The Big Move

Its moving!!

Yesterday was the last church service at the current building of 25 Adam Road. Church is temporarily relocating to Bishan for the next 12 to 18 months. The building at 25 Adam Road will be undergoing major renovations - known as "Major Upgrading Program" (MUP). The building is getting too small for the congregation of 1,300 where each sitting can only take 380 people.

Thank God for the growth of the church since about 17-18 years ago. From 20 people, it has grown to the now 1,300 people. I first step foot into this church some 7 years ago. In there, I have grown a lot in the knowledge of God's word and have been challenged in the way I lead my life. The people in church are like my family (although its scary that at least 500 people knows me). Many friends I got to know there and some had been through parts of my life with me.

Goodbye old building. And yes I do look forward to the newly upgraded building soon!!

Well at least for a good of 4 years (and the 5th year running), I have been part of the church camp committee. Yesterday being our last meeting at 25 Adam Road, we took a photo for rememberance :)

Poor Man's Meal

Sometimes I like being sick - down with cold/flu. I know I am being silly.

I had some bacterial throat infection last week. Doctor gave me antibiotics for a week and took swab samples of my throat to test what kind of bacteria it was. So that Friday, I worked a bit more before I went home to rest. Packed duck porridge from my office food court for lunch at home. Hmm, I've not tried the duck porridge from that stall before but I thought it was very nice.... The porridge was the mushy watery type. Besides the braised duck meat, there were preserved peanuts and braised tou fu with the braised sauce. I liked it so much that I actually ate it for 4 consecutive lunches!!

I was recovering when 2 days ago, I began to feel a bit sick again. I sneezed a few times in a day compared to none normally (it can't be someone thinking of me so many times rite?? :P) Today began to have a bit of flu-like symptoms... the happy thing is, mummy cooked me my favourite porridge with dried scallops! And she added slices of fish in it. I finished the whole pot of it, took Puriton to knock myself out and slept. When I woke up, I was so much better. Its amazing how rest/sleep renews our body 'machinery' and aids my body cells fight against bacteria and viruses. Thank God for His creation of Man!

Hmm porridge is so nice... why do people call it a "poor man's meal"? My favourite porridge is the sliced beef porridge at Crystal Jade. Crystal Jade's porridge is cooked for a long time. Cooking with dried scallops makes it sweet. Mum knows I like porridge with dried scallops so when I'm sick, she'll pamper me with it :) Hmm, how nice it is to be sick all the time?!?!

A Series of Falls

Some 9 weeks ago, one of my colleagues in the same office fell in my company premises and fractured her 5th metatarsal bone on her left foot. About 3 weeks later, another colleague who sits in front of me twisted her left ankle. Since then, another 2 girls in my office has somewhat either fell down or tripped over something. Luckily they were small injuries.

Then came my turn... Just 3 days ago, I fell down in my office and now has a few big and small colourful bruises on both my knees :( The story: I had accidentally clicked the "print" button on my PC. And because the printout would be more than 100+ pages, I had to stop the print. I thought by running to my network printer barefooted (without my shoes) would bring me there faster. So there I run.... and as I negotiated a left turn, I slipped and fell *thud* *bang*!! Nevertheless I still picked myself up and limped to the printer. Fortunately only a few pages were printed. But poor me, both my knees hurted :( Sat down and rest a while and I could see the potential bruises forming... Luckily no one saw me fall but surely, everyone in my office heard me!! Silly me tried to run barefooted in my stockings on a carpeted floor. Of course the lack of friction caused my fall...

So I became the 5th and last girl in my office to round off this 'series of falls'. One girl mentioned if it was some form of a curse to have all the girls injure and/or fall down one after the other... well I think it was just concidental that all of us were careless or clumsy. Well I guess there's something that I can thank God for and that is that my blood can clot when the blood vessels are broken. If my platelets are not doing their job, I better start to worry!! Here are 2 photos of my injuries taken yesterday:

Left knee and right knee

My falling stint made me noticed a swelling on my knee which is not related to the fall. Had some old knee joint problem which I'm not sure if it was exactly getting better. The fluid swelling is caused by inflammation of the joints. Anyway after visiting my Orthopaedic, I was told that there isn't as much fluid as the last time. But he did recommend me to do MRI scan to check if I have a meniscus tear. Sounds scary... well since the situation is not that bad (yet), I shall just leave it for the moment. Boy, am I getting older or what?? (More on The Meniscus)

That's Life!

Received this in my email... thought that it was a good 'wake-me-up' teaser to keep me working on a Monday. Actually in some way, I have had a similar thought that went passed my mind as I was thinking about the list of things I have to do at work today... well do take it with a pinch of salt yah? ;)

Don't Seek Alternatives

(Photo from J at her wedding last year)

Its the end of the wedding streak I had for the last 3 weeks - 6 weddings in all, but my schedule only allowed me to attend 4 of them. Following 2 of my previous entries ("When 2 become 1" and "Marriage and the 100th entry"), I thought that this would round up some of my recent thoughts on weddings and marriages.

Of the 4 weddings I've attended, 2 are Christian marriages, 2 are not. Surely the Christian unions encouraged me. I can't comment on 1 of them because I was late for the ceremony (due to work) but I surely enjoyed the fellowship :P

I think it was the first time I heard the Parable of the Lost Son being used to preach at a wedding. Surely it was used as an evangelistic message. I'm encouraged that the couple used the occasion of their wedding, to share the gospel. It was also translated into Mandarin to reach the Chinese folks.

"What is a girl like you xxx, doing with a man like xxx?" Pastor asked at the beginning of his exhortation. In the secular sense, this was probably true. The bride's father was a leader in church and the groom is a new Christian for a couple of years. Pastor went on to say that in our relationships, there will surely be moments of thoughts that goes "What I am doing with a man/woman like him/her?" Well perhaps we should go back and ask what is a holy God doing with sinners like us? And in the Parable of the Lost Son, what is the father doing with his son who has abandoned him and earlier regarded him dead to ask for his share of his estate? But in the end, the father accepted the lost son back into the family despite his earlier rebellion. The father's unconditional love for the son was displayed through him providing the best and the finest for the celebration of his return. Indeed our Father in Heaven would rejoice much over a lost son!!

How much are we like the lost son, to think that we will be better off without our Father in Heaven? We'd rather tell God "Leave me alone! I want to enjoy my life. Life without you is better!" Is that really true? Is life really better without God? God didn't even mind a girl like me - wretched sinner, rebellious against Him. I sat there and was reminded that... yes, a Christian life, striving to live a holy life seems tough. But I'd rather live a life knowing God and His gift of salvation, then a lost life without Him. I thank God for not minding the fact that I was not good enough for the Holy and perfect Him. He not only don't mind me, he love me so much that He gave the life of His son for my sake!!

The couple was reminded that they ought not to seek other alternatives other than God. Their relationship with God is of utmost importance. And then in turn, their marriage covenant with each other is also important. No other alternatives should be entertained. This means in the marriage, questions of "Why did I marry him/her?", "Should I consider this other guy/gal?", "What am I doing with a man/woman like her?" should not be entertained. If only everyone who says their marriage vows at the altar truly understand... probably the lawyers would then be less busy with helping couples with divorce papers...

Nevertheless, I rejoice with the couples... although admittedly I find myself rejoicing a bit more if it were a Christian marriage. I know I should not be bias lah... but really I still thank God for each couple of those weddings that I had attended. What I meant was that I could share the joy of a Christian marriage more... especially when I know and see how God has brought them together in His own unique ways. Sometimes, it just sends a nice warm feeling to my heart and/or my contact lenses would suddenly feel a bit more moistened with tears when I see how 2 different persons can be brought together under Christ, to love each other in Christ and to be willing to live lives together under God's purpose for marriage in their lives on earth. So many unique, beautiful love stories have been weaved.... so will mine be... in God's perfect timing and purpose :)

The Mayonnaise Jar & The Coffee

Received 2 separate emails from different people today...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Mayonnaise Jar & The Coffee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your faith, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter. Your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the shed door.

Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled."

I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

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Then in another email, a friend shared the lyrics of a song in which she was humbled.... about her life and the legacy that she would leave behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Legacy (by Nichole Nordemaan) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me

And I enjoy an accolade like the rest

You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery

Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best

At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, its feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'

But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides

The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering

A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically

And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile

To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy

It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile

Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred

Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

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After reading the 2 emails, these questions popped up in my mind...

• What are the things that matters in my life?
• How am I relating to my family, friends and colleagues? Do I love them?
• How have I pleased God in what I do?
• How best have I been a steward of the things that He has given me, including time and money?
• The 'important' things in my life... are they really that important? Do they matter to God? Do they take more priority than God and His work? Has many other little things clouded and overshadowed the things that SHOULD matter?
• Have I genuinely loved God's people? When people are most unlovable, have I chosen to love them simply because God loves them?
• What do I want to be remembered for when I die?

I am ashamed. Surely I fall short of it so much, too much. I pray that I might be constantly reminded... to make my time on earth to count for Christ...

Amazing Grace

Sang the Chinese version of this old hymn at a wedding. I thought that the song in Chinese has a richer meaning to the song. I probably sung this Chinese version before but I cannot remember when... I have heard this being sung at weddings and at funerals... Tis a song to be sung at all seasons of life, to praise and thank God for His wondering and amazing grace for me!

奇异恩典

奇异恩典，何等甘甜
qi yi en dian, he deng gan tian
我罪已得赦免
wo zui yi de she mian
前我失丧， 今被寻回
qian wo shi sang, jin bei xun hui
瞎眼今得看见
xia yan jin de kan jian

如此恩典，使我敬畏
ru qi en dian, shi wo jing wei
使我心得安慰
shi wo xin de an wei
初信之时，即蒙恩惠
chu xin zhi shi, ji meng en hui
真是何等宝贵！
zhen shi he deng bao gui

许多危险，试炼网罗
xu duo wei xian, shi lian wang luo
我已安然经过
wo yi an ran jing guo
靠主恩典，安全不怕
kao zhu en dian, an quan bu pa
更引导我归家
geng yin dao wo gui jia

将来禧年，圣徒欢聚
jiang lai xi nian, sheng tu huan ju
恩光爱谊千年
en guang ai yi qian nian
喜年颂赞，再父座前
xi nian song zan, zai fu zuo qian
深望那日快现！
shen wang na ri kuai xian

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun!

Marriage and The 100th Entry

This blog has been 7 months old and this is my 100th entry! How time flies....

Was having dinner with my mum the other day and I asked her a question - "How was it is like when you and dad went dating last time? How was the courtship like?"

Mum let me into some details of the courtship which we as kids never knew...

1. Dad and mum were colleagues in a (now extinct) departmental store in town.

2. Dad was not a romantic man. He doesn't buy flowers for mum nor do nice things for her. Even though mum stays near their workplace, dad has never sent/walked her home. After work, mum will walk home and dad will take a bus home.

3. Although dad was not a typical romantic, he would purposely arrange his off-days with his supervisor to be the same as mum's, so that they can go dating (this I heard from the supervisor, whom now I know as 'uncle')

4. Dad was not well off at all but mum didn't mind him and didn't mind being frugal with him.

5. Dad was not a good looking, handsome man but mum didn't mind him. My mum is very pretty when she was young... of course she is still now!

6. After the departmental store closed down, dad went to be a bartender at a hotel. He was always surrounded by many different ladies (due to the work environment) but he did not succumb to temptation (not that mum knew :P) and mum trusted him.

7. Although dad was not rich, he would scrimp and save to buy mum a set of jewellery (those 4 piece combination of necklace, ear rings, bracelet and ring... in diamond) for their wedding.

8. Dad was mum's first boyfriend.

Dad is a honest, down-to-earth, simple, non-ambitious (I guess he can't be too much of one when he was also not very highly educated) guy... I guess such qualities attracted mum. Dad is also the type who does not express much of his feelings (even to us as kids) to mum (is this typical of men? or Asian men? :P). Mum is kind, gentle, pretty, tolerant... tolerant because I have heard how her sister-in-laws (my aunties) and her mother-in-law (my grandma) were not very kind and nice to her but my mum remained nice to them. E.g. my grandma prefer grandsons. So when I was born (being the eldest), she did not visit mum nor me at the hospital. It was my grandpa who boiled soups and visited my mum. Over the many years, grandma and my aunties gradually realised that she is true and kind so they began to change their attitude towards her...

That was a side-track... but really I was just thinking about how marriages nowadays will and can last 'till death do us part'. The Singapore government is now trying to promote strengthening marriages. To quote the newspapers:

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THE Government is promoting programmes to strengthen marriages, after the first large-scale study of divorces here put its finger on what made unions work or fall apart.

The study of more than 1,700 divorcees and about 1,900 married respondents raised the same red flags that had been waved by marriage counsellors for years.

The risk factors include a hasty courtship, long hours spent at work and away from one's spouse, and the arrival of a baby when a couple are unprepared for parenthood.

Sociologist, who completed the study last year said: 'You can't just tie the knot and then go through daily life without conscientiously working on improving spousal relations and expect your marriage to last.'

The study found that couples were more likely to break up if they:

- married because of family pressure or to get a flat.
- were unhappy with their spouse's long working hours.
- were not prepared for marriage.
- had no children.

Counsellors said the study confirmed their experience that it takes more than love to keep a marriage going.

Also, marriage is not a constant as couples change as they go through different stages of their lives.

While the stress factors may be age-old, the rising rate of divorce is an indication that couples are no longer willing to remain in failed marriages. Women, especially, get married nowadays not for economic security but for love and companionship.

Couples who were happy with the amount of time they spent together, and talked to each other about what was important to them, were less likely to split up.

Seven in 10 divorcees blamed their marriage breakdowns on poor communication.

==========================================

Looks like marriage surely isn't a bed of roses. Whoever said it was? Although dad and mum are not Christians, I thank God that they have a relatively happy marriage. There are friends I know whose parents do not have happy marriages. Yes, dad and mum do have their little arguments here and there but they would still go out on 'dates' and show their love for each other in practical and non-romantic ways.

I must say that I have also heard encouraging stories about how parents of a friend, separated for many years and still came back together 20 years (I think) later... how my cousin was on the brink of divorce but eventually still came back happily together...

Is there a secret formula to happy and long marriages? Well I'm not sure (since I'm not married) but I believe that as Christians, as long as both are God-fearing man and woman, striving to live in godliness and holiness to God, happy godly marriages are possible. Of course the husbands are to love their wives, to present them holy before God... and wives to submit to husbands and respect them. If we can understand God's purpose for earthly marriages and seek to obey Him, I believe happy marriages are possible. Its just sad that divorce rates are on the rise all over the world... this is the sinful nature of men - to rebel against God's purposes and intention for marriage.

Hmm, I can't wait for that final marriage in heaven... :)