Naval Diver's Creed

As the elite frogman of the Navy, I will swim faster, run further, fight harder from the sea, air and land than any other soldier.
Loyalty to unit and country, devotion to duty and personal integrity shall flow in my bloodstream.
I will always keep myself physically strong, mentally alert, and morally upright.
My courtesy to superiors, neatness of dress, and care for equipment will be exemplary for all.
I will fiercely overcome the enemies, because I am better trained.
My methods will be aggressive, daring, unorthodox and innovative.
I will fight with all my might, raw grit and will to succeed are my hallmarks in battle.
I fight as a team.
I will not shirk from any duty and will shoulder more than my share of task, whatever it may be.
I fight first and blaze the path into battle for others to follow.
Never will I fail my team.
I will always remember the sacred trust I have in the lives of the men who I accompany into battle.
I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall behind.
I will press on to accomplish the mission with fortitude, though I be the lone survivor.
I am a fighter.
NOTHING STANDS IN OUR WAY.

it's crazy how much stuff to handle this christmas season

christmas at informatics
wedding stuffs (both sier's and my cousin's)
watch night service
main service

i find myself staring into space or just randomly surfing the net in the office these couple of days
even though i know i have to manage so many things

simply
need to take my mind off things,
to perform better

i can't wait till next weekend is over
i've got papers on my desk i really want to shred

it feels rather strange that i don't see ivy online, or the fact that i can't sms or call her for the next 2 weeks plus..
it's a long time..

i don't normally like to blog mushy stuff but..
i miss her

i didn't know that tama actually makes some decent sticks until i stumbled upon a pair..

maybe shall try the next time i pop by swee lee

btw headlines for the day (or at least my day)

OFFER OF APPOINTMENT TO THE EDUCATION SERVICE

;-)

avoid at all cost

Unwholesome talk

Unwholesome thoughts


Lord, please forgive me for my recklessness in speech and action
Help me keep my body, head to toe, Holy and Righteous for Your works and manifestation
In Jesus name i ask, Amen

feeling rather annoyed at certain issues


anyway
listening to "angelina" by tommy emmanuel right now...
he is a solo fingerstylist and he's soooo good with the guitar

his fingerstyle is amazing

ah, music is therapy at times dude, sometimes

God
on the other hand,
is the remedy

i can't believe it

vic firth discontinued my fav pair of sticks
American Heritage AH8D

why did i buy 1 pair only? =(

Mark 8:34
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.


there is a need for divine connection
otherwise, the lives we live, are simply disconnected

from this


to this




=) =) =)

i m sure many of u would have heard of Maj Esther Tan, a naval officer in NDU, first ever female naval diver in singapore

found this article from singapore bible society abt her
http://www.bible.org.sg/what/Sport/esther.htm

man...
that explains where she draws her strength from ;)

on my knees in silence and reverence
awed, in wonder of what's it like on the cross
whips that tears through your skin
yet, the pain was nowhere as deep
as deep as in Your heart

cos You had me on Your mind
You had me in Your heart
that You gladly
allowed the nails to drive through those guiltless hands
piercing every sin,
that Love may be restored

Moses and the Glory of the LORD

12 Moses said to the LORD,
"You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,'
but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.
You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.'

13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

15 Then Moses said to him,
"If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?
What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

How Can I Keep From Singing
Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Robert Lowry, Ed Cash

Verse:
There is an endless song,
echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come,
I am holding on,
and to the rock I cling.

Chorus:
How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
how amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
and it makes my heart want to sing

Verse 2:
I will lift my eyes
in the darkest night
for I know my Savior lives
and I will walk with You
knowing You see me through
and sing the songs You give

Bridge:
I can sing in the troubled times,
sing when I win.
I can sing when I lose my step,
and I fall down again.
I can sing 'cause You pick me up,
sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me Lord,
when I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
sing for I know
that I'll sing with the angels,
and the saints around the throne.

Here And Now
Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche


Here and now, here in this moment
Here and now I turn to You
All that my searching heart has longed for can be found
'Cause You're in this moment, here and now


What majesty, what mystery,
the God of all eternity
Stepped into time and gave His life for me
Your hand is seen in galaxies,
yet Your Spirit dwells in me
So vast and yet You're still within our reach


There is nowhere You can't be found
Nothing on earth could ever keep Your Presence out


Here and now, here in this moment
Here and now I turn to You
All that my searching heart has longed for can be found
'Cause You're in this moment, here and now
You're in this moment here and now

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord.” Psalm 69: 30-31 (NIV)

a name for the music ministry

i need some input

i assure u
i will take a similar pic of my kid, if i ever have one in future

cuter than this
confirm
haha!

Jehovah Jireh

How often do we hear,say or pray this
but do we really believe in it

it's extremely easy to be caught unaware - worrying
especially at this juncture of my life
really, some times i can't help but worry if i ever get a job that pays well, or at least enough to sustain myself and my family
figures look extremely threatening at times

but i have to keep telling myself to be focused
the Lord will not leave me in the lurch, he WILL provide
rather than go in pursuit of the highest paying job offer,
i will choose to hold firm in my security in christ

what will i get if i plunge into a job that is completely meaningless, no eternal value?
remembered reading an article on our bulletin,
"Faith responses involves risks"

i was reading up and realised that there's 2 very similar verses, which speaks of the same theme
in John 2:5, it says
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."


1 John 2:5,6
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.


i am still clueless of what i'm to do next after tribute
on my part, i will keep a lookout around,
but most important of all, i choose to listen to God than man

just submitted the CPF form for repaying my poly school fees
$100 shall be deducted from my account every month

better not GAS for now

the things that really matter

shall matter

absolutely no compromise

ab-so-lute-ly

was talking to leong abt camera stuff when he recommended i check out this flash...
disturbing, but yet, it made me think abt life

http://adoseoflight.com/overdose/xiaokang.html

a bee sting is painful

yesterday i was going down the pontoon at the jetty,
i put my hand onto the railing, to steady myself as i make my way down to the seaboat
a sharp sting poke into my left hand..

it hurts like mad
the trainee behind me say that he saw this huge black dunno-what fly off, supposedly a bee as i doubt a hornet will leave its sting in my flesh

i immediately pulled the sting out
it was about half a cm long, with some flesh at the end of the sting
after i pulled it out, i noticed it was still twitching, yes, the sting was twitching
i suppose that's some nerve reaction (think lizard tail)

my hand felt numb, and the area around the sting turned red
slowly my forearm begin to feel a little sore too

i decide against going to see the doctors in my medical centre because of their infamous system (refer to my previous entries abt the unprofessionalism of these health care givers)

after a few hours, the redness went off but it was still sore
took some panadol before going to slp last nite

this morning
it swelled up, and it was more itchy, and i can't clench my fist
it felt as though i have implants in my palm, er, extra flesh...

real sickening
i went to buy the wonder itch relieving/skin/pimples/rashes all-in-1 pearl cream which my mum bought for me some time back and it did helped a little to relieve the itch/sore

arg
i cant hold my drum sticks with my left hand
i can't press chords on my guitar
i have to extend my palm open when i type

man, really some ORD gift i received from my beloved unit >P

i spent 2 hours in my cabin watching Fahrenheit 9/11 today

thought provoking

and it just happened that on friday, a taxi uncle, who faithfully follows BBC, or any other news channels, was telling me about the iraq war and bush

it's been 5 years, half a decade
many won't forget the painful sight of people jumping off the WTC, even watching it on tv

for now, only God knows the complete answers

Lift up your eyes
Planet Shakers

I see heaven before me
Angels passing around me
Here i stand in awe of your beauty
Captured by your holiness

Lift up your eyes
All of heaven's in worship
Angels rejoice and the clouds will be filled
With the wonder of your name
With the wonder of your name

The train of his robe fills the temple with glory
Heavenly hosts fall before him in worship
Crying Holy,Holy,Holy is the Lord God Almighty

Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty

in times of uncertainty

I MUST SEEK AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP MY KING!

MY SOUL MY SOUL MUST SING!

something to occupy me especially for the block leave i am taking this coming week
yet to notify unit to change to local leave

getting a 2nd controller tmr...
to play with my brothers, or parents

dealt with another blow

due to some circumstances
our offs have been cancelled
my clearing leave date has been pushed back

and

i m going to miss mission trip

i
can't
believe
it

i m GAS-ing again
i think i GAS when i'm unhappy or preoccupied with my thoughts
hmmm... why does GAS-ing seems more like a female hobby?
wait a minute, i think that's called shopping instead

me, myself and i

what a stupid arse i am
i bought 12-string strings for my 6-string guitar
of cos, not usable
thus, i just cleaned my guitar and that's that

it feels like:
stripping naked
and then realising that u can't fit into any of the clothes
the next best thing to do is shower/bathe/spa/

void of my only pleasure of now
thank God i still have my classical one beside me

this is funny
especially for those involved in ndp or any SAF parades
video

but still, a price to pay for such mischief
the "actors" involved were all charged, i heard

courtesy of Alex666 of ohgenki forums
a pic of NDU 1989.
Log PT + 5 km run with the log



wait a minute. is that a whip i see in the instructor's hand? o_O!

just woke up from a bad afternoon nap dream abt my brother

i realised i was shaking violently in bed, that i jolt up awake

Psalm 27:13-14

13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

well.. i couldn't find another nice G shock
so i m sticking to the exact same model of what ndu has issued me (which i have to return to them upon ORD)
it's a rather old model, but tested and proven under the harsh usage of a naval diver, both land and diving operations

$55 only

in shopping mood (minus the money)
guess u can call that dreaming mood instead

K custom ride/dark ride, K custom dark crash
Timothy s10 guitar
Iron cobra/Flying dragon double pedal

i've told myself that zildjian is not worth the money, but K custom, oooh, how can anyone not love em??

but still!
i've got to keep my wallet in my pants
aint too long before i finally stop receiving pay from the SAF

tribute or work force?
in any ways, i better update my resume

w.h.a.t.e.v.e.r.


..


i.m.o.f.f.t.o.s.l.e.e.p.

i love off days

too much sun,
even without physical activities
can be even more tiring than physical stuff actually

i need a breather

i m sure i m not the only extremely irritated person with regards to the medical support we get in camp...

genuinely sick fellas have to wait HOURS to report sick
we get scolded for reporting sick late (oh, since when do i have a choice to say i will fall sick before 830am)
the medics are rude
the M.O. rather have early lunch then to see what's wrong with u (and yes, after you waited hours for him, he tells the medic to tell u it's lunch time)

i m VERY tempted to call hotline or to drop a complain email


and

i m VERY sure there will be people supporting my case

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

it's a important day which marks the beginning of a new journey for my brother leong
was very surprised to see that i was mentioned in his testimony
thought back on my baptism day itself
i thank God for how much he has grown

it's also a very important day for myself as i seek the forgiveness, reconciliation from pastor wen
it is really not an easy journey and a decision to submit to spiritual authority
but nothing can move on without obedience
and i thank God that he has pathed a way before me
and now, pastor wen has given me his blessings to be with WAC

a quote from a quote from tina's email signature
'The very best proof of your love for the Lord is obedience. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else' - Charles Swindoll

The freedom we know
Joel Houston

We’re gonna dance dance dance
In the freedom we know
We’re gonna dance dance dance
In the freedom we know
We’re gonna dance dance dance
In the freedom we know
Because the freedom we know is gonna last forever


The world turns in all of its ways
But I’m soul set on a holy name
And when all earth is said and done
Still I will praise Him


There’s no end to the love that He gives
And now broken dreams have life again
In the hope of the risen King
So let us praise Him


A mystery unthinkable
That He took the fall just to save my soul
Now to love is the life I know
On and on and on we’ll be singin’


Soul set free in the One I love
Oh come on come on
And let the whole earth sing
In the freedom we know
So come on come on and praise Him


Come come all the lost and the found
Let us rise up with a holy sound
All the earth unified as one
Just to praise Him


In full view with nothing to hide
Like a city on a hill we’re gonna shine
In the light of Your freedom
Let us praise Him


We’re gonna dance dance dance
In the freedom we know
We’re gonna dance dance dance
In the freedom we know
We’re gonna dance dance dance
In the freedom we know
Because the freedom we know is gonna last forever

tada....



see this kit in church this weekend ;)

back to school on a monday morning

haha...
dive school


man.. my NDP off is a long wait.. friday

meanwhile, let me see
how many "stand by bed" should i conduct for the trainees today?
monday blues? no way.... ;)

Boat 4


From left to right clock wise: Cpt Sim, JH Foo, myself, Kelvin Tong, Steven, Mak, Daryl & Loi


Ode to Steven Goh,

So soon you had to go,
So much more of you i had to know.
Well concealed was your heart of gold,
That sheltered those you love from cold.

Short though your time may be,
Enduring - our memories of you shall be.
Your quiet assiduous a model to all,
Enshrined in our hearts with the last bugle's call.

The last crack of the rifle you have now heard,
Let your soul soar - as free as a bird.
May you find peace that is calm as still sea,
Relinquish your burdens. Set your heart free.

From your batch mate
Kong Eu Yen

intended to go down pay last respect to steven
but apparently most of the guys can't make it today
and they postponed it to tmr
thus, i missed today's global day of prayer

what's worse
the repairman who came down to fix the washing machine apparently didnt do his job so i'm bugging him to come by tmr to fix it again
he better turn up before i flush his reputation down the drain

ivy's sick
so i've yet to seen her for 2 weeks
i miss her

it was ironic hearing jin hang and the gang jesting and singing "had a bad day" while they were fiddling around with the guitars


quite a number of the guys are still rearing from the shock of steven's death
judging by the MSN nicks
such as "the pain of losing a close friend"
"life is unpredictable"


i can totally understand when kelvin told me that he didnt slp well the few nights after steven's death
it was just as agonising for myself in the jungle during the survival training
consumed by total darkness, hungry, bitten by insects all over
it's hard not to think of it


apparently God has a message for me this morning
i was like "God, are u joking? or is this really a test?"
it was hard singing
"you have turned my mourning into dancing
you have turned my sorrow into joy"


yes, i believe in You and that this can happen
help me to have faith..


only by praying
this is how i hope to overcome

death reminds us of our very existence

every single ticking second

well, i m back from brunei

even though i managed to pass this course pretty alright
things just don't feel good at the moment

steven, a buddy of mine, passed away in a freak bike accident last monday
this piece of news really shocked all of us who were in brunei
it was hard to focus on the job in hand, especially it was only the 2nd day of our course, but i thank God for the friends around

somehow it's a much dreaded feeling to be back
yet at the same time, it feels good too
such mixed emotions

there's a huge load of matters to attend to
where can i start from?

it also feels wierd when typing with my left index finger
i accidentally chopped/sliced a piece of my fingernail along with the flesh with my parang while chopping some wood
it's been a long time since i saw my own blood drip like raindrops falling off a rooftop

oh man, back to the point...
there's a huge load of matters to attend to
where can i start from?

arg, there's NDP on sat...


overwhelmed
again


damn it


tmr,
i shall take a walk outside

Take All Of Me
Marty Sampson

I love You
all of my hope is in You
Jesus Christ take my life
take all of me


Verse 1:
You broke the night like the sun
and healed my heart with Your great love
any trouble couldn't bear
You lifted me upon Your shoulders


Love that's stronger
Love that covers sin
and takes the weight of the world


Verse 2:
You stand upon mountain tops with me
with You I walk through the valleys
You gave Your only Son for me
Your grace is all I rely on


I love You so,
and I give up my heart to say
I need You so, my everything
Oh God

Very Industrious: DRIVE: Has clear goals, and strives to accomplish them. Takes commitments and responsibilities seriously. Reliable. Has a strong will to achieve. Values hard work. ORGANIZATION: Very organized, precise, methodical and thorough. Probably very good at planning.

Outgoing: Personable, active and high spirited. Enjoys some attention from others. Sometimes speaks before thinking. Prefers talking to listening. SOCIABILITY: Likes to be around people. Makes friends readily. Easily engaged in conversation.

Critical/Agreeable Blend: Makes an effort to be cooperative in social settings. Not overly concerned with getting along. Is able to work for the benefit of the group. EMPATHY: Modest concern for the feelings and problems of others. Can seem uncaring or unsympathetic. TRUST: Usually has faith in others and trusts them to be dependable. Quick to reconcile.

Resilient: Regarded by others as cool, calm and collected. Not easily frustrated. Confident and able to effectively deal with adversity. Shows good self-composure. ANXIETY: Usually handles pressure well. Seldom worries. MOOD: Mood is fairly consistent. Can let go of anger after a short period of time.

Practical: Tends to be realistic and pragmatic. Likely to prefer conservative values and ideas, though may consider less conventional ideas and values when appropriate. Somewhat selective in personal interests. CREATIVITY: Is fairly imaginative, and can provide some innovative ideas.

http://od-online.com/

Guardians are the cornerstone of society, for they are the temperament given to serving and preserving our most important social institutions. Guardians have natural talent in managing goods and services--from supervision to maintenance and supply--and they use all their skills to keep things running smoothly in their families, communities, schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses.

Guardians can have a lot of fun with their friends, but they are quite serious about their duties and responsibilities. Guardians take pride in being dependable and trustworthy; if there's a job to be done, they can be counted on to put their shoulder to the wheel. Guardians also believe in law and order, and sometimes worry that respect for authority, even a fundamental sense of right and wrong, is being lost. Perhaps this is why Guardians honor customs and traditions so strongly--they are familiar patterns that help bring stability to our modern, fast-paced world.

Practical and down-to-earth, Guardians believe in following the rules and cooperating with others. They are not very comfortable winging it or blazing new trails; working steadily within the system is the Guardian way, for in the long run loyalty, discipline, and teamwork get the job done right. Guardians are meticulous about schedules and have a sharp eye for proper procedures. They are cautious about change, even though they know that change can be healthy for an institution. Better to go slowly, they say, and look before you leap.

Guardians make up as much as 40 to 45 percent of the population.

The Four types of Guardians are:
Supervisors (ESTJ) | Protectors (ISFJ) | Inspectors (ISTJ) | Providers (ESFJ)


http://www.advisorteam.com

given off for election day which was held over the weekend

actually come to think of it
although i seem to have quite heavy stuff coming up:
jungle survival training in brunei - 22 May to 1 Jun (plus prep trainings beforehand)
national day parade - 9 Aug (plus lots of weekends burnt, and additional weekday trainings)

but it's not that bad afterall that we have off days now and then
to just sit back, take a much needed breather


speaking of breather
i feel that i m losing quite abit of it
went for a run this morning,
one that i tell myself i had to
thus i slip on my new balance and threaded on for 15 mins before hitting the chin up bar at the park and doing some static exercises
the feeling was the same as those mornings in camp where i had to force myself to get some exercise done
except i didnt run as long as i would normally do in camp


but really,
exercise does keep you fresh
even though, u feel kinda "stale" while you're at it
i hope to make it a point that even after i have completed NS, to take time to exercise

a long weekend...
yes.. from sat noon till wed nite
*imagine your face green with envy*

wahaha

k man.. joke's over
i'm heading back to camp tonight
tmr's NDP training again *YAWN*

btw here's an action shot of last year's NDP @ padang

found me in the pic yet? :)

i've changed my blog template after like 2 years?
maybe 1 and a half year.. hmm.. i think it's 2 years
oh well... doesnt matter :)

when you free the birds, you give good luck. more birds, more luck.

my brother is going on a journey today, i want to bring him good fortune. five birds.

this is only enough for one bird.

okay.

My 1st personal acoustic guitar!


Model Name: GD47SCE
Model Number: 095-4705-221
Series: Grand Dreadnought Series
Body Style: Single Cutaway Dreadnought

Colors: (221) Natural
Finish: Gloss, (Polyurethane)
Top: Grade "AA" Solid Spruce
Back and Sides: Solid Rosewood Back, Laminated Rosewood Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
No. of Frets: 20
Bridge: Rosewood with Compensated Saddle

Machine Heads: Grover Gold, (Die-Cast)
Electronics: Fender/Fishman® Classic 4 ACLR™ Pickup System with Active On-Board Pre-Amp which Features:Volume,Bass,Mid,Treble,Body (Mid-Sweep),Low Battery Indicator Light

Scale Length: 25.3" (643mm)
Body Depth: 3.87" (Front) to 4.87" (Rear)
Width at Nut: 1.69" (43mm)
Width at Heel: 2.25" (57mm)

Unique Features: Abalone Dot Position Inlays, Abalone Rosette, Abalone Fender Logo, Abalone Tipped Bridge Pins, Rosewood Headstock Overlay, Tortoise Shell and Black and White Multi-Lam Body Binding, Tortoise Shell Heel Cap
Strings: Fender 60L Phosphor Bronze, p/n 0730060003, Gauges .012 to .052
Accessories: Molded Case
Introduced: 1/2002

----

bought it 2nd hand from a guy on classifieds
original cost $1k above... he sold it to me for $550 including hardcase!
overall very well maintained, considering this guitar is like 2 to 3 years old, just a little tarnish on the gold grover tuning head, and some light pick marks cos there is no pick guard on this guitar
there were already quite a number of small packets of silica gel to keep the guitar dry
the smell of the guitar wood is so crisp, that i can smell it once i open the case!
i will post real photos when i have time! =)

2 weeks of overseas confinement
lousy food
sunburns
wet & cold
flu medicine
hmm what else...

more pics to come, that is if i get them =)

i have my eye on this
considering...
but will it take up too much space in my CPU tower?

---

btw i really think my home can become a "jamming studio" soon
i have a downsized drumset, a classical guitar, an electric guitar, an amp
leong's picking up piano in church and he's brought a keyboard home to practice
plus i bought a 8 channel audio mixer recently
so now considering getting a decent sound card, which can allow me to do some home recording or learn some basic multi-tracking

anyway, another thought
from what i heard from my cousin, leong's picking up keyboards pretty well
in fact, he's started playing strings on keyboard for church, just holding chords (he finds holding sustaining chords boring, so that's why he's learning to play piano stuff)
as for lele, he once played the trumpet for community club's kids band before for about a year
though he said he can't remember much how to sightread cos all he did then was mostly memorising the fingering..haha
and if i remember correctly, mum did send lele for piano lessons before (but probably ended the same way as my violin lessons)

we 3 brothers seem to go along fine with music
it's funny though that our parents don't really play any instruments, at least not that i know of..haa
the only music thing, other than listening to oldies/hokkien gua, would be my dad and his dusty/neglected karaoke LD player, plus 2 speakers which has an inbuilt scoring system for every karaoke song he sang

i guess it's the way my parents brought us up
exposing us to arts and music
such as all 3 of us went for art/drawing lessons for at least 2 years of our lives
i also remembered having to wear this silky red pants and red dancing shoes for some chinese poem recital and dance back in my early primary school days which i absolutely hate.. yucks!
of cos, not forgetting the violin lessons, where mum stopped my lessons cos i didnt practice
i learnt a couple of songs though, and wondered why my violin teacher always spend the first 10 mins of lesson tweaking my violin which sounded perfectly fine to my young ears then
now i realised i do the same turning knobs here and there on drums and guitars... hahaa

anyway
i realised we do not necessary understand many of the things our parents do for us at that moment
but as we look back, very often, we see how it was essential and how it played a part in moulding us into the person we are now today
down to the very minor details

i thank God for my parents!
Mum and Dad, i love you!

one thought leads to another
okok, i have digressed
hmmm.. i was talking about sound cards rite? ;)

was at sentosa with baby yesterday when i received a much dreaded sms
tuesday off cancelled, everyone to come back in the morning for IPPT
my heart starts to thump so hard (which always happen whenever i think of IPPT) that i feel i could almost hear it
i wasn't really ready for it, especially we seldom do power runs for training recently.. there were only the 4 to 6km runs on mornings

a good breakfast, creatine syrum, lots of stretching, less of worrying,
PLUS loads of praying..

unexpected results!
i cleared my crucial 2nd year IPPT!!!
clocked the usual, 12 chinups, 243cm SBJ, 43 situps, 10.0s shuttle run
and ran 9m10s for 2.4km
slower than my previous timing, but the important thing is that..
it's still gold!
and ya, got monetary incentives.. heh heh

alright,
i'll be away this friday for 2 weeks overseas exercise
till then, :)

according to chief, the colonel who died on sunday during the biathlon have a medical condition, but still signed up for the event

i have no idea how true chief's words are, and wasn't at the point where medical attention was administered to him, so i think it's not up to me to draw a conclusion or to point fingers
but well, hopefully the chapter comes to a close soon
and i really pray that the family of the deceased will get all the support they need to tide them over this tragedy

timothy is on signal course and one of my juniors happen to be his coursemate
i do not know my juniors very well, recognise some faces and know just a few names
when timothy knew that he is a diver and asked if he knew me, this was his reply:

"oh, zhongfa. The guy who look very fierce but actually is very friendly"

-.-

haha.. i think alot of people agree to the above description
haiyo, the 1st part not very good hor? haha...

well well, can i do anything abt the part of looking fierce?
other than facial features which i cant change unless with plastic surgery (which i'll never),
i'll work on being more as-friendly-as-possible ;)

No one like You
David Crowder

You are more beautiful
Than anyone ever
Everyday You're the same
You never change, no never

And how could I ever deny
The love of my Savior
You are to me everything
All I need forever

How could You be so good to me?

There is no one like You
There has never ever been anyone like You

Everywhere You are there
Earth or air surrounding
I'm not alone, the heavens sing along
My God You're so astounding
How could You be so good to me
Eternally I believe that'

You, You, You, You, You, You

How could You be so good to me?
How could You be so good to me?
We're not alone, so sing along
We're not alone, so sing along, sing along, sing along

There is no one like You
There has never been anyone like You
There is no one like You
There has never been anyone like You
There is no one like our God, yeah

be it over quiet time,
or over a talk with my youngest brother
or the songs that i listen on my zen micro
or even as i prepared to lead worship this sunday
...
over these few days, i was constantly reminded of the life of Jesus, especially His death, it just simply pops up to me so very often

amidst of the busy schedules and the unexpected events that have suddenly emerged out of nowhere, i find myself complaining that i'm tired and exhausted
indeed, there are really a killer bunch of things awaiting, things i'm worried of, or things that may snatch me of my time, or things that threaten to wear me down

even through these grumblings and worry
i thank God that he grabs hold of my head, which has been turning round and round until it's dizzy, and stop it in the direction, looking at him face to face
Jesus' death was by no means a simple matter
it was a mental torture to begin with, knowing beforehand how gruesome His death was going to be
and then, the torture and the road to Calvary
i already felt really uncomfortable when i have to run with blisters during hellweek
to think Christ has to go on a "hiking" with a "full pack(containing the sins of man) in the form of a cross", with his flesh torn all over the place
then the crucifixion, which i don't think i need to elaborate further

all these,
he could have just said it, and it will be gone
but he held on steadfast to the task in hand, because simply, He loves you and me too much to see us seperated from him

Isaiah 52:12
Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors

a question posed to me through the readings of my upmost for his Highest was "are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted, not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister?

Philippians 2:14-18
Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16as you hold out the word of life -- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
18So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

man, it's really hard at times
but i guess through the readings and the example of Christ, i can only pray..

Lord, please teach me how to be a drink offering to you.
Fill me up overflowing that i may continue to pour out my life to you. Amen

Ta-da!~!!!!!
after doing much research on the net,
plus looking at the space i have in my room,
plus a peak at my band account,
plus the approval of my loving parents!
here it is... =)

my 1st drumset!!!! =) *grin* *grin* *grin* =)
the pearl rhythm traveler

front view

side view

red fingers from cleaning the kit

my satisfied grin

action shots (ya.. poser! hahahahahaha)



got it 2nd hand from this guy who lives in simei
had dear to accompany me down to his place to collect (ps.. she even helped carry the heavy hardware.. guess amore does work..haha)
the metal parts were quite tarnished when i first got it.. but now after some hard work.. it's decent i hope.. haha
i've put mesh heads, which is like mosquito net, as heads on all the drums
so now i only hear a soft thud when playing...
and children picture foam mats with a rug over to prevent vibrations from disturbing the neighbours downstairs
shall try real heads when i have the time or money to get better drum heads.. hehe

for budding WAC-ky drummers, if u want a place to prac.. u can head down my place! =)

Spirit of 2002 snare by Jeff Ocheltree



Sizes: 5.5"x13", 5"x14", 6.5"x14"
Shell: 2002 Bronze, from recycled Paiste 2002 cymbals
Lathing: similar to cymbals
Finish: baked enamel
Hoops: gold plated zinc, die cast
Lug Material: solid brass, tumbled & peened finish, 5/8" Hexagonal
Snares: Pure Sound Percussion

-----

this is the sound of carter beauford of dave matthew band
distinct warm pop with the crack of metal snares... beautiful
guess how much?
around USD$1600 after sale discount! list price around USD$2100 - USD$2400

that is like SGD$2800 during sale! or list price around SGD$4000
O_O!!!

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not obtained by sudden flight;

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

Standing on what too long we bore,

With shoulders bent and downcast eyes,

We may discern-unseen before-

A path to higher destinies!

~Longfellow

feeling extremely lousy these few days

somewhat lost or something

things are tough but still manageable in camp
at home, i dunno why but i get alot of negatism from mum these couple of weeks
stomach's recovered but not fully... prob 80% or so... been 3 agonising week
i feel lerthagic and extremely tired easily these few days

do i still have the energy?

next week's the 1st music ministry meeting for 2006

somehow when over the past few months i've been trying to put things together
which has been going relatively positive well so far...

i feel myself breaking apart

is this all just a test?
if so, i m struggling with it

Speechless
Steven Curtis Chapman

Words fall like drops of rain
My lips are like clouds
I say so many things
Trying to figure you out
But as mercy opens my eyes
My words are stolen away
With this breathtaking view of your grace

And I am speechless I’m astonished and amazed
I am silenced by your wondrous grace
You have saved me
You have raised me from the grave
And I am speechless in your presence now
I’m astounded as I consider how
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless

So what kind of love could this be
That would trade heaven’s throne for a cross
And to think you still celebrate
Over finding just one who was lost
And to know you rejoice over us
The God of this whole universe
It’s a story that’s too great for words

Oh how great is the love
The father has lavished upon us
That we should be called
The sons and the daughters of god

We are speechless so amazed
We stand in awe of your grace
We stand in awe of your mercy
You have saved us
We stand in awe of your love
From the grave
We are speechless

We are speechless in your presence now
We stand in awe of your cross
We’re astounded as we consider how
We stand in awe of your power
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless
We are speechless

I am speechless

i realised...
as the years passed, with experience and the love of music, i have no much problem trying to find basic simple chords, tabs, to play songs on my guitar or to try out new stuffs on the drums
though for drums, normally its with much modification, as i still dont feel i'm at a level to be competent enough to imitate grooves and fills well, or to translate them by just listening (hey i'm still learning ya? :D )

but on my journey as a musician for God
i feel that i have fallen short to become the kind of worshipper He desires me to be..
started guitar at age of 14, i'm 3 years short of a decade of playing music..

for the past 7 years,
i've been thrilled and excited easily by cool songs, interesting licks,
the kind where it will excite me to jump straight to my guitar or to surf on the net in search for the tabs/chords of the songs...
or simply reach out for my sticks and try to play the grooves or fills on the set
it's normal for a music lover i guess

BUT BUT BUT

have i missed something?
how should i have used my talents?
is there a misbalance in pleasure of playing a cool song vs pleasure in worshipping God with the instruments i can play?

it's a serious thing
7 years, my goodness
how many songs have i looked carefully at the lyrics?
how many songs have i used the lyrics to worship God, rather than trying to publish the song well through my vocals as a focus?
how many songs have i tried so hard to play to rouse up an excited atmosphere rather than an atmosphere of worship?

it's such a thin, dangerous line
i admit
as much as i would like to deny, place my hand on my heart and tell God, "I've used my talents well"
really,
If we are not true worshippers, who worship God in spirit and in truth, then we are false worshippers

this year,
i want to make a new commitment to God
above the songs one can sing
beyond the lyrics, the music
i'll use the talents and gifts
Simply worship

John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth

my worst case of food poisoning ever
and to think, it's caused by half a cup of instant porridge

the weather didn't help, nor the air con in the medical centre
i reported sick for food poisoning but ended up with hypothermia
collapsed in medical centre, wheeled into emergency room and placed on drip for the entire day
my body temperature dipped to 35 and 4 blankets were still insufficient to stop my shivering

MO told me that the vomitting took out most of my body fluids and calcium
plus the cold environment, that was what triggered hypothermia
i always knew the importance of sufficient hydration, but this is the first time i personally encountered the dangers of insufficient body fluids

feeling better now..
last nite, mum boiled this mushroom water which eased the queasiness..alot
i hope i'll be well enough tmr for youth

Brand new start

D A/C#
Looking back I see my faces
Bm G
Tried to be somebody else
D A/C# Bm G
Trade Your love for something that will never last

D A/C#
I thought I know my way to heaven
Bm G
When all I need is You to stay
Bm A/C# G A
Deep within my heart where you can show me the way


Em D/F#
I tried to run away
G A
But You firmly took my hand
Em D/F# A
On a journey where your love has no end


D A/C# Bm
Yesterday is gone
G D/F#
It’s a brand new day
Em A
A brand new day with you

D A/C# Bm
Yesterday is gone
G D/F#
It’s a brand new start
Em A D
I’ll start it right with you my God