Monday, January 28, 2008
Did You Know?
That God is good? All the time? That He's faithful to the end? I know. I failed to come home early -yesterday- again, and was naggggged to great heights. Anyway, I've less than a month to go. We went to Guan Wei's house today for a cluster get together. Though we didn't really interact much with people we didn't know, which was a waste, at least we had fun playing Min Sin's game! It's hilarious.
Adjourned to Island Creamery (my maiden trip) and found the ice-cream comfortingly affordable. We snapped a shot, before heading back. On the way I talked with Min Sin and we both agreed that these 3 months helped us to feel like we were back in Singapore for good and the things of Australia had faded away already, especially for her, since she had been away only 4 months and is now back for 3, lol. It does appear like random racist prank calls and drive-by shouting sessions and sleazy Chinatowns do nothing to attract foreigners to want to settle down there.
So many people need prayer. I wasted precious moments yet again today. Hmmmhmmhmhmmm. Better sleep soon.
paN!cker lost it at 12:48 am
Friday, January 25, 2008
Zi
I remember Zi as I sit here, and think of him. He was indeed a man after God's heart, and one who had found God. He was ready to be called home. Am I? He would have turned 26 on 14th Jan 08, but instead, all we have left are but memories. Go to zionkerk.blogspot.com to read all about him.
I really want to seek and find God in that secret place. We are bombarded with so much content in SERVE that so much more time has to be spent digesting it. I'm thinking I will have enough material to last me through the next semester! Hakuna matata, no worries for the rest of your days!
O level results were out today! I was at St Andrews Sec and it was eye-opening to find out that 9-pointers made it into their top 10 list. Truly, it can be said that I have not seen the other side of the system where the bulk of students struggle to score well in their exams. There were like announcements on how to apply for retaking of paper!
Bleh, sleepy.
paN!cker lost it at 12:50 am
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Just Sa[W]rong
Things went wrong yesterday (technically), right at the end. I realised that the cough syrup I bought for my mum at Plaza Sing turned out to NOT be in my possession. It does not help that your mum is home alone, suffering from a bad cough, and after a whole long day her son returns having lost her cough syrup. After racking my brains, I realised I most likely left the bag in Spotlight while shopping with the others for paper to write our well wishes to the O level people on.
My mum was obviously less than impressed with my sterling show of responsibility, and it added to the turmoil inside me. Her words stung, because they eerily resembled some of the words I'd heard at SERVE the same day, stuff about shouting God's praise on the outside but letting junk food consume me on the inside. I realised I had totally neglected the matters of the home for the more "fun" activities outside. My unwell mum was totally not in my mind, and even though I remembered at the back of my mind I had to get cough syrup for mum, she ended up calling me instead to check where I was and if I could get it for her. I didn't even hear her tell me that dad was on the way to get the syrup as well and to call her as soon as I got the syrup. And so I didn't call back, she called back -again-, and I feel really blehh now.
In the midst of discovering that the seksi bottle of cough syrup was not in my bag, I logged in to Utopia to discover that NO, the round was NOT OVER YET! All my funky plans to the end were messed up, and my province was starving because I thought the round ended at 1pm already. I didn't realise they mentioned the -END of Jan 23rd-, NOT -START of Jan 23rd-. And so, without going into too much detail, the timeline for the networth rush to the end was pretty screwed + all that starving really "helped" quite a bit. Sigh. And if my memory serves me right, I was challenged to drop this dastardly game. And it does look like I will after all. I was looking to take over 4 accounts, so I could get my 4 friends in, but apparently the password for 1 account is wrong. Therefore, I intend to still get 4 of them in by giving my own account away as well.
Moral of the Story: Please heed God's promptings on your life, and don't rationalise away the decisions you have to make.
paN!cker lost it at 2:09 am
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wake Me Up
Hmmmm ok. This sucks. It blows. I am now extremely upset with self. God is clearly giving me a wake up call. Disappointing, search yourself. What is in your heart today?
paN!cker lost it at 11:40 pm
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Faster Than a Cannonball
Time is zooming past me like never before! Before SERVE, I had too much time. Now that SERVE is on, I have no time. And I worry. Worry that perhaps I don't have enough time to pack and get all the administrative nitty gritties sorted out before flying back. I'll be SERVEing all the way till 22nd Feb before zhao'ing the next day 23rd Feb.
Dear God, please make a way!
paN!cker lost it at 12:11 am
Sunday, January 20, 2008
HOME
I landed 10pm! Just in time to miss Tim Chew's farty. Oh well. Good to be back. China was an eye-opener. It's not THAT bad, but, not that good either. Haha. I should sleep.
paN!cker lost it at 12:22 am
Monday, January 14, 2008
SERVEing to China
Goodbye Singapore! In some 10 hours, I'll be in ice-cold Shanghai. It doesn't even feel like I'm going away, how strange. It must be because Shanghai is just 5 hours away by train. If you actually thought about that, you should be ashamed. 5 hours by PLANE! Wot a hectic period, I sincerely hope it'll be a great time of family bonding and time off everything. Till we meet again readers, g'day! Erm, night.
paN!cker lost it at 8:00 pm
Friday, January 11, 2008
Seems Just Yesterday
You know I keep wanting to wake up at 6am and go for a jog, but it never materialises. Ok, so I am waking up relatively early for SERVE but it's not enough. I've always liked the mystery that morning brings, that strange quiet, when nobody and nothing is around to distract you. BUT, I never get to wake up and enjoy it because I'm an ass. There I've said it, ass ass ass, always doing what I do not want to do and not doing what I want to do. And I was just thinking about the morning, and very naturally, I was brought back to the days of long ago.
My primary school bus always came at 0630hrs, and somehow, with the combined efforts of mummy and aunty Marie, I would be right there waiting, schoolbag on and Roly Poly bottle over my neck, strap-on BATA shoes firmly secured to my feet, good to go. My bus uncle was pretty much a rolypoly guy himself, tan with a big fat bald head and a nice big stomach. Sometimes, he would get really angry if we got really rowdy in the bus in the arvos (not mornings, those times were for sleeping). We enjoyed bringing different food each day and sharing it with the others. I loved to bring seaweed and occasionally other stuff that I cannot recall. I loved the light blue Twisties; I think it's BBQ flavour. I also loved to crawl under the chairs and sneak around the place. I have a dream, to wake up at 6am to run and hopefully get to meet that same bus uncle again. I would go up and ask him, "Uncle, hai(2) ji(4) de(2) wo(3) ma(1) ?" I remember that for many years after I left Fairfield, he was still plying the same route, fetching different generations to school and back. Maybe one day. Those were the days.
and these ones?
paN!cker lost it at 12:01 am
Monday, January 07, 2008
To Know Your Name
The camera remains lost. I'm sucha muddlehead. I didn't even know my camera wasn't with me. Argh, bitter pills make sad deals. I would say I'm distraught but I know it's just material stuff that's lost. I would trade a million lost cameras to retrieve the life of a loved one, like Zi. You just cannot compare the two realities.
And so today was the first day of SERVE! Like Pastor Rennis prayed, God works regardless of intentions. Touching my heart in all honesty, I guess I can safely say a part of me joined SERVE because I've been weak and I wanted an external force to force (er yes, that's what forces are for) me to walk with Him for these two months or so. I hate to say it but it does sound like a crutch for me at this point. I -know- that spending 24/7 with God will effect change, and prep me for the arduous year ahead, with all its challenges. That's my aim of joining SERVE, to build a firm foundation that I can fall back on knowing the dizzying heights where I've gone with God and having the reassurance that the reality of God in my life doesn't have to be far away in some remote corner.
One thing's for sure though, it's gonna be good! I come expecting many exciting and miraculous things! Anyway, sorry to all whose photos are locked forever (hopefully still hoping it's not the case) in someplace only God knows. May your collective faces bless (not stress) those who stumble upon the cam and sift through the stuff. Sigh, am I mourning or WHAT. Good morning.
paN!cker lost it at 11:54 pm
Barefoot
On the first day of this new year, I found myself ambling along Orchard Road barefoot, with three ladies, namely Cait, Rachel, and Rowenna. Together, we attracted many a strange look and startled many a Singaporean. Edwin was sadly too wasted from the night before to climb out of bed. And guess who's idea it was to begin with. Verreh naaas yo.
And so we began from Starbucks near Zara and Borders, trying to look as nonchalant as possible, which was pretty hard to begin with, because the temptation was great to check out people checking us out. People could hardly hide their surprise at seeing us doing a Frodo in obviously wrong settings. The funniest reactions came from people who were almost past us when they caught a glimpse of us. There was no time to process anything and they were a joy to behold. We were busy snapping pictures all arvo and even managed to pose with some other peeps!
The highlight was strolling to World of Sport at Cineleisure and discussing very casually the possibility of getting me my "first pair of shoes". It went something like this.
Rowenna: Hey Chris, don't you think after 23 years, it's about time you got a pair of shoes man.
Christopher: Yea you've a point eh, but, it's hard, after so long without em, I really gotta think through this one. (in other words, big decision dei, possibly life-changing!)
And so I picked out a pair of old-school but brand new Ronaldinho-signed shoes (which looked great btw) to try and the sales guy didn't even bat an eyelid. He got me my size and I tried them on. I proceeded to ask him:-
Christopher: Are shoes comfortable?
Salesguy: What you mean this pair?
Christopher: Yeah, I mean like, in general. *serious look*
We were even contemplating asking for thick quality socks which were especially dirt-absorbant, perfect for our dainty soiled feet, but nahhhhhh we were nice (and still are). Sadly, only one group asked us why we were parading ourselves in such strange garb, or rather, in a lack of garb. And surprise surprise, they weren't even Singaporeans, but our favourite people group, the Filipinos! I was like "What are slippers! Ohhh you mean these strange things people are wearing." Haha, but Rowe told them we were doing this for fun and it's an Aussie thing and she was tryna infuse a FEEEEL of the culture into us.
After that, I made a fool of myself dancing with this bead-thingy swinging from my gyrating hips while the girls caught it on video for posterity.
ANYWAY, the day ended with Rowe and I going for a verrreh naaaaas foot reflexology session at Tiong Bahru before having dinner with Kairen and heading home.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. Apparently, that's the last day I ever saw my camera, and I've been knowing that it's not been around for at least 3 days now but today I discovered. It's official. It's not in ANY of my bags nor my desk nor anywhere feasible in my house and that IS a problem. I'm just so sad now and frustrated! Man........ I cannot for the life of me imagine where I might have left it. IF ANYONE KNOWS, PLEASE SAVE ME from this misery. There's so many photos I haven't uploaded yet and that blows. On top of that, I hate -hate- -hate- losing ANYTHING, even an eraser or pencil or pen. I used to crawl everywhere under my desk in primary school just to retrieve the lost sheep who had been naughty and strayed from the safety of my pencil box. This time, it's many memories and many $$$ that are missing and it doesn't make it any better. Sighhhhh .................... ming tian hui gen hao. Just breathe, INNNNNNN, OUUUUUUT. :((((
paN!cker lost it at 12:59 am
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Summertime
Happy new year everyone! As oceans rise and mountains fall, life goes on and on for all. Let's make this a good one.
REMEMBER, it's not about weighing your ups and your downs to determine how your year was/is going/will go, but all about whether God was/is/will be a part of it. Because then you know that each up and each down is but a small ingredient in the brilliant masterpiece that will be a complete work when He takes you home. Bittersweet, but to the beat, the beat of God's heart for all our lives. Submit. Have a good one with loved ones and not so loved ones near and far all!
paN!cker lost it at 1:54 am
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