer in pastoral theology and ethics. Swaggart was in a 1988 sex scandal; Bakker was indicted for financial fraud in 1988.

But many worry that the prosperity gospel preached by some megas - that God will make Christians rich, if only they have enough faith - will breed a generation of fair-weather Christians.

Sociologist Mathew Mathews notes: 'It's appealing for people who always had to struggle between enjoying a good life and being a Christian. Traditional Christianity is equated with a life of spiritual disciplines - praying, reading the Bible, carrying one's cross. You are freed from that, it's liberation from 'work'.'

In traditional Christianity, everything is invested in good works and the afterlife. One lives modestly and builds treasure in heaven. But some high-living mega leaders debunk all that.

'The deal is: If your religious leader is not making it in this life, what hope do you have? They have a blessed life. That gives you hope that their message works and is proven,' Mr Mathews adds.

'Members are not ignorant that their leaders have good lives. That's what they hope to have too.'

Hence, New Creation founder Joseph Prince's flock made no issue of his annual income, said to be between $500,001 and $550,000, nor of his BMW or Swiss Alps holidays. Even so, he stopped taking a salary in late 2009 to forestall murmurs.

Theologians have issues with the prosperity gospel, saying: Sure, it's OK to be rich, but what about the dangers, which the Bible clearly warns about?

Dr Bobby Sng, president of the Bible Society of Singapore and a preacher at the Wilkie Terrace Christian Assembly church, says: 'The line that 'The more you give, the more God will bless you', that's not scriptural. There are many who are poor and good Christians. Others pray with faith to be healed, and yet are not healed.'

The trouble, says Dr Koh, is how to square such materialistic reasoning with the statement every church ultimately has to make, which is that 'worth is not measured by the car you drive or the clothes you wear, but about who you are as someone loved by God, regardless of your status and possessions'.

He adds: 'Of course you should be thankful if you are materially blessed. But the abundant life is a life of contentment, generosity and the cultivation of virtues.'

Dr Roland Chia, dean of postgraduate studies at Trinity Theological College, says it is heartening that not all the megachurches in the US peddle the prosperity gospel. Of America's 12 largest churches, only three do. One study indicates that only 50 of the 260 largest churches in the US are prosperity-based, he notes.

'Rick Warren, a megapastor and author of the popular Purpose Driven Life, had this to say about the prosperity gospel: 'This idea that God wants everybody to be wealthy? There is a word for that: baloney. It's creating a false idol. You don't measure your self-worth by your net worth. I can show you millions of faithful followers of Christ who live in poverty. Why isn't everyone in the church a millionaire?'' he points out.

Likewise here. Dr Fong Choon Sam of the Baptist Theological Seminary says: 'Some seem more self-professed in identifying with the prosperity gospel, others would not identify with that label.'

In response, Faith Community Baptist Church's Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong says: 'The Bible does promise prosperity in body, soul and spirit. Yet the Bible also speaks about the benefits and blessings which come through suffering, which is inevitable in a problematic world.'

The other concern with megachurches is that too much hinges on the founding pastor's personality, charisma and interpretation of Gospel. This is unlike denominational churches where there is a constant stream of pastors being trained and rotated, rule books, checks and balances.

For example, Methodist bishops can stay in office for only up to three terms - or a maximum of 12 years.

Dr Fong notes: 'Megachurches in a way can lead to a new clergy-laity division. The people at the top interpret the Bible for you. Because the senior pastor has lots of authority over so many thousands, the net result is less participation by members on how to interpret scripture.' Also, members do not have much say in how funds are spent, he notes.

What megachurches need, Dr Koh says, is to institute more accountability. 'The independents, which are dominated by stellar pastors and close friends, need to be more transparent and put in place clearer checks and balances, especially on management of funds, to minimise conflict of interests.'

After all, history has shown that big churches can fold, with just one false move. His Sanctuary, an aspiring megachurch two decades ago, was led by a young, vibrant pastor who was caught out by some impropriety. From a peak of over 1,000 members, it has split into several flocks as small as 100.

There is also the question of continuity, since charismatic leadership is non-transferable. Dr Fong notes that few know who the No. 2s and No. 3s of megachurches are, and there is a distinct dip in attendance when they speak.

'One concern is that megachurches will not last beyond one generation,' he says. He cites how Trinity Christian Centre, Victory Family Centre and Wesley Methodist Church all took turns being No. 1 in popularity but they each 'got outstripped' when the senior pastor - the 'face' of the church - moved on.

'Megachurches really need to be current and trendy in their ability to address felt needs. But trends and felt needs change, so the church needs to keep reinventing itself,' he adds.

Because leaders are so beloved, succession tends to succeed only when family members take over, Dr Albert Ting, principal of Singapore Bible College, notes.

US evangelists John Osteen and Billy Graham successfully groomed their sons to succeed them: Joel Osteen is pastor at Lakewood Church, America's largest; while Franklin Graham heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. 'If you groom your own children, followers are more accepting. They trust the family brand name,' Dr Ting says.

Even so, after the first-generation founder passes or moves on, the church may revert to 'a more mainline' structure, says theologian Simon Chan.

'German sociologist Max Weber made an observation about the 'routinisation of charisma'. Over time, charismatic churches become more mainline in their structure and operation.

'If the trend (here) is similar to the US, there will be a time that young people will outgrow the need for entertainment. They may look for something more serious than rah-rah on Sunday or drop out altogether.'

Also, a drift away could be a function of megachurch-goers eventually growing up - or at least growing older.

Dr Koh says megachurches could be a rite of passage for the young. 'Once people have their own families, anecdotally, they tend to go back to the mother church. My guess is that they can't be sustained by a feel-good message for life.'

As a result, Dr Sng notes some mature megachurch members have moved on to smaller, more intimate denominational churches 'because they reached a stage where they wanted systematic teaching' and a 'more complete Christian experience'. But he says it may be a culture shock to adjust to the slower pace.

What is emerging elsewhere is a movement combining the best of megachurches and denominationals. One which, Dr Fong says, stresses relationships and participation without hierarchy, has a stronger sense of church history and uses traditional icons for worship. 'The megachurches are in a way so cutting-edge that they have little interest in the past.'

Ultimately, it is best to look at both big and little churches from a higher perspective, says Dr Sng, who wrote In His Good Time: The Story Of The Church In Singapore. 'From the macro perspective, it's the total work of God. Like a chessboard, each piece is important at a certain time. Each megachurch reaches a certain sector that other churches find hard to reach. Megachurches have a role to play in the overall scheme, so do smaller churches.'

----------------------------------------------------------------
Article (3) Jul 17, 2010- Rise of the splints and sprouts
THE dazzling advance of the megachurches has undoubtedly shaken up traditional churches here, bringing the winds of change and of conflict.

Sometimes, disagreements on growth directions and how to respond to the mega threat - whether to be more or less like them - have led to splintering among already-small churches.

Beyond losing their flock to the megas, some small churches - from Bible-Presbyterian to Baptist, with 100 or so members each - are splitting ranks. These breakaways can comprise as much as 40 per cent of the original membership.

The most oft-cited reasons for these splits, say theologians, include personality conflicts and doctrinal differences. Disagreements can arise over the type of red wine or grape juice or bread (unleavened or otherwise) used for Holy Communion, baptism (immersion or sprinkling, adult or infant), or type of Bible (King James version only or others permissible).

In 2003, the late founding pastor of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church, Dr Timothy Tow, broke away over doctrinal disputes on whether the Bible was without error. He started True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church, which now meets at the RELC Auditorium.

The congregation size of the average church today is down to 100 to 200, say observers like Dr Fong Choon Sam of the Baptist Theological Seminary. About half of the close to 700 churches here are around that size. This does not include some 200 small, unsignposted churches, said to have about 50 members each and set up in recent years. Beyond breakaways, many of these are new sprouts by young seminary graduands, note theological professors. This is because church is possibly the last frontier in Singapore for charismatic leadership and religious entrepreneurs are sure to display some of that, says sociologist Mathew Mathews.

After all, stories abound of the likes of New Creation Church growing from a 12-man affair in a Holland Drive HDB flat in 1983 to more than 20,000 members today - and seize the imagination of those hoping to emulate such feats.

Many young seminary students are fuelled by such mega dreams, notes Pastor Teoh Chong Tatt, 57, of Bukit Panjang Gospel Chapel. 'It's like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur nowadays, young pastors view running a church like running their own business. Everyone wants to be their own boss.

'There are already so many churches. But when they graduate from theological college, they don't look for a church to serve in but choose to start their own. Their dream is to start small, in the hope of growing it one day into a megachurch. The megachurches around make them feel this is achievable.'

Many of those who go it alone are from independent churches and are seldom trained in established seminaries, says Dr Daniel Koh of the Trinity Theological College. 'They see what their home churches have done, they think they can do it better. It could also be that their home churches might not have places for them.'

They also tend to be self-funded seminary students, who are free to move upon graduation. Others are sent by their own small breakaway congregation to attend seminary, and they preach on Sundays, from a hotel or home pulpit, even as they are getting trained, says a Bible college dean.

Yet others, supported by bigger mainline churches, upon returning from local or overseas Bible schools, cite doctrinal or personality conflicts after a few years, and break away, taking some of the flock with them. Even if they are bonded to the church that paid for their education, no penalty is usually exacted, say pastors.

Many theologians worry that this self- starting development could lead to an excessively high church growth rate, that could attract unwelcome clampdowns from the Government. 'If this goes on, in a couple of years, we could have 800 or 1,000 churches, most of them small ones,' worries Mr Teoh.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (4) - Jul 17, 2010 Rise of the megachurch
Protestants here are spoilt for choice as megachurches grow in stature and dazzle their congregations with high-tech, feel-good services. Meanwhile, micro churches are springing up all over, as eager seminary graduates dream of building their own megachurch. By Lee Siew Hua & Susan Long

SUNDAY morning, and thousands of the faithful descend on Singapore Expo, pouring out of hired buses, MRT trains and shiny cars that circle and jostle for lots.

The twin flocks of City Harvest Church and Faith Community Baptist Church pack two darkened cavernous halls with blinding stage lights where spectacle meets spirituality. The coffers are brimming, the senior pastors magnetic, the worship thunderous.

Across the island in a commercial office block, 50 young intellectuals gather for their inaugural service after meeting for a year and deciding they want to set up church together.

There are no frills, no flash here. The bulletin looks homespun. The pastor, newly returned from seminary studies overseas, sits eye-to-eye with everyone. The music is all of one amplified guitar.

This tale of three churches reflects the rapid advance of the megas and micros.

Both are fast gaining ground here, though in different ways.

Protestant Christianity in Singapore has become largely a 'winner-takes-all' game, with megachurches daily adding new members to their tens of thousands.

Meanwhile, as the big have become bigger, the small have become smaller, thanks to a drift towards megachurches and a growing number of breakaways, spin-offs and fresh start-ups.

At last count in 2006, there were 468 Protestant churches here, according to the Singapore Every Home Crusade, which publishes a church directory. But in just five years, the number has surged to close to 700 today, estimate church statistics compilers and observers.

A third of these are said to have about 50 members, some fewer. They include small and unregistered churches which have mushroomed in recent years.

Reverend Rick Seaward, 54, a veteran on the church scene and founder of Singapore's first megachurch Victory Family Centre (formerly known as Calvary Charismatic Centre), notes: 'There are a lot of new churches in the last few years that we have no data on. They are small because they are new.'

His estimate is derived from his leadership roles in the LoveSingapore movement that unites up to 150 Protestant churches in events and prayer summits, the collaborative meetings he conducts with pastors of independent churches and pastor feedback.

The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) represents 192 Protestant churches here and the main denominations, including Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians and Assemblies of God.

The council says the multiplying of churches results from those that have grown big spawning offshoots, as well as more like-minded fellowship groups registering themselves as churches. Another factor is that differences over doctrine have resulted in some rifts and breakaway congregations.

'Christians understand churches as not mere buildings or institutions; they are regarded as spiritual communities of people who share a common faith in Jesus Christ,' says council general secretary Lim Kay Tham.

The council receives up to five new applications for membership each year but has rejected some because they did not meet all the criteria.

'A church wishing to apply to be a member of the NCCS must first have been legally registered in Singapore, to ensure it is properly constituted and bound by rules which require accountability and good governance,' he says.

The council also considers factors such as the 'stability of its leadership structure, the size of its congregation and the number of years the church has been in existence', Mr Lim says.

Yet, despite the steep rise in the number of Protestant churches in just five years, observers say there has been only a very marginal rise in the number of Christians here over the past decade.

Dr Mark Chan of Trinity Theological College, the oldest seminary here, says the growth of Christians seems to have plateaued and stabilised in recent years.

According to the latest 2000 Census, the rising proportion of Christians was very gradual - from 10 per cent in 1980 to 13 per cent in 1990 and 15 per cent in 2000. Two-thirds of Christians here are Protestants and the rest are Catholics.

Observers say the minimal growth of Christianity, if any, is fuelled by foreigners like the Koreans, Indonesians, Myanmar nationals, Chinese and Filipinos. Last month, the fast-expanding, 1,500-strong Korean Church In Singapore outbid three other churches to win a 32,000 sq ft plot of church land at Gangsa Road for $11.28 million.

But by and large, most observers say there is no significant increase in the number of Protestants here, just an ever-growing array of churches to choose from, and many more church-hoppers sampling the range.

'It's a circulation of the saints,' says Dr Chan. 'Part of it is the increasing consumeristic ethos among church-goers here. Like a restaurant, if there's good food, people are friendly, music is nice, I will go there.

'It's about church shopping. That's a departure from what church was meant to be - family, organic, and if things don't work out, try to work it out.'

Today's Protestant church landscape here might be summed up, with a somewhat theological flavour, as: Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not, even what he has will be taken from him (Mark 4:25). In other words, those losing the most sheep to the megachurches are the ones who can least afford to lose them.

These include Chinese churches, smaller-sized traditional denominational churches and those with predominantly elderly congregations, whose numbers are already dwindling owing to natural attrition, say observers.

Many of these old-style churches find it impossible to compete with the snazzy suite of services offered by megachurches, from professionally managed infant care and business networking to weight-loss contests.

The leakage from smaller, dowdier churches is so acute that more than 60 concerned pastors met earlier this month to discuss membership transfers and how they can stay united amid such upsets.

But aside from official transfers, there is an undocumented drift that happens week after week. Although many established denominational churches here still have big memberships on paper, actual attendance is said to be dwindling.

'Many of their members go to church three times a year, for Christmas, Easter and New Year,' says a compiler of church statistics for over 30 years, who spoke on condition of anonymity. They continue to be listed as members but are in effect 'permanent visitors' to megachurches, leaving mainly the old and the sick in their home congregation, she says.

Leading the exodus are young people, among them professionals. Denominational pastors lament that churches invest time and resources to nurture them through their schooling years, only to see them hit the megachurches when they grow up, graduate and are in a position to give back.

'When they go out into the working world, the megachurches preach a message they love to hear, like God wants to bless you with a BMW or a promotion,' says a small Brethren church pastor.

Mr Kenny Chee, pastor of the 400-strong independent church World Revival Prayer Fellowship in Geylang, has seen several families leave for megachurches in the last few years. He says: 'For a small church of 40 members, losing a family is losing five members, and that can be demoralising. They have left the provision shop for the shopping mall.'

He confesses to feeling a 'sense of loss and grief' but comforts himself that 'they are still in the kingdom of God and have not left the faith'.

'You may criticise the feel-good theology of Joseph Prince and the prosperity gospel. But some churches make you feel bad. They are all the time preaching brimstone and hellfire. We need balanced teaching from the pulpit.'

Dr Bobby Sng, president of the Bible Society of Singapore

'It's just growth in a different way for megachurches. The traditional way was to plant another church. For the megachurches, it's to get big where you are. So it's more of a 'come' approach, rather than a 'go' approach.'

Dr Fong Choon Sam, dean of academic studies at the Baptist Theological Seminary

'On the other side, there are some churches which are so dead, they are an embarrassment to God. The Corpus Christi (body of Christ) is like a corpse. They need to change or they will end up like churches in England with only 12 people attending.'

Prominent pastor of a large mainline church in central Singapore
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (5) - Jul 17, 2010 THE 5Ms: Message - Living the good life
THE crux of the message preached at some megachurches here is that you can have the good life now - not just the good afterlife.

The golden theme: that Christians are blessed to be a blessing to the world. To that end, sermons are kept light, applicable and motivational, with lashings of humour. When Senior Pastor Joseph Prince speaks at New Creation, his message of God's abundant grace is leavened with comic interludes, sonorous songs and Hebrew lessons. His congregation is in stitches and walks out on air.

To critics of this 'feel-good theology', Deacon Jack Ho of New Creation counters: 'Ask yourself, what is the gospel? It's good news, and the good news makes you feel good, and the good news is Jesus.' The art megachurches have mastered is of making God ultra-accessible through TV, radio, Web-based streaming videos, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, books, DVDs, teaching resources.

Charisma, a Christian magazine in the United States, recently reported that Americans who read Mr Prince's books and watch his shows have quit smoking, been 'healed' and started new businesses. One of them even booked a bar on weekday nights for friends and business contacts to watch video recordings of Mr Prince's messages.

City Harvest founder Kong Hee's messages also go global. His half-hour programme Harvest Time is aired in 107 countries on 14 satellite and cable TV networks, including Better Life Channel in Japan and Daystar Television Network in the US.

Theologians say the fear that megachurches are breeding right-wing Christian fundamentalists is quite unwarranted. Megachurches here and elsewhere tend to be politically moderate, if anything. The causes they endorse and embrace tend to popular, generic ones like global warming and poverty.

Theologian Roland Chia says: 'The main emphases in the teaching in megachurches appear to be focused on Christian living, interpreted and framed in rather individualistic terms.

'There is very little emphasis on the broader social implications of Christian existence in the world and, therefore, not very much stress is put on social justice issues.'

In Singapore, observers say megachurches go even further than the most conservative churches - they are manifestly pro-Singapore and pro-government. A service is often like a pledge of allegiance, where the pastors pray for Singapore and model themselves on Singapore's leaders with their hyper-efficiency, able stewardship, responsibly large reserves and pro-business ethos.

'They seem to display an uncritical form of patriotism. I suspect that this is mainly due to the fact that the undisputed success of the Singapore Government and the affluence of our society are perfectly in sync with the prosperity doctrine of the megachurches,' says a well-known theologian here.

All the National Council of Churches of Singapore would say is that there are 'differing responses' to megachurch theology and practices, even within the Christian community.

'While there are Christians who believe that they preach the gospel and are doing effective outreach work, there are also others who have difficulties with what they consider as their undue emphasis on health and wealth issues and their understanding of Christian spirituality,' says the council's general secretary Lim Kay Tham.

He adds: 'It is the duty of all churches to address the whole of life's issues and challenges and to be faithful to biblical teachings.'

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (6) Jul 17, 2010 THE 5Ms: Music Worship at a rock concert
WHETHER it's big days like Christmas and Easter or any given Sunday, every moment at megachurches is lived large on Jumbotron screens, complete with flashy multimedia and cameras on cranes.

Worship leaders are often heavily mascara-ed, clad in leather jackets and knee-high boots.

All the better to get the faithful on their feet in large functional spaces like the Singapore Expo, where both City Harvest and Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) meet.

The rock concert setting does not come cheap. At City Harvest, spending on its audio and lighting ministry exceeded expenses for its children's ministry in the last financial year.

Megachurches like City Harvest, New Creation, FCBC and Lighthouse Evangelism are open and unapologetic about hiring full-time musicians to elevate the worship experience and ensure quality.

'It's an investment in excellence,' deacon Jack Ho of New Creation says. 'As the church grows, you want to maintain a certain level of competence.' Full-time musicians also write songs and conduct training, and are always available.

Musically gifted Filipinos are visible on stage during Sunday worship at Lighthouse Evangelism. One of them, Mr Marvin Calica, was billed as a 'rocking guitarist from the Philippines' on the Facebook page of the Musiclighters, the church's music ministry.

Worship, enhanced by sleek stage craft and on-key singing, is seen as one vital element of church growth, and the megachurches are more than mindful of its effect on wooing the unchurched.

No effort is spared in producing musical extravaganzas for evangelistic outreach. Last year, FCBC staged The Christmas Stomp, which transported the audience into an imaginative Wii-like experience, with gaming animation filling the giant stage. One hundred young people were trained as street-style percussionists, with huge plastic cylinders as improvised drums, while 8,000 churchgoers and their guests held mini-drums.

Although other churchgoers think their sleepy denominational church services could take a leaf out of the megachurches' book and liven things up, many have reservations about paying professionals to lead worship.

Education researcher Lim Chih Ing, 37, who attends a Presbyterian church, says: 'Sure, I sometimes squirm when I hear pitchy singing by amateurs. But then I think, these folks are volunteers up there inspiring others and worshipping God in the best way they know. And ultimately, are we here to be entertained or to worship?'

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (7) - Jul 17, 2010 - Rise of the church shopper
They believe in multiple loyalties and a divine right to choose - weekly

MR JONATHAN Koh has been searching half his lifetime but still hasn't found a church to give his heart to.

In the last 15 years, he has sojourned through the independent Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Adam Road Presbyterian with its young 'thinking Christians', tiny Providence Reformed Presbyterian with fewer than 20 members, Elim where 'God changed my life', the charismatic Covenant Presbyterian - and now megachurch New Creation, which he likes for its uplifting sermons.

Mr Koh, 31, lingered between six and 30 months at each of these sanctuaries. He has also popped into countless others such as City Harvest Church, which he applauds for 'reaching a lot of youth and doing a lot of good', and the gay-affirming Free Community Church, for special events. Last month, he went on a four-day retreat with the 400-member World Revival Prayer Fellowship, which he found while surfing the Internet.

'I don't mean to go church hopping,' says Mr Koh, a teacher, who was baptised as an infant and grew up in an Anglican church. 'It's just that I keep learning from different churches and traditions, so it's been a journey for me.'

He is part of an emerging breed of church shoppers here, who have multiple brand loyalties and believe they have a divine right to choose - weekly.

They go from church to church, trying them out for size, often not sticking around long enough at any one place to serve or grow. They tend to be spectators, who want to 'do' church but on their own terms. Those who prowl charismatic churches in particular are called 'cruisematics'.

Singapore, with its consumeristic ethos and concentration of megachurches which offer seamless access and anonymity, is happy hunting ground for these nomadic Christians. Mr Lim Kay Tham, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, discerns an 'increasing consumerist spirit that motivates people to search for a place of worship that more adequately satisfies their spiritual needs'.

Some are burnt out or disappointed with church politics, and start to cruise. Sociologist Mathew Mathews notes that in a city-state with an enviable transport system, Christians confront 'few structural barriers' to being permanent visitors to other churches. This is especially so for those who are 'not so integrated that they are liable to move if there's something else attractive out there'.

He adds: 'Defections are everywhere. Where do upset people migrate? The megachurches. The thinking is that if they are big, they have a certain reputation and quality.'

Because the last thing these movers want is a lot of closeness, at least not in the beginning, he reckons. With megachurches, they can slip in and out unnoticed.

Not all the movement is flitting, however. Dr Daniel Koh of Trinity Theological College says there are Christians who genuinely wish to be actively involved but may not find their niche ministry where they are. 'Then the reason is not consumerism, but to use their gift in a significant way.'

Well-resourced megachurches, especially, have an expansive menu of ministries, with City Harvest listing 34 - ranging from drama to dialect teams.

It helps that denominational lines are fluid in Singapore as well, especially for many who were converted by para-church groups like Campus Crusade for Christ when they were young.

'Most churches don't stress so much on denominational distinctiveness, so people cross quite easily. A Methodist may hear about City Harvest. He doesn't transfer membership but worships there,' notes Dr Koh.

Although roamers tend to be the young, who enjoy a looser structure in church as in life, mature believers ship out too.

One of them is Ms Diva Lim, 41, a travel industry executive. She took a break from the large charismatic Anglican church where she had served on the worship team for 14 years. She wanted to explore other churches as well as recharge, and has visited Cornerstone Community Church, City Missions and City Harvest.

'We need simple messages that will pierce your heart and bring you closer to God,' says Ms Lim, who frequently visits City Harvest. 'Every time I go there, I am moved. Some say I like vibrant crowds. If that's true, I'd tear every time I walk down Orchard Road.'

She says she was impressed with the changes in her siblings who worship at the megachurch too, and finds that her teenage nephews are motivated to study harder. City Harvest leaders recommend that secondary and junior college students study at least 15 hours a week.

Meanwhile, Mr Koh, the free-spirited explorer of churches, is not idling. He now serves in a ministry that helps international students assimilate into Singapore culture.

'I do believe in being committed to serve in a church,' he emphasises. 'I'm stepping up my search now and praying about it.'

And his next stop? A small church, he thinks, for its authenticity and community.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (8) - Jul 17, 2010 THE 5Ms: Members Services from cradle to grave
CHURCH members are their best advertisement.

And megachurches take them seriously, caring for their flock from cradle to grave, offering a suite of social services, training centres and business networking arms.

Unlike other churches where Sunday school starts at 18 months, the megachurches nurture 'new' members from birth.

At City Harvest and New Creation churches, you can drop off your newborn, with feeding instructions, and collect him after service.

New Creation has a full-time staff of 15 who, aided by more than 800 church volunteers, care for almost 2,000 children - aged one month to 12 years - weekly.

It is an almost 1:1 ratio of caregivers to the tiniest tots aged one to eight months, and that covers feeding, nappy changing and even chaperoning by shuttle bus to another auditorium if necessary.

Chances are if mum and dad feel too lazy for church this week, it is Junior who will drag them there. City Harvest is decked out with a bouncy inflatable castle and an indoor adventure playground at its Singapore Expo premises.

For its children's church, it has a troop of iSmile ushers, stage and prop designers who work on weekly themes, and a Geek Team that creates animation for worship songs.

Last month, City Harvest organised a Shrek-themed treasure hunt at Sentosa for young people. It also urges its student members in secondary school and junior college to study at least 15 hours a week, which keeps their parents happy.

The church's statistics show that their students consistently outperform the national average at the N, O and A levels.

Other services that keep pews packed: adoptive parenting workshops, funeral advice and discounted Holy Land tours.

And that is what megas want as they keep score by attendance, not membership. New Creation's deacon Jack Ho says the church does this as 'membership does not tell the whole story'.

In his previous small church, he adds, membership was 400 but attendance was 150. This was because folks had moved on, without transferring membership, or were living overseas. 'We treat regular attendees like members,' he says.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (9) - Jul 17, 2010 THE 5Ms: Multinational Plugged into global grid
MEGACHURCH might as well be a new denomination. Or world domination.

Singapore's megapastors are all firmly plugged into international grids. They learnt from global 'mentors, models and methods', sociologist Mathew Mathews observes.

Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong of Faith Community Baptist Church regards Colombian superpastor Cesar Castellanos as his 'spiritual father'. He seeks his counsel in growth strategy and show business, according to his book Give Me The Multitudes!

Mr Castellanos, whose gigachurch in Bogota counts 200,000 members, once advised the Singaporean pastor-illusionist to ignore naysayers and stick to entertainment shows that portray the magic of love.

In 2002, Mr Khong embraced his mentor's G-12 (The Government of Twelve) vision. This concept rests on the conviction that as Jesus led 12 disciples, each believer can mentor 12 people - and potentially draw in many more.

The movement has since spread to all seven continents, and the Singapore megachurch now hosts its annual Asia-Pacific conference. About 1,000 delegates from 24 countries, as well as 5,000 church members, attended the conference in March.

City Harvest Church founder Kong Hee is on the board of Church Growth International, a network of 70 heads of global churches that shares principles of evangelism and church growth. It was founded in 1976 by Korean evangelist Cho Yonggi, whose 750,000-strong Yoido Full Gospel Church is the world's biggest. Mr Kong is his protege and City Harvest hosts the network's biennial Asia Conference.

New Creation Church's Senior Pastor Joseph Prince is a regular speaker at Sydney megachurch Hillsong, which has branches in London, Kiev, Cape Town, Sweden and elsewhere. Hillsong's chart-topping worship leader Darlene Zschech and Grammy-winning Israel Houghton - who is a worship leader at America's largest Lakewood Church - both testify that Mr Prince's message of grace has inspired their music and ministry.

The Singapore megachurches are also leaders in international missionary work. Victory Family Centre has started more than 6,000 churches in over 80 countries since its beginnings as Calvary Charismatic Centre in 1977. More than 2,000 members in the 6,000-strong decentralised church, which gathers at seven locations here, have volunteered to devote at least one year of their life to serving in another country.

Last year, City Harvest conducted pastors' conferences, teaching seminars and Bible distributions in 70 cities in 16 countries. It has nearly 300 mission trips planned for this year - nearly one a day. It starts a new church every three months.

So while the megachurches here are ostensibly independent, and walked away from denominations such as the Baptists and Assemblies of God, so intensely networked are they across continents that they have the look of a global denomination.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (10) - Jul 21, 2010
Guidelines on use of mall space for religion Govt outlines limits to the use of commercial complexes By Lee Siew Hua
NEW government guidelines have made clear that it is all right for religious organisations to make use of commercial premises for their activities, subject to certain limits.

Christian groups have been using places such as hotel function rooms and convention centres on weekends for a number of years, as reported in the media.

From now, no more than 20,000 sq m of a commercial complex's gross floor area (GFA), or 20 per cent of GFA, whichever is lower, may be used for religious purposes. And such activities may be held for no more than two days a week.

A religious organisation is also limited to using 10,000 sq m, which is equivalent to about 11/2 football fields. This will ensure that a religious organisation does not dominate a particular commercial complex.

In a joint statement, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) explained they were prepared to exercise some flexibility and allow commercial premises such as hotels, auditoriums, function halls, convention centres and cinemas to be used in a 'limited, non-exclusive way' by religious groups that hold large gatherings.

This is provided the events do not cause noise, traffic or parking problems. To protect the secular nature of the venues, there must also be no signage or religious symbols, and the interiors should not be furnished to resemble a worship hall when not used by the religious group.

The guidelines take effect immediately and apply to all religions. Religious organisations using commercial space will have to register with the URA.

The clarification of land use rules was received with relief as most churches are currently not at any risk of flouting the rules.

It is understood that the URA discussed the guidelines on Monday with representatives of the bigger megachurches - 33,000-strong City Harvest Church, 10,000-strong Faith Community Baptist Church and 20,000-strong New Creation Church - and their landlords, Singapore Expo and Suntec Singapore.

Currently, Faith Community Baptist Church and City Harvest Church use less than 10,000 sq m atthe Singapore Expo each.

City Harvest Church has also made a controversial $310 million investment to become a co-owner of Suntec Singapore and hold services in a 12,000-seat auditorium there.

Regarding City Harvest's purchase, a URA spokesman told The Straits Times it does not regulate property ownership.

'However, the actual use of the premises must adhere to the planning and land use zoning intentions regardless of the ownership. The contractual agreement between City Harvest and Suntec City is a private matter between the two parties,' he said.

A City Harvest spokesman said: 'We are currently liaising with the relevant land owners and studying the implications of the new guidelines. City Harvest will abide by the new guidelines.'

Ngee Ann Polytechnic real estate lecturer Nicholas Mak saidthe guidelines make sense.

'Rather than let religious organisations slowly take over commercial spaces and make other users feel uncomfortable, the guidelines ensure that members of the public of all religions can use the premises,' he said.

National University of Singapore cultural geographer Lily Kong welcomed the guidelines, saying secular spaces should not be entirely off-limits to religious groups.

'What this new set of guidelines does is to relax the clear compartmentalisation of land use in a cautious and regulated way,' she said.

However, Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong of Faith Community Baptist Church felt that such explicit guidelines could be restrictive and preferred leaving it to the market to 'self-regulate'.

For example, he said, it would be in landlord Singapore Expo's interests to safeguard its commercial character and not lease all its space to religious groups.

For landlord Suntec Singapore, which currently leases space to New Creation Church, the guidelines mean 'business as usual'.

A spokesman said: 'We are in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the authorities.'

New Creation Church declined to comment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (11) Jul 17, 2010 THE 5MS: Management
Business of spreading Gospel The megas are innovating in a big way and the traditional churches have taken their ideas to heart.
A MARKET model right out of the corporate world reigns in how the megas 'do church'.

It is a sleek customer-driven experience, featuring sharp-suited greeters with earpieces, hospitality booths and welcome packs with gifts and mugs embossed with the church logo.

At City Harvest Church, tithe collection can be done via credit card, Giro and eNets online.

Market wages are paid to an army of church staff. City Harvest employs 154 full-timers and has a wage bill of $9.3 million - making up 23 per cent of total expenses. Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) has 121 and New Creation, 170. In addition, outside consultants are engaged to do everything from printing the church bulletin to developing glitzy websites.

Reserves are corporate-sized too. The audited 2009 accounts of City Harvest showed that Singapore's biggest Protestant church had built up $103 million in reserves. In addition, its 14,000 sq ft office headquarters in Suntec City and designer church complex in Jurong West, costing $47.6 million, are fully paid up, as are Lighthouse Evangelism's two church properties in Tampines and Woodlands. Lighthouse has been bidding for a plot since 2003 to build a third church, to the tune of $10.53 million.

To steward staggering resources, many big-church pastors, leaders and staff hold business degrees.

FCBC founder Lawrence Khong has a business administration degree from the University of Singapore and is the son of a commodity trader. He founded entertainment production house Gateway Entertainment and has staged magic shows for a decade.

Being in the marketplace keeps him in tune with 'new approaches and methodologies in management, marketing and messaging' and the 'demands of the consumers as well as the needs of the workforce', he says. 'All organisations, whether they're profit-driven, voluntary welfare organisations or churches, should be managed professionally. Good management and leadership principles are found throughout the Bible. God is a God of order.'

City Harvest founder Kong Hee describes himself as a businessman and believes his mercantile instincts lie in his Indonesian-Chinese blood. He and pop star wife Sun Ho own motivational and training firm International Harvest and Skin Couture, which has three boutiques.

Senior Pastor Joseph Prince of New Creation has a TV show aired in 150 nations, potential markets for his books, CDs, MP3s and teaching resources. Among his deacons are Mr Matthew Kang, a Manulife Financial director, and Mr Jack Ho, who once owned a real estate business.

One pastor of a large mainline church in the central area says he relies more on his business administration degree than theology to run his church these days, because of the stringent regulatory environment. 'The question is how to be in the world, but not of the world,' he qualifies.

Theologian Roland Chia laments that this equating of pastor with CEO has come about because the church is now understood to be a business. 'Each local church is seen as a franchise with a core product to sell, namely the Gospel. The predominance of the business model has meant that the traditional tasks associated with pastoral ministry, such as teaching and counselling, are replaced by newer tasks and demands,' he says.

'If the church is a business, it must be run in a way that it can penetrate and service its market efficiently and profitably...What the church needs, according to proponents of this paradigm, is not so much people with MDivs (Master of Divinity) but those with MBAs.

'It is only with this requisite qualification that pastors can successfully manage and market the church. The modern pastor, according to this view, must be a good manager or a capable CEO.'

But Dr Mark Chan of Trinity Theological College cautions that churches which use marketplace methods should put in safety measures because 'business models are not values-neutral'.

Weighing in, the National Council of Churches of Singapore says that while it is not wrong for churches to go into business, they should not allow themselves 'to be distracted from their core mission of preaching the Gospel'.

at 32 years old.....

2010-07-15T14:04:00.003+08:00

Again, not to boast but rather to count my blessings of people who remembered this little Tiger. Hope I never missed anyone out.... >_<"
So many birthday wishing angels out there... awwww.....

Facebook
Mama Jac, Shu Er, HowJoo, Helen, Yaojing, Rosalyn, Ju, Ethan, Huimin, Angela, Ezen, Charlie, Minghao, Xiaohui, Miriam, Jerry, Evelyn Teo, Ivan, Pris Ang, Ben Chia, Pris Gan & Andrew, Francis, James Ray, Xiaoqi, Florence, Beng, Mei Peng, Mingming, Joan Cher, Zana, Liwen, Tricia, Des, GuangLoong, Michelle, Shihui, YingFang, Alvin, Shuping, Fernando, Kim, Grace, Geena, Eelee, Shawn, Ashley, Sebastian Tan, Zhiyang, Bonnie, Juergen,Cryst, Liting,
Terence, Gerald, Yongqing, veronica, Siew Qin, Christine, Ferlene, Cecilia, Anne, Adeline, Rae,
Ben Tan, Ben Low, Eugene Tay, Hak Wei, Jim, Gemia, Xtine, MengChong, Sunny, Doreen, Evelyn Tang, Cara, Emily, Kelly Yeo, Shuwen, Steven P, Fiona, Edward, Pamela, Chrissy Poon, Julia, KC, YowKhan, James Ng, Alisa Ang, David Johnson, Luci, Yiping, Huibin, JT, Steven Tan,
Peiru, Yuanrou, Sisy, Bernard, Mark.

Facebook email
Pastor Jeff, Choon Yam, Jowena, Yiwen

SmS
Yuanrou, Yvonne, Shuzhu, Aunt Sok Kiang, Matthew Woo, Livi, Mummy, SweeSen, Kelly,
CS, Pris Tham, Rachael Tham, Chris Pan, Howjoo*, josherine, Sherri, Fuqiang, Choong, Sooguan, Zann, EngKwang

Whatsapp
Faye

In person
Deborah, Shuzhu & Pris*, Huimin, Yvonne & Tiantian*, Rae*, Irene, Joan*, James*,
Cien An, Onz, Boom, Luci, Ben Chia, Family*

Gtalk
Tiantian, Shu Er*

Phone
Xtine*

New meetup

2010-06-20T21:41:00.001+08:00

Met with my new shepherd at 1pm today.

Another new start, new expectations, new growth? May God be with us :)

Divine moments

2010-04-27T22:26:00.005+08:00

Not a Picasso or Michelangelo, but could be the best drawings I replicate from time to time.

On reunion with my army buddies, found out that friend's gf is a christian and they probably getting married next year. So shared the bridge diagram with him. Though no sinner's prayer was said, I sowed, forming one of the many links that could lead to salvation. Felt great that God could use me some way.

Subsequently was wondering how I could share more......

While the mission exercise was about to start, we were told to gather some rest before the mission orders were given. Sleeping on the roof-top of our transport vehicle, I was awoken by the men's discussion on church and related key words.

TBK whose gf is a christian as well was "sharing" what he knew about church as well as throwing questions to the others. He said he often asked very hard questions to challenge the people in church. But he also made some astute comments the unorthodox sects like Mormons and JWs were in general very knowledgeable in knowing the contents of the bible and could counter almost any questions thrown at them convincingly. He also commented that as long as not baptized, its okay. He also pointed that D, that is a Christian but not attending care group is not good.

This came as a timely reminder that we really need to know our Word strongly. Else how would we be able to defend our faith convincingly against false teachers?

Subsequently, I was almost fully awake and joined in the conversation about giving to church.

Furthermore, C & Neo, engaged into an OT discussion, leading to other religions including Jews and Buddhist. It seems that the 2 of them had quite in depth studies about religion and were spiritually curious, though still "free-thinkers". Neo sided Buddhists teachings more and were giving us a history lesson on it but he generalized Christians and commented that there were a lot of contradictions in the way Christians carried themselves (as well as the other religions).

One of his more striking comments was on the words in the bible. How could we be sure as each translation surfaces, we are interpreting the correct meaning from the original text? His example was "enemy" = someone that is against you or someone that just has a different agenda against you?

C & Neo both believe that all religions will lead to the same God, though they do not know which one. I shared that Christians believe that there is just one God and it is actually "radically" different from all the other beliefs. I need to remind myself to be less emotional sometimes.

Though no arguments were won/lost, we had an open sharing and indeed God is amazing for opening such unexpected opportunities to discuss about Him, in the most unthinkable locations.

Well, after the missions and I was back in my bunk, I received another "revelation" from my mates. That I was not very understood nor liked by my men back in the full-time days :(

Somehow my way of communication/frequency was totally off with them, perhaps with the way I speak or do things.

But thankfully after the years or ongoing transformation by God, I've changed quite a lot.

2010 IPPT results

2010-04-27T22:09:00.003+08:00

Oh man... sprinting slower, getting weaker in pull-ups, but jumps further? :P
Can't wait for Cat Z... or maybe I can wait... >_<"

YR's birthday celebration

2010-03-28T22:25:00.002+08:00

Reaching another "era", our young YR has extended her youthfulness for another cycle...

The one about the F-club

The one at the BBQ Chicken

Candies... anyone?

2010-03-18T10:13:00.004+08:00

This is just too complicated for me...

Click here for the full-blown.

Difference between Piracy and the Real Deal...

2010-03-18T10:07:00.003+08:00

Does it really make you think twice about piracy?? This is so >_<" but I must say quite true as well.
Does it make you thi

God know me best

2010-02-10T12:28:00.003+08:00

Supposed to be very sad, but somehow through the week, I seem brave (on the outside). Which is what most people think I am (though I don't see why I'm brave).

Somehow I also seem slightly relieved.

But I believe God knows truly deep inside me, what's happening, even better than I know myself.

During the prayer meet, I broke down (temporary) and tears flowed like a heart-broken girl. But that quickly, almost immediately transformed to a lighter heart. That day I felt God speaking to me through the worship, the sermon as well as the sharing (later on).

Thank you God. You really love me and know me well. I need to remember this, remind myself, to have the strength to move on and be joyful at the same time. I will remind myself that You are the same in the good times as well as the 'bad' times.

You are ever faithful and always there for me even though we are often distracted in our own

desires/troubles.

You are great to me. Thank you for loving me, God.

Haven't been Blogging.... what have I've I been doing??

2010-02-01T21:59:00.000+08:00

This is sometimes how I look like for last week and yesterday night....

Praise God... Amazing Grace...

2009-12-10T23:23:00.002+08:00

Tonight was my company's D&D (1st time for my company as well as 1st time attending one, myself). Prior to that, was persuaded so hard by my colleagues to enter the "talent" competition, promised of great prizes $500, $300 and $100. Supposedly only 3 contestants, so high chances of winning. After much much much persuasion, I decided to join with my senior.

Then when coming to choosing songs, I (not really sure but it could be the Holy Spirit convicting me) decided to sing "Amazing Grace" + "Dreams" (a song that we sung before 2 years ago in a company function). Originally wanted to sing "Oh Come Hear Ye Faithful" but somehow was led to choose Amazing Grace (Chains are Gone) version. So that choice itself made me more excited. To sing a song of God. However, we did not have much time to practice, it was just one day before and we didn't have our guitars and the next day my senior was on leave! (D&D night).

So we just did some light rehearsals, singing acapella and to practice the rest by ourselves that night.

I tried with my sis that night, somewhat okay.

The function night itself, both of us reached pretty late but in time for the main event and our boss was giving a speech. I was quite panic as my senior was still not there and we hadn't practice. Luckily we had 1+ hour to the performance (oh yah, and I was told last minute, no more competition but just performance as the other 2 teams pulled out). So when he finally arrived, we went to a room and practiced the 2 songs.

just 45mins before our part, a hired performance was about to start. It was a group comprising of an Australian lady, dressed quite scantily in black with 2 assistant singer/dancers. I have to admit, the show they did was pretty entertaining but a bit too wild, raunchy and highly suggestive. To cut the story short, after the performance, the emcee said, if they (the entertainers) had tickets to go to heaven, and the contestants were to go to hell (coz they were subjected to lots of seductive actions), they (the entertainers) would tear up their tickets to go to heaven and go to hell with them??!! Man... what a weird thing to say. Sometimes the things people say are so cliche... The lady even said "God bless" before leaving.

The mood was already very "ra-ra", loud, noisy and excited, and another group of employees did their dance thing. I was personally a little shaken by the performance and wavered whether we should still do our thing. But since we had sort of no time/choice to ask to cancel, we thick-skin-ly went up towards the stage when its announced that it was our turn.

The Emcee, asked what songs we were singing, and when said through the mic "Amazing Grace", his expression was kind of shocked... but just repeated the names again. And then we just sang and sang the 2 songs, although the mid-half and back-half of the audience were continuing to be rowdy. Only the front few tables quietly watched and listened to us (the bosses and closer colleagues). I was surely nervous with my leg shaking a bit as I played the guitar and sang with my senior but God definitely pulled us through.

Our colleagues were encouraging and some commended us (our performance probably was the most "outstandingly" different item of the night). And our boss said she was impressed. Thank God. It felt really good and refreshing to have sung Amazing Grace, to that crowd. Of course, we didn't expect people to be awed or touched but it really felt great singing and proclaiming His Grace and love in that short moment.

Thank You God, You are Great!

Swimming Lobang...

2009-11-27T22:10:00.003+08:00

For those that like swimwear and accessories sales like me :P

Event : Arena Year End Clearance Sale 2009
Location: 217, #01-01 Henderson Road, Henderson Industrial Park
Date : 25 – 29 Nov 2009
Time : 10.00AM – 7.00PM
Admission: Free
Looks just about right for a warehouse sale with ladies’ swimsuits starting from $10 and men’s swim trucks from just $5.

TYR WATER FIESTA SALE

Take this opportunity to check out the fantastic offers at the main lobby as TYR will be having their annual warehouse sales with great bargains from $5 onwards!

Date: Fri - Sun, 27 Nov – 29 Nov 2009
Time: 10am – 8.00pm
Offers include:
- Backpacks from $20
- Male Swimwear from $5
- KickBoards from $10
- Snorkel Sets from $30
- Goggles from $10
- Fins from $15
- Beach Thongs from $5
- Ladies Shorts from $12
- Waterproof Bags from $12
- Female Swimwear from $10
- Aqua Gloves from $10

Get a Microfibre Towel at $4 or a Water Bottle at $2 with $80 spent. Get a Big Backpack at $30 with $120 spent. Get a free MP3 Waterproof Set with $300 spent.

New relative and one flies away...

2009-11-11T14:00:00.000+08:00

My cousin Liting gave birth and we have the 1st new baby of the Lim family (my mother's side) and thus I am officially an uncle (I know a lot of people uncle/aunt for long time already).
Visited her family at her place on the 5th of Sep and subsequently her 1st month (but pics with the mother, not with me).
Also had a farewell dinner for XiaoRu (JieRu) on 18th Sep, before she flew to UK. We ate at Shukudo and since I was the oldest, I treated these youngsters. Time flies... was just like 10 years ago when I was the one that was going to fly and they were only puny little children.

Oct Weddings

2009-11-09T23:05:00.001+08:00

10th Oct 16 Oct

September HPL and Talk 21 Sept

2009-11-09T23:03:00.006+08:00

Unfinished Sep & Oct businesses...

2009-11-02T22:48:00.005+08:00

Our CG's love language stats (not all did it that night that I taught).
Shuzing sharing her testimony on stage on the 27th Sept.
My office gonna move again. Its like my 3rd move in 5 years (same company) :P
We had like many office chairs brought to our current office to let us test!
8th of Oct, 2009. Mr Toh supposed to be officially discharged...
We "celebrated" eating dinner and ice-creams before watching "Cloudy with a Chance for Meatballs" at Westmall :) man, that is like a decade ago for me.....
Also catch up with a lunch kaki for Korean along Tanjung Pagar which I subsequently brought my colleagues there as well. Good food and about S$10 net per person.

Lastly, we also had more choir training/individual exposure during our weekly practice.

Voice Workshop

2009-11-02T22:40:00.000+08:00

19 October, 2009 in American room of Nexus
A bit late but let me recall some stuff we learnt from a recent voice class conducted by Dick Su, one of Angie's friends. We did about 1+ hr of warmups alone.

1st to loosen our bodies, we did head stretch exercises. Till the head to the right and use your right hand to slowly pull it lower for a while before letting go and letting your head slowly return to the normal position by itself. Do it for the left side as well.

Then we did some lip exercise, by squeezing our lips like you want to force plant a kiss on someone and he/she is purposely avoiding you. Will look very silly but its all for warmups.

Then push your tongue against the left cheek with your hand trying to oppose it as well, do it for the right cheek.

Open your jaw wide and move it left/right (can't really remember this one, did we do?)

Lastly is breathe through your mouth and fill up the diaphragm (not the chest). Do the Ssssss...

For articulation wise, we bite our teeth together and hold it there and practice talking without moving the teeth and moving the lips totally.

The different pronunciation of the vowels, the "Th" vs the "t", "d", "f", "m", "n", etc...

darn.. I took too long to recall, now I almost forgotten all :P

But anyways, we did individual singing, or recital, as well as practiced reading with Dick as well as listened to his demonstration (below video).

We did a Noel's Arch diction/projection/breathing exercise as well.

Some of our classmates even did an impromptu skit with lines that they only saw for the 1st time.

So many talented drama people here :) Anyway it was a fun class. Thanks for Angie for organizing and HJ & Sijia for promoting it and Dick, of course, for imparting some skills to us. Pleasantly surprised to see Reina there, Shiyan as well as Charlie, the brother that did my hair way back in the church anniversary in the downtown east :P

Reading for the day......

2009-10-30T08:30:00.000+08:00

Some old draft post that I had in my blog but seemed to have forgotten to publish (some time in July this year).

Picked up a 2nd-hand book at the ground floor of my building a few days ago, a book - God has never failed me, but He's sure scared me to death a few times by Stan Toler.

So this morning, on the MRT, finally came to the 1st chapter and was referred to 2 Chronicles 20.
The story talks about how the King of Judah (Israel), Jehoshaphat, was facing 3 new enemies there were lined up against the tiny nation of Israel, and he realized that he (representing the kingdom) was powerless without God's help.

In v3 Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord and in v4 proclaimed a fast for all Judah and the people of Judah come together to seek help from the Lord.

v12 "We are powerless against the great multitude that is coming against us". If we want God's help, we must confess our need!

Anyway, the story goes with God saying in 15 ...."Do not be afraid or discourage because of this army. For the battle is not yours, but God's."

Many a times, I get easily discouraged when faced with a big problem or something that seems so overwhelming, even to the point of just leaving it to fate as it seems like out to get me and defeat me. Either that or I would just take it into my own hands, do what I can with my own strength, get disappointed, brush it aside and start over again and again.

But I guess the 'right' way is to leave the battles to God. We seek Him, pray, ask for wisdom to deal with the situation and place the problems at God's feet. We have to trust that God knows what He is doing, even though we don't know what we are doing, or how to deal with it. Its especially these dire times that we do not depend on ourselves as we can't.

Dear God, hopefully we your children can learn to submit and rely on You more (especially myself). Thank you God and in Your most precious name, Amen.

Had this conversation

2009-10-01T18:09:00.004+08:00

Today, a Reuters trainer came over to our work site to teach us more on graphing and stuff.

There was a comment which we requested for something and she told us to (lie) give another reason in order to make it legitimate. My senior (Christian) said, that's not right, and she immediately asked, so honest, you a Christian? Then somehow she said why not ask another colleague to request as he probably won't have problems with telling stories in order to get what we want. I commented that hey, doesn't mean not a Christian means its right to lie right?

Then somehow she said just said that she didn't know that my Christian colleague is so good and a good catch. He said he is married, than she said, even married also okay one what.

Very diaoz...

Its kind of sad to know that some people have the notion that lying is okay and marriage is not taken as seriously as it should be. But this means, the more we need to be compassionate to those that do not know the Lord and have this "warped" sense of morality. We shouldn't shun them but instead be consistent in what we stand for and not easily (or not at all, as we are human after all) waiver when bad things happen. Don't give in so easily to temptation, in order to save money for the company (that is the good thing but in instance, not the right method).

Be in the world and interacting and befriending them but do point out (nicely) correctly certain right moral standards without being judging/critical (I'm often at fault in this). We are not perfect ourselves thus who are we to judge them? All (Christians and non-Christians) are fallen, all need God's grace and mercy.

God is teaching me something

2009-09-26T00:37:00.003+08:00

Few months back, faced a setback which has since sunken in.

Now facing another "crisis" which is depressing.

I believe God is teaching me something, which I have sort of found out, and He is re-shaping me to be a better person, more beautiful on the inside. God, it hurts but I will try to let You be You and accept the changes that I need to undergo.

God, You are Good.
God, You are in control.
and God, You will bring it to pass.
Amen...

Reading for the day - The Soul who sins will die

2009-09-03T08:50:00.000+08:00

This morning's reading was on Ezekiel 18. I think there is a lot of meditation, reflection behind this passage. God is the judge, God is just. Standards of just to God and to man is very different. When I was reading the passage, it gave me comfort that the soul of the person who sins will die and not die because simply his father or his son sinned. Of course, if my father or my son sinned, I would be devastated and who not want that to happen. I would have to do my best as a Christian and share with them the news of Jesus. Whether they choose to believe or not is not my business (as long as I convey God's message clearly) because God is the one who convicts them not me.
However, as you read further into the passage, it also talks about the righteous who sins and will die vs the wicked who repents and is saved. Here it does poke into my heart a bit and if I use my humanly perception of judgment, I will say its not just. But I also believe it to remind us that we should finish the race well.
One last point, the passage also reminds us that God is a God of 2nd chances. Repent and turn away from our wicked ways and God will still accept us. Knowing that God does not delight in the death of anyone is comforting and that He does not even delight in the death of the wicked shows His compassion for us.

Ezekiel 18The Soul Who Sins Will Die

¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² "What do you people mean by quoting this
proverb about the land of Israel:
" 'The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
³ "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD,
you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. ⁴ For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—
both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
⁵ "Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.⁶ He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor's wife or lie with a woman during her period.⁷ He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and
provides clothing for the naked.⁸ He does not lend at usury or take excessive interest.
He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between man and man.⁹ He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.¹⁰ "Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things ¹¹ (though the father has done none of them):
"He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor's wife.
¹² He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.¹³ He lends at usury and takes excessive interest.
Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things,
he will surely be put to death and his blood will be on his own head.
¹⁴ "But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits,
and though he sees them, he does not do such things:¹⁵ "He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor's wife.
¹⁶ He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.
¹⁷ He withholds his hand from sin and takes no usury or excessive interest.
He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live. ¹⁸ But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion,
robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
¹⁹ "Yet you ask, 'Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?'
Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful
to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.
²⁰ The soul who sins is the one who will die.
The son will not share the guilt of the father,
nor will the father share the guilt of the son.
The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him,
and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
²¹ "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed
and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right,
he will surely live; he will not die.
²² None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him.
Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.
²³ Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?
declares the Sovereign LORD.
Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
²⁴ "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and
commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live?
None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered.
Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and
because of the sins he has committed, he will die.
²⁵ "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.'
Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust?
Is it not your ways that are unjust?
²⁶ If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin,
he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die.
²⁷ But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed
and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
²⁸ Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and
turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die.
²⁹ Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.'
Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?³⁰ "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways,
declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses;
then sin will not be your downfall.
³¹ Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed,
and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?
³² For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Repent and live!

Misc:
Today made a "mistake" when I sent out the daily updates to the financial markets.
I wrote: "God rose the most since March". Actually if you think about it is sort of true, although it should be Gold instead :P caught by my senior who's a Christian haha...

God is Good

2009-08-31T22:36:00.005+08:00

God is Good - Learning

Went for my 2nd IDMC conference at Woodlands Covanent Evangelic Free Church.

May not may not update stuff here but one of the simple yet important thing that we are reminded of is:

(1) God is God;

(2) God is in Control; and

(3) God will bring it to pass.

It is important for us to know all 3 because, if God is Good but not in control, it is useless to us. If God is in control but not Good, it is worst! And a very comforting truth is God will bring it to pass.

Gid in Control - Singing

2nd event was the choir service we had just yesterday, it was totally refreshing experience serving back again although I was slightly mentally tired from the 3-day conference. Singing was definitely okay, but once we stopped, I was instantly hit by the Z-monster.

Yes, quite sad that PF is singing in her last service (only announced at the end of 2nd service) but we are happy that she is going to go and make our usher ministry stronger.

We will definitely miss her.

God will bring it to pass - Ouch!

After service was told that my previous soccer team, Tag United, is gravely under-teamed. So I brought along SweeSen with me to Toa Payoh 1st Seconday school. But sadly, I was not much help. The team lost 0-2 and I was quite badly injured.

This morning, almost couldn't move my left arm and winced like crazy. But still made the effort to go to office and after work tried out a chinese tie gu yi sheng (chinese doctor for physical problems) nearby my office. Quite embarrassing as I was made to take off my top and sit right next to a busy walking pathway to the mrt with lots of executives walking pass. The way he treated me was pain like crazy. But I endured, after hearing the effects of how he treated an India who was wailing, screaming and crying like a baby (think he dislocated his arm... oh oh...).

This morning, both my shoulders were of the same color. After the treatment... ouch.....!

Working on another blog...

2009-08-24T23:27:00.001+08:00

Haven't been blogging lately as I'm working on my wedding blog :P
shag sia...

22 Aug Corporate Prayer meet

2009-08-22T22:52:00.001+08:00

Nothing much to say but just wanted to remember the times at Suntec Corporate prayer meet :)

Stan's Place/DMM

2009-08-16T22:30:00.003+08:00

Our 3rd? (after YuanRou's place and mine) cg home visit since the formation of MustardSeeds. This time, its Stanley's hood. And the game master was JiongYao and Stan. We had a blast of a time play crazy Charades as well as experimenting how not to smash an egg while throwing it down from 2 stories high. Eventually I think the girls were better engineers while the guys were better at coming up with funny and interesting Charade questions :P

Next day after the service, we had our 1st DMM with new core team member YuanRou! Think this place is at OG 3rd floor. Can't recall the cool looking cafe though.

Hmmmm......hmmm.....

2009-08-10T22:41:00.002+08:00

White shoes...!!! Nothing much to say but just that Aldo has nice shoes! Just a pity doesn't have my sizes and it was a hassle to buy online!

Photo Moments...

2009-08-10T22:36:00.002+08:00

Our British-educated/PRC/Singapore PR celebrates being 1 year older!
Can you guess who is who and why you think so? Just thought this view was interesting during one of our cg sessions at FMC.
One of my favourate brothers giving me and my lovely fiancee a treat (my belated birthday treat) at Sun & Moon restaurant at Wheellock place. A pity his gf couldn't join us though but it was a good meal :)

Jim Tay's Wedding :)

2009-08-10T21:00:00.001+08:00

Went for Jim's (Kok Hou) wedding on the 25th of Jul, 1st time going to Adam Road Presbyterian Center church (and the churches there). Managed to see some old Michigan friends there, though I heard more Raffles friends went for the dinner one :P Saw Huiling and her baby... seems more popular than the wedded couple? haha..
Me and the Tays.. Happy like bird... Kok hou said he was banned from soccer, hope its just temperaroy suspension...

Raffles Family....
Michigan...!!! Go Blue...

Gems & Ballet under the Stars

2009-08-05T22:00:00.000+08:00

About 3 weeks ago, we finally settled on where to get our wedding bands. Somehow manage to find this website, Clarity, a boutique jeweller at Shaw House, that has an amazing amount of wedding band designs. At first I thought the cost was comparable or even slightly more expensive than those more common chain stalls of jewellers out there like SK, Soo Kee, Tian Po, etc... But the boss, Amanda, was very sweet and nice, as well as patient, gave us 35% discount, the usual for referred customers. In fact we managed to come up with some design to make our bands more unique and at a quite reasonable rate. Else we would have stopped short at Love and Co. , (still under Soo Kee, surprisingly) but has the next most varied wedding band choices at affordable prices.
(This is not the actual bands but the "proto-typed" which we worked on).
Amanda is the nice lady on the left (she probably won't see this but if she does, hope she don't raise the cost of my wedding band :P).
After a short rest at dear's place, we went to Fort Canning Green with Pris & Andrew and YR for the Ballet under the Stars. The crowd was crazy sia..... need to find a spot within the whole place filled with people. Pardon the poor pictures as it was really dark (the picture's brightness not very acurate), and I was at a lost to how to use my DSLR.
Unknowingly, Ms YR became my model for the night as she kept more still. My dear and Pris kept posing whenever I turned the camera towards them, which was quite tough.. haha...
Anyway, I enjoyed the company and the music more than the event itself (it was good but had a hard time trying to see the stage). The weather was fantastic (rained slightly only after we left)!

A wonderful time - "Thirty-Old Man"...

2009-07-22T15:05:00.000+08:00

Finally manage to fix a time (28th June, 4 months later) to treat my "Project Tiger Balm" (proposal) team at TPY, dear's dad's favorite eat-out place. Only Ms QiQi couldn't make it, a pity :(

But the food was great, a bit too much though but yet gentle on my wallet :P
This is my favorite picture for month ;p

Last weekend after soccer, met up with dear at Tanjung Pagar to finalize the wedding gown choices. After which she treated me to Astons at Suntec city. We tried the King's steak from forgot Australia/New Zealand as well as their lamp chops. Really quite nice and very juicy without being overpricy. But water cost 30 cents?!? (insert picture here) Also went to Love and co. to check out their vast selection of wedding bands. Yes, we are almost there!!!

On Monday, at the end of the choir singing practise, the choir celebrated for the July babies, namely Yiping, Howjoo and me. Prayed for us. In short Yiping - prayed for faithfulness to follow the Lord, Howjoo - salvation of the family and me - to follow God's ways more closely such that I can able to lead my new family member-to-be, help out more in the CG as well as choir. Bought us Durian cake!

(Pictures from HJ, did some minor edits)

Don't know why but I had insomnia on Monday night. At 5am still not asleep, so I smsed my senior and told him I'm taking leave. Sad sia, taking leave on birthday to nurse a bad night. Didn't do much except research and did some wedding preparation stuff as well as thanking all those that wished me happy birthday :)) made my day though was sort of stoning at home. Dear surprised me with a visit at night and with a mini cake.

Lastly was lunch celebration with colleagues. 4 of us July babies went to Sake Sushi just nearby our office (within same compound). It was quite funny as a colleague heard wrongly and walked all the way to the Central and had to walk back.

Then it was a bit surprising that they bought FOUR cakes! Luckily, only decided to eat 2 of them and I was one of the "lucky" ones that have to bring back the other cakes. So I brought it along and shared with my choir mates! :P (the same night, later).

Guess who's the youngest to oldest? (pic above, not tallest and shortest hor...)
Misc: Think 2 months ago, gave the wrong instruction to my HDB hair dresser, and got an super short cut at the sides.... super pai kia leh.. argh... so much comments on Monday when I went back to work :P

A good Helper Gone....A new one Arrives

2009-07-21T22:46:00.002+08:00

After being with us for 1 contract year (I think it was back when I started working in 2003-2004, so she was with us for 3-4 years), Anna, on her mother's insistent, had to go back to the Philippines. Well, it was reluctance on our side but than we parted on good terms. Zann and I prayed for her before she left. Thank you Anna, you are a real good help.
And Ruby was our new replacement domestic helper.

Thank you for all the wishes :) - Birthday Wishes 2009

2009-07-14T23:59:00.001+08:00

This is not a list of achievements but rather just a short note of the nice and loving people out there that still remembered or bothered to shower their love of blessings on a thirty-something-year-old-man.

Facebook: Samuel Chan, Mama Jac, Julia Lim, Miriam, Cryst, Shen Teng, Jessica Ye, Grace Sim, Sarah, Wombat (Kai-lin), Steven P, Mei Peng, Hong Teck, Tricia, Natasha, Ee Lee (Yi Li Dan), Feng XiaoQi, FuQiang, CK, Kelly, Cara, Ezen, Pam, Shu er, Tzeyee, Wendy Tan, Andrew Ong, Alvin Poon, Xianjun, Anne Jon Tan, Edna Oh, Ferlene Tan, Ross, Bonnie, Claire Yeo, Faye, Jeff Gu, May Hoon, Howjoo, Gerlyn Shevon, Guessie

Facebook inbox: Choon Yam, Soo Guan, Steve Young

Sms: Lijun, Cuibao, Livi, Pris Tham, EngKwang, Ink, Jiongyao

Email: Andrew Loke

Msn: Randell, Sandra San, Simster

In person: My family and my dear as well as choir members (on Monday)

Seems like the trend is all moving towards facebooking hor? :P
Wonder how will we wish people 10 years from now or would we still upon blessings on others in future (I hope that never changes).

Andrew and Pris' Wedding: a Loke affair

2009-07-14T15:25:00.005+08:00

Before Andrew's Wedding on Friday, brothers and sisters from Hope (most from Island Hope) plus ah Beng, came together and celebrated their last week as singles.

*Just before the event which I was the dude's main organizer, I totally "holland" and took me 40 mins to reach Riverside

The brothers met up at Brekwerk's while the sisters met at Manhattan's Fish Market, both quite near each other.
Linked up after about 1+ hour. Wanted to dig deep into their relationship and stuff but our main character was so shy about it. Warned him way ahead of time that we were gonna make him do a dare and he sounded so confident :P

Anyway, it was my 1st time doing such an event, couldn't come up with much creative stuff except this (pic below).
So Andrew, u gotta guess which one is Pris Gan's one! Of course he fouled up and did the dare, which was to creative a new love song for Ms Gan, that we had never heard before (new lyrics).

Yah.. a successful and fun singles night. Success that we all had fun.
3 days later, the event of the year for our CG at Swissotel, Singapore.

The nights main photographers, Inky, Raindeer and Merv (and Joe). I'm the unofficial one as usual.
Already spent too much time taking and editing photos, so I'll just post photos only.

Congrats to this lovely couple! :))

Church Camp @ the Legends, KL, 2009

2009-07-08T15:34:00.009+08:00

Finally its the long awaited church camp. I missed last year's coz it clashed with my CFA exams but God is good and allowed me to join our church again in this sacred retreat in KL this time! And since its the season of budget airfares, I flew this time to KL as well on Asia/JetStar. Actually I don't really mind taking the coach but its just takes up a bit too much time. Nevertheless, heard that our cg reached the hotel very early this time. Though I only needed to take half day to get to KL, somehow, taking mrt down to the airport and upon reaching, have to slog with my hand luggage to the budget terminal and than take a 50min taxi ride to the hotel wasn't too pleasant (but I had my dear with me, which was an offsetting factor). Cab fare cost about RM61 (budget taxi size) which wasn't too bad and had a interesting conversation with our Christian taxi driver.

First day's program was the usual theme exhibition, this year was "Heroes vs Villains". And thus our unit was the "Red Devils" vs our partner unit which was Angels United.

Think in the end we won best hero, with our retro-looking Jesus who saved the world (represented by the soccer ball in the design of a globe) all the time through penalty kicks!

The following day, had my 1st workshop. We learnt about the difference between Secular models of EQ vs biblical EQ. Differences between mood (persistent state, unfocused, vague, powerful, transferable) and emotions (usually short lived, clear and focused, more precise, can evolve into becoming a mood, demands response and single expression) <-- just some gists. The lesson could be quite long and was very interesting but due to lack of time we probably only just skimmed the surface of it. Ask the experts (in the pic below) if you wanna know more.

Next was the allocated CG travel KL time. I believe almost half the church went to where we went or was at least nearby us. Fast forwarding, we had an interesting encounter with a Christian-Malaysian-"Wang Li Hong" on the train, on our way back :P my cg members would know what I'm talking about :P

We went for a short shopping preview before meeting up at dinner place. The guys and gals split up and dang, it was the 1st signs of how shopping would dictate the whole night. Saw many friends there at our chosen eating place and helped them take some pictures.

Following day, had my 2nd workshop about God - the secret of my success. We went through the secular definition as well as the supposedly Jesus' definition of success shared by 2 returning church planters. What is your definition as opposed to Jesus' point of view on Success?

In the afternoon we had our 1st gathering with the choir and practiced the songs for the service on Sunday at the Yap's "honeymoon suite".

Late afternoon, Reina's 1st church backup singing! Just wanna recall something funny. In the morning's P&W, there was some technical hiccups with the sound and thus we only had like a piano and the singers but as Pastor Jeff put it, not by "mic" or "power" but by the Spirit of God that is important do enjoy His presence (paraphrazed by me lah... can't remember the exact words).

Then came dinner. Went to where our cg went last year but a different eatery.

Amazing sia, the amount of food Esmond ordered. And supposedly he comes here twice daily just to eat. YR is so amazed that she can't stop smiling.
The last night's time spending was our usual most intense and outreach to grasp God's presence. We spent time in power P&W as well as altar call.

The last day, after our usual church service with the choir on as well.
Quite like the 2nd picture as its a very animated picture of us choir taken by Megan's friend Joan from our church. The picture gives me proof that I do not open my mouth wide enough or somehow my diction is totally different from the rest of the group :P

As the church returned to Singapore on coach, the same 3 of us, took cab to Mid Valley Shopping mall to meet a fellow friend (ex-hoppie coz she moved back to Malaysia). There wasn't really much to shop there so we spent lots of time at Secret Recipe before meeting her for dinner. But on the way to the airport, we sort of got ourselves "conned" onto a meter-charging cab that wasn't transparent about the cost. Ended up we went to the police station at the airport but manage to settle things eventually with the helpful policemen.

Thoughts about this church camp.Somehow I was pretty much distracted by many things, like the well-being of the cg (some small problems here and there), late night sleeping which made me not very alert through the teachings though I never fall asleep. But all in the experience of hanging out in an intense way with God's people over this 3 day 3 night is priceless and I did experience God, even though small instances, was worth being there.

My brother also managed to come for his 1st church camp as well. I don't know how much he really learnt but I leave it to God to teach him and am grateful to brothers for taking care of him on my behalf. Believe I have much more to share but I'll have to review the teachings taught again and think it through so that the Word of God would not just go in through my ears and out again without being processed. Hope you had learnt something as well, and not wasted your few minutes reading this post :)

Yappy June Wedding

2009-06-30T23:00:00.000+08:00

Wah, one of the weddings that I couldn't wait since knowing my bro HJ getting attached some years back. Still remember vaguely 1-2 talks that we had when we were still single and perhaps some "worrisome" :P

But this is the day that the Lord has made them join together as one! Cheers!

The choir and HJ's talented school choir trainee, Emanuel, talented co-opera singer Yuan Ting (?? hope i didn't get it wrong :P) and of course the CHOIR! :))
The 2 musically gifted couples playing and singing a Hokkien worship song for their guest (us lah)...
Me and my most lovely one...
Its all about the choir... I think :P white as angels....
We about taking pics of my friends from Hope.
1st time I hear a groom count "1, 2, 3..." for the cameraman. He is so excited and of course could vocalize it loudly...
Some more handsome and pretty "young" ones loittering while waiting for their photo taking session.

Mr and Mrs Yap and the choir (past and present).
And my favorite photo of the month :))
Next post, hopefully will be church camp (past so many weeks liao... :P)

"Lost moments" - May

2009-06-29T18:30:00.000+08:00

Catching up on the many moments of my life in May. 1st up was hearing our dear CL share her testimony on how more of her family members came to Christ on 3rd May 2009 Sunday.

Then it was the following Sunday with Mother's day celebration. Praise and Worship leading led by musical Mama Jac and her band. Ms Tamar's debut for adults service.
The choir was on stage singing as well :) I couldn't make it for rehearsals as was in total study-mode. I like the colors.
Then the special singing by Hopekids! At first I thought just a handful of these cute little ones. Then they came overflowing! It was a massive sight to be seen! Very unique and overwhelming. We had some "superkids" dancing and singing along as well.
Caught this on camera as well :P
CG taking their usual pretty pictures... in and out of Nexus.
One of my best captured moments .... nice right?
Second "official" wedding photographer job. Still don't think I'm thoroughly up to it so am more than happy to being the secondary one (after Nelson) :)
YingSoon and Grace!
My "interesting" with the lovable sisters and and other Hope-ies table :P
Ju came down from Thailand! The Dunno-200X-reunites-of-the-Changrai (Thailand) missions trip team. My 1st in Hope with Ju as our translator! Time flies sia.... (and Ms Tamar can't really focus the DSLR) :P

Choir Sharing Night

2009-06-22T23:49:00.003+08:00

Had our once a week choir gathering again, and its been like about 2months away from Europe room in a choir setting. Tonight was different, not a normal practice but a sharing of food as well as testimony about mainly our frustrations in our choir ministry as well as the forward direction/perception for the group.

I thought it was a very enjoyable session (as usual) as we always have enjoyable fellowship within the choir. If you ask me about frustrations, I would say the frustrations I would have would be bad things happening to me when I miss choir :P

Like in the beginning of the year when I had to make the decision to take a break to study, I started falling sick (haven't fallen sick for over a year) and it was a real long and painful sick January. Often after work, I would be so tired and had to drag myself to choir but somehow, I never fail to get ministered by God - my burdens are always taken away and we laugh and sing together. It is a very special ministry for me as we are so closely bonded despite being from different background and pastoral caregroups/sub districts. Though sometimes I do wonder to myself, have I ever improved on my singing, my stage "presence" which I think hardly changed.

What that reminded me strongly was we have to search our motives. Are we here just to get something out of the ministry (learn and improve our singing techniques, be a better singer, and progress to become backup singer because of the experiences from choir) or are we here simply because we want to serve God through this ministry and let God work through us? If its the former, I guess not all of us could be satisfied and some even think that choir might be a dead end (as no where else to "progress") but if its the latter, isn't it just great to be serve God and get closer to Him through singing praises and worship? A common passion between the brothers and sisters are what that binds us strongly. Love for God and to simply just sing for and to Him :)

I love God, I love to sing, I love the choir :)

The Leap Years

2009-05-25T14:00:00.000+08:00

Don't know if I was "infected" by my gf's insomnia this time (she was unable to sleep well for the past 2 nights, accordingly, her room was either too hot or she was awaken by her grandma), last night was my turn to be unable to sleep. So hot....

So in the ended up waking at 1+ and went to watch the DVD that I bought few weeks ago. The Leap years.

Conclusion, no wonder my gf and other sisters liked the movie a lot. Very well made local movie (that was not by Jack Neo). Touching and beautiful. A little "painful" though, the wait... even I was smitten... :P

Wedding after the Botanic Gardens

2009-05-14T20:15:00.000+08:00

Pictures from my other half's relative wedding.....
We seem to like M hotel's wallpaper a lot...

The children of the Wong family...

I myself have not taken pictures with so many "Wongs" before :P

Inter-unit games @ Botanic gardens

2009-05-14T13:15:00.000+08:00

Had a inter unit games event on labor day.

At start, we had a big picnic. I thought was just bring finger food but PT's cg brought the works! You can practically eat your lunch there. Got fried rice, salad, chicken wings, chocolate cake, drinks, dessert, and someone even brought wine along...

Then we started around of introduction led by the 45kg host.
An alternative version of the human hands entanglement using raffle string instead. Much less painful and faster! But still retains most of the fun.
Some interesting code which I can't figure out.....
So this is my "randomly" assigned group.
1st mission is to take group photo with 2 swans......
Other missions on the way as well as my own photo-taking....

And finally we finished... I'm not sure how we fared but if the most timely team were given some extra points, I'm sure we would win :P
That's it.. and I had to leave early for a wedding :P

Farewell my friend... Ms TT

2009-05-09T00:42:00.002+08:00

(a paranoid "star" that thought she was stalked by reporters.... haha)

Ms TT is leaving us but we will still be serving God though in different houses of God. Keep in touch, girl....
Meanwhile, another rising "star" in our cg. Ms HL.....

Won't reveal why she is a rising "star"..... u will know soon...

Choir @ Chalet @ Aloha

2009-05-07T14:00:00.000+08:00

Oh man... it must be a blessing in disguise. Last week 24-25th of April 2009, our choir ministry had our retreat/gathering at the Aloha Loyang resort. Then last week, that place was closed off and used as a quarantine area the H1N1 virus. Thus we were not disrupted at all but read from the newspaper, many eagerly awaiting their weekend holiday makers were butted out of their resorts in 1hr.
Anyway, we had a guest teacher, HJ's choir school teacher who came and trained us. He has lots of experience teaching primary school students (despite his super "young" age) and thus, training us was not a problem at all (I hope :P). We practiced this latin song, "Panis Angelicus" (direct translation - the Angelic bread). Think we sounded rather nice although I could hardly understand what I was singing.
Really was very fun to be with my dear choir mates again. I have 1mth more of studying before I can get over the dreaded exams and be back in full strength/attendance again :P

We had to split the group as we couldn't book 2 chalets in the same location and thus some of us went to the Changi Yauct club. That was really far away and deep inside some uloo road but the chalet was huge! We could have all squeezed into that chalet, saving time and money (but its really quite hard to get to). Poor us, that have less people to feed the mozzies.... ;p

New Christian Media

2009-05-06T13:50:00.003+08:00

Maybe I'm out-dated already but a random walk around my new office area at cross street brought me to a Christian book shop and I saw some "amazing" things (to me lah...). Firstly they got Manga Messiah (Jesus drawn like those Japanese manga characters).

Then a Christian version of Guitar Hero, we have Guitar Praise, which uses the PC and a wireless gaming guitar like the video consoles. The store salesperson even brought me to try and I tried a Paul Baloche song. Although the graphics looks slightly worse off even compared to the guitar hero I, I think its a great idea and usage of technology to let us have fun with songs closer to our heart. Actually, the guitar hero IV that I have at home, most of the songs I hardly know them and they are like dunno from which era. Anyway, the idea is modern Christians are really in touch with the real world and technology.

The one that got me amused in the first place is this product, Dance Praise, which actually then made me notice the guitar praise and the manga messiah. Those who have never bought one and would like to try, could test it out? :P

Easter and the Search...

2009-05-03T23:30:00.000+08:00

One of the most important days of our awesome God is symbolized through Easter day which Jesus rose again (resurrected), 3 days after dying on the cross for our sins on Good Friday. This year, we celebrated at Suntec convention Hall (seems like this place is gonna be our "new" combined group favorite place).
As we stepped into the auditorium, we are greeted by the most friendly usher...
Sneaking a peek at the "behind the scenes crew" (although they are actually near the front).
Me and my earthly lover (Jesus is my heavenly lover :P)
Some brought friends, others brought their cousins :)
I like this pose, so just highlight it :P
The Filipino choir team and our worship team combined for action this time.
Meanwhile we also had to do some checkout of wedding venues. No prizes for guessing where these places are. Man... we are almost one shot one kill. Cos in the end, all the other choices are either under renovation or closed to non-members, after checking out the rest. God closing the doors to make it "easier" for us? :P

Marina Square nite-out

2009-04-30T00:14:00.001+08:00

After the bowling at East Coast Park, some of us were really eager to play bowling again on our outing night on 9th April. We met up for dinner at the Jia Xiang Mien place eating their supposedly very nice noodles (quite nice though) before going up to the bowling place. However, to our dismay, some company decided to have their company function there on the very same day. Drats.... Then checking out the K-box, it was like $20++, a bit too steep. So we decided to just watch a movie, too fast too furious 4! Got almost front row seats but can't complain since we had a group of 7. So anyway, to past the time while waiting for the movie to start, we went to my childhood fav place, the arcade!
Had quite a few games at the Bishi Bashi machine, which I had an unfair advantage (coz I love to play that). Then we played some shooting games as well. Then came the crazy desire to take photos with guns (inspired by my dear's trap shooting outing pics). The "cool" sniper dude pics.
The cool gals with guns pic.
The cute "Esmond" where are you pic (he is studying for exams)....
......and the I-leave-it-to-your-imagination pic....

Other things done in the month of Mar 2009

2009-04-29T23:18:00.006+08:00

A week after the proposal (7 Mar), I went to JB with my "new" fiancee, plus 2 sisters to make new spectacles. Usually I make a new pair of glasses every year. But ever since I'm paying for my own specs :P (and not parent-paid), this "ritual" has been lengthened to 2+ years since I made a frame. And under our CL's recommendation we decided to tryout our neighbor country since they suppose to offer the great deal and quick finished product (within the same day) without compromising professionalism.

So I did a quick pickup at Kranji and than drove the 4 of us to the woodlands checkpoint. It has been quite a while since I've been to JB and the new receiving centre (and where in the world to get the white immigration forms) was a slight egnima to us. But no matter what, we still managed to get down to holiday plaza (this old but famous to all Singaporeans). And we found that "focus point" optical shop (there were 3 outlets to our surprise, all in one building). After like 2+ hours of looking around and bargaining, we closed the deal and made like 8 specs in all - me (2), YR (1), R (5). Then we quickly went to Taman Sentosa for lunch. Wah, the bak ku teh and claypot chicken was super good lor and total bill for us only like RM20++.

From the time we closed the deal to about 2+ hours later, they managed to finish all our 8 spectacles! Thus we were happy and new customers of "focus point". (insert pic if any from YR).

15th Mar (Sun) Celebrated our CL's birthday. We had an "early" birthday surprise during lunch as the organizer had some boo-boos and wanted to do the "early" celebration as a decoy. Later on the gang went to some far far place in the east to have a MacDonald's birthday celebration. A great pity I and Z couldn't make it as we already long booked our parents for the 1st parents meet-up session since some time back.
Finally got a picture here. Pic here also reminds us that we are still waiting for CL to practice and cook stuff for us! (with the gift we gave). Also Yen (Z's cousin) and Shuping's friend also joined us for the 1st time.

On the 21st (Sat), we had a unit team building game day at East Coast park (insert pic if any from Joe). The weather wasn't very kind to us that day as it suddenly poured like crazy. Thus we changed from outdoor games to indoor (pool + billiards) and subsequent bowling. Ended up eating at some HK cafe (there so many versions and all over Singapore now :P).

On the last day of Mar (30th), had lunch with Josherine and my dear at Hardrock cafe as they were having the $10 net lunch set. It has been a while since I last stepped in there (insert pic if any from Josh). Food was so-so (better get the fish and chip if u see the offer again) not really filling for a cafe set but well, what to expect from a cheaper, down-sized meal? Company was great and the atmosphere cool... :)

Journalling for April 2009

2009-04-17T17:50:00.000+08:00

Think my blog posts has almost died since Mar and since I was either studying or doing stuff in preparation for my wedding next year.

Anyway, just to journal some thoughts again to remind myself.

Amidst a bad starting week, yesterday really took the crust!
I have a wacky air-con, which I hardly ever turn on at night (because if I do use the air-conditional, I usually wake up with a sniffling nose), decided to have a mind on its own. It turned on itself for like over 10 times, on and off, on and off. And the frustrating thing is that I couldn't turn it off when it turn itself on! And I had the fan left on. So it was like super cold when the air-con was on and back to normal when it offed itself. That happened like for 2-3 days already.

So I was grumpy at the start of the day when I reached the office. Even a small little matter got me into a "argument" with my senior (that hasn't ever happened before) which I apologized to him after lunch as I know it was my own temperament was bad even though the reason for the argument wasn't entirely my fault.

Then on the way to CG, I went to the wrong location as I didn't read carefully the email sent out as I had the impression it was somewhere else. I had to enter the same ERP twice because the roads were one-way and didn't allow me to turn back. Parking lots were ultra full and took me almost 20-30mins to find a lot.

But when I stepped into the room with my caregroup people, I suddenly felt less moody, and more positive. Even the P&W which I was playing the guitar (with mistakes) and off-key singing didn't damper my mood. Its feels good. Like the healing for the bad day is finally here.

The lesson that we learnt that night was on "living on a higher level". But what I did realize is that I hadn't been spending much time with God, which in that void of relationship, is the utimate source of my own man-made misery. It reminded me of the many blessings that God has been showering me all the time, all during supposedly "good times". But it took a really bad moment to make me realize and remember His goodness. Tonight I was reminded again how we need God so badly. On our own effects and strength, life can be real tough. With God, things always look different and even struggles can point to hope.

All thanks to......

2009-03-24T23:43:00.003+08:00

Finally laid my hands on the picture. Just wanna thank our good friends that made it possible - (from Left to Right) S.P., Nana, Qiqi, Raindeer, Cryst, Ink, Josh, Gab and CS!
And of course, the creative, patient, helpful, talented and resourceful photoshoot team - Joe, Ink and Raindeer! Thanks peeps!

New Music Catch 2 is out! :P

2009-03-13T14:19:00.003+08:00

But it seems to mess up my layout a bit. Never mind, will leave it up for a while.

This time got more music!

Yesterday's teaching done with YR was on the power of the tongue. We taught about the destructive nature as well as the wonderful (positive) powers of what you can do with your tongue. Application is to be an encourager or a more encouraging person.

Encouraged a brother yesterday about his "foster parents" matters.

This morning affirmed a sister and was affirmed back. God is so good! :P

Its game time!

2009-03-09T14:00:00.001+08:00

Its been a while since I've introduced any games here...

some of the noteworthy games that I've tried recently are these 3.
(1) Desktop defense - initially was super hard but now though I can complete it easily, still quite fun and semi-challenging.

(2) Music Catch - a new game that I discovered just last week. Very simple concept but I just like the beautiful piano playing along with the game. If anyone knows of its original composition, please do let me know :)

(3) Amorphous - a cute and quite fun game as well.

Hope anyone that chances on these post like it as well, can always challenge me! :P

..... and she said "yes"

2009-03-08T21:24:00.003+08:00

To keep the long story short.... :P
pretty drama that day due to erratic weather (28 Feb 2009). But the important thing is the ending. So I would be pretty busy....

Thanks to all those that helped along:
Camera cast crew - Ink, Jowena, Reina
Project Tiger Balm - Crystal, Gab, Josherine, Serene, Chang Shiung, Edna and Steven P.
Thanks guys, for all the help. Couldn't have pulled this off without your help (and of course with God for providing such a dramatic yet great timing execution that made the end product totally beautiful).

When you have helpful and willing friends.... things can happen :P

2009-03-03T17:00:00.001+08:00

A day of location Reckoning....

2009-03-02T17:45:00.000+08:00

Went photo outdoor photoshoot recee-ing with one of my DSLR shifus, Ink, on 7th Feb (yah I know my posts are like backward chronological).
found a red wall along Depot Road, railway track along Buona Vista as well as a special entrance near Sterling road.

Dropped by a Labrador park as well as ....

.....Hortpark. Well, would we be using these locations for anything in future? Who knows? :P

V-day Celebration

2009-03-01T22:29:00.002+08:00

Had a "alternative" V-day celebration. Instead of going out to eat, we decided to cook-in. My dear, cooking for me for the 1st time (for me, I cooked for a group, including her, eons ago).
I guess it was a not bad effort since she didn't practise much before and I hadn't cook for like years. It tasted satisfactory and was quite filling :) The process was much enjoyed and we had some fun as well :))
Happy Valentine's day, my dear !

Fighting to stay health

2009-02-23T16:01:00.002+08:00

Oh man, after just falling to a big illness at the end of last year to the new year, recovered and than now find myself sick again....! Diaoz, must be me, being so cocky about that I only fell sick after 1 year 2 months and thus within 2 months I'm sick again.

Not up to much, except catching up with the HK dramas that I always wanted to watch but didn't have time to watch. During the sick period, I tried to sleep yet couldn't sleep so ended up watching a lot of them. Finished the [Forensic Heroes Part I] as well, (Part II was definitely better but in I, they showed how all things started) and am watching [Always Ready] now.

Argh... I need to be well before the end of the week! Very important! Please pray for me, whoever who reads this :P

Also V-day (or friendship day) finally passed. Didn't do much special but the 2 of us coooked for each other instead :P Saved money and fun! haha.. but I thought we cooked too much meat. Got Steak lah, pork slices, beef slices, etc. Lazy to post pics.

I just need to get well soon. Only played soccer twice than I'm back into the sick cycle.
>_<"

2 of my recent satisfied consumptionables...

2009-02-08T22:11:00.004+08:00

Though I am quite busy lately and lazy to blog, would like to share 2 latest things that I really enjoyed. 1st is a HK drama that I managed to catch and finish during this CNY period and 2nd is a singer intro (indirectly) to me whom I bought the CD/DVD.

1st is Hong Kong TV Drama's 法證先鋒II (or Forensic Heroes II). A very action packed, intelligence filled (I guessed would be like US' CSI?? which I never watched and probably not as chim) but entertainingly filled with drama, jokes/comedic fun and of course lots of romance! Never thought that it would be that good but I really loved/got addicted to it after the 2nd-3rd episode!

Didn't watch it online but somehow got to find this site while searching for more details to fill this post. The official website (click here) and the episodes (here :P). I didn't watch it online though.

So many of my favorite actors and actresses, and some whom now are my new favorites!

Found many of these fans-made clips that brought back fond memories of the drama.
Romance between the two lovable couple.

Still clips :P

This trailer shows the episode that was quite crucial. I always crapped and was actually super worried that the dude would die!

And lastly, a very nice song (sub-theme) of the drama, You're my Angel.

Next is a singer that I indirectly stumbled upon as Ange put a video on her facebook with the music in the background. After asking her as I was smitten by the music almost immediately, I found out that he is Jason Mraz!

Check it out!!!

And after that I went to buy his limited edition CD (although don't know much about his OTHER songs). Luckily it was ALL good! :P

Today Reina was asking me (during her birthday celebration at HK Xin Wang Cafe at plaza sing) if I wanted to go see his concert. According to Vanessa, its sold out already! Wow, I didn't even know he had a concert till reading yesterday's newspaper :P but he is good sia.

Check out his website (here) a little irritating though.. haha....

Tired to blog sia...

2009-02-04T21:05:00.003+08:00

Biangz... so much flurry of activities during the Chinese new year that I'm again don't feel like chasing the photo edits.

But I will just note down here as journal log.

Had our 1st corporate meet on a friday at FCBC marine parade. Its seems to be a while since I have worship. I miss God :)

Chinese New Year eve (Sun), had gathering at my place with relatives (mum's side) with food prepared by my brother and maid. This was followed by a simple dinner at Zann's place with her family.

Chinese new year's day (1st day, Mon), went to Telok Blangah, used to be my grandmother's place (now occupied by my mother's brother's family), for the actual gathering. We reached there at evening, watched Ip Man (finally watched it, its really good), had lots of food and collected ang baos.

2nd Day, Tues, was at Zann's place for the huge family gathering of her dad's side. Played Wii until I giddy with her cousins.

Fast forward to last day of Jan (Sat). Sarah's flying off to US. Some of us sent her off in the early morning before going back to nap. Then went to Gab's place to house visit (+Andrew and Pris), before travelling back to my place with Gab. Joined by Merv + Livi + Esmond + Meimei, with Zann joining us for Wii.
Then we proceed to Buona Vista for Xo fishhead beehoon with YuanRou + Crystal.

(Sun) Finally, since months, I had my 1st soccer. That is after going "window-shopping" with my dear for something.

Kind of tired. Now I got classes every Tues and Fridays, so can't really make it for choir, sometimes monday is shepherding, Thurs is CG and weekends is revise CFA and relax a bit. Haiz.. its gonna be another hard and long 1st half of the year till my exams are over and hopefully I pass this time :(

4day 4 night Adventure

2009-01-27T02:20:00.000+08:00

Yes, I went to HK again and this time in the first month of the new year and with new company :)

I think its not "normal" or I seldom go back in Jan. So it was definitely quite cold for me (coming from a dude that studied in sub-zero degrees for 4 years?). Flew on the 15th of Jan, at ungodly hours of 6:40am flight (actually interestingly, Jesus supposedly went early in the morning to pray before the crucifixion, so when we say ungodly hours, we may mean Godly hour? haha.... ). Anyways, saw many different things just a few months back when I was there for the Hope LC.

Managed to meet and have a short lunch with my uncle and aunt (dad's elder brother), Dim sum at their famous Maxim brand outlets. This time didn't have time to meet my elder cousin, Flora, though.
Went to the peak again but got to catch Mr Lee (who was under repair the last time) for free this time.

Stayed with a good friend, Ms MS, and got to meet her family and played with her cute niece. This baby is ultra quiet but did a super cute action when we were leaving. She took her shoes and wanted to follow us out for shopping and even did a sideway bend and smile.
Managed to meet my uni-friend, Financial Engineering classmate and games/sports buddy (all the same person) in HK this time. He's ultra busy but still manages to look young like last time. My impression is he hardly changed a single bit since I last saw him in uni :P

Took a short trip to Shenzhen and did a 3hour massage, and other things that I would never agree to doing back in S'pore :P
And of course, attended Rosalyn and Duncan's wedding! :) A great friend that 1st attempted to introduce me to Christ back than in my university days. I attended her baptism as well as a Chinese church Christmas celebration. Though she didn't succeed to outreach to me back than course my heart was pretty closed back than, I'm still very grateful that she did try :))

Their wedding was certainly very grand and testimonial-filled :) Her dad gave a very meaning and touching sharing as well as the word "embrace", her younger sister gave a heartfelt sharing as well. Duncan's brother nervously shared about the groom as well and his African brother also shared about how Ros was his "answered prayer" :) God does wonderful miracles!
Its such amazing how God brought about wonder friendships with brothers and sisters all over the world. Out of the 4 sisters that came to Singapore 2 years back, now 2 are married (Sarah and Ros) and the other 2 are attached :P (Gladys and MS). R&D - Rosalyn & Duncan.

Lastly, this time I planned properly enough that I had ample time to walk about in Macau, eat enough and bought enough tibits. They are quite currency friendly, accepting Macau/HK/Chinese currency.
Took much more picture this time round in Macau as I was not alonely and walking around aimlessly/alone :P
Even found the places which I wanted to go to but didn't have the time to go the last round.
All in, it was a short, fulfilling and fun trip :) hopefully many more to come. I am such an untravelled person ever since I returned to S'pore :P

Ushering into the new year 2009!

2009-01-25T17:40:00.000+08:00

So fast into the new year of 2009, many things/events have already passed me by. First was the countdown with Zann's unit with an interesting group. Think the blowing of the strong winds with my already somewhat cold was not very helpful to my physical well-being.
Caught the fireworks far out near the Marina/Esplanade area.
Following day, new year's day went to Yuanrou's place. Her first time opening her house to us :) had my 1st real taste of Guitar Hero World Tour which firmly gave me the conviction to buy it too :P
Cousin Liting's family treated the whole gang of relatives on 9th Jan, Friday, (my mum's side) to a buffet dinner at a hotel along Balestier road. It was good to finally see her again, after she got married. And the "surprise" news was she's pregnant liao :P
10th Jan, Sat, was our 1st choir outing in the year! and we started with a blast of fun at Sentosa. Weather was very kind to us. It was drizzling as we were walking towards the beach but with a quick prayer from some of us, the weather stayed cool and dry throughout the rest of the day till evening :) thank you God!

Some pictures which I think are quite nice, randomly uploaded in no particular order.

I already think that time flies, just within the 1st month :P just gotta cherish all the time and the people around us more :)

Also had our 1st core team meeting on 4th Jan (or was it 11? :P) where the 3 of us prayed for the caregroup, ourselves as well as "hot-seated" ourselves. It was very refreshing and encouraging when you get personal messages/visions from God. Some you could understand at the moment, while some we await eagerly for it to come to pass. Whatever God gaves, it must be good :) or for our own good :P

Some of our recent Choir activities

2009-01-14T00:07:00.002+08:00

All the videos done by HJ!

Latest was games and sharing at Sentosa on the 10th Jan 2009

Shawn's farewell send-off from the choir

Our last practice before we went into the hospital wards to sing

That's all for now, flying off very soon! ;)

Christmas 2008 (Part II)

2009-01-09T22:20:00.001+08:00

Man, did this post some days ago but forgot to publish! :P Anyways.....
Christmas service was at the Rock @ Suntec again this year. Went early to Suntec and had dinner at the foodcourt but food was provided by my kid brother who brought enough to feed 5-6 people (although only Shen, me, Reina and Meimei ate).

This year's Filipino choir was up and were they cheerful and driven indeed! The lead singers blended parts very well.

Hope my friends don't wack me for putting this video up hehe... Susi, Joanna, Shirley...found it cute.. haha...

Of course I couldn't resist taking the once a year with all my friends that I could catch. Some friends either weren't there or couldn't catch, which was a pity (like P.T., G, T.T, M & L, etc...) coz its like a collection. Must take yearly one! :P then can see the effect in years to come right?
After the great service which had a dangerous message, we scooted off to the flyer. It was closed down by it was preciously that reason that KC decided to tryout this bar called "Love the World Bistro". I think no one knew much about it actually.

When the live band played their music, I was like, did they just sang "Jesus"? Most of my friends looked at me blankly and don't really know. Then the song came again and ......

Yes... its actually a bar playing Christian music! Read here and here for links.
I like this picture a lot. Came out almost as exactly as I pictured it....didn't need to do any photoshop-ing.
And yes, we did our countdown here, although the DJ/the band was really like 5-7mins late!
Well, wish Zanny was here with me...... but oh well, I had my caregroup too :P and she had hers....

Cg is going down there again next Friday while me (going HK for Ross' wedding) and CL (some villa away with her hubby) is away.

(points at you reading this post) You had a great Christmas? :)

Christmas 2008 (Part I)

2009-01-06T14:00:00.000+08:00

As usual, I'm trailing like >1+ week of events that have happened in my life. Reasons because, yes there are indeed a lot of things that happened as well as I have fallen sick over this period of time. Luckily it was sort of before and after Christmas but unluckily it seems quite prolonged. Last time I checked, I visited my family GP 1 year and 2 months ago and I chuckled to myself, wah... so strong for so long. Then I had to visit him again < 2 weeks later coz my illness got a little worse with fever this time.

Anyway, still managed to had a great time with my mates through this 2 week period. First we had our rehearsals for the 2 choir sessions for Dec 2008.
Our 2nd last choir attire for the year. I wanted blue tie but my attire mistress said I am too relaxed in blue and opted pink for me instead >_<"
All sorts of creative recycled displays by the Filipinos set up in the reception area of Nexus before bringing them into their afternoon service. Man, I feel so dull compared with their creativity.
The 2-man drama "Shawn" and "Ben"! haha... ok lah, our raw talent CS!
Went on a night of Christmas lights photo taking with Zanny...

Would our choir grow as big as this? But actually these youngsters only singing melody and playing with classical guitar. So we can do better! just need the numbers :P

For Patapon fans!

2009-01-05T17:32:00.001+08:00

Ya, I know my journal-ling has stalled. Trying to catchup :P

CG Karaoke and Zann's 881 unit Party

2008-12-27T23:25:00.000+08:00

Had our 1st Mustard Seeds Karaoke session on the 14th Dec. Probably our last of the year as well :P Wow, cg a lot of people like to sing hehe... and we had 2 new additions for the session as well. Not easy to organize on a Sun as either I had choir or there is some meeting going on. So grabbed the chance straight away. More karaoke in the new year? ha!
The following Sat was Zann's unit event held at a function room in LengKee CC (near where her unit had their last street soccer competition). The theme was following the movie "881". I was invitied by my dear to be the photographer for this event.
They had 2 ice-breaker games. I forgot the names though hehe.. but it was definitely fun!
Your 2 hosts of the evening (err... definitely a bit more lively than non-hosts me) and your programmer/IT technician.
Some song presentation performance, related/semi-related to the movie as well.
Then they had their 3 best dressed for the event (that suits the theme) and had them do catwalks and other actions to pull votes.
They had a "real" version of Don't forget the lyrics (done by Yanling, quite good sia, except for some glitches). I think its quite hard to do this with my unit (quite shy one) as they actually sang out the song (quite a lot) and had the 3 lifelines as well.
The 2 captains Sherry and Zann and their respective groups.
They ended with a "Cha Cha Boom" song/dance by Sherry/Lijun/Yanling. Only took video of it. May consider uploading it if I feel like it later hehe..

Then ended with the "family potraits".
The 2 caregroups.
And finally me. One of only few pics for the night :P

Pre-Christmas Party 2008 :)

2008-12-23T00:05:00.001+08:00

So its the time of the year when our CGs have our little mini parties. This year shall not be an exception. Its a pity that many of the friends that I would have liked to be able to invite could not make it even though we had it 2 weeks earlier but well, we are not gonna have our spirits dampened!
So off to Joe's place we will go. Merv and me made the final purchase of ingredients for the sandwich contest at Bukit Merah Central's Fairprice before reaching Joe's place at 4:30pm. Then slowly by slowly the rest arrived and we started to decorate the place up. The "entertainers" did their final rehearsal as well.

Is it coincidental or great minds think alike?
Anyway, my cousins arrived and I had to change up :P
Your hosts for tonight. Merv the sexy voice and Ming the novice. Presenting your 2 Ms.
First game was Color me beautiful. A funny game about colors that got somewhat a little "violent" yet still funny.
Next we had a human bingo game where you had to find out who did what or has what etc. to form 3 bingos to win!
My 2 cousins... Jieru and Yongqing
Then we had a break to eat the catered food outside and enjoy the breeze while still mingling. Following that we had the song presentations by Reina singing Kelly Chan's version of Love Concerto and Alicia Key's No One. Sarah sang Ah Mei's Jie Tuo, Wei Ling sang Love Song, Susi sang the Jazzy Umberalla while Reagan sang (whooops, forgot title of song). Then we played a modified verison of the current favorate TV game show "Don't forget the Lyrics". The neighbouring function room was actually playing that. Ours was a more toned down version as we played 14 songs and asked for either the band/singer name, song name, or movie title.

Last but not least, we had our mini sandwich contest on the theme Christmas.
Group 1 (left). They the traditional symbols of our holiday which consists of a Christmas tree, snowman and hanging socks.
Group 2 (right). They did something on Jesus' birth in a Manger. I have no idea how to differential from Jesus, His parents, the wise men, the sheeps and the other animals (all look tomato round head to me). :P But it was indeed a big and bold project.
We ended pretty high with the "entertainers" singing jingle bell rocks but the all girl band, girlz-to-women.

JiongYao and the Christmas deco team (supposed to be Van and me but we had great on-the-spot help from Pris and Sarah! Thanks!). Credits for the backdrop from Sarah! :)
Believe everyone had wild fun that night. Are you ready for Christmas?
Join us this Wedsday night. 8-10pm at Suntec City, the ROCK! auditorium.

Movies Wishlist + Fixed deposit blog

2008-12-19T14:00:00.002+08:00

Recently only watched BOLT. Found it very funny and cute and quite worth the $10 3-D (although I suspect I could have enjoyed just as well on a normal digitized version). Don't have much opportunities to watch movies these few weeks/months due to the many activities in the pipeline.

Some other movies that I would hopefully like to catch (although if even 30% to half of them if I manage to catch is great already) showing now and coming January. Any comments/review for me? :P

Probably gonna put some money into POSB's MySavings account to force myself to save (although the interest rates are so-so only) since there are no penalties, and the rates are pretty decent, depending on the amount you put in each month and you can stop putting money in any time (which is a plus for me).

Also, found a blog on fixed deposit rates which could be helpful for people who have money but dare not go into stocks and don't know where to put it.Check it out here.

Also, thinking about the Fairprice plus credit card again (something which I introduced to a sister) as it gives 1% interest (not much again) but no strings attached and the card seems to have a pretty fair bit of benefits I noticed (although I wonder if I would really need it).