today

today was kind of a long day for me... in the morning, it was army open house, so i went to SAFTI MI for it.. actually i got kind of delayed, so i took a cab to boon lay to meet my friends.. urgh.

the Commandos had a 'shooting game', basically they gave us a chance to handle a REAL GUN (MP-5) with paint bullets to shoot down cardboard targets while negotiating an obstacle course. but i was a bit too eager, and opened a small cut on my hand while at it..

after the whole thing i went to just walk around.. bumped into two old friends from secondary school days, frederick and bowan, both 3SGs :O i also got a 'souvenir', a 2 PDF 'iron-on' formation sign... guess in the days of the temasek green uniforms, this was what would be used.. but no longer.. actually No.1 uniform still uses formation signs, maybe i'll check out emart to see if got a not.. haha

2nd half of the day was my 2nd usher duty, which included traffic marshal duty and later on duty in the hall. Well this was my first time doing both these duties and nonetheless it was a good learning experience... and not to mention made quite a few new friends.. sis jasmine, serene (and the other sister forgot what's her name :P), clark, margaret..

went back quite late, tired but happy..

Flag Day... counting $$$

yesterday was St John Flag Day... so today was the counting of the collections... i went down to HQ in the morning to meet up with my cadets who were helping out in the counting. saw quite a few ppl who i know, like chen yie who was at the table next to mine =) but we were all busy so din talk much.... steve who was kinda running around when i saw him... anyway this yr my Corps' total collection is an improvement from last year's. =)

after that i went for lunch with some of the other officers and cadets.. at golden mile food centre.. quite a wide selection of dishes there so it's worth going down once or twice to get a good bite, and at competitive prices too... not to mention the top floor where there are not just army goods, but camping equipment and even streetwear at competitive prices too. that's where i'll go to if i need any such things next time =)

went back to rest after that... cos am still nursing my asthma... got to take care..

my first day on the job

woo.. had my first day of ushering.. it was an eye-opener... and i realise that there are still a lot of things that i need to learn...

Reached church at 2pm, upon which i had my support duty... which is to prepare all the bulletins for distribution during service... it's quite an eye-opener seeing all the various inserts being put together.. some more in a definite sequence... such that the final product really looks so professionally done... it's only now when i actually see what goes on behind the scenes that i know how important this seemingly simple job is. And it's fun, doing while also chatting with my fellow ushers.. got to know a few new ppl today.. Pearlie, Enoch then also got my ex-CG members, Lingqiang and Karen.. i know i'll get to know more ppl along the way...

after that, there was one of the ICs (i later realised that she's our section IC, Sis Florence) briefed us on what we need to do.. that really helped quite a bit... after that we brought down all the bulletins... and went to do 'traffic' duty... actually that meant standing in front of the doors to stop the members from coming in before we open up the hall...

all in all, a real eye-opener into what goes on behind the scenes in a church service. i'm looking forward to my next duty.

peace out

I'm in usher!

Just got a call today... I'll be joining Usher ministry, Section 4, Team C and will start duty tomorrow! I'm sure it will be great when I start to serve in the ministry =) am sure quite excited about it =)

BirthdayAlarm

Hmz, i just signed up for BirthdayAlarm.com... do add in your birthdates =)

Hi

I am creating a birthday calendar for myself. Can you please click on
the link below and enter your birthday for me. Don't worry it is quick,
and you don't have to enter your year of birth:-).

http://www.BirthdayAlarm.com/dob/20709852a358550426b970

Thanks
Matthew

army....

and now for an update on my army life..

long time since i last posted something regarding that here. Thanks to RADM Teo for the 2 months cut in service! i've got around 9 months to go before i enter the next phase of my life. Amazing that it seemed not long ago when i first lost my pink ic, my hair and with it my freedom. back then, it seemed to be a real long way to go. but now, i am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel..

I'm kind of grateful for my unit and my posting, and for all that has happened these past 18 months in NS. Through it, i picked up a lot of skills and principles and all that will put me in good stead when i go out into the society next time. True, there were mistakes that i made, but i promise to learn from them and not make the same mistakes in future.

peace. out.

random thots..

What is love?

The answer from the user's manual for us, the Bible

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 corinthians 13:4-7

Not too long ago I resolved not to get into any relationships until i figure out for myself exactly what an ideal relationship should be all about.. Well for someone who got his fingers burnt a few years ago.. U can't blame me for being overly cautious.. But I don't want to get myself carried away cos i have a crush on gal A or infatuated with gal B and in the end get my heart broken when her true colours got shown or when the relationship simply didn't work out due to personality differences or whatever. Cos that was how my first (and to date only) relationship started, and that was how it ended.

Like my mother once told me, "The right woman will make you; The wrong woman will break you." Very true..

If I say I like gal A, what do i mean? Crush? Infatuation? How about if i say to my partner "I love you"? These 3 words are the most powerful words a human being can say to another. They can change the destiny of both parties concerned, or if not, more often than not, the person on the receiving end. These are definitions that I am still searching for the answer..

In the long run, like all of us, i would want to find the right woman and settle down in a God-honoring and fulfilling relationship with her. But before I can do that, I will have to first KNOW what its really meant to be in a relationship.. what its really meant to be married.

Love and marriage is definitely more than the warm fuzzy feeling you get when in the presence of your loved one.. I must say. it is DEFINITELY MORE than that.

after my breakup with G.. i was fearful of relationships to a certain extent. A relationship can end in either of 2 ways.. 1, they marry and 'till death do us part' which is the ideal ending for a relationship... 'lived happily ever after' ending... 2, they break up.. can range from a puppy love relationship ending or a divorce after years of unhappy marriage.. sadly, unfortunately, majority of relationships fall into that category... that stems from a flawed understanding of what relationship is about..

peace. out.

Photos from the Amazing Race...

Some photos from the Amazing Race at Sentosa...


Guess who's that in the background? 

 
Ditto as above


Collect ration time. The guy looks like me, but it's not me. I wasn't wearing that shirt.


ACJC Ppl faced with their Fear Factor...


o man did she get arrowed to eat those things?


YUCKS!


And here's the main photo.. i was cheerleading.. but they din take me cos i think the photographer was standing next to me..


from another angle..


most of the ACJC ppl...


the KEY photo.. this was shown as part of the weekend connection video... haha my first reaction when i saw that was "tat mi! tat mi!"


All right gentlemen, well done, let's take a well deserved break...


As again i am hidden by someone or something... i never really appear in any of these photos


this is the JC cluster cheering


and this is they trying to learn the cheer jocelin was teaching.

SYF opening ceremony 2004

Btw i was also involved in the SYF 2004 Opening Ceremony held on 3 Jul 04 as Contingent Commander for the St John Ambulance contingent.One of the rehearsals, which explains the empty spectator stands.
This was my partner, Liew Shanzhi from Zone 10. His first time in safari on that day. Anyway, he's also from the same corps as one of my friends in st john.

I think his tour of duty in SYF had also been a period of transformation for him, really inducting him into the Officer-hood, as i learned that this was one of his first projects after commissioning as an officer.



overall we had a good time at the parade... i can say this is the pinnacle of my 'career' with st john as this is what i've always wanted to do for a very long time. if i ever get the chance to do NDP i'll jump at it too =)

2 MONTHS CUT!

I can't believe it, NS is cut by 2 months!!!


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/90049/1/.html

http://apps2.mindef.gov.sg/display.asp?number=2129


'nuff said.

we are the reason..

Another song that is touching especially the chorus. Makes us reflect on the reason behind The Passion of the Christ, why Jesus came to this earth to die for our sins..


As little children
we would dream of Christmas morn
and all the gifts and toys
we knew we'd find
but we never realised
a baby born one blessed night
give us the greatest gift of our lives

we were the reason that He gave His life
we were the reason
that He suffered and died
to a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
to show us the reason to live

as the years went by
we learn more about gifts
giving of ourselves and what that means
on a dark and cloudy day
a man hung crying in the rain
because of love, because of love

I’ve finally found a reason for living
it's in giving every part of my heart to him
in all that I do
every word that I say
I’ll giving my all just for him
for him...

We are the reason that He gave His life
we are the reason
that He suffered and died
to a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
to show us the reason to live
He is my reason to live

caught His Passion...

just returned from the movie.. wow it was awesome. especially for us Christians. for me it compelled me to take a fresh look at the death of Jesus on the cross.. and even more the reasons behind it.

peace out.

Thank You for the Cross Lord
Thank You for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace

Thank You for this love Lord
Thank You for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crowns
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus Son of God
The Darling of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

The Passion of the Christ

hmz i'm so excited! the movie will be released in Singapore on 1 Apr with M18 rating without cuts. Though that wasn't what we hoped for at first, at least the older youth will be able to watch it. If it was R(A) (or R21 under the new system), out of my cell group of 10 +, only a few will be able to watch. Initially if it was NC16, my whole cell group can watch, now claris cannot watch liaoz. =( but we'll wait for the vcd.. i'm sure there will be some kind of vcd available (tho probably pirated..)

Amazing Race at Sentosa!

i took leave today to go for the Amazing Race at Sentosa and wow i must say i had a blast there... especially at the end, tho we didn't win, but i still had a good time cheering the other AC teams on, even the organiser commented on our good team spirits. =)

my team has an agreement that this time next year, we shall meet again, for the same cause.. =)

got to know quite a few more of the juniors, including got a couple of J1s who are considering running for the 29th... my great-grand-junior council. wow.. think they will get in.. =)

ok, gtg, going to take a well-deserved rest!

i well guess that my posts on this aren't as frequent as i would like it to be... haha... how time flies, it's the middle of March! and soon i will be crossing the halfway point of my NSF liability. One down, one to go. Or, everything I have seen in the SAF up to that point, I will see one more time.. and then i'll step past the final frontier. But, I will have to see three of my colleagues step past that frontier, before I do so...

What would one consider milestones in NSF life? Colleagues stepping past the frontier? Getting promoted in rank? Marking out every 6 months? I guess anything will do... as long as i get a sense of time passing... towards the time when i myself will step past that frontier...

i went back for CF Camp yesterday together with a friend... that's the last night of CF camp whereby there would be a terrifically long session of worship and ministry. And, I must say, it was surreal. The presence of God came down like I had not experienced for a very long time. And time flew - it was before long that the time came for us (my friend and i) to leave as we had to get ready to go to work today. But we never regretted coming. To those Christians reading this, regardless of denomination, i really encourage u all to arrange some time and gather together in twos and threes to spend a few hours with the Lord, and the results will be amazing! Jesus Himself said "For when two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20

ok time to go for my run... been a week since i last ran =P

i realised it's been about 2 1/2 weeks (1/52 of an NSF liability) since i've last posted on this blog. have been busy with stuff at camp... recently, the A level results came out... and many of my friends did well, but there are some who didn't, and my heart goes out to them... just hope that they'll get over it soon...

well life is as usual now... i didn't go for my usual run today... will be going tomorrow... but anyway now i've got bible study class on wed evening and cell group on thu evening so there won't be time for me to go for my run... so perhaps i should find a way to space it out. perhaps on tuesday and saturday (which is the weekly run in camp anyway) will be a good idea then perhaps on one of the other days i'll go for a game of badminton or something...

hmz actually had some inspiration after reading the blog of someone who's also in council...

if i could turn back the clock, two things that will not have changed would be that i would have still chosen to come to ACJC and i would still have ran for council. cos my 1 year tour of duty in the 26th council was the defining time of my life. had i not been in council, i believe my life would have turned out really differently. council helped mold my self-confidence, my resourcefulness, my courage. and although i must say, that there are a lot of things during my council term that i would have done differently given a chance to, but the two things i will never regret would be coming to ACJC and joining council...

yet another person ORD..

ahah it's tuesday... going to have duty tomorrow... and voila, i have cellgroup on that day too. so i'll have to go another day.. sigh..

today, yet another of my colleagues stepped over the final frontier into the civilian world. It's a no-brainer that i'm longing for the day when i can follow suit, but for now i'll just have to stick it out and just serve out my NS... and the day shall come. slowly, but surely, i'm inching towards the date when i shall trade my green card for a pink card, the symbol of freedom in singapore... it's amazing how much sought after the green card is in america and how the situation in singapore is the exact reverse...

have been doing my quiet time, and my bible reading, it's great... but must maintain lah... also for my running... hope i will be able to maintain it or else everything will be in vain...

i've joined!

Hm i have finally climbed on the blog bandwagon as of today =) so this is my first post...

I went for Fun-O-Rama today. and what can i say, it was great! got to see a whole lot of people whom i had not seen for a long time, including my classmates... a bunch of peeps whom i really miss a lot... council peeps are different cos i get to see them once in a while whereas the others.. i only get to see them once in a blue moon. yep so must keep in touch with these peeps...

had a great time there. heh. esp catching up with my classmates... and the undisputable highlight, the dunking machine... i tried to dunk my council president but well i'm a bobo shooter lol....

hm, the next event on the AC calendar is Red Blue Gold... gonna be going for it... it's on 13 Mar (Sat).. (this time not a Fri 13 anymore ! haha ! i went for the previous AC event and it was Movie Under the Stars (in conjuntion with Valentines' Day).. but it was Pirates of the Carribean... seemed to me at first the last thing to show on Fri 13... but it in the end was interesting... heh! )

ok, i kinda promised one of the teachers that i'll be helping out at the next FOR! heh! that will be in 2006 which means by then i will have stepped past the final frontier (those who read my friendster testimonials ... or rather the testimonials i write for people on friendster will know it is expressed in signal language as Oscar Romeo Delta!)