Christmas dinner 2007

Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas and this year the family celebrated at Changi Rise, with the latest arrival, Asher and my best friend, Elaine.

There's no christmas tree this year but we put up a star that my parents bought from India.

We had a spread...

my contribution: butterball turkey, roast ribeye beef, honey baked ham, Bickerford lime cordial with Sprite, red wine,
Elaine's contribution: smoked salmon ,
my sister's contribution: bacon & potato, coleslaw and strawberry shortcake.

Yummy!

Windworkz Outings #10 & #11 for Christmas

Windworkz had a grand finale to the year with two more performances for Christmas.



On 19 Dec, Windworkz performed as part of YMCA's fund-raising efforts at Jurong Point.
It's really heartwarming to see people coming forward to donate money to help the needy in response to our music. :)

On 22 Dec, despite the rain, we performed at the Bukit Batok CC as part of the Christmas in the Community celebration in collaboration with the Methodist Children and Youth Centre. We had such a blast!

Finally... a day out...

Finally... after 5 weeks of being on medical leave... I get to spend some time soaking up the Christmas atmosphere.

We celebrated Rebecca's 13th birthday with her other godmother at Black Angus Steakhouse...

And then brought the girls to get their very own bears at Build a Bear Workshop...

Here's a picture of Bec and Pookie...

And Jessica with Kayla...

And the 3 of us...

It sure was a fun day out...

Asher's first month party

Asher turned 20 days old today and we had his first month party at the function room.

We celebrated his arrival early because Grandpa and Grandma were going to be away.

The occasion was a ray of sunlight during my medical leave.

Me and Asher:


The 3 proud chey-cheys pushing Asher around in his pram:


And a very delighted yi-yi making her way to the party on crutches.

Toe in splint till 12 Dec

Went for my medical review yesterday and was given 22 days of hospitalisation leave till 12 Dec.
I couldn't believe my ears - I had hoped to recover faster.
But I guess God has His plans for me...

Below is a photo of my right foot after the cast was removed.
Note how the 4th toe is slanting towards the little toe. The foot was swollen and there was a patch of blue-black too.



Today, I had to get a buddy splint done for my toe. And supposed to learn how to strengthen the muscles on my right leg and walk again. See the photo below and see how the 4th toe is now learning to grow straight with the help of the 3rd toe.

I've got two kinds of splints - the plastic one and the soft bandage one (corban).

I'm reminded of Eccl 4:10 when I see the toe and its buddy -
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

And I am grateful to God for friends who have visited or called or messaged during this period of medical leave and offered encouragement...

Get out of that pit!

When I was in Perth in April this year, I managed to hear bits of Beth Moore sharing about getting out of the pit on one of the channels. I was intrigued but didn't manage to catch most of it. So when I saw the book, I decided to buy it. And spent some days of my medical leave reading it ...

Metaphorically, a pit is "a shadowy home of the heart, mind, and soul ... like mud ... (which) we drag ... along wherever our physical circumstances move us."

One is in a pit when:
1. One feels stuck - trapped, one can't get oneself out (Isa 42:22)
2. One can't stand up - one feels ineffective and powerless against attack (Ps 69:2)
3. One has lost vision - one has lost the vision of being part of being something bigger

Psalm 40:1-3
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

To get out:
1. CRY OUT
- "God, help me!"
2. CONFESS
- agree with what God says about Himself and about us - tell Him how much you need Him and what's on your mind and in your heart, the mess you are in, who's holding you back, who's on your case and on your nerves...
-confess sins and sins of pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, coldness
(God initiates conversation through conviction, we answer back through confession)
3. CONSENT
- agree to what God already wants, that is, out of the pit

Goal: Freedom from the pit for the rest of your life

Psalm 103: 1-5
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

How does one wait?
- by watching out in anticipation because God is at work
- by exercising unwavering and daily confidence that God is coming to our rescue
- by drawing close to God
Isa 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.

Prov 19:2b - And he sins who hastens with his feet

It all started when I was rushing for time on 8 November around noon.

I was running in the house and ran into the metal leg of my sofa in the living room.

I thought it was just a normal stubbed toe but the pain did not subside and I went to the A&E dept of CGH.

After an x-ray, it was confirmed that the joint of the 4th toe on the right foot was fractured and I was given 2 weeks of medical leave till 22 Nov.

So the right foot is in a cast and I've got to use crutches.

Lesson learnt - don't rush... :(

Arrival of Asher - my nephew

Asher arrived on 5 Nov around 3.10am. He's 50cm long and 3490g heavy.

We went with Phoebe to visit him around 10am that morning. See the doting chey chey...

(and yi-yi had such a tough time putting Phoebe to bed while daddy and mommy were at the hospital since they left about midnight ...)

Hehe! See the 3 generations of womenfolk resting on the hospital bed while waiting for Asher to be wheeled in.... :P

Asher resting at home ... what else do you expect him to do?

Two days' old: Phoebe's on the left and Asher's on the right. Don't they look alike?

Speak, Lord, I am Listening

I have to learn how to listen to God's voice.

I came across the following prayer in the church bulletin on Sunday (which happened to be Hymn Sunday & Worship & Ministry Dedication).

Gracious Lord, You speak to me at many times and in various ways through Your Word, through people, through circumstances - but often my mind is miles away and I am not really listening. I nod assent. I file away an idea, a possibility, something i need to correct. But like the hundred and one things that clutter my desk, it is lost to me. I do not take hold of it and act on it.

Lord, when You speak to me, it must seem to You as if we have a party line. There are all sorts of people interrupting the conversation, noisy bursts of static, and constant technical difficulties. You must wonder if I'm getting anything at all from what You're saying. You speak, and I'm on guard. I want to be on intimate terms with You when such intimacy is to my advantage. But if I come close,if I really take in what You have to say, it could change my life and I'm afraid of that. Lord, if I keep resisting You, Your voice may be reduced to a whisper. SometimesI'm afraid it may disappear all together. Why should You keep calling me if I refuse to respond?

But that's not how things have to be.

Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.

God is speaking and yet I'm not listening. :(

And how to listen? I want to know...

And guess what? This morning, I happened to pick up this bookmark in Chinese that had all along been staring at me when I use the PC. (Usually I ignore looking at Chinese text.)And I was amazed at the prompt response to my question.

It reads (as I translate it):

God loves you and He awaits an intimate relationship with you. He would like to communicate with you daily. You may use the following steps to listen and respond to God's voice.

1. Ready your heart to listen to God
Invite God's presence and ask Him to reveal Himself and His Truth.

2. Read the Bible and meditate
Read the Bible passage slowly and aks God at the same time: " Lord, what do you want to tell me today? This passage tells me something about

- God: who is He? what kinds of attributes does He have? What has He done?
- myself: Who am I? How does God view me?
- a believer's life:
Sin - repent and avoid sins
Promise - accept and claim God's promises
Attitude - have godly attitudes
Command - obey God's commands
Example - learn from examples given
--> what pointers does the acronym SPACE have on my life?

3. Respond to God
Earlier you have listened to God's voice, now, use a prayer to respond to Him:
- apologise: confess your sins, repent and accept God's forgiveness
- give thanks: thank God for His abundant blessings and promises
- make a request: pray for yourself or intercede for others
- express love to God: sing praise to workship God

4. Record your conversation with God
- Read: write down the Bible verses
- Meditate: what did God tell you?
- Respond: what must you do?

John 14:15 (New International Version)
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

James 1:22 (New King James Version)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

I will learn to obey! I must act on it!
Help me Lord!!!

Which Peanuts Character Am I?

You are part Charlie Brown. You are always optimistic and persistent, and everyone appreciates your simple sweetness. Sometimes, however, your anxieties get the best of you, and life's mysteries can confuse you. You are part Schroeder. You are brilliant, ambitious, and brooding; you tackle tasks with extreme focus. People don't always interest you as much as other pursuits, though, so you can come off as aloof.

What do you think? Am I part Charlie Brown and part Schroeder?
I think I'm just ME! :)

WindWorkz at it again!

WindWorks performed on 2 consecutive days - 19 & 20 Oct 2007...

19 Oct 2007 (Fri)

Our 8th performance was at the Conrad - at the Rotary Club's Corporate Management Bowling League. We played a fanfare at the beginning for the processional and continued performing to an appreciative audience while they had their dinner.

Thereafter, we had our dinner - look at what we had... the yummy grilled chicken with vegetable ratatouille and the yummy chocolate gateau for dessert! :D

While waiting to play our final piece to end the evening, we had our fair share of fun, participating in the lucky draw... (guess what? Sam and Tim actually won something!) and going to the dance floor! It was pretty fun having almost 20 of us standing in a circle grooving to the beat together... singing and shouting and doing actions to the likes of "Gimme Hope, Joanna!" and "Y.M.C.A."... :)


20 Oct 2007 (Sat)

Our 9th outing of the year was at the Botanic Gardens and we performed at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage for the YMCA – Central Singapore Proms @ the Park event.

YMCA of Singapore celebrated 105 years of serving the community with a picnic and concert at the park and had adult corporate volunteers coming to serve the less fortunate in a tangible meaningful way. It was a Guiness record breaking event as more than 30 VWOs with more than a thousand beneficiaries and more than a thousand volunteers gathered together, sprawled all over the open space.

WindWorkz was the final item for the concert (and also the final item for the 2007 season of YProms) and we got people singing, dancing and clapping. They wanted more... but it was getting dark, so we ended the evening with two encores...

And while waiting for our turn after the sound-check... we kept ourselves amused with food, ice-cream and a game of "monkey"! :)

These two performances clearly show us truly living up to our motto of good causes and good fellowship - good food and good fun! :P

To the Unknown Teacher

I came across the following poem in the Oct 2007 issue of the Methodist Message and I reflect on my role as an educator.

And I think of the candles I've lit and how they are shining now and bringing cheer to me. They are now older and are my friends. How often does one have the privilege of accompanying an ex-student/friend to buy a proposal ring? What about having an ex-student/friend teach you the finer points of saxophone playing? Or what about being chauffeured around in a Merz by an ex-student/friend who also loves your niece?

I truly thank God for blessing me...

The Unknown Teacher -Henry Van Dyke (1852 - 1933)-

I sing the praise of the Unknown Teacher.
Great generals wins campaigns, but it is the unknown soldier who wins the war.

Famous educators plans new system of pedagogues, but it is the
Unknown Teacher who delivers and guides the young.

He lives in obscurity and contents with hardship. For him no
trumpets blare, no chariots wait, no golden decorations are decreed.

He keeps the watch along the border of darkness
and leads the attack on the trenches of ignorance and folly.
Patient in his duty. He strives to conquer the evil powers
which are the enemies of youth. He awakes sleeping spirits.
He quicken the indolent, encourages the eager and steadies the
unstable.

He communicates his own joy in learning and shares
with boys and girls the best treasures of his mind.
He lights many candles which in later years will shines back to
cheer him. This is his reward.

Knowledge may be gained from books, but the love of knowledge
is transmitted only by personal contact.
No one has deserved better of Republic than the Unknown
Teacher, No one is more worthy to be enrolled in a democratic
aristocracy, ” King of himself and servant of mankind ”

WindWorkz plays for the President again!

What an exciting night! WindWorkz plays for the president again!

Windworkz had "unfinished business" with the President of Singapore when we played for him at the BB's Sharity Gift Box 20th Anniversary dinner at the Fullerton on 3 Sept 2007. He requested for his favourite song "Anak" but we didn't have it on our repertoire then.

Tonight, we played for this piece specially for him again at the President's Challenge at Laguna National. This event was to raise funds for St Luke's Eldercare at Bukit Timah and they raised more than $720k.

Anyway, the President was so pleased with us that he came up to the stage and shook our hands. And he specifically requested for us to have our picture taken with him... cool or what!



PS1. Note the size of the group today - only 10 of us as it's mainly the combo...

PS2.
Brief write-up of Windworkz:
WindWorkz was formed in January 2007. Led by Samantha Chong, the principal trombonist of the Singapore Festival Orchestra and music director of several school bands, the band plays popular big band standards and classics from the jazz and swing era, styled after the big bands of Benny Goodman and Glen Miller.

Coming from a variety of music and band backgrounds, the members are exploring and experiencing a genre of music older than some of their parents, bonded by their love for music and their fellowship with one another. They enjoy playing together and making music so much that they are happy to share their music, especially for good causes.

PS3. We played for a YMCA CLAP programme on 1 Sept at Toa Payoh Amphitheatre and will be playing for another YMCA event on 20 Oct at the Botanic Gardens.

What city should I live in?

">http://www.brainfall.com/test27_1.php">

What City Should You Live In?

You should live in Paris. The city of lights will appeal to your appreciation of beauty and romance. You are a lover and a poet by nature, and Paris' sensitive charms will be a perfect match for yours.

Trust His Heart - Rom 8:28

Today's the first time I heard this song - "Trust His Heart" in church today.

I'm reminded of Rom 8:28:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

And I'm reminded to Trust His Heart regardless of what I feel or what I can't see...for He loves me....

The lyrics goes like this:

G Am
All things work for our good
D7 G
Though sometimes we can't see how they could
B7 Em
Struggles that break our heart in two
Am D7
Sometimes blind us to the truth

Our Father knows what is best for us
His ways are not our own
So when the pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him
Remember He's still on the throne

G Am
God is too wise to be mistaken
D7 C--G
God is to good to be unkind
D G G7
So when you don't understand
C Am
When you don't see His plan
C D7
When you can't trace His hand
G D7
Trust his heart

He sees the masterplan
He holds the future in His hand
So don't be like those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him
We walk in present knowledge
but He sees the first and the last
And like a tapestry He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him...
C D7 Bm(E)
He alone is faithful on truth
C D7 E
He alone knows what's best for you...

Psalm 139 and On Eagle's Wing

It's TTC Sunday today and the sermon was delivered by Gordon Wong and it was based on Psalm 139.

Psalm 139 is not an unfamliar Psalm but what struck me most are the following verses:
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.


And one of the hymns we sang " On Eagle's Wings" struck another chord deep within me. It reminded me of Isa 40:31 but the song-writer based it on Exodus 19: 4. God said to Moses: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

The chorus of the hymn goes like this:
And He will raise you up on Eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

The last line of the chorus reminds me of Isaiah 49:16:
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

I am so grateful that despite my weariness, God uplifts and protects and refreshes....

The tune of "On Eagle's Wings" can be heard from:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~sorem002/on_eagles_wings-satb.mid

1st B.R.I.C.K. retreat

Went for the 1st B.R.I.C.K. retreat at the Methodist Centre, Port Dickson from 9 to 11 Aug.

Learnt many valuable lessons - one of which is to be still (Ps 46:10) and to wait on the Lord (Isa 40:31). I wanna soar like the eagle!


We had to share one of our favourite songs and I shared:

God Answers Prayers
Did you ever talk to God above
Tell Him that you need a friend to love
Pray in Jesus name believing that God answers prayers?

Have you told Him all your cares and woes
Every tiny little fear He knows
You can know He'll always hear and He'll answer prayers

You can whisper in a crowd to Him
You can cry when you're alone with Him
You don't have to talk out loud to Him
He knows your thoughts!
On a lofty mountain peak, He's there
In a meadow by a stream, He's there
Anywhere on earth you go,
He's been there from the start.

Find the answer in His word is true
You'll be strong because He walks with you
By His faithfulness He'll change you too
God answers prayers!

Then I received the following this morning via email. Thot it makes real good sense....

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never don e. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

To my friends who are reading this: thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime

The (In)tangible Rewards of a Teacher

I first started teaching after graduating from NIE in 1992 at Dunman Secondary School.

My first form class was Sec 4H - about 20 odd of them in the Normal Stream. A few of the boys were taller and bigger than me. They were good kids, just marginalised in the education system. I had to teach them Literature - a subject that was pretty foreign to them. They struggled to do well and I struggled with them. They had to learn Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" - something that looks English but not exactly...they had that "loo gong si mi???" look often.

But they did to go on to their 5th year of study and graduated with O levels!! Some went on to pursue a degree programme - am so proud of them!!!

Today, I've lost touch with many of them. But on Sat 28 July, out of the blue, a cosy lunch meeting was arranged - just with Sushan and Jinjin. And Sushan brought her 3-yr-old, Rachel... so cute... She is now a mother of two, the younger one, a boy, Reagan, being 4-mth-old.

And Jinjin bought us lunch and brought us gifts. It's nice to be remembered... :)

Tree planted by streams of water

A few days ago, a vision of me being like a tree with emerging young leaves was told to me! I was greatly encouraged and was reminded of Psalm 1:3:

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose

leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

I want to be like this tree! To do so, I know I must be near the living water and seek first the kingdom of God.

A step nearer to being like this tree was made when I attended the New Life Encounter Retreat from 6 to 8 July. I learnt the importance of forgiveness - forgiving others, God and myself and not let my past hinder my personal growth.

Felicia, the one who invited Jeany, Drina, Winnie and I to NLE, also took a step of growth and faith when she was baptised today at Riverlife Church. We rejoice with her!