Had lots of time to myself these past few nights, which I spent in thought. One thing became very clear to me: the gospel is that which moves people and that encourages people!

Previously, when an item was good, people would come and say thanks for the good item, or comment on the voices. This time round... well, they came and they said they were very encouraged by it! And they thanked us for singing the song coz it was so encouraging!

Personally, I felt very encouraged. I mean, the focus has finally shifted from the singers and the presenters to the song and the message it contains! The words were simple... the Bible verses we recited were simple...

But God really used us... He used our 6 different voices and 2 different guitar-playing styles to touch His people's hearts...

Now I'm not saying that previous items weren't gospel-centred... They were. But it's just this experience that's left me well, awed at how God can use a simple thing for His glory.

Oh yes... another thing. We had only 1 practice for this item coz of last min notice. So it really cannot be compared to other items coz they demanded lots more practices! Another wonder to marvel at...

And... Joshua is interested to know more about Christ! Yes, Joshua-from-the-cult is interested! When we heard about it, we were dumbfounded, and elated. I mean, who wouldn't be when someone expresses interest that could lead to a conversion? I am... and you betcha I'll jump for joy the day he receives Christ!

Please keep him and others who're still lost in your prayers...

Wahoo! Cheech did justice in his comic strip today. Pity my scanner isn't working... or I'd post the strip up here!

Anyway, it was about Jack Neo's latest movie and the theme song "bai liu li bai hui bu hui kai". Cool!

Was waiting for a train the other day... had a 5 min wait. Each run of the advertisement lasts 10 secs, followed by a 2 sec hiatus during which the arrival time for the next train is flashed.

Then, the advertisement comes on again. Do the math with me. In 1 min, which consists of 60 secs, we can have 5 full sets of the advertisement.

So if we have 5 sets in 1 min, we have 25 sets in 5 mins.

You tell me... is this mildly amusing or dastardly irritating?

The first few times, yes, my attention was caught.

But after one time too many... the amusement and wonder at the intricate harmony turned into irritation.

I don't think i'm the only MRT commuter around who feels the same way... Nothing else is played on these screens except this advertisement!

You know, franchises selling ear plugs and alternative songs to commuters just might make a fast buck...

It was really tiring today... Went dragon boating at Kallang Basin. 6 of us were rowing a 10-man boat! And... i rowed! Jeremy can verify that!

We really pushed the boat through the water, and kicked against the wood... really good workout! Arms.. shoulders... legs..

Everyone was surprised that i could last through the whole session without being the one on the bow. Sharon went on the bow... Jason took the steering... coz they were tired. Well, i didn't want to fall into the water... no life-jacket! So just sat there, gritted my teeth and rowed.

Only at the last part when we were almost back to shore did i stop... the pain was searing...

But well, it was a fulfilling time of exercise! Finally got my butt off the chair or whatever this week!

Ready, Get set, Go!
Koinonia Day. The annual event where the YFers and YAFers gather for some streneous activity. First year, it was dragon-boating. Last year, it was a 1km-10 person relay. This year, it's amazing race.

Oh, we made them run all right. From Aloha Loyang to Loyang Point to Phoon Huat at Simei to Changi Airport to Sinma at Tampines to the spider web at Pasir Ris Park and finally back to Aloha Loyang.

Only one group out of three called it quits, and that's quite good! We gave them lots of things to do at each station and it was great fun watching them encourage each other and helping each other out.

My station was the spider web one. Nigel and Jona were late, and a group was already there, so I had them hold my phone and bottle, and climbed up the structure. It was too congested, so couldn't reach the top. Still, i reached almost to the top to plant the clues!

Nopes, I didn't fall down there... it was really God's Providence! And yeah, it really is easier to climb barefooted than with shoes or sandals. Can feel the rope better to climb...

Anyway, Janice and I are very proud of the clues! The clue to Phoon Huat (a baking chain) read like this: "Where the four beauties go for their baking needs". Four beauties refers to Simei, and yups, baking needs refers to Phoon Huat!

Then another one. "Gigantic spiderman" were two of the words used... most groups came to Pasir Ris park, but one group was apparently too in tune with current happenings. They went to GV Tampines and Toys 'R' Us to find a big Spidey!

Clues like these were fun! And hey, it's cheap to play Amazing Race... just create your own version. Cheapest one is to allow only walking... But we allowed all forms of public transport. So if you wanted to take bus, it's ok. If you wanted to take cab, it's fine by us too... but... you foot the transport tab!

Yups... it's really about endurance, perseverance, preparation for it and all. Just like a race. The devotion for the day was also about racing... taken from Hebrews 12:1-2.

"1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Ok, the devotion focused more on us and what we should do than on Jesus... but that aside, it was a good reminder. Still, even as we run the Christian race, we have to remember that it's not about us, it's not about me. It's about Christ, the founder and perfecter of our faith!

It's very tempting to start thinking that the passages are really about us and all... but I guess it's a constant struggle to always remember and put into practice the knowledge that the whole Bible is about Jesus, so we have to interpret Scriptures in light of that.

4 Walls
Was holed up in a gsr yesterday,finding figures, figures and more figures. Then formatted, thought through... pondered over current and constant...

Before that, had breakfast. Surrounded by 1 kaya toast, 2 eggs and 1 cup of tea. Ok, there was my laptop too. No one else was at my table.

Fast forward to lunch. Just had a milo and a stick of sotong ball... no lunch buddies either.

Fast forward to dinner. Had a mushroom swiss burger... sounds promising right? But again, I ate alone. W & S were too hungry i guess, to da bao their burgers back and eat. So, they da bao-ed a burger for me and yup, i ate alone in the sanctuary lobby.

Being an RA sure is a lonely thing... I'm really thankful for this opportunity, even though it means lots of stress for me. But what I'm very sure of after this is that I cannot cannot cannot be in a permanent job as a researcher where no one is around. I'll probably go into depression...

And those who know me might start to see the signs developing... To those who know me: please, if you see i'm starting to be any single bit depressed, whack me out of it k?

I wonder if it's this extreme loneliness that's driving me to just wake up at 8am odd or 9am odd... and not being able to get back to sleep... given a choice, i'd wake up at 10am or later! Especially with my late nights...

Sigh...........

So... if you want to be an RA, be prepared for extremely long periods of loneliness...

Now i'm just hoping i can find lunch kakis on Mon at least... hopefully Tues as well and the other days too!

And... i think the only person that's keeping me sane is God... because i still know that He is always with me... yeah man, that's the only thing that's keeping my sanity...

Shrek 2 is fantastic!
Watched it yesterday... wonderful show! Really drew lotsa laughs from the audience. And also, some parts of it really hit bingo with private jokes... haha

Like the donkey? He was talking and jabbering and making noises and all... and Shrek and Fiona asked him if he could stop being himself for 5 mins. Carol and I looked at each other and burst out laughing, coz we just said that to Carol earlier during lunch!

Then the part where Shrek drank the 'soup' for washing hands? Yeah... apparently both Jianxun and I made that boo boo before! Yeah... You know, I think they shouldn't serve the liquid for washing hands in nice nice bowls! People who're not thinking may just pick up their spoons and drink the stuff in the nice nice bowl... Something for restaurants to think about eh?

Gingee was very cute... and it was very funny how the soldiers dealt with the big gingerbread man by pouring hot milk on it. First attempt was failed... latte formed and gingerbread man looked like gingerbread lawyer with a white wig! Second attempt was successful... poor gingerbread man...

Pinocchio was funny too! Hahaha... his lies are outrageous... and so is Puss! He looks so fierce and all... and is all ready to take on the soldiers. Then when the soldiers arrive, he puts on this cutest cutesy look... eyes all big and dreamy and all... Then the soldiers went "awwwww..." hee!

But what struck me was the sacrifices that Shrek was willing to make for Fiona... and her final decision to remain in ogre form because Shrek the ogre was who she fell in love with, and Shrek the ogre is who she wants to be with. Ok... so this can't rival Fantaghiro and Romualdo... but hey, its touching too! About how true love goes beyond looks... and that true love is about loving a person for who he or she is.

I was asked before if I can ever love like Fantaghiro loved... I said then that I didn't know... but i think now my answer has changed. I want to love like Fantaghiro loved... coz that's what's true... i hope i can love as Fantaghiro did... and i will try my best... but if i fail, i hope that he can love as Romualdo did... and be patient.

Oh, as a final note, to those who haven't watched Shrek 2 yet, stay back till after the credits. There's something else! Something funny... and mutated! Okok... Jianxun thinks it's very cute... Carol and I think it's mutated... So yups, those things are cute in a mutated sort of way! Imagine... pinkish-greyish creatures with a tail and wings... haha... I think i'm giving too much away!

Got a hug
Yup, I got a hug, a real hug! Did some com service at a student care centre... We're actually teaching and training the kids in the games they'll play during their sports day. So well, yups, played with them and taught them the games.

Some of the kids didn't want to play... but they were quite good yesterday. Anyway, we really had to be more firm with them today! Eugene still came to deh me... so did Jiawen... but what made my day was Li Xuan.

She wanted to hula hoop, but didn't know how to, so she asked me. Lest you think I'm any hula hoop queen or anything, I'm sorry to disappoint you... but I clean forgot how to hula hoop! Later, she asked me again... and tried to put the hoop over me. Then... she suddenly hugged me! Yeps! I got a nice little kid hug from a kiddo! THAT made my day.

My mum attributes it to my babyface... which she says endears me to kids. Jx attributes it to something abt me tt just draws the kids... and he's envious. Hmmmm.... well, the kids are really fun and cute! Julia... Venus... Li Xuan... Wan Qing... but so many problems too!

This has made me confirm something... yeah, I want kids of my own next time... but not too many! I think I'll just go crazy taking care of them...