Lord, here's one for You

Hmm.. can I give thanks to God for something special today?

Think not many of you know, but the last few weeks had been some of the hardest work weeks for me due to multiple high profile projects being tasked to me. Not just from the contribution of long work hours, but multi-directional pressure and an ever-compressed timeline for deliverables. Yet, at the same time, I had ministries in church to serve in. Worship, Zone and Cell, they never stop moving. Weekends literally filled with schedules over different ministries. Weekday nights spent on careful planning for Zone, Cell and even Secell Leaders meetings. Long hours seeking inspiration on the next teaching material or preaching session. It's unbelievable. Think studying is a grueling task? It pales in comparison when contrasted against commitments of a lay worker. However, at the same time, these last months had been constantly punctuated with amazing moments of encounters with God and deeper revelations of His love. By the grace of God, I was able to draw my strength through His word from many quiet moments, wherever I was - my room, trains, walkways, lifts and all. I really drew closer to the Lord these months and it's been a tremendously wonderful time.

My big boss dropped me a pleasant surprise today when I was presented with my department's "Spartan Award". It is a new initiative across my department in Credit Suisse where the firm recognizes outstanding contributions by individuals. I must say that I'm honoured to be the first recipient, especially since the award is only periodically presented to a single person from each dept! I remember Psalm 28:7 declares, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." and Psalm 105:4 suggests, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." The psalmist doesn't for a moment suggest that the Lord dispenses strength, but he clearly belts that the Lord IS strength. Having understood this, I begin my mornings inviting the Lord into my life and declaring my trust in Him and seeking His face. All glory to God! :)


Lord, this award is a reminder to me of Your faithfulness and nothing less. Now Lord, I ask that what you've done for me, may You do for all my leaders and the young ones as well.

The Square Root of Three

Caught Harold and Kumar with the guys (and gals) at the theatres last night. Not a very family friendly show, but it's pretty hilarious. I like the poem from the movie though -


The Square Root Of Three

I fear that I will always be
A lonely number like root three
A three is all that's good and right,
Why must my three keep out of sight

Beneath a vicious square root sign,
I wish instead I were a nine
For nine could thwart this evil trick,
with just some quick arithmetic

I know I'll never see the sun,
As 1.7321
Such is my reality,
a sad irrationality

When hark! What is this I see,
Another square root of a three
Has quietly come waltzing by,
Together now we multiply
To form a number we prefer,
Rejoicing as an integer

We break free from our mortal bonds
And with a wave of magic wands
Our square root signs become unglued
And love for me has been renewed.

Higher Higher!

God calls us higher! Higher I say!

Psalm 61:2
"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock (prophesied of Christ) that is higher than I."

But tsk tsk, speaking of "higher". The songs sung in church services are getting averagely higher and higher over time. I imagine that every worshipper who gives their guts for God's glory weekly, in singing, should attain a singing range about 1/2 an octave higher in 10 years' time. Awesome exchange I would say. :)))

So give your highest jump, widest clap, loudest shout, and greatest outburst of singing to God! After all, who wants to lose to proud lofty mountains and ugly moulding treants? :))

Isaiah 55:12
"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

Quotable quotes

"This is the true joy in life - that being used for a purposed recognized by yourself as a mighty one. That being a force of nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up wen I die. For the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It's a sort of splendid torch which I've got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

- George Bernard Shaw

"Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth."

- N. Eldon Tanner

"And the whole world will know that there is a God in Daniel Yan."

- Daniel Yan, adapted from

Chronicles of 1 Samuel 17:46b

This is brilliant

What a great read the below message is. What a difference a sad event in someone's life makes. GEORGE CARLIN, famous comedian of the 70's / 80's, shortly after his wife died...



A Message by George Carlin:


The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.


We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.


We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.


We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.


We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.


These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...


Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.


Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.


Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.


Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.


Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.


Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.


AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:


Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.


If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?


- George Carlin

Camp Recuperation

Returned from Secell Camp 2008 a few hours ago (since 5pm to be exact). It was really really great fun!

Maybe I'll elaborate with details when I do have time, but it was quite tiring. Of bad dreams and sleepless nights, I had only managed 2 hrs of proper sleep each for Sun and Mon night. And even so, Sun night was punctuated with a bout of bad dreams on the cold hard floor. But thank God, the joy of the Lord really is my strength and though slightly sleepy throughout, we all had the strength to enjoy every bit of it.

At the end of it all, Karen, Mac, Nat, Sam Fung, Jesse and I headed to Funland @ Bishan for daytona. The fun never seems to end when you're spending time with your second family! Unfortunately, Nat's wallet got missing somehow. Not sure if it was stolen or misplaced and then kept by some dishonest person. Hope you'll get all your impt stuff back Nat!

For now, camp recuperation in progress so I can have another wild time in Krabi 13-17 March. And perhaps Steamboat organised by TayLeb Kay tmr night. It's all good. :)

Good night all.

Small Church, Big Voices

Since this weekend's been somewhat extraordinary, I reckon that renders a post on some random thoughts.

Firstly, my first song "performance" for church. Purely song performance that is. First time! Although I've been singing in church for 9 years. Haha! And it was somewhat.. refreshing. :)

Strange sense of achievement, which I think was derived more from being proud of the performers than my own performances. They did great! I wont disagree f you're thinking it can be better, but it was a tremendous job given the tight timelines and most of all.. inexperience. I hope the precious experience will be but one of the many stepping stones that God will lay so each of them will grow from strength to strength.

Most of all, like I've been emphasizing it time after time after time (almost like a broken jukebox), you have what you have because God gave. Don't break His heart by appreciating the gift but not the Giver. :)

PS: One a sidenote, I hope to be able to share my heart on a story of worship sometime. Will be soon I hope.

PPS: Pics coming soon when i do get them sometime.