The Christmas of 2007

There are so many things and i'll try to recall them chronologically. lately getting lazy to put thoughts into organised words. so here goes flying thoughts.


Before Christmas day

Was caught up in some practices for the tebrau jusco performance with my dear bro and other 2 musicians from bilingual service, just played for the one at permas jusco and felt pumped up for another christian one in public.

it's nice to be involved in tough drumming during the final night rally. seeing them all, especially dancers sweating practices for months for 3 nights for God, the strong bond between them, it was special, something i haven't seen in a while, and missed.

after tebrau jusco, ke lun (the dance director) asked me to play solo of Mighty To Save to help build "omph" for the dancers, that was 2 days before and i was nervous cos i need to be professional enough - to be able to do it perfectly without any prior practice. I couldn't spoil the dancers' 3 months of effort. listened and wrote scores for it.

the week was all food, almost every dinner. it was very fulfilling - my stomach was happy but with a tear - too much doesn't equal too good.
fellowship is fantastic, though i can't remember.. oh.. this is bad.

I watched this 2007 movie called "The Ultimate Gift".
and i find myself watching the BEST movie of my life.


this is the soundtrack:




The last night rally is good, too bad not many ppl came to Christ, but i believed that it sowed good seeds. I am glad that i played well, i see the dancers so happy and clapping and shouting "praise the Lord" after it ends. Should have look to God more during the drum solos..

I'm glad that i am blurring the line that i serve in english service or bilingual.


Christmas day.

well, after receiving sara's thank-you email, i'm glad that i involved another 2 drummers to play in the eng service rally. thomas is going off very soon, and he deserves a whack at the drums during christmas, hee. well, i have this feeling that i won't be in eng ser for too long, even without this feeling, it's always good to train new blood. the prospect of english service new drummers is a silent tsunami. A future problem that needs to be addressed yesterday. and i always felt i didn't do enough, though nobody's saying or asking me to do anything.



Rally is fantastic.
i think it's the most ppl coming back to Christ, ever, in english service history.

i witness God's amazing grace, that is not by power, but by God's super spirit. yay-ness =)

pastry is sedap, sara's candy is nice - kept me awake during sermon, cos i was so tired. i'm happy about the few small n nice gifts that i received, cookies, little jar, chocolate and the "monkey" pen, and some sms-es.
"hey, the invisible man got gifts!"


the tnt barbeque night is unforgettable. i won't forget the times listening to people, seeing smiles, laughters, with christmas songs playing and me munching on turkey & lamb with so many 'ang-moh' sauces. God brought me unexpected friends in such a short time.

my only regret is not spending time alone with God to celebrate his birthday.


oh ya, also spent time talking to Ke Tyng, her testimony, and about God's move that is going to change the church on 2008. heh, as i'm typing this it looks so spiritual.. haha. wassup...



After christmas

movies, c-s, zoo with cell group. lots of fun with less sleep, woo hoo!
more food coming..





I am happy, that everyday is a gift.

pre-rumble to Christmas

Seems that there are so many things to do & enjoy while christmas is coming to town. I really enjoyed the CSI game. Seeing the commitment of those ppl, like grace, anne, jeff, boon&ann, ke tyng, ken, raymond.. Their silent effort inspired me to do more for the sake of the gospel.

Chin Lee from my tnt cell really amazed me by bringing 4 friends to the game. I can see how everybody contribute their little or much to the whole event, it wonderful to witness the great Architect putting together little lives that compounded impact on the lives around them.

=)

while reading is educational & considered fun, typing is a donkey-chore, i would like to order a machine that types thoughts and vision fast, if God sells them. The holocaust is so much bigger than i thought, one of the most documented piece of history in the world. Some people spent half their lifetime researching & documenting. there are more than 10 Holocaust museums in the whole world..

i find that my writing is really bad in comparison with the writers and decided to copy the parts that i find informative and heart-warming, or heart-wrenching.

next, coming up, is tonight's ITC ex-SPM students' gathering. Tomorrow is ITC teachers' appreciation, followed (the day after) by Cell Group's christmas dinner n celebration of hope.



Hear ye,
carols of stomachs. =)

project@life

just finished watching the 3+hour long movie: Schindler's List, visited the bugis reference library and read some books on the holocaust, some really horrific details left me sleepless, slept late n woke up at 3am, sigh, but it's a good challenge & life-changing.. my first self-initiated project and it's so difficult (than expected) to put it into words...

i'm so excited abt christmas, hope that everything will wrap up nicely.. =)

tomorrow's (sat) going to be a busy day.
morning go help repair roof at kulai, then 1pm prac for teenz, 6pm prac for xmas@tebrau jusco, 7pm prac for night service, 10pm prac for jusco permas.

quite fun, a good break from studying. but then, january is too soon.
next week gotha spend some time reading, thinking & writing abt the project, trying to finish everything b4 christmas.

hey, seems that, I'm old.

heh.



gosh, time flies.

The holocaust project

Tomorrow's gonna be my last day of exam, and before college commences again in early Jan 2008, besides preparing for christmas celebration & the performance@Jusco (with bilingual service), i'm going to do a simple project/research for myself in understanding the holocaust. words will be written by myself & i'll attach photos or maybe videos too.

effectively from 13-31 Dec '07

click below:
the holocaust project (Dec 2007)


meanwhile.. "air-tap" guitaring:

If someone were to approach me and asked what I have learned this year or also for the past 2 years, I would pause and think, let memories of dusk sweep over me like petals of unforgettable fragrance and pain, and say.. I learned that life is, when you give away and expect nothing back, but taste the pinch of sweetness, a remembrance of someone who gave away everything on the cross. And I learned, that focus is everything. I also learned that today is the most beautiful, not yesterday, not tomorrow. Lastly, never, never... never ever think of giving up.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (May 2008)

New World Order, Antichrist

A very good sermon. to me, it seems to be accurate historically, scientifically, theologically; and the way he presents it brings edification & not fear, and at the end extends a loving invitation to receive Christ. though i'm not sure abt his views about the Toronto revival.

nice =)

Some good exposure & food for thought for the holiday season.


I've put his profile in "replies" below.

(70+ mins)





New World Order - Israel In Prophesy (59 mins)

Angels in bundles

I was quite quite happy & relaxed on this Sunday noon, just came back from Layang-layang Church this morning (followed my parents to that small church to minister), played drums and shared my testimony before sermon.

But as I made that 1 hour trip back home, the reality of the next day's exam set in, I got really depressed and all sorts of other stresses start streaming in. Although I have good grades for SPM, but my college results have been a real roller-coaster ride, and I developed super great fear for my ACCA (association of chartered certified accountants) exams, (even when I am prepared for exams).



I didn't attend Dav&Nec's wedding lunch, rest a while at home, and went to Plaza Pelangi's Coffee Bean to do my last revision. I wondered if God really cared, amongst the mission trips & weddings, if I am someone who is always on and off God's radar of attention & guidance. After 4 years of skipping TEENz camp & overseas mission trips (coz of exam), and sometimes feeling lost in my spiritual life & direction, I have doubts on myself.

Sms-ed titus (best buddy), asked him to come over to talk a bit to "de-stress", continue studying, feeling the effects of super caffeine. And then came a whole bunch of TnT dudes, like waves, a few groups (surprise, surprise!). Some of them sat with me, others sat at nearby tables, chilling out after the heavy wedding lunch. Having them around seems like a totally bad idea for a last day revision, but somehow they make me feel a lot calmer to study, and some topics that the dudes at my table are chatting helped me to dispel some of my fears and doubts about God.

After a long while, they left, I studied a little while more, went home to have dinner & wrap up my studies.. knowing full well that with God, I'm never alone.

Because of you..

thks God..

Forget

just came back from layang-layang church on sunday. went there wif parents for a little exposure, mom played guitar & lead worship, i play drums, and later gave a testimony during sermon. was nice. Simple. Just nice & simple.


As exams are coming soon (tomorrow), negative thoughts come like 'siao' to haunt me..

Torn between the regret of the past & resistance of living a new future, i think i lost my ability to love, and be my true self.. Sometimes don't know what's wrong with myself..

But God, be there. I know you will..

August Rush OST + Bela Fleck

For myself, fine music =)

August Rush OST:
Classical, classical & rock, rock, modern acoustic guitar, black gospel, latin pop.

Bela Fleck & others. (some tracks are cut to only 00:30, sigh)

Sunday 25 Nov

4.50am-9.30am study
10am-1pm church service
1.15pm-3.30pm study
3.30pm-4pm play drums
4pm-10pm teach drums
10.30pm dinner


and dunno why, i don't really feel as tired as before. Yay!!



Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
and I will give thanks to him in song.


~lalala..

Most anticipated movie of 2007

One of my most anticipated movies of 2007.. =)

HD trailer

official website











Movie clip:




Short soundtrack mv:

1015

Argh!.....


It is 1015
in my study, rain
fill and filled of rain.
on the moldy roof, seasoned trees, slow drain
seeping through gentle thunders
dripping down, against walls of unseen sky
reflecting the leafs that break each drip
feeling fall in each voice
moving, and still..

it blew, so nice and coldly
caressing rest and comfort in soundless study
sad violin and low cellos of thought
lulls in warm yellowy glows
shining, dulling light
singing midsummer's drizzle lullaby
to a sweet fluttering curtain
in a besotted night sky

Was it the curtain
or eyes that flutter
to a dream so far to conceive
trodden European steps
or stargazing drum beats
aspirations without sweat
and now the rain is stagnating

..

It is no longer 1015.

It, is.

the show has to go on, lol

haha.

EXAM

will resume blogging after 12 Dec

scribbles

finally re-created the old secret poem blog that i had a few years ago. =]
why i kept it a secret at that time, hmm.. to make it special, and because it was too feminine, haha..


Scribbles

To maximise ease of view without affecting the blog's music, look at right column, under "BLOG ARCHIVE", click "2007 (50)". -all the poems will appear on the page.

there might be a comment or two under each poem, old comments given by other ppl or my brief explanation of the poem.

I always read them real slowly, then a picture will form in my mind (exactly like how it was 3 yrs ago), and the storyline starts moving.
ya, i'm a reflective & introspective creature, a dreamy one.

..hmm.. maybe i should start writing my kind of poetry again, after exams..
*meanwhile, as exams are approaching, i am trying my very best not to blog, so, for now just read poetry la, haha. korang suffer! =P

Amazing Grace

A really moving movie, abt the great struggle of slaves & politicians (William Wilberforce) to abolish the slave trade, the humble life of amazing grace's author, love that blossoms in faith & hope, and the friendship that is torn apart & brought together by politics & passion. This is a movie that will truly touch your heart, if you are someone that watches movies that are a little deeper with tons of thoughtful conversation. Not in M'sia theatres, grab a dvd copy from stores available, heh.


2 quotes from the movie::

A cold morning in the countryside, the William Wilberforce went out of his house to lie on the wet grass in his garden.

"Dear God, I know this is utterly absurd, but I feel I have to meet you in secret."


And another day when William Wilberforce went to a church to seek advice from John Newton, the pastor & author of the song 'amazing grace'.

"Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly. I'm a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."



IMDB:

I saw this film on October 10th, 2006 in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival's Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

This is an inspiring story based on a legendary historical British Member of Parliament, William Wilberforce. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, a very young Wilberforce is elected to Parliament and over the course of several decades leads the fight to ban slavery.

Today this seems like an easy, obvious and intuitive decision. But this was not so 200 years ago. The film clearly explains the entrenched economic motives and the political motives for slavery. Wilberforce starts out as almost a force of one and slowly builds abolitionist momentum by brilliant oratory, political maneuvers, and appealing to his fellow man's better nature.

Ioan Gruffudd is totally believable in explaining to the audience the complexity and heroism of Wilberforce. Wilberforce over the course of his life is sickly and strong, religious and worldly, naive and romantic, and idealistic and practical.

During the course of this mostly political story, we get to see the immense cruelty shown to the captured Africans turned into slaves. We are shown the slave sailing ships where the captured are treated inhumanely and die of starvation, neglect, disease, and filth. Man's inhumanity to man was never worse.

Wilberforce is a great man of history even though mostly forgotten today. He respected his fellow man regardless of their station in life. He was always willing to sacrifice his life and health to help others. And his compassion and spirit was always masked by his humility. He is a hero for all ages.

This is a period piece and you are lost in it because of the attention to detail. The sets, art direction, and costumes allow you to totally suspend disbelief and be moved by the story.

a must-click

heh, a new blog, one of the bloggers ish me, eevyn, and lao jiang-s like sara and david.
vely nice! =)

TnT

Marty's EP & st. joseph

I found it

Although i don't have her pic, but this is a similar pic that i came across while browsing.
similar to my drum student, Angel's eyes. =)


A pair of eyes that can see through your soul.

sigh.. =]
I find that teaching children drums, listening to their innocent chatter & smile really brought me immense satisfaction in my work. I know children can be really naughty, but so far the bunch of little angels just keep sprinkling inspiration & little joys on my Sundays.

The thought of leaving them next year to focus only on the older ones (who are going to serve in 6 months) and to focus on TEENz album, leaves a tinge of sadness in the sweetness of memories.

Last time I can daydream of having a sweet & beautiful daughter or niece to take care of,
without much thought about my life partner. heh, weird. Gosh, reminds me of the time when i first attended tnt cell, and two members thought i'm already married with kids.

k la, better not talk so much 'bout kids, i am still not yet good in taking care of myself, lest a gf or angel.


It's good to be 22 yrs old and be teaching little angels to play some mean drums. ha.
Enjoy your Deepavali holiday. =)

Despondency hints glint

It is wednesday, faithful wednesday night in cold sweat, when it is the middle of a week, or weak.
I am going to study soon, but later than the latter sweat.

Watched blogs of people and reflecting against my life, and today.
It's so difficult to open up, when i can't see people, with my heart.

..

Last friday was the pastor's fellowship dinner at Danga Bay,
was nice, food and all. played. Two of my drum students were there, cute angels.
Finished carrying back the stuffs into the van, talk to the Ts, went off,
to the beach.
Busy, noisy, lone quiet beach.

Again at memories, received the familiar text.
Enjoyed a new view, light in darkness.
Old waves dying, even in new pushes.
Salty waters reflect heartbeat of the moment,
(pause)

Cried out loud in silence.




Three winks and last saturday,
co-leaded and interpreted,
sang words that turned into song,
like that.

and,
the song "Still",
and words that came later like rain,
Upon me.

Please God, shine through the cracks on the wall.



Come another day, winks.
You,
come changing my world,
one heartbeat at a time,
making history with every touch, every word.


Hints back, the glint.

stressed..

4 weeks left, exam is near.. i'm so stressed.....
dun feel like writing now, just put some stuffs.

Click here.
move mouse cursor up/down to watch sunrise or sunset.



norah jones & john mayer, superb transition of songs.

New stuffs!! =)

Yay, got meself some stuffs to prac at home.. This is really good, got it a few weeks ago. practice drum set with rubber pads and plastic cymbals, very 'noiseless'. Quite nice to play wif and prac some chops. Took me 1 hour to assemble it.. nice to play together wif songs, wif the 2-3 month old speaker on my desk. Yay heh heh!!! It's something i used to dream of and should have done it years ago..
Then today i just ordered a cajon!! =) (pronounced as "cahon")
will get it next week, then i'll have something to play with during cell group! =)

wiki:

A cajón (Spanish for 'crate', 'drawer', or 'box', pronounced 'ka.CHON') is a kind of box drum played by slapping the front face (generally thin plywood) with the hands.

The cajón is the most widely used Afro-Peruvian musical instrument in the 20th century.^[1] The instrument has been officially declared "Cultural Patrimony of the Nation" by the Peruvian government.

Slaves of West and Central African origin in the Americas, specifically Peru, are considered to be the source of the cajón drum; though the instrument is common in musical performance throughout the Americas, especially Cuba. In Cuba, the cajón is associated with the Afro-Cuban drum/song/dance style known as rumba, while in Peru it is associated with several Afro-Peruvian genres.

The cajón was most likely developed in coastal Peru during the early 1800s.^[2] The instrument reached a peak in popularity by 1850, and by the end of the 19th century cajón players were experimenting with the design of the instrument by bending some of the planks in the cajón's body to alter the instrument's patterns of sound vibration.^[3]

In contemporary times, the instrument became an integral important part of Peruvian musicCuban music. and

In the 1970s the instrument was introduced to Flamenco music by guitarist Paco de Lucía.

How Norah Jone's drummer play it (using mallet)..
(note that her backup singer is asian, heh)




The traditional way of playing it, i think..




cool rock playing..

Nope, nothing

got some minor problem with my home PC, will be without internet connection for a while..

You Ti Tian (one day)

ATMs

yay, now Kranji mrt has POSB atm!!

and the groundfloor of esplanade got new DBS atm, i think.


much more convenient now.. =)

The poetic past

Yesterday (sun) was my most exhausting day.... playing, teaching drums.. felt the exhaustion at noon, till 12am.. but it was quite a nice day teaching students n having a good time, except when wendy called & requested that i join a gathering, which i can't, and left me wondering what fun are they enjoying. of course, knowing well that i can't have everything, and being a blessing to other churches n also earn side income is, erm, nice!




...
this post is for Angela, to feed her curiousity. heh. I was writing at 2003-2004, used to have a modblog to publish my own kind of poems, spent many hours at late night writing.. Wrote under a female pseudonym - kristy williams.

modblog collapsed a few years ago but i'm so glad that i'm able to recover around 70% of the poems.. most of them are dark (or incredibly dark) but some are sweet. as i read some of poems now, it reminds me of the exact emotion & situation that i was in, or a self-perceived friend's situation. cos almost all the poems are written with a moving picture in my head, when i read them again after a few years, the exact images and emotions came into my mind beautifully, like a key that unlocks a forgotten movie, and that's what i love about poetry.

nah, Angela, this is the two that i like, with 'shortys'.

Beach Sky

It's seven
and You began

slowly, red stepping down
lightening, orange over pale white
slipping and sliding in betweens
big blue canvas leaning against
curls lapping fine particles
emblazon, up above, in hues
silent wonder

hey, children's playing under Your breath
You bent to embrace
dyed them, with bliss
anymore for me, in Your pallette?
I'm a lil' tired of sinking in, brooding loud
a lil' jaded, maybe
dunno



cottons turned scarlet darkness
Your rested brushes dripping leftovers
color fading
still beauty

It's seven thirty-five
please don't stop painting
i still need You
even after the beach meeting my sky


-------------------------------------------------------------------


shortys:

it's a monologue to God and a description on how He beautifully painted the sunset. "it's seven" refers to the time. the poem suggests the author's longing for childhood and , and how God enjoys the presence of children.

"cottons turned scarlet darkness", surface meaning is the cloud turning red n into darkness after sunset. Also describes Christ's crucifixion, holiness turned to sin, covered in blood. If read the poem again, it lightly suggests the crucifixion, 7th hour is between 6th to 9th hour, when Jesus is dying, about darkness. "silent wonder" - of God's love. End of poem suggests the need for Christ even after his death. Poem's setting is sunset, dawn of the next day is the certainty of resurrection & victory.


Autumn

Autumn
like fading glory over fatigue trees
befalls in winks of my infinity
recedes, reds of orangish petals
like nature's final independence
from the perennial body

I, was still, still am
in the fog of mine, and it came
bringing my hair in a song
dancing to the rustling beauty
to the gentle gush, effusion

set my feet flying
scramble knee-deep brown reds
bring to life, the bliss of
innocent wonder

goes on and on..
under the gorgeous sun
under the shower of leaves
under daddy's laughter
over granny's grin

A decade after my first breath,
I was ten.






still ten.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


shortys: This is the poem that got published, heh heh. Basically a description of a child in awe of autumn, the trees, wind and leaves. An adult's account of his childhood, that when autumn comes, he still feels like a ten yr-old.
"knee-deep brown reds" - pile of autumn leaves. "petals"=leaves.
"Fog" - suggests confusion, 'unclarity' in life.

To me, it's a very beautiful picture of a ten yr-old child experiencing autumn, strong wind with leaves falling from the sky, dancing & kicking the piles of autumn leaves. The presence of dad & granny suggests a close family. Absence of mom is due to a past conflict that the author has with his mom. (of course, now already been dealt with).

oh ya, i always wanted to experience autumn, hope to get a chance..



If read poem again.
Subtle hint of death and the journey to heaven.
"set my feet flying"


"like fading glory over fatigue trees befalls in winks of my infinity" - when the body ages and withers / how time flies/people age, in a wink of the eye, infinity - sometimes people think they live forever.

"like nature's final independence from the perennial body" - death, spirit leaves body.

and in the fog of death, suddenly changing to a new youthful creation..

"goes on and on.." - eternity in heaven.

Heaven:
under the gorgeous sun - God's ever presence
under the shower of leaves - suggests beauty
under daddy's laughter - security & joy
over granny's grin - comfort

Coral Sea..

music performance @ esplanade library

I have weird tastes in music, no one i know shares similar interest.

For the last 2 weeks, watched bits of Josh Groban live at the greek dvd, Dave Koz live from trinidad dvd, Berklee's Kenwood Dennard, Akira Jimbo, Phil Collins, Buddy Rich, Dennis Chambers, Tim Alexander, Greg Bissonette, Steve Smith, Billy Ward, Carter Beauford & Steve Gadd drum workshop/tribute/performance dvds. Enjoyed bela fleck's banjo, Lucia Micarelli's violin. Listened to soundtracks from The Polar Express, The Holiday, West Side Story, Friends, Metal Gear Solid.. christian wedding instrumentals, paul baloche's First Love, Causeway Jazz, Ginny Owens, hillsong's For This Cause, Israel's new breed, lincoln brewster, nicole nordeman, jay chou & others..

and studied. ya, a compulsive music-listener sometimes..




heh, after listing down these, now i know where those music ideas come from. heh heh...
got most of my music materials from the beautiful esplanade library, 15 mins walk from sch...






Have this strange liking to most of Jay Chou's sad songs (although his fast songs are a bit repulsive to me, except a few special ones)..

Thanks to my friend in yamaha, i have all 9 albums of his songs and EPs, ha =P









It rained heavily after dinner at Lau Pa Sat and i was trapped for a while outside a building with a person collecting charity donation, ang mo and a few aunties. Raindrops never looked more beautiful today, against the backdrop of Victorian buildings, Harry's pub, passer-bys and cars..
I took a mental picture and saved it. =)

Spata, the movie

My favourite version. =) =)




An ambassador on his way to Sparta , a bloody fight will begin……


This is too crazy!!

Crazy?!

This is Sparta!!

This is also Sparta!!

This still is Sparta!!

No matter what, this is Sparta !!

You crazy fool!!

Aiya!!

This is Sparta!!

Even the King himself has to refer to the God…..

Please guide us, god of the Sun..

You siao ar!! Now is night time you call me out!! Get out lah!!!

Damn that stupid sun‾
So, the King leads his strongest army and departed….


They met their ally on the way…
Yo!

continue..

This is all you got?

Hmm!

You, what do you do?

I am a hero of justice!

What about you?

I am Harry Potter.

And you?

I am the pride of Saiya.

Ha, a bunch of small characters!!

Brothers!! Tell them what we do!!

Andy Lau: I just wanna be a good man( Andy Lau's song title)

This is Sparta!

And they reached the dark tower, the Great War began…

Let them know!!

What is Sparta!!

(eye: I just wanna say, what is this got to do with me!!)

Surrender, silly Spartans!!

Argh!

Wuuu!!

Actually….I'm your father.

No!!!!....................

I want revenge!!

This is Sparta!!

The Spartan army is unstoppable, finally they come to face the dark lord……..

Never thought it was you…

Sponge Bob!!

I lost……..

My time has come!!

Heh!! You are too dumb..

Ah!! My heart!? You!?

That's right, this is Sparta!!!!....