Go First to God
“This is my commitment to my people: removal of their sins.”
Romans 11:27
God does more than forgive our mistakes; he removes them! We simply have to take them to him.
He not only wants the mistakes we’ve made. He wants the ones we are making! Are you making some? Are you drinking too much? Are you cheating at work or cheating at marriage? Are you mismanaging money? Are you mismanaging your life?
If so, don’t pretend nothing is wrong. Don’t pretend you don’t fall. Don’t try to get back in the game. Go first to God. The first step after a stumble must be in the direction of the cross.
a Max Lucado devotional,
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Oh boy....the wonder of image editing. (or 3D rendering for that matter)
These get me excited. =)
Liquid fire...coolios.
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In the blink of an eye, things and events just whiz by, and I'm back.
Well actually, I've been back awhile....basically just resting in between with the things on hand.
Just had a 4 day youth camp, 2 day work stint, and now currently, working on a video for youth service and prepping for worship service on sunday. Phew.
Firstly, the camp.
It was a great experience, my first, running a camp so heavily. With my suckiness at admin stuff, it was really by grace to have the stuff covered. Of course, the things missed out, a lesson to learn. Overall, I'm really thankful...
..the camp comm's been really cool. Trying and learning to stand when the situation calls for it, I was really encouraged by them. The most memorable portion, would be Fun Nite I guess. It was really an experience. 1st time I saw the adults monkeying around with the youths. It was scary trying out the 'Whose-Line' games for the 1st time, and I'm glad they really turned out fine.
Although the camp gave its own issues and pain, it was still a good experience to have. At least I for one know, that it opened certain doors for me to bond with certain people.
For some pics of the camp, pop over here!
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Managed to land a 2 day work stint in a church member's company. Thankful for that. Basically had to err....care-take the company while they were all away for some review meeting over 2 days....
did i say that the whole office was empty? =S
i was really stumped out on the 1st day....although I brought some books and mags...it got reaaally boring for me at certain point, so I kinda err.....snooped around the office abit. Ok, I'm really sorry...guess it wasn't a very nice thing to do =(
Just couldn't resist, given the new environment and being all alone...
coolios...i've always wanted a window seat!
as cool as it was stoning out there from the office, it grew tiring after awhile
hahaha i couldn't help but chuckle when i found this book.
but from what i flipped through, it seems cool.
maybe i should get a copy
ok, this was both the 'savior' and 'killer' part.
super thrilled when i found a guitar in the office...opened it and realised it was a Taylor!
mannn...really couldn't resist taking it out for a strum, really cool to play and sing in an empty office. but i felt really bad afterwards =(
heh think i'd wanna get a trashbin like this for my room next time.
looks cool, and it resembles the apple mac's trash bin =D
came across this book, and somehow just had this urge and thought....
think i'd want to give it a read
So now I'm basically down to finishing the vid, meeting tomorrow, and doing the worship for this sunday. Right.
I'm really apprehensive about the worship on Sunday. Despite me putting worship leading aside after all that has happened...somehow things just happen, and it lands on my lap.
What I see, and what others say...it's so different. I don't know how...
God in the Ordinary
“In Christ we can come before God with freedom and without fear.”
Ephesians 3:12
God calls us in a real world…He doesn’t communicate by stacking stars in the heavens or reincarnating grandparents from the grave…
He’s not a magician or a good-luck charm or the man upstairs. He is, instead, the Creator of the universe who is right here in the thick of our day-to-day world who speaks to you more through cooing babies and hungry bellies than he ever will through horoscopes, zodiac papers, or weeping Madonnas.
If you get some supernatural vision or hear some strange voice in the night, don’t get too carried away. It could be God or it could be indigestion, and you don’t want to misinterpret one for the other.
God speaks in our world. We just have to learn to hear him…amidst the ordinary.
a Max Lucado devotional,
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Had the opportunity to go for 2 retreats, over the past week.
First up was the church's leader retreat, over at SAF Yatch Club. Had been looking forward to some time off, and it was really worth it. Thankfully that I'm now considered a student, the fees were covered.
Can still recall that particular weekend of the retreat....just on saturday and sunday, was involved in worship prac, bs prep, playing for service, leading bs...man....way over my head. Was only too glad for everything to be done, and to just head off to the retreat.
And it was really a very different leaders' retreat, compared to the past. No discussions about church issues...it was all about feeding, and personal reflections. It was my first time hearing the invited speaker, Pastor Huang. Pretty likable style....simple and straightforward points that makes you think.
Overall, enjoyed the time, space, food, fellowship and sessions. I'll just hand it over to the pics then..
hello ladies....behind the counter..
the early birds..
..got the bird's eye view
hmm...the steering wheelie doesn't quite fit with the sampan-y boat here
mmm..the view makes you just wanna run out there and shout away like the wild.
ok maybe it's just me.
a simple 2 storey building
just me and my guitar.
ok and a whole lot of boats there.
their dining restaurant turned seminar room that we used.
cool, and did i tell u, it was a blast going around the carpet barefooted
one of the session
heh, another one of those emo pics that kimi said I always loved to take.
got meh?
me and ian. cute and a very good and sensible boy, unlike me man.
but why does he seem afraid of me with his body language ah?
=(
you can see the bunk room block from the seminar room
had a swim in their cool pool. abit too small though
right most block, 3rd floor, 2nd balcony window from the left.
that's my room with fuda
yeahh, our south-china room
mmm....cosy as it looks
the cool view from the balcony
the not-so-cool view.
hah jokingg
these are the smaller sails i suppose?
the book which we focusd on throughout the retreat
a shot taken when i drifted abit from the speaker. oops.
hey you can't blame me for being distracted man, when we're surrounded by scenic views
if you look ahead beyond the pathway, you'll see blocks of stone pillars
that are on level with the sea. meaning if you were to walk on them, it'll look like you're walking on water from afar. VERY cool. that's if you don't fall into the sea first.
we saw this bunch of kids playing with a banana like boat, where they hang on to this banana like thing tied to a speed boat. fun lehh.
some warships/carriers from the open house by the naval base that day
caught this shot when i woke up.
we were supposed to wake up to see the sunrise.
but as usual, the evil bed caught me in a tight grip and didn't let go =(
well this was what i managed to get
hehh stoning at the morning view. really nice.
waking up to the sea breeze in your face, hard to beat something like that
with the world under my feet
breakfast by the sea. always wanted that...super!
emo shot no.844635
guess kimi was right =D
time to walk the plant, matey. arrrrrrrrrrr~
shooting the shooter
ok the secret is finally out.
i own a yatch.
woot. just like in the mtvs! wheeee~
if you imagined owning all the boats in the background,
you'd have a smug look on your face like me too
on the way back
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The other one, was this youth leader's seminar, that I went with a few of the youths. Felt kinda like a retreat in a sense though. They had a pretty engaging style of seminar, using skits, interviews and movie clips to bring across certain teaching points and all. The engaging speaker helped too.
Especially helpful, was the moments of quietness they alloted, for you to wait upon certain through-provoking questions. The interview sessions were made interesting with invited personel such as the owner of 77th Street, and Daphne Khoo, of SgIdol fame. Some pretty cool sharing from them I'd say.
It was a good experience, and infact, I was quite bowled over by the turn out. Almost 900 youths or around. Oh well, too bad I had to leave earlier for band prac.
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I'm certainly thankful for the providence of such instances. Guess I'm gonna continue on with the questions and thoughts after the june camp, although that would probably be near the start of my school term.
Mmm...after the 2 days at SAF Yatch Club...it left me further wanting for some time away.
"Give me the faith of David, to see you as greater than any problem in situations.
Give me the love of Jonathan, to care and to befriend in spiritual friendships.
Give me the integrity of Joseph, to be upright through temptations.
Give me the wisdom of Solomon, to discern the best way to guide your people.
Give me the decisiveness of Joshua, to lead your people into their call.
Give me the servanthood of Nehemiah, to be burdened for the needs of your church.
Give me the initiative of Peter, to step out from the boat at Your Word.
Give me the passion of Paul, to stay focused on what really matters for the long haul.
But most of all, let me be a person whose life is first given to You."
That was something from Pastor Huang's sharing. Good desires and aspirations, but for now, I'd just say....
Give me a stilled heart, bringing all before You,
as You bring me to the quiet, waiting in silence to hear from You.