"Whatever weakens your reasoning,
impairs the tenderness of your conscience,
obscures your sense of God,
or takes away your relish for spiritual things;

in short, if anything increases the authority and power of the flesh over the Spirit, then that to you becomes sin,
however good it is in itself."

Hebrews 12:1-4
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
dispising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls

You have not resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin

----------

what a week
important lesson in the midst of my illness

Early last week, I guess it was a week where I thought that I had everything in my control
feeling fully prepared to lead worship early in the week way before the weekend,
taking responsibility to ensure I stay in good health etc
U can say I was on it

but when the weekend came
God took over the drivers seat, I was quite thrown off to what to expect next but I was reminded that:
hey, why was i driving in the first place? shouldn't He be driving?

I seem to have planned ahead of God's plan and that may not be the wisest
i thank God that He has made use of my illness to force me to literally rely on the simplicity of matters
which, when I come to think, may be fundamentals of reliance on Him that He wants me to see

Letting God be God
He leads, I follow

such an important lesson
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God

life jackets

I recall the days in camp,
to walk down to the beach to retrieve something,
we were told to don life jackets
and mind u, it's just like the beach u see at east coast or sentosa (except it's much more dirty in sembawang)
jurong east wave pool probably has bigger waves
wearing lifejackets, it must have looked really silly to outsiders

but well, we've had people die in our waters here
yes, Singapore's stagnant waters

although silly, I guess at the end of the day,
we've all seen a fair share,
enough to realise that no matter how good a swimmer u are or how high your water confidence may be,
mother nature, especially underwater current, is not one to mess around with

I recall there's this large chinese print on the pillar of my camp's cookhouse

欺山莫欺水

literal translation:
bully the mountains, but not the waters

My 2B angels
Got my 1st ever class photo.. oh well, as a teacher =)
Mrs Chong was so nice to call me up to pass it to me despite the fact that I'm no longer a staff there and well, it's the school hols for the kids already

I was grinning all the way, looking at those photos, while I was walking back home
I must have looked like a mad fella

anyway, here it is


Notice little Aizad (the boy standing behind me)

Caught him giving me bunny ears
the children beside him were giggling like mad
now, look at that sheepish smile.. haha

I thank God for all these little angels in my life. I have learnt much from their lives even as I taught them

i tried this IQ test from tickle this morning..
it claims to be the "most accurate and scientific test on the web"
apparently, i think it's summary is pretty accurate
too bad, i ain't paying $20 to see the full report.. :P
anyway, now, my brain is so drained I can't get my work done.. ha!
-------

Congratulations, Liow!
Your IQ score is 126

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others.

Your Intellectual Type is Precision Processor. This means you're exceptionally good at discovering quick solutions to problems, especially ones that involve math or logic. You're also resourceful and able to think on your feet. And that's just some of what we know about you from your test results.

http://web.tickle.com/tests/uiqflash/

assignment madness week
thus, it's time for some guitar galore

shortlist

Mcpherson MG 3.5/4.5
Price: US$4k (excluding shipping)
Specs: Engelmann Spruce/ EI rosewood


Taylor 414c or GA4 (without expression system)
Specs: Sitka Spruce/ Ovankol
Price: SGD$3.1/ 2.1k


Taylor GS6(maple) or GS8(spruce)
Specs: Sitka Spruce/ Maple or EI rosewood
Price: SGD$3.4k


Composite Acoustic GX
Price: approx SGD$4k
Specs: Composite material


Martin/ Larrivee OM
Price: approx SGD$3k to 4k
Specs: Spruce/ Rosewood



ok. enough daydreaming

Jackie Chan and his master plan
Traveling all across the land
Ping-pong a little too strong
Eats his spinach and a Popye ball

I'll remember
Zhong

King of glory
You walked with me
Through the darkness
By my side

My strong tower
That never fails
Through the trials
You make me strong
Just like You

You led me through the storm
And taught me to brave it all

Chorus:
I’ll remember
Your great and mighty hands
I’m sheltered from crushing waves

I’ll remember
Your overflowing grace
My saviour, You loved me the same

in quietness and trust

things don't get better overnight

but i learnt
to stop harping on the grievances

next is obedience
to be specific, listen

instructions from God comes naturally following that

Let it fade
Jeremy Camp

Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?
You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this, more than this.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?
You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest, you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered?
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?
It will be gone, forever gone.
It will be gone, it will be gone

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let it fade.

Are you carrying the weight too much?, are you running from the call?
Let it fade, Oh yeah.

You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

This student should get an A

i haven't felt such a high level of stress for a long while

and i find myself waking up in a blur

the mounting pressure is choking

just a post to remember all my sweet little angels from zhps 2B '07


Aida Aqilah Bte Adam
Amabel Chow Shin Yee
Christy Ting
Jane Kwa Qian Ying
Khadijah Btw Kamsani
Ng Le Ting
Nur Farisyah Bte Mohd Surizan
Nurul Natasha Bte Kamaruddin
Paula Denise L Aroban
Siti Nur Khairulhuda Bte M Y
Su Kaijing
Teng Chu Yu
Yak Li He
Aman Shukreeh B Ahmad Maliki
Chai Gao Jie
Chua Ji Kang
Ho Fu Loong Jason
Jeong Yu Han
Keefe Ng Wee Siong
Lim Jan Tuck, Nicholas
Mervyn Tan Jun Han
Mohamad Khairul B Jajali
Muhammad Aizad B A Rahim
Muhammad Nazrul B Sapri
Ng Yue Han Brandon
Ryan Lee Kian Kiat
Sidqi Haikel B Wan Hervin
Tan Guan Teck
Tan Yu Fay, Fabian
Wong Han Qiang


thinking about them never fails to put a smile on my face
i miss them so much =(


here's my class chair-person, christy, receiving cleanest classroom for the term, for primary 2 level (eh, i make them do proper duty one ok! stand by bed!!!)



Here's a shot of me with a giant turtle at the zoo during the p4 IP trail, where i was stationed at the reptile garden



Here's p4 camp! Wi kiat was serving his practicum when i first stepped into zhenghua, btw he's anglican too.. haha.. COR, paul's our common friend


Sports heats! we are the judges!

been having quite alot of driving lessons

to a point
that i realised that i'd automatically check blind spots even when i m walking across a road

quoting from ben's blog:
Anyway, today i realised dat even with all the talent, good looks and niceness that one can ever have, dat is no condition or prerequisite for God to use one mightily :) More than just a realisation, it's become a personal revelation and conviction in my life :) We gotta constantly deal with the issue of pride and self-sufficiency in our lives.. It's dangerous to think dat we have arrived, dat we can make things happen.. No. Like wat Paul said, he planted the seed, Apollos watered, BUT it is God who gives the increase. Indeed without God, whatever we do, whatever we are is naught.

that's alot of truths in this one simply paragraph,
hits the target on the bull's eye with what i was thinking about the whole day
really thank God for this timely reminder

Everything
Tim Hughes

Verse 1:
God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Chorus:
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

Verse 2:
God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Bridge:
Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

what a lovely morning!

i woke up at 8
body clock has already adjusted itself to around that timing

this has been one of the most hectic week ever since i started teaching
chasing other subject teachers for the results, finalising results, entering them into the system
updating 3 months of attendance for the class I took over
national arts achievement audits came yesterday, so we basically had to spruce up the school through the week
literally stayed till 9 plus before heading home
thurs nite OP prac
last nite driving lesson
next week meet the parents session plus staff retreat at sofitel

lots of work
BUT..
it's fantastic!

i am able to sustain through the week by His joy
yes, it's strange, but when there's God's joy in one's heart, you will find the ability to conquer the most negative thoughts, even through the most mundane tasks
especially in this age, in the place, where we slog our hearts out
working, working and working
it's oh so easy to fall into complacency of self dependance


the joy of the Lord is my strength! =)
may it be yours today too!

A preview from "All of the above", hillsong united's first studio album
Marty's writing better lyrics.. ha!

Devotion
Marty Sampson

Verse 1
I’ve been running trying to be one who sees
I’ve been working this salvation out of my knees
There is nothing better than knowing
We are redeemed.

Verse 2
I’m believing, trusting in creative hands.
I am praying for our world to bow to your plan
And this one thought is unmistakable,
To take up my cross and follow you, Lord.

Chorus
When you stand the tall trees and mountains bow,
When you speak the fiercest of oceans is still.
And I see the sinner seeks devotion,
The lost become chosen and I fall to my knees.

Verse 3
I’m forgiven by a savior who did not deserve death
He was blameless; I was lost in shamefulness,
I’m delivered but it doesn’t seem right,
Unless I keep my eyes focused on the savior who gave his live.

In the middle of a world that denies it believes,
It is breaking apart at the very seams.
There is one thought to be alive for,
To take up this cross and follow you, Lord

almost cried

stressed to the max
started on a wrong foot for the week

as much as I want to
I can't see Your goodness
but by faith, I know You are watching over

here's an update
2 weeks ago, mimi weighs 650g
yesterday, he weighs 1.1kg

Sleeping 101


On your belly


ON your side


time to tan the front




anything with string = toy


Hide & seek


paw on hand (he's got nice bluish-greenish eyes)


ivy's so gonna kill my cat


this is mine!


standing tall




--------
anyway,
on a side note


my posting: Zhenghua primary school!

it is 5 mins walk!!!!!!!!

to think i was just commenting jokingly to all how shiok it will be if ever i get posted there for contract teach
so well, He provides!
THANK GOD!

Drool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taye's newest offering was without a doubt, the buzz of this year's Winter NAMM 2007, winning a prestigous "Best in Show: This Year's Hottest Products" award.

String gauges
Light gauge strings
12-16-24-32-42-53

Earthtone light
12-16-25-32-42-54

Medium gauge strings
13-17-26-35-45-56

Strings I've tried so far:
1) Daddario EJ16 Light (Uncoated) - $7.50
2) Daddario EXP16 Light (Coated) - $16
3) DR Extra Life Light (Coated) - $18
4) Snake Oil Brand Light (Uncoated) - $17

Strings I intend to try:
1) Cleartone Light (EMP coat) - $25
2) Earthtone Light (Strange string gauge, uncoated) - $20

Elixir has too many bad reviews regarding breakages
thus, i'm not even considering it regardless of the great tone it boasts

Pardon this technical post,
it's more of a post-it note

Say hi to a new friend in the family,
brought home by my dear brother, without prior permission
think my dad aint that pleased..
my mum is the most caring of all


Inside his makeshift bed with lefa's shorts


Breakfast


Pawing around my thigh


stroll

its legs are still pretty weak, mum says it's probably around a month old
dad says to give it a "probation term" of 2 months
if we find that we can't cope with taking care of it, we will give it away

aint easy taking care of a pet
but thank God, it sleeps like a log
sleeping almost 3/4 of the day

I am extremely encouraged and blessed by this song led by Israel on his album "Alive in South Africa", one of the best albums I have ever heard

-----------

Still Standing
Israel Houghton

Verse 1:
You gave me courage to believe
that all your goodness I will see
and if it had not been for you
standing on my side where would I be

Chorus:
If not for your goodness
if not for your grace
I don't know where I would be today
if not for your kindness
I never could say
I'm still standing

if not for your mercy
if not for your love
I most likely would have given up
if not for your favor
I never could say
I'm still standing
but by the grace of God

Verse 2:
To you I lift my offering
and set my heart on higher things
for if it had not been for you
standing on my side where would I be

Vamp:
I'm still standing
I'm standing
I'm still standing
but by the grace of God

Expressions of Your love
Rebecca St James, Chris Tomlin

A symphony of color
Painted on a western sky
The thunder roars and the rain it falls
Over fields, over streasms, over us, You're
over us...

Expressions of Your glory
Expressions of Your heart
In all You are
You speak to us
Expressions of Your love

A message sent from Heaven
Walked among us as a man
The Son of God and Light of the world
Love divine, crucified, (and) made alive,
You're alive...

you speak to us(9x)

Oh Jesus make me
An expression of You

When Love takes you in
Steven Curtis Chapman



I know you’ve heard the stories
But they all sound too good to be true
You’ve heard about a place called home
But there doesn’t seem to be one for you
So one more night you cry yourself to sleep
And drift off to a distant dream

Where love takes you in and everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in

And somewhere while you’re sleeping
Someone else is dreaming too
Counting down the days until
They hold you close and say I love you
And like the rain that falls into the sea
In a moment what has been is lost in what will be

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart

And this love will never let you go
There is nothing that could ever
cause this love to lose its hold

When love takes you in everything changes
A miracle starts with the beat of a heart
When love takes you home and says you belong here
The loneliness ends and a new life begins
When love takes you in it takes you in for good
When love takes you in

Lam 3:25 (NIV) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.


I am still very much bothered by the adam air incident
it's been more than a week and no news, no nothing, of the missing aircraft

I can imagine the agony of the families of the 96 passengers on board, plus the air crew

If i'm still in service, i won't mind being deployed to partake in this search and rescue..

hopefully with the US Navy oceanographic survey ship coming to help, the search will yield some results..

in the midst of preparing worship material for music ministry

was looking at various verses and this passage "Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman"

this particular verse jumped right at in my face
and absolutely, totally, blew me away

John 4:10
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."