God's Clay picnic 2008!!!

God's Clay picnic 2008!!!
Friday
Some "DRAMA" happened to the IAD cohort Seniors... presentation was canceled halfway...many things happened...anyways... that "drama" made us all motivated to want to give our best even MORE for our Proj 3! so thats why below u see that signage done..

(Izzati,atiqah,khairah and afinny did that niceee banner for the IAD seniors in our studio!)

Below..the new concept model i did...


(Concept to show interlocking of spaces and illusion spaces)

Saturday...
First YM Gym fellowship! 8 ymers at Bishan gym...
Pictures to be updated soon... (Stacy upload it!)

Sunday... GOD's CLAY PICNIC!!!!!!!!!
We carried out one of our more successful picnics after over the years of many God's clay picnics, we use to have it quite often when we were in sec 3 & 4....

(Played polar bear while waiting for more food to come!)

(steph and samuel was the polar bear in this round)

(Finally after 2 hrs..our food arrived! Benlei,cherie,charles and vyan came from carrefour)

(we even had shashimi SALMON on our biscuit! one extravagant picnic!)

(benlei eating his DRUMSTICK like some cave man!...ALL OUR FOODDDDDDDDDDD!)

(We played Charades using Taboo cards...soe making a fool of her self! hahah!)

(steph acting out in Taboo Charades!)

Creative Writing module!

Creative Writing module!  

Journal Writing...(Assignment 1)
Below are some of my deep insights on life....  

First Entry (1)

2nd & 3rd Entry

4th Entry (APOLOGETICS)
(I have learn that its not easy writing apologetics for an essay, especially for such writings if your lecturer is not a Christian...i kinda got challenge back on certain points and might have step on my lecturers toes abit =P)

5th -7th Entry

8th-10th Entry

Assignment 4-
Short story... What your about to read is the best story i ever produce which got commendable comments from my lecturer ... well bcoz its ALL INSPIRED from GOD! ...and a bit of NARNIA and Final Fantasy 10 hee... do looked out for the biblical references in my story! AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS for this story below!!! If i had more time and allowed more words i would have expanded on this more! I think i will score in this assignment too!

The Prophecy (My best story ever written!)

“Darkness has filled the world”…

”The prophecy of Eli needs to be fulfilled”…

These audible words were spoken into him after a strong presence of a Vigorfly came upon him. He woke up in bewilderment from that vivid surreal dream which gotten him into a cold sweat. He was so confused, why would a Vigorfly enter his dream and speak to him in such strange but yet convincing words.

Laguna was a young aspiring designer, an orphan and has been living alone ever since he left the orphanage. He led a simple life and always aims to be the best in his work. Although he seems like any common man around, he actually had this rare gift; he would see strange sights of mysterious Vigorfly. This mystic spirits cannot be been seen with a normal human eye, when seen their bodies are in a mist like form portraying the form of humans or animals. They are energy of life that moves around freely in this world of Arthenia belonging to the essence of Eli. At times they can enter human beings at random, giving them strange and immerse power to do more than a human could do, revealing thoughts and secrets of the world. But never ever in his life did a Vigorfly enter his dream until that fateful day.

In his younger days, he somehow had this inner thought in him that he had this strange higher calling, but he would just pass it off as any childhood dream to do something great in the world. Pondering on that fateful night, he thought that was just some normal strange dream that was in his highly imaginative mind, but he was very wrong. That was only the start of many more vivid surreal dreams to come.

Bright light filled the space, large mass of land formed, valley grew green with grass, and lush trees started forming from the land. Light wind was heard ruffling the grass. And the higher slopes grew dark with heather as bristling green appeared in the valley. Suddenly, vast water sprouted out of the ground and water filled the sky. Those were the scenes that he saw so vividly in his dream. Laguna was even more confused from that vision. “What does this all mean?” He exclaimed.

The following night, another dream was revealed to him, he saw this mystical creature which seems to have a dark power from deep inside, walking with his head held high, he seemed to be one with full of pride, wanting all glory and power for himself. This creature came upon Arthenia and poured darkness into the World. By the third dream, Laguna couldn’t take those outpouring of surreal dreams anymore, he really wanted to know why he was having this strange dreams and what it all meant.

When he thought his answer would never be answered, he heard a knocked on his door. Stood there a mysterious hooded old man who had very mature eyes that have seemed to seen the world. He introduced himself as a summoner, they were beings that could speak and communicate to Vigorflies and are chosen people of Eli. Their goal in life is to go on these pilgrimages to this “Lost City” and if all of them gather there, they would fulfill their destiny. At that point, Laguna muttered to himself, “never in his life thought that he was actually going to meet a summoner, first strange dreams, now this”.

Ever since he was young, he always thought that such summoners were all just myths and legends. But ultimately, he was glad that there were others out there who had visions like him too. The summoner explained, that their primary mission is to find the other summoners all over the world of Arthenia and gather at the “Lost city” that was revealed to them. He said the Vigorfly are their guides, teacher and counselor which reveals to them other chosen people of Eli to go on this same pilgrimage.

After hearing the whole story about this whole prophecy and “Lost city”, it still seemed too far-fetch for Laguna to digest. He was still quite skeptical, but somehow, deep in his heart, there was this prompting to just listen to that summoner. Putting much thought into it, he knew that his dreams and visions itself were surreal and weird enough. After much contemplation he just gave in to the summoner, giving him the benefit of the doubt that all that was shared was true.

From here on, the mysterious man introduced him to some of his other summoner friends as he prepared for an adventure ahead. The positive thing about this pilgrimage for Laguna was despite him still being a little skeptical about this whole thing; he was one that seeks adventure. He was willing to give up his aspiration of becoming a designer to go on this pilgrimage with this other summoners in search of this “Lost city”.

The following night, another dream came upon Laguna again, this time, he saw this majestic rider on a horse, his eyes were like blazing fire and on his head many crowns, he had a name written on it that no one knows but he himself. The vividness of each vision seems too real to be just a dream.

Laguna would always ponder deeply after each dream and would share it with the other summoners. The summoners would also teach him how to interpret and develop the control of his visions better. All this while, Laguna didn’t know this, but all the other summoners began to realize that he was different and special some how, he wasn’t like any of them. Despite he being able to see Vigorflies and have dreams and visions like any other summoner, his visions didn’t reveal any thing about that “Lost city” which was supposedly to be revealed to all summoners. Instead, he saw glimpses of seemingly what seems to be in the past in some strange realms out of the world of Arthenia.

Then one gloomy night, all of them decided to take refuge at this abandon temple to seek rest. Laguna went into another deep sleep immediately, while the summoners all sat together pondering about everything that had happened so far. They were all reflecting on how Laguna visions and dreams seemed to have some deeper meaning behind them. From their observations they sense that Laguna could actually be part of this whole prophecy. With the new insights, the Vigorflies prompted the summoners that the time has come to call for the final meeting.

One by one, men with hoods in colours of grey, brown & black representing all the nations of the world of Arthenia came to this meeting. And for the first time ever in the history of summoner’s pilgrimages, was where all forty-two chosen summoners of the Eli came united in one same location. The summoners were preparing for the final ritual, in a dark and quiet spacious room of an abandon temple where they started praying in unison. Fervently they called upon the Vigorflies of Arthenia to empower them again and to show them the “Lost City”. This time they had full faith that the exact location will be revealed, with each of them claiming upon the promise that was made more than 2000 years ago.

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the room where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the power of the Vigorflies; each of them suddenly had this immersed power of actualization and wisdom on their visions. The pieces of the prophecy were being piece together one by one in their visions. And after more than 2000 years searching, they all finally had this revelation and a clear sight of where the exact location of the “Lost City” was.

On that same night, Laguna still in that deep sleep in a small secluded area of that abandon temple was having more vivid dreams and visions as usual. However, this time his dreams were more lucid and it all seemed too familiar. As the flashbacks of previous visions started appearing before his eyes, he felt he was experiencing a déjà vu of events where he was in a major part of more than 2000 years. It was all becoming too real. This time he felt he was in the dream itself.

Suddenly, Laguna woke up; this deep inner sense of rejuvenation and revelation filled him. He felt so anointed, as though some immerse presence had entered his body. Flash backs appeared before his eyes again, right from the very first audible voice of words that were spoken to him; to the vivid scenes of what seem to be the world of Arthenia forming together; followed by the dark image of the mystical creature that was then cast down unto the world of Arthenia filling the world with darkness. And then finally the forth flash back that instilled in his eyes, there vividly a glimpse of him coming in on a white horse and the name that only he knows was spelt out “anugal” which in reverse was his very own name, Laguna.

Then, there stood around him, the forty-two summoners who were all speechless and in deep silence; each of them had an expression of reverence and awe towards him. It was a consequential moment that would be the greatest historical event of man kind. The summoners had just realize they were standing right in front of the prophecy it self. Laguna was the “Lost city” all this while. He was the prophecy!

The summoners still in awe from all the happenings just stood there. They were waiting upon the man who now had a shimmering glow of light shining out from his body to speak. He then began to explain everything with this sudden great wisdom and knowledge. He said how all those surreal dreams where the Vigorfly has been entering in him were all seen in the eyes of the sovereign majestic Eli, who was “the beginning and the end”. He assured them with words of absolute authority that each of these summoners’ destinies had been fulfilled. The act of them uniting together fulfilled the prophecy to find the “Lost city” which was Laguna himself.

At the heavenly realms, there stood with eyes of great reverence, looked over unto the new world, the darkness being defeated and gradually being wipe out from the face of Arthenia. The mystic Vigorflies who was once only seen by summoners could now be experience by anyone at will, and an inner sense of peace would instill in the people who believes in this Vigorflies. And finally, after more than 2000 years after darkness filled Arthenia, there the “beginning and the end”, Eli spoke in words of great sovereignty and absolute authority. “It is finished!”

IAD project 3 Interim Presentation 1!

IAD project 3 Interim Presentation 1!
Its been one of my tightest block, especially in this past week...i'm really trying my very best to manage my time well and rest well...But this week been a little tough!
Currently, im preparing bible study this saturday about "leading an unhurried life"... but the IRONY... its hard to practice that when time is SO TIGHT even when i dun compromise and prepared as early as i cld....
But i'm amazed at how God has been carrying me thru...I THANK GOD so much for given me the strength to pass thru the long nights.
Like when i started yr 3... after my internship..i told God that every single work i do in school.., is all for Him! I want to work my hardest for Him! And thats what i have did for my two recent modules...creative writing which has just finish today which i tink i might get a rare A in it.. check out my next entry where our will post THE BEST story i ever wrote! ok maybe bcoz i dun really write much short stories... but its purely inspired from God and heard very good comments for my lecturer...so something everyone sld looked out for! =P...
And now this other major project..where i'm having a presentation tmr! Another thing to THANK GOD for is so coincidentally he put my presentation slot to be tmr..instead of today, when i thought i cld just get over and finish presenting today..,He actually put me in the friday slot...where i got one more day to prepare and GIVE MY VERY BEST for this first major interim presentation!

Check out some of my work i have been doing like CAD plans and mock models the past week...



(the zoning of my areas)

(i took more than 6 hours to do this last nite... or u can say this morning...)




(sectional view)

(I like this double volume space which shows the interlocking of areas)

YM leaders retreat 2008 at Prince George Park (NUS)

YM leaders retreat 2008 at Prince George Park (NUS)
June 20-22
Just came back from a good church leaders retreat! I good break from sch work! and one enjoyable time getting to know the other leaders better as well as some really good spiritual feeding! =)

Friday
Stepping in to Prince George Park really bring back the first Campus Crusade camp METAMORPHOSIS in 2006 which i went... and the good old memories poured in from the different parts of PGP...
Anyway nothing much on first night...just plan out the preparations of ingredients for the IRON CHEF battle the next morning between the GIRLS AND GUYS!
"Chef" David called his mom for some good recipe to make!

Preparation time for IRON CHEF!


(the master chef!................we help him in this "bread pudding"

(we were commended for the guys efforts! But the girls won it)

(the MALE IRON CHEFs!)

(the females!)


(the nice view of PGP)
After breakfast...
Adriel gave a message on...
1- Experiential Spirituality
2- Exuberant Programme
3- Victorious Vision

After lunch...
Ice breakers...

(some icebreakers!)

(matthias and bel doing forfeit..chicky dance)


(Guest speaker John Chong who did a session on Spiritual Disciplines)

BBQ night!



Some played polar bear...


(Mel was the "guru"... and she was hinting the polar bear was ellen... i pointed from behind of ellen to let the others know that ellen was the polar bear...and we were RIGHT!)

(Ian, Caleb voting ppl to be the polar bear!)

(And then some played bridge...)


(some had nice conversations)

After BBQ...
played some card games..this pretty cool BEAN farming game!

(thats david posing! hahah!)

(the WESLEY YM LEADERS 2008!)

(Lunch... ate this cheap and
(delicious sirlon at the fully packed ASTONs at the PGP canteen!)

On the bus back to church...


(the sleepy guys! hahha! Ian,david ,isaac legs)

An inspired writing from nature.... new personal record run at bedok reservior!

An inspired writing from nature....
Monday
Sorry haven't had the time to blog the last few days, gonna squeeze a quick one to blog about a reflection i wrote as we had 20 mins in the open of nature during creative writing class... as i sat at the fountain of TP before the scenic bedok reservior...i was inspired to write something that i got the chance to share to the class after...

(i was sitting at the edge of the pond...reflecting and soaking in nature)

9.55 -10.15am (creative writing class time)

The vast blue sky above, me fluffy white clouds floating in the air, And a corner of the blue sky lays dark gray gloomy clouds. The sounds of the fountain splatters across the calm serene pond as the water vapor flew across the pond like mist. Beautiful lush green grass surrounds me, looking ahead at the beautiful reservoir were cluster of trees which just filled the space, yellowish,red of shrubs setting side by side.

While writing a nice cool breeze of wind blew past the back of my neck, looking and experiencing such scenic view and hearing the calm soothing sound of nature makes one ponder how this beautiful creation came about. Like the plane that just flew across as i ponder, that we know were made by the engineers and mechanics of men. But then such vast, intricate,beautiful nature is way too much for the ability of men to create. I'm so sure there must be a creator, all this can't just appear out of no where. All this sets this thought in me, that there must be a higher being that is just too much for us humans to comprehend with our minds and theres actually so much around the world that we humans do not understand.

After school...
Hannan and me wanted to start trying for our napfa test... so at 5pm we headed for a run around the 4.8 km route of bedok reservior... last time recorded runnign there was in Wednesday, November 14, 2007, my personal record time was 23.05 then... when i thought my fitness has drop, i was wrong.... despite still not getting the 10 min mark for 2.4km... the good pacing run with hannan help me to achieve another personal record timing, smashing the previous time by 30 secs... with a time of 22 mins 36 secs!

(my class mate hannan! One good pacer man!)

Alrighty... i sld be getting back to work now! ....

Will be away from 20-22 june at Wesley Ym leaders retreat at PGP at NUS!!!! Can't wait for this water break!!! =)

Creative Writing... Entry 8-10

Creative Writing... Entry 8-10

I have come to the last entries of my Journal entries for my creative writing! Enjoy reading! =)

Inspirations for entry 8 and 9 came from a couple of sermons...

13/6/08

Your Words Matter

I have been pondering, have you ever actually thought how the words coming out of our mouth can be quite powerful. In fact, how those words can actually make a huge impact on us or others? This is a quote I heard from a preacher once, “The tongue is like a fire. We can use it to bless or curse others.”

Let me share a scenario, imagine if this boy who in school has classmates who would always tease him of how fat he is or tease him with names or even scold vaguer words to him. I believe those hurting words said to the boy will be emotionally painful enough to be worst then someone hitting him. In fact I believe such words said to even a big grown man can bring the person down. That’s how dangerous words use in the wrong way can bring harm.

Another example, imagine if every single day, you go in front of the mirror and say “I’m a loser, I don’t see any purpose in living anymore”, and say this for thirty days straight about yourself, I can imagine that person actually really believing in what he says and inevitably commit suicide after awhile. If that’s a little too morbid, how about doing the same thing but saying different words like, “I can do it, I will give and make the best in everything I do”, I’m sure that this psychological method is so powerful that if you do that everyday, you will actually start believing in those words and I’m positively sure your outlook in life will be so different.

Personally to me, I strongly believe to make the best of the words coming out of our mouth, by using it to bless and encourage others instead. I really believed that encouragement is one of the most powerful tools in the world that anyone of us can actually do if we make the effort to use it. In fact, I feel very joyful my self if I’m given opportunity to just bless someone or encourage someone, so not only you make others feel affirm and assured, your words coming out of your mouth can somehow give you this intrinsic feeling yourself too. Such words are so powerful that an encouragement to someone can actually bring a person who is very down up again. And most of all personally I feel its something not hard to do. I believed that we all need such encouragement in life; I can’t imagine someone going on living his or her whole life without any affirmation or encouragement from anyone.

Personally to me, if I put myself in a scenario where the boss affirms me with encouraging words like “you did an excellent job” in front of the whole company, the intrinsic feeling of that, compared to the extrinsic factor of a pay rise would be more important to me. That’s how powerful words are.

In conclusion, personally I feel that our words we say matters a lot. We should always watch what we say to our selves or others. And I hope to encourage everyone to speak words of encouragement to bless others when ever you got the chance to.

14/6/08

The Great Game

The Great Game is a British term for what the British saw as a strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia. But I won’t be sharing anything about that in this entry, in fact I will share about the other “Great Game”, which is none other then soccer also known as football.

Soccer is one of my greatest passions, there’s so much history between soccer and me, from the times when I watch my first ever soccer match on television, to the time how I first supported my first English Premier League club. And over the years how I have been so influence by it, playing soccer almost everyday in my primary school days, from kicking water bottles during recess times, to upgrading to tennis balls at upper primary and continuing to real soccer balls after. Playing for the school soccer team over the years is another story. Actually I can go on and on sharing about the history of soccer and me, but what I actually been observing and wondering about are how the culture of soccer has grown over the years and impacted so many lives.

Just looking at the people around you, male or female, the growing number of soccer fans has seemed to have grown, to me at least. Especially, when ever big games happen like during the “World Cup” or big matches between some of the biggest English Premier League clubs, it will be like the talk of the town. Even some non soccer friends will suddenly just become soccer fans for the night just for the sake of watching a match with friends outside. Well then there are others who watch not for the game but for the players itself, especially many young girls.

You will be surprise how such big matches can have an impact on avid soccer fans. One such example is the recent big match between Chelsea and Manchester United in the “Champions League Final”. I read the reports on how people would even go the extra mile to take leave from work the next day so they can spend the wee hours of the night to watch the big match.

Not only that, avid soccer fans get so passionate about their clubs that they actually feel they are part of it. The emotions they get from watching their favourite team as they win or lose can bring out the inner most happiness or sadness in them. I have seen many soccer fans that literally jump and shout for joy when their team wins and then there are times where I see fans crying when they see their teams lose, some even go the extend of feeling depressed. And then a common sight I see or even I do is when we jokingly taunt our friends who support our rival clubs. Such passions are so real that you can really see it in their faces and actions.

Another example of how soccer has impacted large number of people around here and hit the news is when, our very own nation, Singapore, take on other countries in big matches like “Tiger Cup Finals” or against the better countries in the world. With families and friends coming together, going to the national stadium or watching in their homes or coffee shops to support our very own country. It’s a very pleasant sight to see, uniting the nation in a common way.

Non soccer fans may not comprehend why fans would feel so much for their teams, I believe they maybe wondering in bewilderment how such people can experience the same feelings as the players of the team they support even though they are not the ones playing. Well, it’s hard to explain how that feeling comes, but it’s something which I guess only soccer fans will know.

15/6/08

Running

Have you ever thought how one can actually learn a life lesson in a simple thing like running? Well, running is one of my favourite forms of exercise and as I ponder about this, there are so many insights to learn from this. I hope to share some good insights as I reflect upon and write this last entry.

Not many people will know this, but there are so many benefits of running besides just keeping you fit. I have come to learn that running is the fastest and healthiest way to lose weight. And in this stressful environment in the world today, I believe that running is one good way to overcome stress as it just makes you happy after completing a run.

I like running long distances, like five to ten kilometers, and there was once I started to wonder why that each time I finished the run instead of feeling just tired there was this feeling of joy and this thing inside me that just make me so “high”.

I was thinking could it just be the satisfaction of completing a long distance? Or there was more to just that? So I went home that day and did a little research on it and found out that, there’s a name for this feeling, It’s called the “runner’s high”. This is where chemical in our bodies called “endorphins” are release when we do strenuous exercises.

Another thing I have learnt about running is, if we set ourselves a goal, like a certain timing to complete the run and when we actually attained that goal at the end of the run you also attain a high like no other. When you see your progress over time, and just look back to see where you have come from, you really be amazed also excited by the fact that what ever you want to achieve, is within your control. A personal stretch goal achieved, gives a high far greater than any business stretch goal achievement.

Remember I shared at the start of this entry that you can even learn a life lessons from running. Well, there was once I was running the ten kilometers trails in MacRitchie Reservoir, and I was reflecting and thinking about various issues as such reflections keeps my mind going and away from the tiredness as well. And when I was at the last quarter of the run I was getting a little tired, to me I feel running long distance is sometimes more of a mental challenge then a physical challenge.

Anyways, I started to notice that there were many steep hills that can just knocked you off your pacing and if your not focus and not pushing yourself your mind will tell your body to give up. And if you do not know this, in running long distance, you really need to pace yourself well if you want to complete a run in a good time. And we shouldn’t stop to walk as it will actually spoil one pace in a run.

Well, I realize that after each steep slope that I conquered I knew there was going to be a steep down slope too where it will be a breeze down. And it actually makes me reflect about the situation of how our life is like a marathon. There will be steep up hills that will just make our life so miserable, and if we don’t preserve through such times we may actually just give up and it will bring us down even more. And then there are those down hills, where if we preserve enough those up hills we know that there will be a down hill after that. To summarize that, I have learnt that tough times will actually build out our character if we preserve through it with a good attitude. And sooner you know it; better times will come as your character has been molded from the tough times.

I want to share a quote which I found that sums up my sharing, "Top results are reached only through pain. But eventually you like this pain. You'll find the more difficulties you have on the way, the more you will enjoy your success." quoted from Juha "the Curel Vaatainen”.

DEE DAH DAY!!!!

DEE DAH DAY!!!!
Friday
Our grp presentation of Joo Chiat!

(the wonderfully nice story boards done by the layout grp..i like the lights reflecting of the roof)

(the yr 2 RHD class testing out their chairs made of carboard... weng and koko "kaypo" drop by the Junior class to test out for them)

Saturday!
I'm just so DEE DAH DAY HAPPY!!! After a loooong week of sch.. Thats the topic for todays bible study led by steph, its my favourite topic out of the whole book of "The life you've always wanted" so far. Well basically, its the discipline of JOY! We should understand that JOY is God's basic character, "True joy,as it turns out, comes only to those who have devoted their lives to something greater than personal happiness." Those were some of the nice quotes from this JOY CHAPTER!!! To be honest, looking back at alll the small grp times and bible study times...i can OUT RIGHT SAY that today was really and literally the MOST JOYFUL SESSION EVER! It was just non stop laughing and sharing of joy as we talk abt this so edifying and encouraging topic! And really, God dun want us to be Christians who lead depress lives...He wants us to be JOYFUL! remember that JOYFULNESS comes from the LORD! And thats our STRENGTH!!!! I'm just so happy being with this bunch of people from God's clay! They adds to the JOY in my life! =) =) =)

(Seeing that makes me happy! Steph got a bunch of advertising cuttings of this from "TODAYs" newspaper...so everyday theres a new advert.. like tuesday, TERRIFIC Tuesday,for wednesday..wonderful wednesday, etc... ONE HAPPY advert! =)

Just pondering about this joyful day, I really can't imagine myself leading a life without Christ....
I'm all SMILESSSSS TODAY!!!!! I=)

Creative Writing... Entry 5-7
Haven't been blogging for awhile, because been really packed with school work... Anyway this are the last 3 entries i did for the past week. 3 more to go over the week ends! I'm tired! I'm going to sleep now! As i know sleep is GLORIFYING GOD! =)
Enjoy reading... if your tired...JUST SLEEP too =)

8/6/08

Time management

People rushing from place to place, squeezing themselves into packed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) trains. Especially a scene from the interchange of the red line of Dhoby Ghaut to City hall, I was there a couple days ago in the morning rush and it was as though it was crossfire of humans just dashing like it’s the end of the world. It’s amazing that I didn’t see any clashes of human beings. These are scenes that many go through or experience if they take the public transport in the morning on working days.

Just being in that scene really make me ponder, why do people always have to rush all over the place, can’t anyone just learn to mange their time better and discipline themselves to wake up earlier. Isn’t it so much better to be able to take your own time just walking to the train and not to exhaust oneself while they “fight” for a place in the train, just because you are late? Isn’t the world already fast paced enough?

Anyway to be honest, I do feel I’m also caught in this “rush syndrome too, it seem to be one contagious habit that I hope to change. So far I have noticed that, in life everyone’s like always rushing and always busy. Especially for many students now, besides school work we have so many other commitments like co-curriculum activities or for me church commitments too.

And our time has become so tight and precious that we have to drain ourselves overnight doing school work to cover up for lost time. Personally I have gone through that many times, and it’s quite tiring and draining especially when it takes out most of your sleep.

Anyway hope to share some insights which I heard from a preacher once, I find it quite practical and something which anyone can follow. Since in life our schedules get packed so easily immediately and there are so many things that we keep doing and doing till it drain us. It’s good to take note the things that drain us, for example, doing work? And also to note the things that fill us up like sleep or doing something you like.

After knowing what drains and fills you up, plan your schedule for the week in terms of putting in the rest times first. As inevitably your schedule can get packed so easily that we lose the time for rest as well as times of break. I hope I don’t portray that you become a slacker, but personally to me, in life we can’t always work and work. If we carry that on for the rest of our life, we might actually die of working. Thus, we need a good balance of sleep and work. Just think about this, if we have enough sleep as well as do things that fill us up, won’t we have the energy to do our work more productivity. And we don’t have to always have that “rush syndrome” anymore?

Basically, at the end of the day, I believe one can be successful in life if they know how to manage their time well. Sometimes saying “No” to good things might actually help you if you are overly committed to doing so many things. You will never know, the more time we have to spread, the more productive one may become.

10/6/08

A Smile

I’m an optimistic person, thus smiling is one of my favourite expressions. A smile is a facial expression formed by flexing those muscles most notably near both ends of the mouth. The smile can also be found around the eyes. Among humans, it is customarily an expression denoting pleasure, happiness, or amusement. Scientifically, it takes less muscle to smile than frown.

Smiling is one of the easiest forms of enforcing your positive outlook, even in down times; if you smile it just bring your spirit up. In fact, personally I feel it’s the best facial expression anyone should put on.

Not only that, you may never know, but a simple smile you give to someone can actually make someone’s day. Smiling can help yourself as well as having a positive effect to the people around you. Personally, I like being around people who are always happy and joyful, their presence of them smiling just make your day. When I smile, and someone returns with a smile, I receive acceptance and recognition. Isn’t that awesome?

Many people have ask me before, while do I always smile, always so optimistic and happy. Well, my answer would be simple, like shared in my earlier entries as Jesus Christ is my centre focus in life, everything would inevitably lead back to Him as deep down in my heart I have this inner joy in me as I’m being assured that Jesus Christ is in my life and somehow all my deepest needs are met in my heart.

Anyway a practical way I can share of how to smile is as simple as to be happy. In fact you can be happy all the time, you can think happy thoughts instead, as funny as that sounds. To me I would think about something or someone that I care about, or think about a funny moment that happen. Remarkably, when you're feeling down, smiling can help cheer you up, even if you have to coax a smile out at first.

Another thing which I realize, do you know if we smile with our mouth, we can smile with our eyes too? I remember once, in a public speaking class we have to speak many times in front of a class. And my lecturer told me that when I speak there is a kind of “smiley eyes”. I didn’t really understand what that means until I research more about it. Well, we think of smiling, we think of the mouth, but the eyes may actually be more essential to a genuine smile. It makes your eyes somehow twinkle. To get a feel for how to make your eyes smile, get in front of a mirror and practice smiling, but concentrate only on your eyes.

Another thing I feel is important to take note, although I have been sharing about my thoughts about the importance and benefits of smiling. We should never fake a smile. As it can make you look phony or nervous, maybe even dangerous. So don't just try to put on a smile without first practicing it.

Even just writing this entry makes me smile as I reflect and talk about the power of smiling. So I really encourage everyone out there to smile too. =)

12/6/08

I'm dedicating this post below to my Dad...

My Dad

His smart, wise, decisive, a manager in his company, the head of the house and the family, well that’s my dad. Reflecting back about the past, I can say without hesitation that his the one that played a major part of bringing me up to whom I am today, from my interest, my hobbies, food that I like to eat and even my character and passion.

I would say I have an interesting relationship with him. Although he played a huge part of my life when I was much younger, now I hardly talk to him. One main reason comes from the many things happening in my life right now. School work alone practically takes up the most part of my time followed by other commitments like church and school activities and not including personal time try to run and gym to keep fit. And when ever I get home, I would just continue doing school work or other commitments that need to be done, and the only time I would talk to him is if I need to ask him something.

Writing this entry, make me relive the times when I was very young, where he taught me drawing, taught me how to play table tennis and introduced soccer to me when I was seven years old. And it’s amazing how because of that fateful day, now soccer is one of my greatest passion. Actually reflecting back about the many things that my Dad uses to do and taught me in the past, one thing I’m most grateful for him is he introducing Christianity and bringing me to church. Like shared in my past entries, I used to be very apathetic about my faith and I would always make excuse not to go church or would only reluctantly go because of my parents dragging me along. But if not for all those times where they had to dragged me to church, I would never had been expose to Christianity so easily. In fact I would never be what I am today.

Now a days, I can see my dad trying to actually make the effort to talk to me, I can see his intentions, but to be honest I find it quite hard to talk to him, as most of the time the conversations are about unimportant things and just replying when I’m tired is a very hard thing for me. Well I appreciate his effort; I guess I’m still learning how to work out this issue. For now, I just take what ever chance I have in the car to catch up, a good excuse for me to get car rides.

Well, imagining my dad when he was young is quite amusing after all the stories that he shared to me when he was younger. One story which I can recall was how he used to sit in his dad shop house and read comic books at the display. And I can imagine him doing all other kinds of weird things which not many would do. I guess his one that you can call “a happy go lucky” boy when he was young.

So after all that I have shared about my dad and that interesting relationship I have with him now, at the end of the day, I would say his a great dad and it’s timely that I’m writing this entry when Father’s day coming too!

Happy Father's day in advance! =)

TRP crusade birthday surpirse at 18 Chef!

TRP crusade birthday surpirse at 18 Chef!
This is a slightly late post, but anyways last Sunday had this awesome birthday surprise at 18 Chef originally planned for ethel and jem... but realise that asriel and karen birthday were around that day too... in the end jem and asriel cldnt make it... anyways this place has really cheap and good food! Heard its run by ex convicts and they are christians.

(the nice cosy restaurant in Simei East Point..FIRST TIME IN my life in SIMEI!)

(the reknowned Jamie Oliver from the Naked Chef trained the chef here)

(Some of the crusaders in this pic... the birthday girls...karen and ethel)

(Glenn showing off his card tricks that got everyone amazed!)

(you see that boy there he was working there and his only 12 years old...AND HE PRAYED FOR ALL OF US before our meal..and wow it was really really brave of him to pray for strangers and i cld see that this young boy has really this real passion for God! It was a prayer of real Child like Faith and it was really encouraging to see such a powerful prayer from a boy so young... btw see those "Oreo Cheese cake"... it was super duper delicious! AND ITS BAKE by my very on disciple John! We all cldnt believe he really bake it bcoz it was soooooooooo goood! It tasted like those expensive oreo cheesecake! But wow!!!! I'm so proud of John for baking this 2 splendid cake! Next time DG outing! We must learn from him! HAHHA!)