Sunday, August 30, 2009

%^&*()(*&^%$#$%^&*-

No. Not vulgarities. In fact, it was a great weekend.

Meeting up with the Ezer ladies was awesome. Getting better each time, thanks to SL's facilitation and new additions to the CG. Heavy but goooooood.

My ex student and his 2 friends removed the drum set from under my bed. He forgot the seat but took 2 pairs of drum sticks!!! I told him I needed one pair back, that he can bring a pair back for me when he comes back for the seat. !!!!

I figured out how to go about playing the bass on the classical guitar and that made me very pleased indeed. *beams* SH was playing the chords and I played the bass. So fun.. So many things to do together. I like!

So.... I ate my first 4 yolk mooncake. The yolks are all gone. I shall finish the rest of the mooncake in the next few days. It is very yummy but so expensive! $11 each! They are having a discount for 2 yolk mooncakes though.. $26 for 4. That's quite cheap. Mei Zhen Xiang. Good.

Witnessed J's baptism today. Was a lil touched by the act of declaring that she belongs to Jesus.

I couldn't get the 2 guitar stand. Yamaha only sells the 1 guitar stand. But I changed the broken string today. So I have 4 fully functional guitars now. 2 classical, 1 folk and 1 semi-acoustic.

I learnt the 7th Chords and the Major 7th chords today. From A to G. Yipee!

It is going to be a wonderful day tomorrow because TUesday is a holiholiholiholiday!

My room looks fabulous now.
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Thursday, August 27, 2009

so fun....

this is no joke. badminton, basketball and frisbee all in a night is crazy. My knees are so gone. My right arm is barely able to control the mouse on the lappie. Didn't help that I played tennis last night too.. this weekend will be a good weekend of rest. Am hoping to go to the gym with the SH on Saturday though.

I performed a good deed by offering to send A home because she had 3 stacks of papers to bring home and it was raining. In doing that good deed, I did not go to Lot 1 to look for my 4 yolk mooncakesssssssssss, saved myself 1200 calories. But I was hungry after the workout. So got a roll of oreo and ate 4 biscuits!!! :)

Had dinner with K at Longhouse before badminton. SHe had the $6 big prawn noodle. It looked yummy! I had the $3 Ban mian and had a craving for butter-kaya toast, so I got 2 slices of that too. Wah! Good that I worked all of that out! The turnout was incredible! 16 people in total. We were occupying half the basketball court and the whole multi - purpose hall. Got to know 3 new friends.

As you can tell, a good workout makes me all perky! How to sleep? I have another stack of marking I hope to finish tonight but I think it's unlikely.. yawn.. nighty!
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Sitting with my brother while he is preparing for his Prelims..

I just finished marking Paper 2. Now to complete the other half stack of compositions before I head off for some tennis and friendship!
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conquering new land

The SH makes me travel to new places ..

first Bali,
next Phuket,
then Cambodia.

Modest countries. :p

those who are so tired of me going to Aussieland will be so glad to know that she helped "cure" me. heh. Plus I spend less.
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I am going to spring clean under my bed

1) Remove the drum set
2) Clean the area
3) Buy a 3-guitar stand
4) Place stand under bed
5) Buy good guitar strings
6) Change guitar strings
7) Place guitars on stand
8) Get a speaker for my semi-acoustic guitar

My sister is selling her keyboard... hmmm....

oooh... I bought a guitar encyclodpedia from Borders at $14.95 (75% off!!)
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sigh..

I have been Aunt Agony of sorts in the past few months. Maybe it's my calling in life. I don't think so though. While I am happy attending to others, I've come to learn how dark the human heart is. I had been disappointed again and again because of my expectations of people; while I can suspect something about the character of someone, I choose to think the best of every person and every situation. Ah well, I am prolly also disappointing someone somewhere somehow sometimes..

Someone said you can't preach grace if you have never preached sin. Yeh. The world is so in need of God. We won't know how much till we see the darkness.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I have to stop writing and start marking!

See Title.
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a thought during my PE class..

the children then shared a ball to play
the children now have a ball each to play

the children then share a book to read
the children now have their own personal laptops

Skills enhanced, learning advanced, to whose benefit?
Records broken, higher education, at what cost?

is there any wonder why children are who they are today?
is there no wonder why children are what they are today?

we teach values (and some people ask if values can be taught)
we really do
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About that class that infuriates every teachers and hence infuriates A.

Smart kids are different. I invilgilated their class today. After their Math Prelim exams, there was a lot of noise in the classroom.. but they weren't disussing about what they are doing after school, what they are going to eat or some football/movie star... they were all discussing about the paper and checking with one another the answers.. I can see the difference..

The same class...

I was teaching them the plank position to train their abdominal muscles. While they were holding their position, this CCPE (short, loud, a bit strange young lady) placed a file under one of the more mature boy's tummy to check if it was touching the floor. I think the file touched his groin because I saw that he was startled for a bit. That was quite a sight and I had to stop myself from smiling.. Why on earth did she do that, and why did she choose the boy of all students??

That same class...

very quarrelsome.. Prolly taken after their parents.
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facing away

minutes of intimacy before
accentuated the distance;
so close yet quite far
not as far but less than the mutual gaze -
closest form of intimacy
reaching the depths of the soul

the smell of the skin at the neck
a familiar trace of fragrance still remaining
sebum that thickened the strands of hair
showing the strains of the day
the body curves
fingers trailing
where the eyes were a second before

only when the back is facing
then the distance felt
then realising how much nearer we can be
how much closer I want to be

How much better to know the missing,
the intensity of the love
than the missing space between two.
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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Reflection for the day..

As we grow older as Christians, we must move from the kind of faith in God which provides, the kind of faith which comforts, to a kind of faith in God which demands for change, a kind of faith which demands for transformation; while knowing that all of God's providence and comfort still exist, but there needn't the necessity to seek after but just to be rested in that security.
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Hebrews 5:11-14

11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 6:1-6

1 let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
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Something to ponder upon..

What is life? Where is life? Do we have life? 11 dead men does not make up a football team. I like that.

" One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organisztion do not constitute a church any more than 11 dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."

A.W Tozer
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No more Daddy's Little Girl

hiak hiak.

Just finished reading K's autobio. 2 hours was all it took. Went for her book launch @ Borders. Paid for the book, got the signature, went for drinks with the Sayonites. SH has been meeting so many new people and not complaining. Am so proud of her. Berry resilient and unflustered. Extremely brave for a newbie. :)
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

mooncakes mooncakes mooncakes

I am so looking forward to eating mooncakes. Very hungry now because I think I didn't eat much today.. :(

I shall sleep now.
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Monday, August 17, 2009

I was blind but now I see

The importance of a matter to someone is directly proportionate to the frequency of its mention.

What do we talk about most?
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I now have an answer...

I am going to work on my musicianship. (whenever people ask what I will do with the remaining time next year)
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yay

It's really difficult marking a class of essays in 1 sitting. I did that today! :D

What an accomplishment!
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slight lift in mood

practising for worship is worth so much more than many things else.. :D

I am so blessed today!
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@1915

I hope unhappiness will never be a learned habit.
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Sunday, August 16, 2009

I have not read the bible since last Tuesday.

No good. :(

the weekend passed so quickly because of the meetings I had on friday and saturday which ended at 6p.m. and 5p.m. respectively. Spent some quality time with the SH. So needed.

We attended NCC again this afternoon. When Pastor Prince mentioned the word sodomy and homosexuality, I immediately stiffened up. So defensive I was.. But surprisely, he actually hinted that the reason why homosexuality was condemned then was because the devil was trying to prevent the birth of Christ. He explained that rather convincingly citing several examples. So that's good.

There was a very interesting parking garage @ Club street, the first of its kind in Singapore. I was very impressed by it. Met a friend from Sayoni waiting to park at that car park and got a ride into the "garage". SHe attended the Ouyang Wenfeng talk. Heard the response was bad.

yay! I finally finished my round of follow up with N!

had another family dinner to celebrate my dad's birthday. had wanted to bring him to raffles marina but he had been there for a company meeting before. He brought us to this chinese restauruant in TUAS! So expensive... but I guess it's not very often that we go out to eat as a family.

I have not in the best of moods for weeks already. I pray for this season to pass soon.

Ganbatte!!!
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Monday, August 10, 2009

First time playing this. Quite challenging.

All Things Are Possible
-----------------------

INTRO: C2 Am7 (x2)

VERSE 1:
C2 Am7 C2
Almighty God my Redeemer,
Am7 F2
My hiding place, my safe refuge.
G Am G
No other name like Je-sus;
F2 G
No power can stand against You.


VERSE 2:
C2 Am7 C2
My feet are planted on this rock,
Am7 F2
And I will not be shaken.
G Am G F2
My hope it comes from You a - lone,
G A A/C#
My Lord and my sal-va-tion.


CHORUS:
D2 Bm7 D2
Your praise is always on my lips,
Bm7 G
Your word is living in my heart,
A D/A A
And I will praise You with a new song,
G A D/A A
My soul will bless You, Lord.
D2 Bm7 D2
You fill my life with greater joy,
Bm7 G
Yes I delight myself in You,
A D/A A
And I will praise You with a new song,
G A D/A A
My soul will bless You, Lord.


BRIDGE:
Bm7 A G
When I am weak, You make me strong.
D/F# G Bm7 A
When I'm poor, I know I'm rich.
Bm7 A G G-A
For in the power of Your name,

G-A
All things are possible!
G-A
All things are possible!
G-A
All things are possible!

All things are possible!
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How lovely is your dwelling place - Matt Redman

The C#m A E B transitions in a fast song are tough!

This one better. At least the song is slooooower. Lovely song!

Better is One Day


VERSE 1:
E
How lovely is Your dwelling place,
A B
oh Lord Almighty
E B
My soul longs and even faints for You
E
For here my heart is satisfied,
A B
within Your presence
E B
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

CHORUS:
A
Better is one day in Your courts
B
Better is one day in Your house
A
Better is one day in Your courts
B
Than thousands elsewhere

VERSE 2:
E
One thing I ask and I would seek,
A B
to see Your beauty
E B
To find You in the place Your glory dwells


BRIDGE:
C#m7 B
My heart and flesh cry out,
A B
for You the living God
C#m7 B A B
Your spirit's water to my soul
C#m7 B
I've tasted and I've seen,
A
come once again to me
E/G#
I will draw near to You
F#m7 B
I will draw near to You
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Sunday, August 9, 2009

I love holidays because....

I get to drink tea and coffee anytime of the day and not feel stressed that I can't get to sleep

I get to stay up late into the night doing inconsequential stuff

Well.. When there is no work, there are no such things as holidays
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I will Sing - Lakewood Church

I will sing of Your great love
I will stand in wonder of
what You have done in this life
With my song testify
I will live and not die
to declare

Lord you are good and I will sing
Your mercy endures
It's everlasting
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Worship Conference

The learning curve was exponential today
But still not ready
I disagree that one will be ready when they play on stage enough
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to keep the hair silky

dry (towelling) as much as possible
Don't let the air con blow
Don't let the wind blow
the law of vaporisation
Use conditioner
When all fails
REBOND!
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Rock of Ages, Jesus is the Rock!

There is no rock, there is no God like ours.

Such a catchy song. :)
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Saturday, August 8, 2009

bubbleeeeeeeeeeeee

I know what is wrong
How can I tell it when it's my preference
To not impose my preference on another
is a virtue
Thinking I am strong enough to compartmentalise
I formed a bubble around a part of my heart
The sole intention to be unperturbed
so everyone will be happy
or so I thought
I walked with zen
for a while
and he began to feel like a friend
Little did I know
that the distance I created for one
spanned the whole heart
It is not so easy after all
to not feel for one and feel for another
feedback made me realise that
not one part but one heart was shielded
screened not the negative emotions
but the positive ones too
I have been walking with a bubble around me
maybe yoga assisted too
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chain effect

The way I see it, A starts to pray for B, God works in B's heart and B prays for C. God works in C's heart and C prays for D. And this goes on and on and on. And most of the time, when someone starts to pray, they do not just pray for 1 person. It takes just one to get the ball rolling.
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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

a play of words! I like!

For it is you who light my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Pslams 18:28
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Bleah

It was exasperating being stuck in the jam seeing motorbikes weave through the traffic. Makes me feel like getting a bike licence. Maybe that's why I shouldn't get a bike licence. But the dinner and catch up made up for it. I was this close to coming out to her. But not yet.
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

on the yoga mat w NCC, Rancid & MSN.

the distance created a gap
the awareness of an emptiness
so familiar
that had been filled before
by the love and comfort of the Lord

yet it's different this time
no baggages from the current
no feelings of betrayal
no uncertainty on the part of the other
the intimacy in meetings
the love and sweetness in between

Maybe distance in love is a stranger
Maybe all it needs is time
Maybe the love and comfort of the Lord
was in its rightful place
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reiteration

Worthy to be Praised - NCC

Lift me up from my fears and shame
You raised my soul from the grave
In Your presence I will ever stay
I'll forever sing your praise
I'll forever sing your praise

King of glory my Lord my life
You have won my heart
In your presence I'll ever stay
I'll forever sing your praise
I'll forever sing your praise

You're worthy to be praised
So wonderful, my King of glory
Holy is Your name
Mighty God You have saved me

Saviour saviour, my Lord
Saviour saviour, my Lord
Saviour saviour, my Lord
Saviour saviour, my Lord
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What is yours?

There is enough space in the heart for only one genuine obsession at any one time.
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Monday, August 3, 2009

everyone is at home

Mum had 5 days medical leave from flu.

I heard everyone has to conduct remedials for students this sept hols. No more Ozzieland :(

Dad is @ home because mum is not teaching dancing.

Bro just finished his CL tuition

C hinted that she was going for a holiday in sept. Another potential housesitting opportunity??

Sis finished her part-time work as a childcare centre teacher

Lilia is doing chores

seems like a long time since PLUSH. How come?

Cookie is walking around, wondering whose room she should go to.

I made fun of a little boy at the playground, all of the K1 that he is.

I gave the SH a ride. And I am still burping curry.

my colleague A, is very very upset.. very very upset..

one student smoked! I nearly cried counselling him.

Too emotional today.

I am in quite a zen state today. So ironic.

my bro's chinese tutor spoke to me. Gosh, I spent 10 minutes speaking in Mandarin.

Looking forward to the worship conference this weekend!

Event-filled weekend! Can't wait!
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lovely are the Psalms

Your songs speak of your grandeur. They speak of your power. They speak of your sovereignty. More than that, they speak of the pains that I have gone through. They speak of how you are ever present in every situation. They speak of how you have been there for me whenever I call on you for help. They speak of the comfort you had brought me when I was at my lowest. They speak of the wisdom I have applied in many situations. They speak of my identity in you, a treasured child of yours, deeply loved by you.
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the sweet sweet presence of Jesus @ FOP

My heart is delighted when yours is. But my heart delights even more when a stadium of like-minded people delights in the praises of our creator, when I see hands lifted up in one accord, when prayers flow naturally, when I sense the power of the holy spirit saturate the stadium, when people of God yield their lives to our lord.

I was glad that you were beside me.
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Pain Personified

What is it about pain, that wrenches the heart, that tears those emotions from its very walls, that stirs up past hurts and brings about a frenzy, first for me, then for you. From the subconscious to the heart, from the heart to the mind, from the mind. To the mind.
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