And the Milo Truck rolls round...
Milo is really an integral part of the Singaporean's life. Well, my generation at least. A milo truck's down for the business week and whoa, you should see how we swarmed the van. It's almost an ingrained instinct: see green milo truck, walk towards it, get cold free milo.

In fact, my group mate from HK mentioned: "milo is very popular in Singapore. Everyone seems to like milo!"

What does that say about milo? I guess... that we all like milo. Or rather, that we have all been conditioned to like milo. I mean... since young, we have been seeing the familiar green milo trucks at sports meets, and perhaps even at some other massive school events. On such hot days when the rooms and arenas are not air-conditioned, it is no wonder that little kids swarm the milo truck for icy cold and refreshing milo.

Fast forward to now. When we see the milo trucks, the childhood memories come back, and the memories trigger this longing for icy cold refreshing milo. What happens next is the compulsive drinking of milo. Cup after cup after cup of milo. Makes you wonder if they put some nanobot inside which activates the senses upon seeing a green milo truck. Sales of milo will increase yah...

Heez. =)

In a Jazzy mood
Finally found the lyrics to the song playing on the DBS commercial! I think it's the DBS commercial... but it's a nice nice song! There is no implicit meaning in this post... i just like the song...

Sway by Michael Buble
When marimba rhythms start to play
Dance with me, make me sway
Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
Hold me close, sway me more

Like a flower bending in the breeze
Bend with me, sway with ease
When we dance you have a way with me
Stay with me, sway with me

Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now

Other dancers may be on the floor
Dear, but my eyes will see only you
Only you have the magic technique
When we sway I go weak

I can hear the sounds of violins
Long before it begins
Make me thrill as only you know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now
You know how
Sway me smooth, sway me now

Now, for another song i like... but i only like the first stanza. The second stanza is so... anti-God... i can't worship another person coz... God's the one i've given my life to! Oh, but the last two lines of the second stanza... they apply. Yet... i trust you. =)

Fly Me to the Moon by Diana Krall
Fly me to the moon
And let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words hold my hand
In other words darling kiss me

Fill my life with song
And let me sing forevermore
You are all I hope for
All I worship and adore
In other words please be true
In other words I love you

A Small House
So proud of Joyce and myself. We've gone and put in a slide and a ladder in our 2nd primer for our architecture elective! Oh yes... a slide. In a space of 6 metres square. So cool! Plus there's space for storage, dining, reading, studying, sleeping, playing... I like it.

I shall state a disclaimer before continuing. In no way am i prejudiced against those who are materially less well endowed. The primer is about creating spaces in a compressed area.

And so now, i continue.

One of the most common phrases that came up during our meeting was... "The kid so poor thing, ____ (fill in the blanks. e.g. bed, ladder, slide) so small", to which the retort will be "Who ask the parents to buy such a small house". And the retort to that would be "you cannot create space then blame people... but yah, who ask the parents buy such a small house".

And so, we've got wooden structures that hide away stuff for storage... drapes, curtains... and a seaside theme. Ooooooooo. Kawaii!!!

Disclaimer: this was written under the influence of an unstimulating professor and insufficient sleep.

Ministry Matters: the Conference

Went for a weekend conference (that's why i wasn't there for YF and church on sat and sun! Not coz' i was too tired or anything!!!). Learnt much, and was challenged lots. Oh, and the times we spent in fellowship was astounding! I sat with different groups of people for all my meals, and met my senior from SC guides! What a small world! Well, this blog is just some things i've learnt from the conference about full-time ministry.

• Don't lose heart! Why? Because God has set out to do something and included us in the plan for our benefit!
• Live and talk the same thing! Now that we're in Christ, our whole orientation and whole will should be on things above.
• Depend on God for opportunities and results. God is totally responsible for results. He will save all who are his.
• The message of ministry: is about Jesus Christ as Lord. The idea was there in the OT that kings ruled with authority and saved the people (Psalm 2)
• Be on your guard against counterfeit Christianity. All guises slip in slowly, subtly, but are substantial. Some dangers that churches in Singapore now face are: making Christianity a series of religious rituals / moralities / experiences.

Well, with all that being said... i felt discouraged when playing the keyboard on Sunday morning. For one... i'm trained as a pianist, not a keyboardist. Sustain pedal of the piano works in an exact opposite way from the damper of the keyboard. Super unfamiliarity with the keyboard augmented all mistakes. And... there was a group of people who WHIPPED their heads around to look at me with their piercing looks that said "you played a wrong note" everytime i played a wrong note. I was really doing my best already... So discouraging... But a big friendly giant encouraged me and told me to press on. Still got lots to learn about being a musician!

Looks like we have lots to learn about being a congregation too...

Another thing set me thinking: is our church making Christianity a series of religious rituals? Things like the doxology, gloria patri and the Lord's Prayer are meaningful and they have good words that praise God. But... are we perhaps exalting these things too much?

Are we exalting the hymns high above all music written in this day and age, some of which have excellent words and music but which we're biased against just because they're contemporary?

Are we choosing leaders based on the tradition of age and the number of years of service instead of whether they are able to teach?

Are we so preoccupied with preserving tradition that we cannot accept correction?

That's a whole lot of questions to think through and struggle about... And i think i know the answers to most of them. It's just... whether i believe it or not.

Brothers and sisters, please pray for the church, both local and universal!

SSP is on!!!!!
For the uninitiated, which i suspect most are, ssp refers to 'summer study programme'. All 3 programmes are on, which means come summer, we will be unleashed on St. Gallen's, Arizona and UBC!

As for me, i'm going to St. Gallen's to breathe in the fresh Swiss air. Ahhh... And to take in the sights of the Swiss Alps. And if possible, travel to Legoland and all too! So exciting! So excited! Can't keep still? Can't you feel the exuberance? =)

Now... lotsa things to do: renew passport, apply for visa, change money, plan travel itinerary... and the list goes on. Anyone wants to help??? Or apply as a travel kaki?