Friday, December 31, 2004

in the midst of ushering in the new year and bidding farewell to 2004, like any other years before..has been so eventful...

this time it's different.

i can't even begin to imagine the extent of devastation in those asian countries. families broken, death toll (new years' eve at 6pm) stands over 125,000...and it just keeps rising...

and i keep thinking of how fortunate singapore is to be spared. and how horrible it would have been if the tsunami had hit us.

i knew about tsunamis since sec 1..did a geography project on it. the 12 year old me could only gawk at those statistics i dug up for research. now these are so close to home. friends who went back to india for holidays...i still don't know if they're still alive. i can't contact them either. good thing friends in malaysia and indonesia are safe. thank God for that.

still...there's just so much to do in the wake of this tragedy. now all i can do is to just pray, donate to red cross, get friends to donate with me, and pray.

i always say there's always lessons to be learnt from each experience. hopefully this painful painful lesson can teach asia to be vigilant, to not mock and criticise their meterological services when they issue a warning, teach us to always be prepared for the worst mother nature has for us. and it is certainly very comforting to see singaporeans donating so generously towards this cause (much more than those stupid NKF shows on mediacorp channels). not just money, but supplies and their time.

anyway was stuck in hall...for WSC's kids' world, organised by my dearest VM subcomm. it was enjoyable..some kids were just terror, but there're many cute and sweet kids. =) and it is SO sad to listen to these kids tell their story. these kids are under-privileged. and their families are plagued with problems. sigh. but i'm glad they had fun. we had fun too. i got dunked into the horrible salty pool at big splash. argh. but it was fun. =)

anyway, it is a sad end to 2004, but it is an end. pray that 2005 would be a year free of such catastrophic events.

those who want to chip in donations, please use your ATM/SMS, or you could chip in with me. i'll be writing a cheque to red cross. oh..and clay fans! clay aiken singapore is donating to UNICEF..so please go to the boards for info.

happy new year.

This girl posted at 6:11 PM

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas!

christmas concert was wonderful..as like last year. it was beautiful and a lot of effort went into it. teacher Liam and cedric was a brilliant pair as hosts... the youth choir was full of energy and enthusiasm... the children were cute...the dancers were beautiful!...senior choir was brilliant...the men's choir...the small ensemble of harp/cello/violin and singers... nothing better to spread the love of God through song and dance, and to sing so joyfully unto Him. the concert was put up for Him and i could see the faces of everyone involved. they were happy.

christmas service was on christmas morning at shangri-la's ballroom. sang more carols, performances by the handbell choir, bethany chorale, children reading Bible verses, christmas offering, christmas message by pastor.."this is THE SIGN"..references from Luke 2 and John. i feel so blessed and thankful to be able to attend christmas service. sigh... we hung around the reception area, with many warm hugs and handshakes and shouts of merry christmases...then we got our table nos. for christmas lunch at the adjacent ballroom. (oh no..i have not paid...) we exchanged presents, hung around and talked to many people...had to find some busy ones like teacher chiew yen, teacher chen kee, pastor mark and mitch...

my 2nd christmas at bethany. one year has passed and i've learnt so much. how to walk ever so faithfully with Him, how to love Him with all my heart, how NOT to love the world, how He gave His Son and how Jesus suffered so much for us, to save us from our sins.

on this day, Jesus was born. in today's world, we forget why we celebrate christmas. i think it is the most commercialised holiday. we celebrate christmas so superficially. mass produced and mass-bought presents, santa claus, christmas trees and more presents. we have turkeys and log cakes (which i don't know what log cakes are for...) and christmas pudding...

yes it IS a wonderful sense of festivity. getting together as a family. remembering loved ones and the less fortunate. giving presents (but with sincerity!! not mass-bought then distributed...so you know the presents i give are chosen with consideration and love..).

O Holy Night - J.S.Dwight & A.C.Adam, 19th Century

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King! Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King! before Him bend.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy ingrateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name!
Christ is the Lord, Oh praise His name forever,
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim.

Good News

Fold your hands
For a moment let your sorrow fade
Why, oh, why are you afraid?
Has this world stripped you of your faith?

Close your eyes and on bended knee
Listen to an angel pray
And once again prepare the way
So you'll see a gift that's given

For you a time of joy
Behold a baby boy

Good News. Good News
An angel brings good news
Good News. Good news
I leave you with Good news

Bow your head
Speak not a word
Let the silence take you far from here

The spirit of a child dry every tear
And may your doubts, they disappear.

Bow your head and on bended knee
Hear the story once again
The child grew up to wear a cross
A child grew up to pledge a life

For us a time of joy
Behold, Christ a baby boy

Good News. Good News
An angel brings good news
Good News. Good News
I leave you with good news.

For us is born this night (choir)
In a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes
Christ the Savior, Christmas day
All our burdens washed away

We break the bread
We pour the wine
And angels decend with a heavenly sigh

Good News, Good News
An angel brings good news
Good News, Good News
I leave you with good news.

Good News. Good News.
An Angel brings good news.

Oh I will bring you
Good News
An angel brings good news.

What Child Is This? - William Chatterton Dix, published ca. 1865

What Child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Raise, raise, the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

3 very meaningful carols. one common, the 2nd sung by Clay on his christmas tour and the 3rd a favourite of bethany and mine.

may the joy of the season surround you
merry christmas with love...

This girl posted at 11:34 PM

Sunday, December 19, 2004

i always fear the day i die without doing the things i want to do or seeing the things i want to see or experience the things i want to experience...

i don't know where that came from...

anyway i'm back from my hainan island trip...i loved it...FYI hainan island is located south of hongkong..and is part of china. about 5 times the size of singapore...miss world paegent 2003 and 2004 was held there...in the city of sanya...very pretty...just like hawaii 'cos it has beautiful beaches backed by mountains.

it was a package tour..organised by 95.8FM...dun get me wrong..i'm not an avid supporter or auntie...it's my mum...and we've been meaning to go to hainan island to visit relatives...long distant relatives..yes my dad's a hainanese..so i'm part hainanese...mum's hokkien. thought don't ask me to speak hainanese 'cos i only know 'eat', 'bathe', 'watch tv', 'i'm 19 years old' and the numbers one to ten. haha~

anyway we visited many attractions..it has its very unique rustic charms...no major shopping...think it'll be lovely if i could just go there with a loved one..just lie on the beach..listen to the waves..look at the stars at night...the weather's perfect...at air con temp...the sand's so white and fine and soft...the distant boats dotting the horizon..the occasional fireworks (illegal vendors were selling them..and i mean national day fireworks kind..not those fire crackers we pop during new year's at home)...and you turn around and see people walking...eating yummy seafood...it's really nice and it beats phuket or tioman because of its perfect weather...just a 3 hr plane ride away...

my tour guide kept making fun of my dimples...and the fact that i'm sometimes clueless when it came to traditional chinese cultures...anyway he's a very gd guide 'cos he's not boring like the ones i had in other countries and the one i had in shanghai... he's super humorous and u can't help by laugh. and on my bus we have this uncle who's a taxi driver..and he kinda talks too much...which is gd cos he'll banter with our guide and it's damn funny...sometimes we have political jokes about china's politicians...abt. singapore..censored 'yellow' topics...it's entertaining...and not to mention he's very smart and knowledgable...having studied chinese history, literature and political science in guanzhou university. starting to gush about him.......oh..and he wears nice stuff..jeans and polo ralph lauren polo shirts.

ok..maybe i should stop...later someone who may be reading this will get jealous...=)

anyway...i wanna go back some day...

before the trip..went for youth conference...it was moving..and it was a step in my faith...to learn about not loving the world...about God's love...it was moving..and motivating...thanks to the pastors, the teachers, the comm members, the helpers...for making it possible...pastor got us to memorise verses....

"I write to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one."

1 John 2:14

"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this pupose the son of God was manifested, that he might destory the works of the devil."

1 John 3:8

must memorise more...

and there's the disability awareness carnival..which i had so much fun helping out at the AAS booth...and got to watch taufik, sly and olinda perform..and first hand experience with crazy teen groupies of sly...it's a nightmare i tell you...but all 3 sang well...

and the russian national orchestra concert. it was very very good! min lee wasn't as captivating and stunning as i thought she would be..judging by those rave reviews she gets all around...her violin concerto just didn't come forth as an attempt gd enough for her level of virtuosity...but the orchestra was superb! loved loved loved their 1812 overture...i've always loved the piece...but this is the first time i'm hearing it live...thought the bass drum didn't imitate the cannons well...the sound was quite bleah...not as resonating...

ETA: i just watched you've got mail...am always a sucker for such movies..so sue me...oh and i got my results...3As and 2 Bs..reminded me of something teacher chen kee said to me...she told me her greatest joy was to see me come to church and walk with the Lord...and she encouraged me to continue to grow in my faith...and that understanding school work (bio) and schrodinger (i was complaining to her about that horrid module of mine...) and it did... i understood..and i got an A...not that the grade matters...i'd like to think that i'd still thank the Lord and praise Him even if i get crap results..because everything is part of His plan and He is in control...

and these 2 verses spring to mind...

"And we know that all things work together or good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

one week to christmas...=)

Merry Christmas with Love by Clay Aiken

Album: Merry Christmas With Love

She leaned with her head on the window
Watching evergreen bend in the snow
Remembering Christmas the way it had been
So many seasons ago.

When children would reach for their stockings
And open the presents they found
The lights on the tree would shine bright in their eyes
Reflecting the love all around.

This year there's no one to open the gifts
No reason for trimming the tree
And just as a tear made it's way to the floor
She heard voices outside start to sing.

Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here
Merry Christmas if even just one
May the joy of the season surround you
Merry Christmas with love.

Carolers sang as she opened the door
Faces of friends in the crowd
And all of the shadows of lonely reminders
Driven away by the sound.

Now the heart that for years had been silent
Was suddenly filled with a song
As she clung to their hands like a child in the night
She found her self singing along.

Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here
Merry Christmas if even just one
May the joy of the season surround you
Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here
Merry Christmas if even just one
May the joy of the season surround you
Merry Christmas with love

This girl posted at 1:38 AM

Sunday, December 05, 2004

just came back from NTU...the 4th JC Band Festival Gala concert....it was enjoyable...

i miss band.

i miss the oboe.

i miss the friendship and the joy of being in a band..as fun loving as SHSS or TJ band.

brings back beautiful memories..of my own 2nd JC band fest...held also at NTU...it was nice because the JCs came together..we made friends..we played games..we made music.. and it wasnt a competition...

anyway life's been so good...went back to hall to stay for the week...cos had meetings...had my S'pore Boys Hostel volunteer thing...had inter hall bridge training... it's nice finally not to have to wake up so early for lectures..sleep until 10 plus 11...sleep at 4am...haha~ it's nice cos most of the blk 36 ppl stayed. xinpei, linhui, samuel, jason, andrew, wayne, ronald...so we talked a lot..played mahjong...played bridge...go sing karaoke...go out and eat...it's nice..=)

youth conference's coming up...praying that i'll be more open and more attentive to the Lord's word being taught. then leaving for hainan island...it's a beautiful place....nice to get away sometimes...when i come back it'll be christmas soon...so there's my last min christmas shopping...christmas concert...christmas lunch...then there's kids world...interhall bridge....new year's eve...new year's...2005!! and the semester starts.....

wow...

ok here's the details people! do come for the christmas concert...i promise it's gonna be a very good one. and no...i won't be dancing...

Date: 22nd and 23rd Dec 2004 (choose one day..u can come for both..)
Time: shld be 7-ish. to be confirmed.
Place: Bethany Independent Presbyterian Church (along upp. paya lebar rd)

was wondering just now...why are people (me included) intimidated by powerful people. i was at the VIP reception of the JC band fest...and my dad (sigh...) intro-ed my mum and me to the GOH - minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen (he's 2nd minister for education), PM's wife Ms. Ho Ching... and he left me to talk to Dr. Ng!! he was like oh so where are u studying...what exactly do u study in bio science...argh...i was quite flustered actually...left alone with a minister...

but why? why so intimidated by people in power? they're humans afterall...with a job...and a family... they just happen to hold a job not held by many...a job in the spotlight..in the line of fire (criticism)...and a leadership position.

come to think of it...people are intimidated by my dad...haha~ and i kid around with him..talk back at him..(oh no...)...

oh well....i have no answers....just questions...

hmmm...feeling happy...now i know how it feels to have someone in my life... =)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Clay Aiken

Album: Merry Christmas With Love

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart, be light.
From now on ,our troubles will be outside,
Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Making Yule tide gay,
From now on, our troubles will be, miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of the old.
Faithful friends who are dear to us,
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years, we all will be together,
If the fates allow.
Hand a shining star upon the highest mount,
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of the old.
Faithful friends who are dear to us,
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years, we all will be together,
If the fates allow.
Hang a shining star upon the highest mount,
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

2nd christmas at bethany.... =) i have so many reasons to thank the Lord for...i don't even know where to begin. this year has been a good one.... and it's made even better getting to know the Lord's word and going to church.

feeling blessed and loved...

merry christmas...

This girl posted at 1:28 AM