Colour Your World.

I was reading my QT (quiet time) material this morning... We've often heard that we're here to be the "salt and light of the world" (Matt 5:13) . After a while the phrase tends to get cliched and loses its saltiness. Well, here's another way to put it:

The Message says,

"Let me tell you why you are here.
You're here to be the salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth.
Here's another way to put it:
You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept."

Having gone through a culinary science module in poly where our chef instructors used to extol the wonders of salt to bring out food's natural flavour, this made more sense than other "explanations" I'd heard before. Then the part about colours: I love colour. Being the light so that colours can be seen, or painting the world... That's just lovely. Mm. I must really remember this one...

Unveiling.

Hello. Exams are over. :)

Today, I had a revelation. It happened whilst I was out with Jianyue, in the restroom (of all places!). I realised... That... Without really knowing it, I've been jaded for the past... Well, on and off for more than a year. Hopefully, that's all behind me now and I'll see things without the jade glasses.

I'm just really thankful for a whole bunch of people in my life now - Joanna, my dear dear mentor, Kong <3, Jianyue, Eldon, Pedro, Mag, Quirt, Luddy, Nicky - you guys are the best.

That time of year.

Well well. It's that time of year again - Good Friday and Easter. It's a grand total of 3 days to exams, after which I'd have survived Year 1 of uni. And it's been frustrating at times, but the overall experience has still been happy. Hmm.. And.. Though this horribly irritating project has to be dealt with today and the exams are literally looming very scarily round the corner, all this pales in comparison to what Jesus did for me; and what, then, my goal is: heavenward, eternity.

Earlier today I read about Solitude - how we all need time to be alone. Alone, not lonely. Partially because the busy-ness of life and all its allure can just pull us down a whirlpool of worldly self-absorption. Ok, that's putting it in a very glossed-over, generalized way. But you know it's true. All too often I forget what I gained during those times of solitude: after learning something, or knowing God more, or promising Him something, you end up behaving as though it never happened.

Taking a look back at my time at poly, I realise why it was often easier (in a way) to follow God. Truth be told, I didn't fit in with most people there. That made it even easier to lean on God alone, having no distraction in terms of friends. Disclaimer: I love my friends; friends are wonderful. But, being wonderful, they also have the power to influence and distract. How does one balance both sides? Some people end up living their whole lives just surrounded by their "church friends" and cut off from "everybody else". The whole "us" and "other" kind of mindset. No doubt you need fellow believers - they are important and essential. But perhaps just as important is being able to relate to "everybody else". Yet doing that and taking care to lead the victorious and holy life that we are called to is so difficult. Indeed, I struggle and keep failing, especially when I try to do it on my own strength. But we all know the model answers. ... This is the whole "being-in-but-not-of-the-world" thing, yeah. Man. I bet by the time I get it right it'll be time for me to go. But maybe that's the whole point. :D

Exams start in... 3+ days! Argh. It's seriously killing me; I particularly want to murder my linguistics notes (if that were possible).

It just occurred to me how wonderful some music really is. I realised that some of the songs I've been listening to whilst studying date wayyyy back to studying for O levels. Amazing! And you look back and go, oh my, that was so long ago. You've been through so much, grown in all aspects... yet still relate to the same music. Or rather, the same music still relates to you. :)

On another note, I've discovered that my dear friend Jianyue (aka Mr Moon) has really great ideas for stories and the like. Who knows, one day we could all be reading his books! (And to that end, I reserve the position of Editor for myself :D ) Then dear Pedro can come along and turn those books into films.. and then Eldon dear can advertise them. Whee! :)

Alright, back to the dreaded linguistics notes. I'm sure they'll make good campfire fuel after this. :)

Well well. Time flies, and here I am at the start of the 11th week of term.
By God's grace, I'm now in NTU (yes, the very place I thought I'd run faaarrr away from) and studying (can you say "reading"??) Communication Studies. Which I'd now like to proclaim as *the* best place to be in NTU. ...Aside from, maybe, ADM, but well, I believe we have a better school culture...

I've been well and truly immersed in school activities; and find myself hopping between Dancesport, SpectrumTV, and now, Paparazzi. News of CS FOC is yet to come. Praise God, for I've found a lovely friend, Yufan; and together we've started our very own weekly prayer/worship session. So far it's just been the two of us, but hey, more peeps are always welcome!

Sigh. I'm not getting younger man.... Even tho I'm pretty happy in school, I find I'm drifting further away from YM. Age + infrequency of appearances = great big fat gulf. But there's still YM camp in Dec, and I'm looking foward to it! :D Yay. I'm glad that God has given me a heart for the youths... and being able to watch them discover Him is just amazing. :)

Alrights, I've gotta go pick up my mommy from the airport, yes? Yes. Smile!!

CBD Area Combined Prayer Meeting

Hello. Yes... Even in getting temp jobs, God's hand is evident. He is truly with us in whatever we do. 

I was hankering after a sales-oriented job for a local bank. The plus points: Very Good Pay, and short working hours from 7.30am to 12 noon. What more can one ask for? Then I got a call from a recruitment agency asking me to go for an interview with Starhub. I was reluctant. Pay - lower. About $800 lower, as a matter of fact. (which is a lot, considering it's only a temp job!!) Working hours - longer. Five hours longer per day, for $800 less a month. It doesn't take a genius to figure out which job I'd rather have. 

But God said to go for the interview. So I sighed, packed my stuff, and went. To cut the long story short, I am now happily working there. My supervisors are darlings, the job is an almost no-brainer, and my colleague Victoria opened my eyes to the work God is doing in the marketplace. 

A lunchtime prayer group recently started in the Somerset area; and on Wednesday, a combined meeting of the groups from Tanjong Pagar, City Hall, Raffles Place and Somerset was held. Apparently the get together happens every 3rd week of the month. I was so encouraged by the people who, perhaps, made it a point to "get away" from everything else to be in the company and fellowship of other believers; to worship, learn, and pray during their precious lunch times. Needless to say, I'll be going back for as long as I'm in Starhub. 

I'm Baaaccckkk!

Oh Hello!

Yes I'm back! After a terribly long absence. Ho-ho! Went to Penang with Kong for a week. That was a really well-deserved break man. :) Hmm maybe I'll post the photos another time..? Yeah, well. AND~!
I have ordered a Macbook! Mua-hahahaha... Yes, it's the new Macbook... the newer, cheaper Macbook. Now I can take it off my wishlist. heh heh.

This Cleansing Streams course that I've been attending is coming to an end... it was really good and I'd encourage everyone to go for it. It's actually a deliverance ministry. But it's none of that "turn-up-one-night-and-have-people-shouting-at-you" things. It brings deliverance into your personal spiritual walk. Yup.

Other than that... I've been singing with the Wesley Singers, the a capella group in church. :) poly's over and I thank God for my results... :) Now to see if a local uni accepts me. lalalala.