hear this

Would like to share a song which I'd recently been introduced to during a camp. Its words are so rich and its essence so meaningful & compelling. Do take time to listen & ponder upon it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnlHIz9AfnE&feature=related

O Church Arise
by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

O Church Arise
and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory

musings

in these few days, my ex-classmates from my secondary school have created a facebook group for the class. haaha, I've found myself laughing at the screen each time i recall something silly, either triggered by what they post on the wall, or my own recollections.

I find that my sec 1-2 years are just plain brash silliness, stopping just short of fooling around & moving towards indulging in the golden period of adolescence, while celebrating what we've uncovered along its path.

If my lower sec days were about mindlessness and carelessness, then it would very well be a breeding ground for upper sec, when we would grow wings and fly, but remain pesky, brazen and fearless. Those days were marked by plain merry go jolly around, untamed brats who fed on teachers' esteemed skins.

haaha I find myself missing my secondary school days, and on top of that, my friends. I miss wearing all white and all that nonsense. I'd better share the gospel to those who I've not shared to...
I'm reminded again lately of the fragility of life, and how real death really is. The shock to read that somemore who I know has died in a freak accident. The overriding sadness and regret that when he was still alive, I didn't tell him about life after death. *sigh hard*

indebted to non Christians the good news of Christ.
vin

on surviving a testing day

yesterday was the 3 paper onslaught. which I've fought it, and came out of it. Thank God for His guidance, and through many prayers. Thank God for allowing me to trust in Him. Yep, even though, there were questions which I didn't know how to answer, marks that were lost, I'm thankful to be able to trust in Him, coz I know that no matter what results I get, it doesn't matter, but its the response towards it, and how this experience serve to build me up on godly character. I mean, He knows what results I'll be getting already, I just need to trust Him.

I slept for like 12 hours yesterday, coz I was just so tired. haaha, like after church on Saturday, I felt so mentally burnt that I went home, skipped dinner and slept for 12 hours, even though I had known that time was precious and I could not finish my revision for the 3 papers on Monday. yep, but I'd realised that I wouldn't be productive if I'd stayed up then, nothing would have went in.

yep, exams are not over yet, even though its probably over for many fellow students now. I've got 2 more papers, the dreadful history being the final battle. haaha..

now right, I'm thinking of taking my mind off exams a while, head down to kinokuniya or borders. yeah, I think I'll do that now.

vin

I'm just doing my last minute revision and wanna take some time to post this from my notes coz i think its a brief guide to how friendships are built up:


Role-limited interactions:
Initial encounters –stick to familiar and safe topics. Exercise care in making disclosures.

Friendly relations:
Check the other person to see if there are any common interests to develop a good friendship.
Explore the potential for a deeper relationship.

Moving towards friendship:
Involves stepping beyond social roles.
When we arrange for meetings and activities.
Could introduce a more personal topic.
People talk more freely about feelings, values, goals and attitudes.

Nascent friendship:
Increased involvement and caring.
Friends begin to work out private ways of relating and interacting.

Stabilized friendship:
Benchmark = assumption of continuity.
Assume that they would continue meeting each other.

Waning friendship:
Friends drift apart because each is pulled in a different direction by career demands/personal circumstances.
Common interests and experiences that had once fuelled the friendship begins to dissolve.

Ok, haaha gonna trust God for my 3 papers tmr. of which i am so unprepared. i have not even touched my French revision yet, and am struggling through the 2 cores. haaha. yep, am gonna sleep and rejoice tmr! :) its a brand new week and its gonna be good :)

rejoice in the Lord always
vin

I'm into the 12th hour of stationing myself here at Starbucks. The morning is almost going into afternoon now. I've just shifted my seat and i've noticed that my butt shape has made a mold out of the cushion seat I was stationary on for 99% of the 12 hours I have been here.

I'm really really really very thankful to God in guiding me through. Even though I have not slept a single bit, I have not felt a single bit of tiredness. I think its really amazing. thank God for Mag's and huEy's prayers.

Was working through the first half of the 12 hours tog with leong. Could sense his frustration in trying to complete his assignment. Its so frustrating coz of the lack of direction, lack of resources, and everything felt so blurrish so blocked. i guess we can pray that faced with these situations, we may be calm and know that we do what we are able to. I guess as long as its an effort that we have put in our best, the Lord would be pleased.

Ok, I guess I'll hang around here for some time longer, then head straight to school.

PS: i wish that i am lounging here, with no assignments to rush out. haaha, like the angmohs who stroll in for crossiants, latte and muffins.

dotz
vin

a song for those who seemed to have lost everything in wake of the nat. disasters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHjMogG98X4&feature=related

I am moved
vin

Thank God, after almost 10 weeks into university life, I think I've finally settled down. Even though the perennial struggle of catching up with work, meeting deadlines, understanding to absorbing what is being thought, are still very much present, I thank God for settling me into a rhythm of round and about.

Particularly in the past week, the fear of exams is slowly crawling up everyone's sleeves. There are more calls to mug together, and alarm bells, for some, have sounded. For me, as usual, I have been so lax about the entire situation that I've always seemed to be heading towards a black out. But somehow extraordinarily God has been so gracious to me and I've been able to get myself together in time.

Thank God, I've received back positive grades these 2 weeks. Last week, I was so thankful to get my first A (it was an A-) for my media writing assignment. Today, I've added 2 more, in history and my press release assignments. I was totally surprised by my history grade. coz history has been a massive struggle for me since the start.

yeah, I'll continue to press on, and rely on God to give my best effort (i really pray for this).

Here's a glimpse of my schedule:

29 Oct: 201 MCQ Test & History Tut. Presentation
30 Oct: Small Prayer mtg (morn), Mtg student Bible study, Band Prac
31 Oct: big group prog mtg, Writing Assignment due, friend’s 21st B’day party
1 Nov: Edna’s B’day celebration
2 Nov: French test
3 Nov: Church mtg
5 Nov: Test
7 Nov: Big Group, Christmas campaign/ camp briefg, church MC
8 Nov: C’mas prog mtg
9 Nov: History MAJOR Assignment due
13 Nov: lead songs/games @ camp