It seems that God really is breaking my heart for people. Going to Seremban Hospital, seeing patients all around, it does strike a cord deep inside. One 56 year old Indian lady, both legs amputated, had been there on the very same bed for five years. Her son visits rarely. Another old Chinese lady, told her life story in a jumble of Cantonese, Mandarin and Malay, related her life, wiping tears in between. Of how she met her husband (now gone) during the Japanese Occupation and how hard it was simply to live, but they had to go on, of her children, grandchildren…great-grandchildren, of this doctor who refused to receive RM2000 but only RM1000 for her surgery, how she feared for her life in the operation theater, but was reassured knowing that the surgeon was one of the best, and how every now and then in her life story, she’d always refer to that doctor, saying, “Good doctor, good doctor..” and that she’d always remember and be grateful. Of how she said life is filled with obstacles, but we have to be strong…and how it’s the heart that counts (“Must have heart…” ) as a doctor….
And I wonder, will anybody in the future ever refer to me as “Good doctor, good doctor..”? Will I, seeing patient after patient, be desensitized to their pain and forget that it’s the heart that counts, not medicine or surgery or the money? Will I see just physical bodies in need of a cure, or souls in need of a savior and not me, a mere doctor?
I don’t know, I really can’t tell…and I say that I WILL serve the full ten years and not ‘break the bond’, but am I even aware of the hardships I have to face if I made that choice to stay?
May I never forget why I was called…
Do I even realize the mere weight of it?
I’m beginning to…
And of course, the Petaling Street Feeding Program, how the plates of rice were stacked up into a mountain, how the people came…some singing and clapping along to the worship songs and others grumbling when food will be served. That these people lived with no security of food and shelter, sleeping where they would find a roof and eating where and when food was available…Jesus too, had no sure shelter nor food, sleeping wherever, and trusting the Father to provide...
Would these people know my Jesus better than this pampered, ‘rich’, city girl with cares insignificant to the their needs? To see a world different from what I was used to living in, a world that much of us would rather ignore and pretend that it did not exist, with people we would rather not talk to or associate with, people we call sinful and pass judgment on, without realizing our own sins of self-righteousness and apathy…until we are reminded, that He came for the very ones like these. And what am I doing here, complaining when I have a roof over my head and food to fill my hunger, a solid education and assurance of my future, although nothing is ever for sure…What do I know of pain and suffering? (But we all can and do suffer inwardly, regardless of how rich or ‘fulfilled’ our lives can be…just that I find mine to be as insignificant as dust now) And knowing that I have Hope, when most of them don’t…
Again, words are cheap, all say, no actions…what’s the point? That’s why I always admire those who live it out rather than just talk about it, or be ‘emotional’ about it for just a while. Will I be all talk and no actions as well? More and more, I’m determined to make a good doctor, also to do what I can while that dream is still so far away…
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
EGUITARIST TURNS SPEAKER
An exposition on Matt 20:20-28
What is greatness?
In what ways do you seek to be great?
Are you capable of COMPLETE surrender to His will in your life?
(Brought to you by Matthew Hoo and eguitarist this Wednesday)
Sunday, May 21, 2006
RUNAWAY BRIDE
A play by the Footstool Players in ECF
1. The Wedding
Come wedding day, the bride arrives late and unprepared. She says “I do” hastily before the marriage vows are read. However, when she understands the full implications of a marriage covenant, the commitment and submission it involves…that if she truly loved the bridegroom, she would obey ALL His commandments…the words “I do” bring a whole new meaning, and she is unable to utter it…
Do I say “I love You” too soon? If I truly loved Him, I would obey ALL His commands…which I don’t.
2. Mc Church
The church is likened to a fast food outlet, where people come and go, activities and programmes are “packaged” and the consumers can pick and choose what to take and what to leave out. Something low on commitment but high in returns…Also that the church has no place for those who are really seeking God, the lost and weary, that the church is too engrossed in meeting the wants rather than the needs of people..
Have I placed more importance in the programmes, activities and temporal goals rather than help people find God?
3. Pharisee Boot Camp
The new recruit is orientated by a commander who stresses on justice, insensible rules and a parading of actions, who on the other hand classifies grace and love as “for sissies”.
Have I prided myself in all the things I do for God and judged those who do less? Has my life been a parade of how much I have given for God compared others? Set such a high standard of living that I have looked down upon those who don’t live up to them? I think so.
4. The Untouchables
A divorcee who is a drunkard, a lady who has had premarital sex and an abortion and a man with AIDS. Is there place in our church for one like these? The social outcasts and the rejected…..Will we love and accept them regardless of their background, or shun them as the world does? We are reminded that Jesus Himself identified with their pain and loneliness, that He too was rejected…Is there place in our church for even Jesus? Or will we reject Him by rejecting those He love?
I have rejected many…I have shunned people when I knew that He died for each and every one of them, I have closed my eyes and refused to care…I have made a joke of the cross…
5. Mercy General
A new young doctor in Sinai Hospital creates a fuss by practicing a different brand of medicine, contrary to the policy of the hospital that only admits healthy “patients” and shuts out the sick to avoid them from contaminating the state of the art hospital, the healthy “patients” and staff. This doctor even makes house calls to the boulevards and is rarely found in the hospital. The entire hospital staff goes searching for him and finds in in the centre of a mob of “filthy” sick people. Unable to convert him, the majority of the staff returns to the hospital. However, some stayed after seeing the pain and suffering of the sick, and they together with the doctor and the sick established another hospital, Mercy General, opened to all…Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy..
Am I just staying in my comfort zone, refusing to go out to meet the needs of those who really have need of God? Have I been ignorant to the pain and suffering of the sick and kept my distance instead of caring and ministering as I should?
6. Salt and Light
Have we forgotten to be salty or to shine? We are His feet, eyes and hands…What is salt if it isn’t salty or light if it doesn’t shine?
Have I forgotten?
7. Love Story
Modification of the book of Hosea. A preacher falls in love with a prostitute and convinces her to marry him. The prostitute at first refuses because of who she is, but says yes when she saw the hope and love in his eyes. After five years and three children, she gradually comes to accept herself as how the preacher’s family and friends saw her-worthless. Not being able to bear living with the husband who loves her unconditionally, she runs away and pleads that he does not come searching for her. But he did. For a long time he searched, and found her in the most degraded bar, being auctioned off for a mere 35 cents. He bids 545 dollars at first, then digging into his pockets for the leftover 18 cents even after he had won the bid. It was all he had. The wife refuses to come back, but looking into his eyes, she saw the reflection of a bride in white, not the woman with a dirty face and torn rags….and relents at last.
Who we are isn’t determined by what we have done or how society sees us, but it is found in our worth to God-priceless.
Repentance….of what? CF has been emphasizing on repentance, but I never could get it…not in the theme exposition, not in the camp. Turn back to God? My life revolves around God. Be not of the world? God IS my world, there is never a moment in my life which God isn’t apart of. I trust, I depend…I put serving Him before everything else…repent of WHAT??
And tonight, I saw myself in every one of the sketches…as the bride who says “I love You” too soon, the cashier who is accustomed to just “selling” packaged activities, the self-righteous commander, the church who shuns the outcasts of society, the doctor who shuts out the sick, the salt that isn’t salty enough and the light that does not shine it’s brightest…repentance now has meaning…What have I made Christianity into? A religion?
But once again, God’s love covers all…knowing that in His eyes, I am a bride in white, spotless, because He came all the way and bought me with a heavy price…
God’s love is described as EXTRAVAGANT, and rightly so…
Come wedding day, the bride arrives late and unprepared. She says “I do” hastily before the marriage vows are read. However, when she understands the full implications of a marriage covenant, the commitment and submission it involves…that if she truly loved the bridegroom, she would obey ALL His commandments…the words “I do” bring a whole new meaning, and she is unable to utter it…
Do I say “I love You” too soon? If I truly loved Him, I would obey ALL His commands…which I don’t.
2. Mc Church
The church is likened to a fast food outlet, where people come and go, activities and programmes are “packaged” and the consumers can pick and choose what to take and what to leave out. Something low on commitment but high in returns…Also that the church has no place for those who are really seeking God, the lost and weary, that the church is too engrossed in meeting the wants rather than the needs of people..
Have I placed more importance in the programmes, activities and temporal goals rather than help people find God?
3. Pharisee Boot Camp
The new recruit is orientated by a commander who stresses on justice, insensible rules and a parading of actions, who on the other hand classifies grace and love as “for sissies”.
Have I prided myself in all the things I do for God and judged those who do less? Has my life been a parade of how much I have given for God compared others? Set such a high standard of living that I have looked down upon those who don’t live up to them? I think so.
4. The Untouchables
A divorcee who is a drunkard, a lady who has had premarital sex and an abortion and a man with AIDS. Is there place in our church for one like these? The social outcasts and the rejected…..Will we love and accept them regardless of their background, or shun them as the world does? We are reminded that Jesus Himself identified with their pain and loneliness, that He too was rejected…Is there place in our church for even Jesus? Or will we reject Him by rejecting those He love?
I have rejected many…I have shunned people when I knew that He died for each and every one of them, I have closed my eyes and refused to care…I have made a joke of the cross…
5. Mercy General
A new young doctor in Sinai Hospital creates a fuss by practicing a different brand of medicine, contrary to the policy of the hospital that only admits healthy “patients” and shuts out the sick to avoid them from contaminating the state of the art hospital, the healthy “patients” and staff. This doctor even makes house calls to the boulevards and is rarely found in the hospital. The entire hospital staff goes searching for him and finds in in the centre of a mob of “filthy” sick people. Unable to convert him, the majority of the staff returns to the hospital. However, some stayed after seeing the pain and suffering of the sick, and they together with the doctor and the sick established another hospital, Mercy General, opened to all…Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy..
Am I just staying in my comfort zone, refusing to go out to meet the needs of those who really have need of God? Have I been ignorant to the pain and suffering of the sick and kept my distance instead of caring and ministering as I should?
6. Salt and Light
Have we forgotten to be salty or to shine? We are His feet, eyes and hands…What is salt if it isn’t salty or light if it doesn’t shine?
Have I forgotten?
7. Love Story
Modification of the book of Hosea. A preacher falls in love with a prostitute and convinces her to marry him. The prostitute at first refuses because of who she is, but says yes when she saw the hope and love in his eyes. After five years and three children, she gradually comes to accept herself as how the preacher’s family and friends saw her-worthless. Not being able to bear living with the husband who loves her unconditionally, she runs away and pleads that he does not come searching for her. But he did. For a long time he searched, and found her in the most degraded bar, being auctioned off for a mere 35 cents. He bids 545 dollars at first, then digging into his pockets for the leftover 18 cents even after he had won the bid. It was all he had. The wife refuses to come back, but looking into his eyes, she saw the reflection of a bride in white, not the woman with a dirty face and torn rags….and relents at last.
Who we are isn’t determined by what we have done or how society sees us, but it is found in our worth to God-priceless.
Repentance….of what? CF has been emphasizing on repentance, but I never could get it…not in the theme exposition, not in the camp. Turn back to God? My life revolves around God. Be not of the world? God IS my world, there is never a moment in my life which God isn’t apart of. I trust, I depend…I put serving Him before everything else…repent of WHAT??
And tonight, I saw myself in every one of the sketches…as the bride who says “I love You” too soon, the cashier who is accustomed to just “selling” packaged activities, the self-righteous commander, the church who shuns the outcasts of society, the doctor who shuts out the sick, the salt that isn’t salty enough and the light that does not shine it’s brightest…repentance now has meaning…What have I made Christianity into? A religion?
But once again, God’s love covers all…knowing that in His eyes, I am a bride in white, spotless, because He came all the way and bought me with a heavy price…
God’s love is described as EXTRAVAGANT, and rightly so…
If we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Jesus is the way
(If we are the body, written by Mark Hall, performed by casting crowns)
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Jesus is the way
(If we are the body, written by Mark Hall, performed by casting crowns)
Thursday, May 18, 2006
WISTFULNESS?
Spiritual mother knows best. Therefore when she thinks that you’re suffering from wistfulness, no matter how absurd and ungrounded you think her claim may be, it usually turns out to be true on deeper reflection. So ladies and gentlemen, I confess, I am wistful.
Because it takes extra effort to smile, and I’m afraid to be alone (cos melancholics tend to dig a deeper hole for themselves when left to their own line of destructive thinking). These are the times when you say, yes, I have God, and so have surpassing joy. But yet, yet….we’re humans. And I am human too…
This is a song from United’s newest album, called None But Jesus.
In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose
Chorus
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos, In confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days
Chorus
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
Bridge
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forevermore
No one to cry out to, no one to comfort thy servant…only You. The harder it gets, the harder I cling on…
Because it takes extra effort to smile, and I’m afraid to be alone (cos melancholics tend to dig a deeper hole for themselves when left to their own line of destructive thinking). These are the times when you say, yes, I have God, and so have surpassing joy. But yet, yet….we’re humans. And I am human too…
This is a song from United’s newest album, called None But Jesus.
In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored
When you call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose
Chorus
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
In the chaos, In confusion
I know You’re sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
When You call I won’t delay
This my song through all my days
Chorus
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise
Bridge
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord
Forevermore
No one to cry out to, no one to comfort thy servant…only You. The harder it gets, the harder I cling on…
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
MY SHEPHERD
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For Thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff,
They comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil,
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 23
Restore Thou me, Thou shepherd of my soul….
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For Thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff,
They comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil,
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 23
Restore Thou me, Thou shepherd of my soul….
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
UNSPEAKABLE JOY
I”LL BE IN THE NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT!!!!!!!!!
The whole band has been planned….only, we lack a bassist. Yeah, I know it’s a bit early, but we’re a bunch of enthusiastic people…
Returning people: me, Victor, Michelle and Catherine.
New people: Jeremy(Sem1) & Alvin(Sem3)
Yes, God is good to me, all the time…
Thank You for honoring me, You know how much this means to me…not so much of because I’m in again(bcos I've found my identity and security in You rather than in what I can do), but the fact that You care and know just what would cheer me up, at the right moment….the fact that I am significant to You. Thank You for fulfilling a child’s childish wishes....
The whole band has been planned….only, we lack a bassist. Yeah, I know it’s a bit early, but we’re a bunch of enthusiastic people…
Returning people: me, Victor, Michelle and Catherine.
New people: Jeremy(Sem1) & Alvin(Sem3)
Yes, God is good to me, all the time…
Thank You for honoring me, You know how much this means to me…not so much of because I’m in again(bcos I've found my identity and security in You rather than in what I can do), but the fact that You care and know just what would cheer me up, at the right moment….the fact that I am significant to You. Thank You for fulfilling a child’s childish wishes....
Sunday, May 14, 2006
HOME FOR MOTHER'S DAY
Yes, I made an effort to come back….See, I’m not such an inconsiderate child after all. It has been about 3 months since…The cat has gone missing, apparently the day after I left the last time. This is the second time something like this has happened, no more cats for my brother, oh no…no more….they always go missing!
THIS GOES OUT TO MY MUM: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Although we used to have our differences, I now see a different side of you. I’m thankful for you in my life, and for all the times you made a difference, no matter how small…
THIS GOES OUT TO MY MUM: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Although we used to have our differences, I now see a different side of you. I’m thankful for you in my life, and for all the times you made a difference, no matter how small…
Saturday, May 13, 2006
PARASITO AND GNOSTICISM
Dear God, why did you make sooooo many types of parasites? Each is different from the other, from its life cycle to appearance to eggs, how can there be so much to know about such little critters…nothing is insignificant to You it seems, not even those annoying parasites. My life would be easier if there weren’t so many…but You are a God of detail and diversity. Therefore teach me and make me a master of parasites, at least of those that are medically important…otherwise I dunno how I’m gonna study this…
I know I’ve been slacking for three weeks…I know I shouldn’t, can’t afford to, especially after Sum1, although, You’ve blessed me with an A. Does that mean that I can still attend Bible study?? I’ll just assume it to be a yes….THANK YOU!!!!! At least I have the whole of next week to catch up…cos it’s nursing week (This will be my first time visiting Seremban Hospital). He he…just give me Tuesday off…I can’t resist the urge of going to Borders again.
Ah yes, I’ve read Gospel of Judas….pure gnostic material, very short gospel…but so far, one of the hardest materials to comprehend if read without a commentary (shall I say harder than parasito?)…Well, the gist of it is that Jesus came to Earth not to die for our sins, but to enlighten "certain individuals" who possess the “spark of divinity” within them eg Judas, who was the only one who really understood Jesus. What separates us from the "true god" (note:not the God of the Old Testament) is not sin, but ignorance due to lack of knowledge(To understand this, you’ll have to sort of know a bit on gnosticism). Therefore, the real way of salvation is to escape this body and the God who created the Earth (who is a lower level god...heresy!heresy!) to return to the “heavenly realm”. Judas is a hero because he freed Jesus from his body by betraying him. Thus, Judas is now in heaven while the rest of us of the “ignorant generation” will become nothing when we die because we do not possess the “spark of divinity”. Other stuff in the gospel consists of something akin to greek mythology…the hierarchy of supernatural beings..etc..be prepared to be confused…See, the beauty of the simplicity of the True Gospel, compared to all those other stuff out there coined by the minds of men…(note: if you feel that reading materials like this might cast doubts upon your faith, by all means don't read! As for me, being brought up by a free thinker dad, my natural instinct is to find out for myself, what is real and what isn't. Articles and reviews will always be subject to the prejudices of the writer, who might even select or take certain passages out of context. The only way to be sure is to go to the source and decide for yourself where you stand. That's how I've always been thought. Personally for me, reading the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas has settled the uncertainties I previously had just listening to what others said, at least I know where I stand and why...Of course, I wouldn't read most other Gnostics, but this one was because of the recent hype and ppl asking me questions that I couldn't answer.)
The two things we’ll have to deal with it seems, with all these Gnostic gospels and even books like the Da Vinci Code is….who really is Jesus Christ, and the authenticity of the Bible. We know that they’re all crap, and most non-Christians, I think, would also agree that they are crap…but they sort of raise the questions…that perhaps who Jesus is was “determined” by the early church when they selected which gospels would be included in the Bible, and that the Bible represents what the majority believed to be true, but might not be true…
Which is why, I always tell people, including my friend who recently accepted Christ, “It’s not what I say, what the Pastor says or even which way the facts point…you’ll have to know who God is, and who Jesus is…TO YOU- Is He real…to You? If so, how real? So real that you’d believe it to be so even if the whole world says otherwise? You’ll have to find out, and know Him for yourself.” (I'm saying this believing that God will reveal Himself to those who seek Him in truth.)
I am thankful that I do know…that You are real, because You chose to reveal Yourself to me…because You chose to…
I know I’ve been slacking for three weeks…I know I shouldn’t, can’t afford to, especially after Sum1, although, You’ve blessed me with an A. Does that mean that I can still attend Bible study?? I’ll just assume it to be a yes….THANK YOU!!!!! At least I have the whole of next week to catch up…cos it’s nursing week (This will be my first time visiting Seremban Hospital). He he…just give me Tuesday off…I can’t resist the urge of going to Borders again.
Ah yes, I’ve read Gospel of Judas….pure gnostic material, very short gospel…but so far, one of the hardest materials to comprehend if read without a commentary (shall I say harder than parasito?)…Well, the gist of it is that Jesus came to Earth not to die for our sins, but to enlighten "certain individuals" who possess the “spark of divinity” within them eg Judas, who was the only one who really understood Jesus. What separates us from the "true god" (note:not the God of the Old Testament) is not sin, but ignorance due to lack of knowledge(To understand this, you’ll have to sort of know a bit on gnosticism). Therefore, the real way of salvation is to escape this body and the God who created the Earth (who is a lower level god...heresy!heresy!) to return to the “heavenly realm”. Judas is a hero because he freed Jesus from his body by betraying him. Thus, Judas is now in heaven while the rest of us of the “ignorant generation” will become nothing when we die because we do not possess the “spark of divinity”. Other stuff in the gospel consists of something akin to greek mythology…the hierarchy of supernatural beings..etc..be prepared to be confused…See, the beauty of the simplicity of the True Gospel, compared to all those other stuff out there coined by the minds of men…(note: if you feel that reading materials like this might cast doubts upon your faith, by all means don't read! As for me, being brought up by a free thinker dad, my natural instinct is to find out for myself, what is real and what isn't. Articles and reviews will always be subject to the prejudices of the writer, who might even select or take certain passages out of context. The only way to be sure is to go to the source and decide for yourself where you stand. That's how I've always been thought. Personally for me, reading the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas has settled the uncertainties I previously had just listening to what others said, at least I know where I stand and why...Of course, I wouldn't read most other Gnostics, but this one was because of the recent hype and ppl asking me questions that I couldn't answer.)
The two things we’ll have to deal with it seems, with all these Gnostic gospels and even books like the Da Vinci Code is….who really is Jesus Christ, and the authenticity of the Bible. We know that they’re all crap, and most non-Christians, I think, would also agree that they are crap…but they sort of raise the questions…that perhaps who Jesus is was “determined” by the early church when they selected which gospels would be included in the Bible, and that the Bible represents what the majority believed to be true, but might not be true…
Which is why, I always tell people, including my friend who recently accepted Christ, “It’s not what I say, what the Pastor says or even which way the facts point…you’ll have to know who God is, and who Jesus is…TO YOU- Is He real…to You? If so, how real? So real that you’d believe it to be so even if the whole world says otherwise? You’ll have to find out, and know Him for yourself.” (I'm saying this believing that God will reveal Himself to those who seek Him in truth.)
I am thankful that I do know…that You are real, because You chose to reveal Yourself to me…because You chose to…
Monday, May 08, 2006
X......CAVATE!
Our very own definition:
1 make a total change by seeking God from the heart and soul
2 remove impurity to find true self
This is perhaps the shortest camp that I’ve ever attended (1 day and 16 hours), even though I only slept 7 out of the 40. For some, it was a time of rediscovering themselves, others…a time of fun and fellowship….me here, still wondering. I guess for me it was more of a time of relaxing (haven’t been playing guitar up till 3.30 am for a long, long time), of having nothing to distract me, not responsibilities, not studies, not friends…definitely not the drums (there wasn’t one)….nor having any other ‘agendas’. Just Him and me…plus my husband la…
Saturday night was the best! It still amazes me, how God being who He is, the majestic, awesome God, could love us with an unfailing love; that He is not a God distant and far away, but near to our hearts…that we can call Him Father and Friend. The whole conference room was an altar - campers coming to God, seeking Him on their knees, just where they are. That, and receiving news from the ECF side that another soul from IMU had come to Christ….wah, it was double joy for me! Ha ha! The very funny thing, being in camp, I was feeling a bit sick of missing all the crappy jokes in Friday cell, of not being able to drive ppl to church in the pajero, of the forceful beat of the drums during SNL (altho I heard imaginary drum beats in my head during camp too!) and of the late night suppers at Everyday. I never thought ECF meant that much to me. But it does. As much as CF, very much….
We even have our very own camp song! Written and composed in one day by my batch mate, Ivy Ang, it was an instant hit!
Who am I
Tell me why
I am here for
Cos sometimes I’m lost
Who will give
Me a lift
When I’m feeling weak
It’s your strength I need
Before the world began
You were on His mind
To love Him and be loved by Him
Oh what a sweet relief
Why am I – still worrying today
Why should – let sorrow stay
Come let’s be strong and courageous
Because….
He’s given – JOY PEACE LOVE and
STRENGTH to last for the day
His mercies – new everyday
Sufficient, Your grace is – A-MA-a-ZING
Oh thank You Father
For the mighty cross………
So that I am Yours……..
Mighty child of God…
First night was ice-breakers which lasted till about 1am (56 of us, six groups)… I came down with headache afte that cos have been up and about since morn, but then played guitar till 3.30 am afte supper – supper, the universal medicine…
Second day devotions at 7.30am, then had three sessions of talks (very basic and simple, yet to the crux of the matter) with games (me being me, decided to run without slippers in one of them and ended up with two very big patches of blisters..sigh) and treasure hunt (really going back and forth b/w the furthest ends of the camp site!) in between, and ended the day with a mass altar call afte last session…most of us slept around 2am bcos of the sketch that had to be presented on Sun. Again, mad guitarist slept at 3.30am…cos too overjoyed?…Nah, she’s just gone mad la…
Third day…devotions, sketch presentation…
Revealing of mortals (yes, we played that game), photo taking session(s)….
1 make a total change by seeking God from the heart and soul
2 remove impurity to find true self
This is perhaps the shortest camp that I’ve ever attended (1 day and 16 hours), even though I only slept 7 out of the 40. For some, it was a time of rediscovering themselves, others…a time of fun and fellowship….me here, still wondering. I guess for me it was more of a time of relaxing (haven’t been playing guitar up till 3.30 am for a long, long time), of having nothing to distract me, not responsibilities, not studies, not friends…definitely not the drums (there wasn’t one)….nor having any other ‘agendas’. Just Him and me…plus my husband la…
Saturday night was the best! It still amazes me, how God being who He is, the majestic, awesome God, could love us with an unfailing love; that He is not a God distant and far away, but near to our hearts…that we can call Him Father and Friend. The whole conference room was an altar - campers coming to God, seeking Him on their knees, just where they are. That, and receiving news from the ECF side that another soul from IMU had come to Christ….wah, it was double joy for me! Ha ha! The very funny thing, being in camp, I was feeling a bit sick of missing all the crappy jokes in Friday cell, of not being able to drive ppl to church in the pajero, of the forceful beat of the drums during SNL (altho I heard imaginary drum beats in my head during camp too!) and of the late night suppers at Everyday. I never thought ECF meant that much to me. But it does. As much as CF, very much….
We even have our very own camp song! Written and composed in one day by my batch mate, Ivy Ang, it was an instant hit!
Who am I
Tell me why
I am here for
Cos sometimes I’m lost
Who will give
Me a lift
When I’m feeling weak
It’s your strength I need
Before the world began
You were on His mind
To love Him and be loved by Him
Oh what a sweet relief
Why am I – still worrying today
Why should – let sorrow stay
Come let’s be strong and courageous
Because….
He’s given – JOY PEACE LOVE and
STRENGTH to last for the day
His mercies – new everyday
Sufficient, Your grace is – A-MA-a-ZING
Oh thank You Father
For the mighty cross………
So that I am Yours……..
Mighty child of God…
First night was ice-breakers which lasted till about 1am (56 of us, six groups)… I came down with headache afte that cos have been up and about since morn, but then played guitar till 3.30 am afte supper – supper, the universal medicine…
Second day devotions at 7.30am, then had three sessions of talks (very basic and simple, yet to the crux of the matter) with games (me being me, decided to run without slippers in one of them and ended up with two very big patches of blisters..sigh) and treasure hunt (really going back and forth b/w the furthest ends of the camp site!) in between, and ended the day with a mass altar call afte last session…most of us slept around 2am bcos of the sketch that had to be presented on Sun. Again, mad guitarist slept at 3.30am…cos too overjoyed?…Nah, she’s just gone mad la…
Third day…devotions, sketch presentation…
Revealing of mortals (yes, we played that game), photo taking session(s)….
MY BATCH - The mad Sem Twos
ME & SEM 5 GANG - I'm so gonna miss them
ECF PEOPLE WHO WENT(Joseph spoiling the pic by not being in it)
Came back here 3.30pm, decided to take short nap till 5.30pm but woke up 6.30….am…
Don’t get jealous now, I had CSU at 8am today, then lectures and PBL presentation at 2pm which I did not have prepared till 1.55pm okay…. “I really have to study…” (Most quoted phrase in IMU)…
X-CAVATE CAMP COMMITTEE - see my signature?
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1Pet 2:9
Friday, May 05, 2006
AWAY
IMU CF CAMP 2006 X-CAVATE
WHO AM I?
WHY AM I HERE?
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
Rediscovering ourselves by digging deep within:
What will we find?
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
NOTHING AT ALL....
Wah, it’s been such a long while(yet seems pretty short to me), that I actually get to chill out, not running from one place to another, trying to keep up with datelines and having my executive book filled to the max with all the things I have to do…can I really, really handle all these? No more questions, I wanna just live life as it is…
What eguitarist has been up to the last weekend:
FRI : lectures, CF Camp Committee Meeting, ‘kepo-ing’ with SEM5’s promo of the camp (there’s a camp theme song!), Outreach cell (ECF’s church leaders came to meet the juniors, about 20 of us were squeezed into Michelle and Catherine’s apartment, played the “saliva game”, can hear our slurps and laughter from downstairs, Steven says), supper at Food Avenue, ‘kepo-ing’/helping Campus Friends ppl stack up chairs for Charity Run on Saturday….
SAT : CPR Practical briefing and demonstration, lunch at Food Avenue (again!), CPR Practical Exam (I had to kiss the dummy, bleh…finished at four cos I jumped queue without knowing it, haha), SNL (sermon on growing in purity conviction, yeah, very convicted d…no kissing till marriage, yup!), supper at Everyday (food heaven of Puchong)....
SUN : (Wanted to go back visit NLRC, but the ECF ppl wanna go KLCC at 10am), went KLCC with the ECF gang (hmm…can I call it a gang yet?), Aquaria (the sharks swim in circles-u get to see the small commensals sticking underneath…whatever u call them again? bought a plush keychain for mum, hopefully I get to go back on Mother’s Day), Manhattan Fish Market (imagine 20 of us queuing up to sort out the bill!), Konikuniya (Ooooh…Gospel of Judas! No. 1 bestseller, must go Borders one of these days), Vista B pool (three ppl got thrown into the pool, I had no part in this devious plan…), ended day by reading ISBE on e-sword on Gnosticism…
MON : whatever did I do? Woke up at 11 am, I think half the day was spent reading e-sword, got my car and brought a few ppl to Carrefour (no food at IMU!! No Food Ave=NO FOOD!), studied neoplasia a lil', ate apple pie toast made by Joseph…sleep...
It’s so nice to blog about nothing at all!! (Smiles to herself, satisfied…)
What eguitarist has been up to the last weekend:
FRI : lectures, CF Camp Committee Meeting, ‘kepo-ing’ with SEM5’s promo of the camp (there’s a camp theme song!), Outreach cell (ECF’s church leaders came to meet the juniors, about 20 of us were squeezed into Michelle and Catherine’s apartment, played the “saliva game”, can hear our slurps and laughter from downstairs, Steven says), supper at Food Avenue, ‘kepo-ing’/helping Campus Friends ppl stack up chairs for Charity Run on Saturday….
SAT : CPR Practical briefing and demonstration, lunch at Food Avenue (again!), CPR Practical Exam (I had to kiss the dummy, bleh…finished at four cos I jumped queue without knowing it, haha), SNL (sermon on growing in purity conviction, yeah, very convicted d…no kissing till marriage, yup!), supper at Everyday (food heaven of Puchong)....
SUN : (Wanted to go back visit NLRC, but the ECF ppl wanna go KLCC at 10am), went KLCC with the ECF gang (hmm…can I call it a gang yet?), Aquaria (the sharks swim in circles-u get to see the small commensals sticking underneath…whatever u call them again? bought a plush keychain for mum, hopefully I get to go back on Mother’s Day), Manhattan Fish Market (imagine 20 of us queuing up to sort out the bill!), Konikuniya (Ooooh…Gospel of Judas! No. 1 bestseller, must go Borders one of these days), Vista B pool (three ppl got thrown into the pool, I had no part in this devious plan…), ended day by reading ISBE on e-sword on Gnosticism…
MON : whatever did I do? Woke up at 11 am, I think half the day was spent reading e-sword, got my car and brought a few ppl to Carrefour (no food at IMU!! No Food Ave=NO FOOD!), studied neoplasia a lil', ate apple pie toast made by Joseph…sleep...
It’s so nice to blog about nothing at all!! (Smiles to herself, satisfied…)
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