What reputation....

Ghah!

*sigh*, Raam B., for the last time NO we're NOT reviving the Detectives' Case! No one is interested and almost everyone has played a villan already, so there's more or less no point to it. Just leave it to the past and concider it a treasured memory once and for all, I say.

Apparently, Raam was going around blogs like Tim's and mine under the name of 'Nobody' and posted a few odd-structured sentences in the cBoxes. For Tim, he had;

13 Aug 07, 21:07nobody: oh yah found ah kong's blog
13 Aug 07, 21:07nobody: any1 wanna kno ask me this old ah ah
13 Aug 07, 21:08nobody: not realllly old tho13 Aug 07, 21:08nobody: but rather at an age similar to those who post as thy lamenting song of the sea (or of thy girlfriend)
13 Aug 07, 21:09nobody: does thee has 1? referring to lament master goh timothy?13 Aug 07, 21:14nobody: aaaahh tim i thot u didnt have any, d= so how could u guys have wacked part Cs with ur ball???xdld)::()

And for me, I had;

13 Aug 07, 20:59nobody: this is nobody here. nobody is sending this message in Leemiguel Raefusheng's message cbox. This is nobody here reading these blog posts. This is nobody here doing nothing.

I wasn't online last night, so I only found out about this this morning during P.E.. Tim was telling me he suspected it to be one of the Detectives due to the way the messages were typed out. And true enough, the common guess of Raam was right. I don't know if this was part of a plan to revive the Detectives, but NO NO NO we are NOT starting up again, and that's that. (Hmm, maybe I should post about the Detectives one of these days...)

*sigh*

Anyway, on with the post. I've been having doubts on myself, so I shall just type it out like a journal to relieve a bit of the stress. Please don't mind philosophical text.

Recess
I've come to discover why I go through sudden emotional changes during Recess, why I could have sworn I felt happy a minute ago, but at another momment during the Recess period I can suddenly feel somewhat sad. It's because of culture shock.

For the first half of Recess, I'd ussually make my way down to the canteen to buy myself a snack to last me for another quarter of a day. It's during this time that, after buying my food, I get a chance to go sit around with friends and classmates at a table and chat with them. Or even if I can't get involved in the topic because of no prior background knowledge of the subject, I can still rest in the thought that I am welcome to listen and see if my pinion can have a stand the moment I know a particular aspect in the conversation.

In other words, this is the only time in Recess where I can socialize with my schoolmates. Take a seat. Chill out. Have a talk or so. Invite more people so as to raise the variety of the chat. A few laughts here, a few points there. Overall, a nice social conversation to relax with, to show that you still have good friends indeed.

Then once I finish my food, I slowly place the plate back in the collection bucket, or crumble the paperbag into the bin, and make my way back to class. As I walk back, I may meet up with more friends and we'd probably tell each other a few comments on current affairs like training and duty schedules or how life's been to us. If there's no one, then I'd just smile to God and thank Him for the satisfying chat I've had in the SAC.

Then comes the sad part. The moment I step into my classroom, I here the shouts of people engrossed in their computer gaming in their PCs, telling each other how impressive the other's moves were and how their moves could have actually been better. Time after time, I hear opposite corners of the class reminding the main party their reservations for their next game. Time after time, I hear the screams of harshly-defeated gamers that regreted giving their opponents that tiny chance that meant their own downfall. Time after time, I even hear mini-fights which spark off due to these disaterous dissapointments.

And how do I join the club? Well, basically put, I don't. Or at least I can't.
True, it's partially because of how, as a prefect, I follow the rules. And yeah, it's also partially because I don't want to jam up my computer with all those space requirements. But take note when I said partially.

My main reason is more of my incapabilities with computer games. For one thing, I never got use to games that required me to press a series of keys to unleash a special force a number of times within a limited time frame, ussually limited because the opponent is also attacking you. I ussually find myself whacking the keys/joystick buttons randomly in great despair and hope that I could survive under the grace of God, and half the time it works for me.

Then there's also the fact that games get more and more complicated as time passes. Even though it's been about four years since I've started playing Worms, I only have the trial version. Eeryone else has the full version, some even with the 3-D version, and so they've got more experience on new weapons and features I never heard of. In the end, I'd still be averaged out as a person with no experience of the game and tossed aside.

Rise of Nations? Bah, everyone's taling about Command and Conquer II already. No point going around saying, "I play Rise of Nations!" when everyone else has something even more advance.
And how about the point that I still have this 'side-effect' with playing computer games.

Basically, once I finish paying a very complex computer game after a few hours or so and leave the screen, I feel rather dizzy and sometimes loose my grip on the meaning of life at times. As in, life suddenly looses its meaning and I seem to loose track of where it started or left off. I just loose direction until my mind regains contienceness within an hour or less, most of the time sped up if I quickly read my Bible. This effect doesn't really happen for simple games like Solitare or Pinball or even Diamonds; it happens more on games which are, well, 'complex' - Rise of Nations and anything beyond, as far as I've tested.

Now, obviously I can't spend hours on a computer game during a minaturely-compared recess, but for the situation in school there are a couple of problems I'd still face. One, well, there IS no Bible in the classroom, and unless there's a signifigant important reason I don't think I want to risk bringing my Bible to a class terrain. Two, I mentioned that it takes an hour or less for the 'life-is-meaningless' mindspell to wear off. And how long is recess? 40 minutes. Take away the half I use in the SAC, and we get 20 minutes. Take away the time that will be spent to play the game, and we'll be left with, well, nothing.

No time for me to ease my head before the next lesson starts. I may loose my optimism. And it's my optimism that keeps me working through the lesson. No optimism, probably no survival. Christ IS my optimism, and I think I'll keep Him in my mind as constantly as possible, especially during school hours when I need it well.

Don't get me wrong at that point: school isn't miserable to an extent that I'm struggling to strain out the joys in it. In fact, I think it would be if I introduced computer gaming to become a part of recess life. It would make things harder for me to cope in my studies, so I thinkit's best if I never try starting.

So all that was said in the last 8 paragraphs could be sumarised to one simple stand: I can't and won't play majorly complex computer games during class. And wha does this result to? Me having to stay in a restricted solitude of muteness, while the rest of the class carries on staying 'busy' on their tablets. Solitude that I can only spend on homework and (when I don't have anymore homework by memory) draw things on the Homework Board.

It's here where teachers miss the phinomenon where pictures 'miraculously' appear on the Homework Board to astound their eyes, changing their themes once every week. The one of the Kraken. A couple about Castles. Another couple about Ships. And even another about the Class Flag I composed a couple of weeks ago, which apparently Chairman Tim finds high interest in and demands the creation of more flags for the different clans of the class, something I'll get to once I can switch off the 'Philosophy' in my typing.

Yes, all of those pictures that ended up on the board were there because of me. Or more accurately, because of my loneliness. People drop by once in a while to critic, providing comments from how accurate my art is to how I can improve on some details to even what I can add or erase to make it more interesting.

True, it's those moments when I can talk to someone, and maybe from there spark another conversation that involves other topics, and maybe from there invite more people to join in and increase the fun in the chat, and maybe from there we even go so engrossed in the conversation we end up singing to the tune of 'We're All In This Together', which for some reason is playing in the background.

(*walks to Living room* "Morriel, turn it down!" *walks back to computer*)

Now, where were we? Ah, right. Yes, my actions of drawing on the Homework Board may result to an easier and more enjoyable recess that doesn't involve the misery of watching others play Marvel vs. Capcom while I stand there thinking hard for the next theme to put up. But I promise you, that is NOT my main intention for doing so.

I guess this period of silence is good for me - I can reflect on what I've done in the past few hours or so, I can finish up on work before hand, I can sit down and spend time with those who don't feel like gaming for reasons more emotional than practical, I can practice my drawing skills in hopes that I can start drawing comics again like how I tried back in Nanyang, I can even rest along side the window and draw its curtains to see the sunlight streaming through and praise the Lord within the silence for the fact that He'll always accompany me wherever I go, and will 'never leave you nor forsake you'!

I can't change others' lifestyles just so that mine feels a lot more comfortable. That would just be concidered a non-socialized decission, which would then be a greed, which would then be a sin, which would then circle around to mean one thing: I didn't trust God.

Well, overall I'll say I trust Him with my heart. And I'll also say I trust Him in how he handles my heart. And that, in my terms, would include a comfortable recess worth having before begining another half of the school hours. Besides, the drawing tips are coming really handy! Yay for drawing! :P

I guess all I can do is cherish those moments in the SAC, and after that walk back up to class, upright and dignified, with the mindset that everyday's a gift from God, even if it means you wouldn't spend it with others you really feel like spending it with. Maybe God's got something for them, and it doesn't rquire me as of the time being. I shouldnt interfier with His plans, for they're the best of the best of the best of plans. (For those who haven't believed, you have NO idea how awesome these plans have been to many Christians around the world and time...)

Or maybe it's because God wants me to pay more attention to someone else in the classroom, maybe someone sitting at the back corner of the room, sitting by his desk head in arms and waiting for God to help him out in a problem. I'll never know, or at least until God tells me so since He always instructs in many ways pre-hand.

Whatever the case, I'll always be thankful that Christ is still there beside me and is still listening to anything I'm concerned about in His plans. He's probably preparing a way to prove me wrong that my recess always have to be half-gloomy right this very moment!

Lunch
Say, it's during these second-halves of recesses which I wonder why people would actually want to friend me so much that I even end up being asked day after day wether I could go for lunch with them. I have a rough idea how God's changed me so much that I've become a good friend to others. I'm friendly, flexible and willing to go the extra mile for the satisfaction of pure intentions. But what is it from these that make me so, well, 'friend-attatching'? I know it's got something to do with my friendliness, but what exactly, I do not know.

[End of ePOM (Yes, for once this really IS an Extended Essay.)]

Well, to think it takes so many paragraphs just to write 'Recess' and only a couple for 'Lunch'. Very ironic, indeed.

Now on with archiving. For yesterday, painting in Art was cool, as I've leart how to paint shading! (Yay, art!) Kept singing the theme song of Pinky and the Brain with Tim and ZWei 'cause either Shil, Raam or ZRong made a special shade of pink. The singing annoyed ZRong to extents, let's just say. Raam was certainly playing around with the rest of the colours, I remember, and so he ended up with an entire tray of brown, of which the rest of us almost sang the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory theme song (chocolatey goodness, mmm...).

It was also around this time when my picture of the Flag of the Dan Empire was drawn onto the Homework Board for display as written somewhere above. Tim asked what the different elements in the flag meant, but another class started before I could say anything. Well, I never did write an explaination about the flag, so here's my say;

The White Cross: 1)Unity within all corners of the classroom. 2)The Roman Numeral of '10'
The Red Thirds: 1)Distinctly different variety in student population despite unison. 2) We're on the Red Level.
The Green Third: 1)Peace within the heart of the class. 2)Path for the snake [see Red Snake].
The Red Snake: 1)Read Genisis 49:16-17, and it says that the tribe of Dan 'will be a ruler for His people' and that 'Dan will be a snake at the side of the road, a poisonous snake beside the path, that strikes at the horse's heel, so that the rider is thrown off backwards'. 2)It faces upwards to show the class' progression towards a better class environment and our strive for the best.

Hopefully, that answers the questions. Tim also asked for another two side flags to be drawn at the sides of the flag. Hmm, I'll take it the two flags would be the Royal Standard and the flag of whichever cluster in the class is the greatest. Will see...

For today, PE was a fun round of Tennis, besides the 'Nobody' investigation. Paired with ZWei, but eventually had to move to the grouping of Shil, Raam and ZRong. Half-way through the game, I helped Shil with his NAPHA on Sit-ups, of which he gave up on because he was shagged from the Tennis, especially one with Raam and ZRong (because you always had to run an extra mile to catch the misguided ball). Had a practical test later in the Life Science Lab with Justin, and I guess things went pretty smooth (good job, Justin!).

Also had a rough estimate of how Mr. Ang found my group's documentary after hearing his splitting comments. Hopefully they were accurate enough, my predictions I mean. ISO was good since the new mentor was giving me more tips on how to improve my presentation, although he said it that there was nothing he found bad about it - it's only that it can do a lot better, that's all. For Maths, we wer told to do a lesson plan on Trigonometry, which got me praying 'cause I, along with a large portion of the class, had no head or tail on the topic. And glory be to God that Tim, the guy who kept complaining that his tution centre gives him 500-odd questions of Trig for homework, nudged my leg and asked me to be his partner! Praise the Lord XD!

Training is still standardly confidential, but let's just say that Kenneth and I have improved in our strokes! We're still crossing our arms, but at least our catch is more or less balanced! Now to work on co-ordination...

That's about it for now. If it'll thrill, the first person to tell me how many times I said 'time after time' gets a sweet from me XP! Mark 13:11! God bless y'all!!!

Paul, Timothy, and who?...

Continuing from the last post, I ate an early breakfast at 4, then fell asleep again. x_x*

Woke up again at 8.15, slightly dissapointed that I wouldn't be able to make it for the Main Service today. At least there's still Lighthouse and Believers! So I ate a second round of breakfast, then took a bath before hitching a ride with Mom to Bras Basah Road.

We left the place at around 9.30, so reaching Bugis would mean... 10ish?

As I walked to Prinsep Presbyterian Church, I prayed that God would teach me something special today in whatever that would happen in Church. Let's just say I still had a little doubt to satisfy for joining PLH.

On the way, I felt rather thirsty and remembered that the last time I drank water was about 7 or more hours ago. So checking that I still had enough cash, I droped by at a nearby 7-Eleven to buy a drink.

In my wallet, I had a 2-dollar, a 5-dollar and a couple of 10-dollar notes. Making sure I had enough for offering and lunch, I looked around to see what I could buy with the 2-dollar note. I finally found a bottle of Jasmine Green Tea ($1.70)and brought it to the counter to pay.

At the counter, the Malay lady attending the stall said that they're selling those kind of drinks at an offer of an extra bottle for another 20 cents. She adviced me to take the offer, and despite my concience about not knowing if drinks were allowed int he halls of PLH or not, I took it up.

Packing the two bottles of Green Tea into my slingbag, which was a lot more than I expected rom just $2 at a 7-Eleven stall, God then told me, "Today, I'll be teaching about My grace in prosperity and peace! Get ready!..." (As if learnt in my walk with Christ, this is suppos to be one of those momments when I get excited 'cause I know something interesting's gonna happen soon!)

Once at Prinsep Church, I went to the Library to relax and wait for the Main Service to end and for Lighthouse to begin. While waiting, I decided to do the Bible workbook which they gave out. (Man, it's been a long time since I've seen these kind of books. About as long as the last time I've been in my previous cell group...)

The topic we've last left off was about the 'Conditions of Prayer' and 'For Whom Do You Pray?'. And what other ways can you ask for prosperity and peace than through the words of prayer?! I read along and saw the questions that went by, and was impressed by the way they organized their facts.

For example, Question 7) asks, "What conditions of prayer do you find in the following verses? - Psalm 66:18, Matthew 21:22, John 15:7, John 16:24, 1 John 5:14-15" Lets look at the verses now, shall we...

Psalm 66:18

18If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

Matthew 21:22

22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

John 15:7

7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

John 16:24

24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

1 John 5:4-15

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

It was interesting how many details I saw with the book, but when I was finished with the topics covered for today, I kept my book back in my bag and got out my MP3 to listen to for the remaining time. And just as I looked back up, Tim's sister was just right infront of me!

At first, I didn't recognise her so I didn't respond when she kept staring at me. Then she said a soft, "Hi!", of which my memory was jolted back and so I said, "Hi!" back to her again. We then chatted for a while and looked around at other books and sceneries before she ended the conversation and I sat back in my chair to listen to more MP3 tunes.

Soon, I notice that the crowd was increasing outside the Library, so I assumed that the Main Servie was over. Tim's dad came into the room and attended to Tim's sis, who pointed at me and introduced the both of us again. We then had a short chat about Tim's mom and the History Project I did with Tim, before I told them I had to go for Lighthouse, of which TIm's dad pardoned me off.

And coincidentally, the momment I turned around to get to the door, Tim popped out. For a momment, I felt like those oldies' scenes when the cops confine a criminal with their cars and shout out, "Alright, Mugsy! Surrender now - We've surround'd the house! Put'cha hands up in the name of 'eh law!"

I gave the ussual short salute as he walked in and met ith his dad and sis. I then walked out of the room, keping close to Tim so I knew what was going on for now. As we went up to Lighthouse, along with other PLHers like Zeik and friends, I admitted to Tim that I woke up extremely early this morning so I might be drousy for the latter half of the day.

And at the same time, Tim handed over the notes for today's sermon in the Main Service. What shocked me the most was that the Opening Song was none other than Ancient of Days! For a little introduction, Ancient of Days had played a great role in motivating me through my first year in ACS(Independent) and as such I highly reguard and like that song.

And it was played in the service I missed! My stomach sank, along with my heart if it had wanted to join in. But I told myself God might not have wanted me to come for a reason anyway, so the guilt of not being able to attend passed off.

For Lighthouse, we sang songs (as ussual), welcomed each other (I always have a hard time in this one, but I know I'll have to go through this one time or another. Now, how many times did I tell myself, "It's just a handshake, stay cool..."?), did worship, then dismissed to cell classes.

At around this time, we also found that Kirby's now with Han Jie's Church. Well, good thing he's found a place to settle down at! As long asthe Grace of Christ is taught there, it should be fine for him...

Anyway, we had loads of fun back in class, and jokes were shared here and there at good timings. I'm apparently titled now as the Migtionary in this class with my assumably greater knowledge in vocabulary and Biblical references. Especially when I saved everyone from doing homework by answering A.J. that the word 'hallowed' means 'sanctify'.



Then sometime later, we came to the topic of a meet-the-parents session later in the year and who's parents A.J. knows already. He claimed that he has met all of our parents, of which Zeik rebutted with the two new Chinese-educated guys that have just joined us and me.

"Well," he said, after stating that he's even met the moms of the two boys, "I don't need to meet with Miguel's mom - he's already ived up to his name."

Tim turned and asked, "What does 'Miguel' mean, anyway?"

"Michael means 'Who is like God?'", I responded softly, turning back to A.J. when he continued proceeding through the book.

Soon, we had to be dismissed and Tim and I went down to check when we had to return for Believers. While Tim was asking, Zeik asked me why I keep following Tim around most of the time. Tim then told him I was also joining Believers, of which Zeik emphasized, "He can sing?!"

I was a little wobbled, since I was still stuck in my 'lower-than-what-the-piano-can-play' situation. But then we soon ended the conversation, and Tim and I went to an Ah Mei's nearby to eat fried rice, then headed back. We took the elevator, with Tim commenting that we "Dunnid to burn calories, lor."

Once upstairs, told us to go to Sim Lim Square to buy CDs to burn the music for the musical, so we had to go down again, of which I told Tim back that we "nid to burn calories after all."

After searching around a couple of storeys of Sim Lm Square in search for CDs, we found a good shop and bought the stack of disks before heading back to Church, commenting on the History Movie along the way.

For Believers, I tried singing some of the songs, but could clearly see the frame which my voice was limited to so far. Going low was no problem for me (I can go about 3-4 ctaves low, as I was to find out later...), but it's the high notes I need to practice on (Can't even hit the plain C).

After some singing, we then practiced on the dance steps. Time after time, there would be food breaks, of which Tim would go to the back to shake me up and try to teach me the names of the Believers. I had a rough idea of who's who, but most likely I'll be forgetting again. It'll take me some time before I remember them all anyway, so no rush I guess.


On one of the breaks, Tim looked at the piano score of Go Light Your World and saw how low the bass hand had to play. Qurious, he decided to play the note and see if I could swoop low enough to sing it. It was a D note about 4 octaves under the middle C, and I reached i flat on the note!

Yay! For once, I saw where I was special in singing! For now, I can reach notes very low, somewhat beyond the grasps of Tanners, and so even I have notes only people like me can touch! But then Tim played The Phantom of the Opera on the same octave, and I was scared in a split-second.

In my mind, I was like 'Hey! Tryin' to emphasize sumthin, punk?' kinda surprized. For one thing, I take it that that was the correct octave to play The Phantom of the Opera. That means that songs that I can uniquely blend in would be... opera?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!

NO!!! I do NOT want to join OPERA!!! I mean, with my greatest for some of the greatest scores in the Romance Era, I'll feel and look creepy for an opera singer...

Back to rehersals, there was more dancing, more breaks, more dancing, more break, even more dancing, even more breaks, and soon we called it a day. Aunty Lisa (I hope I got this right) asked us to form into groups of 4 so we could each 'hallow' our efforts for today. For once, I managed to pray for the team(!). God bless us and our musical!

The singers were then dismissed, but TIm and I decided to stay back a little longer to watch the drama rehersals. I caught a glimpse of the script, and also of the play as it was acted out, but soon we had to leave since Tim's parents needed him back by theshold-hour.

It's interesting how everyone in the hall, whether rehearsing or just resting, was friendly enogh to wave goodbye to us as we walked out! Yeah, this place sure is friendly. Split off from Tim at the first light-junction, since I found that Douby Gouht (Is that how you spell it?) and the 700 was just the same distance from the place, but in the wrong direction.

Once at home, ate bee hoon dinner with mooncake and watermelon supper. Never had something so traditional in a long time.

Well, better do that piece of work Mr. Tay assigned me with. The cover page for the GEP 2008 booklet is at hand!... (I need help: What's the first image that comes to your mind when you hear the word 'Stereotypes'?)

Oh, and if you're interested in wathing the musical, Thief of Always, 8th & 9th September (Sat & Sun), 7.45pm & 4.30pm resectively, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Secondary School (PLMGSS) Concert Hall, BY ALL MEANS ask me or TIm or any of the Believers/PLHers with brouchers and invitations! I've seen it bit by bit, and I garuntee a night to remember!


Matthew 21:22! God bless y'all!

Overtime...

Ghah, I think I slept way too early yesterday. Even missed dinner. Well, that's time.

Anyway, yesterday didn't really have much either except that we finally found Derek's missing paddle in a neighbouring shed (which also resulted to the team's '10' push-ups) and that I went to JKit's house for the first time for the Geography project on the movie review on An Inconvenient Truth.

Somewhere deep in the heart of Holland Village, the home was a typical HDB set-up complete with modernzed furnishing. When I got there, I greeted his parents and grandparent before proceeding to what I took was the Study Room, while he went to his room to change into something light.

We then watched the movie through his computer, after which we started researching with his laptop and writing the main draft of the review on mine. Time after time, we also ended up looking at blogs and random websites (wait, demotivate.com?) whenever we needed a break. I also had the chance to see his NCC (Sea) No. 1 uniform(!).

Once we were roughly done, I was escorted out of the house, of which I was told to pretend that I didn't know the way back to the bus stop(I guess this had an obvious reason). JKit and I strolled down Holland Village again, passing by a few shops and dropping by a 7-Eleven for a light snack. Once we reached the bus-stop, the 75 came just a couple of minues later. Talk about accuracy.

Once at home, the only thing I can remember now is that I took out my Bible and ended up reading Acts 9-10. Chapter 9 was about how Saul was converted from a brutal christian-hunter to a preacher so convincing that even the Jews couldn't answer him back.

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"

"Yes, Lord," he answered.

11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

23After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

32As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34"Aeneas," Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Immediately Aeneas got up.

35All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!"

39Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

Chapter 10 was about Peter and the vision of the carpet of ritually unclean foods, and how we shouldn't concider other people 'unclean' when God Himself sacrificed His Son to make us ALL 'squeaky clean'.

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"

4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.

13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up.

"Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."

27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

30Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues

and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Comes to show that just because a particular situation or person doesn't seem related to Christ, doesn't mean that that situation or person isn't in tune with God's great plans!

Then I somehow woke up and saw that it was still 2.30 in the morning. But since I already slept for 7 hours, I decided I might as well just post this post. Better get ready for Lighthouse now...

Haggai 2:9! God bless y'all!

National Pressure...

Nothing much to report today. Might as well just drag the celebrations of NDP a little longer...

Isaiah 40:27-31! God bless y'all!

42 years of Red and White...

Singapore. The City of Possibilities.

Heh, this country's moving strong these days. Yeah, it may have some bad points, but that's out-numbered by many other good qualities. It's tropical, beaches surround the country, global cuisine is just about $3 away, every 5 meters on average has a tree, finding races speaking other languages is the norm and everyone can say he can drive around the coast of the island within an hour.

And there's more. But writing all that would end me up in the risk of being sued by travel journalists.

Anyway, Happy Blessed National Day, Singapore! May God bless us all like how he's been doing for over 4 decades!

Well, better go join my family to mingle around or something. Remember, grace is unearned and undeserved favour. So if you feel like you've failed in life and don't deserve any relations with God or anyone or anything at all, be happy that you now fall under the criteria of someone who needs grace, something God will come to give you as you believe! (Hey, I should type more about it some time...)

Galatians 2:19-20! God bless y'all!

You tell me...

Today was the OneACS National Day Celebration.

When I got there at Queenstown Stadium, I searched t=for the rest of the prefects, which I found at the canteen. We then had a short briefing on our duties before being led out to the field. My duty today would be 'Miselaneous', basically being that I do whatever I'm told by the teachers in-charge of us, for this case Ms Goon and Mr. Bongard.

Walking down the steps of the stadium, I saw all the many different uniform groups in their uniforms and props, and it looked cool. On ground level, I walked past ACS (Independent)'s cluster of students, and found Tim, Matthew, JKit and Raam. I tried to force myself to say a "Hi" or something, but I was somewhat so amazed at the uniforms that all I could do was just wave without even smiling.

We then went to the opposite end of the stadium, where we met up with Mr. Bongard and a few Student Councilors from ACJC. The councilors then taught those who were having cheering duty a few new cheers. Man, their version of Dynamite is a lot cooler than ours.

I, along with the other Miselaneous people, were then told to protect the back gate of the stadium, making sure non-ACS people don't enter and ACS student don't exit. We did it in half-hour shifts, and I was one of the people on the first shift. And coincidentally, the marching started half-way in my shift.

Thankfully, I was still able to watch the marching from where I was. But it wasn't as grand as how it'd have looked like from the breachers. One thing that facinates me about marching is how different groups of people can come from different directions and somehow end up at a standardised position by the end of the music. Ah, well.

Then there was the waiting of the GOHs and the speeches, which took up one and a half shifts. By the time it was the March-Past, I was seated down on the track eager to watch what was going to happen. And so the music started playing, and the March-Past was on the road...

As I watched the contingents march by, I had a sinking feeling in my guts. I knew it was because I was so awed on the systemacy of the whole thing that I thought to myself how cool it was to wear one of those uniforms and say I did something important in them.

As they marched off the tracks, they slowly loosened up and became more mobile again. Soon, troops of white and black were taking off their caps and running for their bags that were in piles beside the back gate. Yeah, it really does look cool, even when you're easing off.

I watched them as they left for the buses at the back of the stadium, around the same time I took on my shift again. Protecting the gate, I looked back time after time to see friends from the different UYOs. Tim and Matt were looking sharp with their riffles for NCC (Land), JKit and Raam were bright in their white attire for NCC (Sea), and even Faraaz looked neat in an NPCC (Sea) uniform, along with Sanjev and ZWei.

And what do I wear? Berms and a white shirt saying we're 'Igniting the ACS Spirit'. If I was told to wear a blazer, at least I could tell myself I was still wearing a suit. But compared to the UYOs, I was just in civilian clothes. I felt deprived. I felt naked. I felt... I felt...

Yes. That was exactly how I felt. Couldn't draw so better myself. But soon my shift as over so I had to report back to the breachers, thus I departed from the misery of watching my uniformed friends.

For the next hour or so, I watched the games that carried on for the OneACS thing. Being positioned on the opposite side of the stadium, I didn't really get a good view of what was going on, let alone know what was going on. But soon after the hours ticked by, prize presentation was quick gone, and we were all dismissed school by school.

By this time, all the UYOs had already dissapeared. I walked my way to Queenstown MRT Station, where I took a train to Dover and caught a 74 to Clementi to change to a 75 or 184. And it just so happens that when I reached Clementi, Joel and Kirby were on the next bus!

They then told me about the documentary preview in class. They mentioned details like how we were going to be pinalised for typos in the subtitles, that the class clapped when I slammed the table, that Mr. Ang laughed many times through the film and even that Toj whistled when he saw me naked in a blooper. And when the bus came, Kirby was still there to tell me rough details on how things went.

That cheered me up a lot, I guess. Well, I better brush up on my ISO Report now while I still can. John 2:13-22! God bless y'all!

No, I Wasn't...

No fair.

They all had a chance to run cross-country and excert their strengths, and what do I do? Duty.

And even worse, I get blamed for being a slacker.

The first four sentence circulated my head as I left Turf City after Cross-Country Run today to go eat at a MacDonalds before leaving for training at MacRitchie. But let's just say God was able to thrill me back to my happy mood after the lunch. (God, You never fail to amuse me...)

Now on with what happened today, from the top. Starts with me sucessfully waking up at 5.30! After weks of oversleeping, I finally got myself to wake up early with the help of an annoying alarm clock! But sadly, the momment I switched off the alarm, I woke up to realise I knocked off the momment I switch off the alarm. And when I checked my watch, I found out it was already 5.55!

And I needed to reach Turf City for Prefect Duty at 6.30! And to get there in time, I needed to leave at 6! Alarmed altogether (har, har...), I rushed out of my room to eat a quik breakfast. My Mom then got out of her room, all ready to send me to the venue, only to find me still dunking a chocolate sandwitch in a cup of Horlicks.

She then told me I was really stretching myself too far, of which I responded by gulping down the remainder of Horlicks and rushing to my room to gert changed into my co-operate T-shirt. There were no lessons but training today, so I didn't have to pack much of a bag except a small one for my water bottle. For training attire, I just did the ussual thing I'd do - wear it underneath my uniform (or for this case, my co-op T).

Once finished with settling this stuff, I, along with my Mom, rushed down to the car and drove off. When we arrived at Turf City, the place was still in moderate darkness, and Mom had doubts on whether there was even an event at the time. I got off at the drop-off point and checked the area, later finding another cluster of prefects and so I called Mom to tell her all was fine and she could go.

After some more waiting, all the different clusters combined to form one group along with the Student Council, and we all had a combined briefing on the duties we had to do. For me, I had to do parking, basically guiding parents' cars (and subsiquently student that are lost on the roads)to the round-a-bout we're forming in the carpark.

I ran with Calvin and Andy to the main road areas to help students andteachers to cross the road, and also to secretly keep watch for the Senior Administration and other VIPs. For the first hour, it was rather exciting to gather the students bundle by bndle and then running in the middle of the road to risk your life in front of cars just to help them cross.

Then came a subsiquent half an hour, where the traffic, along with the number of students coming in, were dieing down. Easing off, but still maintainable.

Then came the next half hour. There were rarely, if not barely, any cars on the road, and we were literally stoning there and doing nothing. It was miserable, and so we were thankful when the people back at Turf City called Andy to tell us to head back. We walked back and gathered with the rest, later to be told that we were going to the shopping center's interior to chase out loitering students.

We tried to chase them out, but many have already lined up at 7-ll. It was somewhat funny to watch them all compressed inside the stall, but we had to try to get as many people back in the tracks as possible. We then moved towards the tracks to get the student assembled for the remaining races, making sure we had a controlled path for people who needed to go to the toilet.

I was told to guard one of the exits and make sure no one goes in or out from that way, telling anyone who wants to do so that tey needed to go to the controlled path. I was able to do it for the next hour or so, with the help of listening to the music being played. (Heh, there were some funny songs played, like one which kept on singing, "Chocolate Rain!")

But after that, I was starting to get tired standing still. I was watching all the racers on the track as they were finishing off their runs, and I looked down to watch how my feet were screaming at me to start joining them. I sighed and stayed at my spot, soon allowing students to pass through me if they wanted to. And when I saw that the senioors were moving away from their posts, I got my bag and went to their direction.

Loosing track of time, I sat on a railing, watching the runners walk pass me to go to the toilet. They were well-exausted from the run, and seemed to have enjoyed themselves. I knew I was missing out on a lot, and so I stared don again.

Finally, the announcement was made for people to report back to the grounds for prize presentation. All the prefects went down to chase the students out of the building, assisted by a couple of teachers or so. But once it was done, we had a debrief on the opposite side of the building.

After the debrief, we saw the students flooding through the building and knew it was time to get dismissed. Finally! I could walk again at free will, and so I went off to the bus-stop to eat at MacDonalds at Coronation. A quiet meal by myself, and I was off for MacRitchie for training.

I was suppose to report to the chin-up bars at 1.45, but it was still 11.55 when I got there. So I decided to walk around MacRichie to visually entertain myself. And I must tell you, MacRitchie looks beautiful in the afternoon! Walking past the food stall, the countless benches, the 'zig-zag' bridge and even Lim Bo Seng's grave, it was good enough for me to say, "What a wonderful world!" I should have taken photos, but there were many timeless locations around the reservour perfect for group outings, such as picnics and re-creational activities!

As of now, the only four places I know are best for picnics would be Bukit Timah Hill, East Coast Park, West Coast Park and MacRitchie Reservior.

MacRitchie is if you're with an artistic group and want a peaceful meal in a beautiful landscape.

Bukit Timah is somewhat similiar in beauty, just that this is suited for those who want an adventure just to get to their breakfast.

West Coast is for those who want adventure, but in a more convenient and simplified (playground) manner.

East Coast is more towards re-creational activitise like fishing and cycling. There's also a great variety of food to feast on throughout the stretch, so meals aren't a problem.

Back to where we left, I later found a spot up a hill and sat down to get a good view of the reservior, then taking out my MP3 to listen to some jazz and country music to enhance the mood. My annoyance of not being able to run was long gone, and I was praising the Lord for saving this momment for now.

"Lord, You never fail to ammuse me!..."

After a while, I tried to sing along with one of the songs an octave higher to train my vocal cords, just as Tim had been advising me through the past couple of weeks or more. But I could tell I was sounding annoyingly squeaky, so I decided to stop and pause my MP3 for a while. Just then, I saw from the corner of my eye that someone was walking past. I turned to look, only to bite my tounge to see that it was, well, Mr. See.

"You should have sat somewhere over that area," he told me smiling as he pointed out a bench a few meters away. "You'd have a better view of the water there, and it'd have shaded out the sun."

I quietly followed him as he walked down the hill, biting my tongue even more with the thought that he might have heard me singing squeaky if I wasn't careful back then. We then talked about the cross-country run, which lead to him telling me about how it was like when he was once Assistant Prefect Master, which lead to the story of how he was somewhat against the double-CCA policy in ACS(Independent) when it came to application back in 1999, about the same time Canoeing started in the school.

We then met up with Michael at the Carpark toilet. Mr. See then remembered that Winston lost his spectacles somewhere in the bushes in the area, so he asked us to help him do a brief search. By the Grace of God, I found them seated beside a tree, and so I passed them to Mr. See, who later called Winston to tell him to buy 4-D and that any punishments he'd give me would go to Wins for the next week or so.

We then ran up to the Bags Shed, except Mr. See who can't run because pof his leg injury. He called for me, then took out the keys from his bag and toss them to me, later giving the 'opps' face when he over-shot me by a bit. I unlocked the shed and we placed our bags inside, while Mr. See told us about how rental fees for these sheds were increasing, yet still worth it.

We then went to the chin-up bars behind the Paddle Lodge to, well, do chin-ups. Mr. See left us there while he searched for more canoeists from our club. After doing a few sets, more fellow canoeists came, and soon the group was alrge enough to justify us to get back to the sheds to get out our boats.

For today, I took StingRay with Kenneth after we bargained with Mr. See and a couple of Juniors. We launched off and did our sets, although in the middle of sets Kenneth would swear in anxiety that his strokes were somehow wrong. Through the programme, I was praying to God for peace in my boat, and soon enough it came around the last two sets of 2K.

Basically, what is wrong with our strokes is more of our timing together, and that we need to stop crossing our arms too far over the opposite sides of the boat. Individually, Kenneth is apparently pulling beyond his waist (I don't know if that's true 'cause he's Backman so he's obviously not in my view) while I'm still punching too high and, as quoted by Mr. Goh, "You're too stiff in the boat. Relax."

Well, at least we were able to keep pace with Derek and Ryan. It feels nice to paddle sets alongside another friendly boat. Once finished with our sets, we packed up and got the boat to Upper Shed. Kenneth then made a dash for the toilet, while I got the sheds unlocked and the life jackets and blades brought down to the Lower Shed. Soon, the rest of the team came over with their boats, and within 10 or so minutes we packed up everything.

Only to find out that there's a missing blade.

After a short debrief, the Sec 2s went to comb the entire grounds of the launching area to search for Derek's paddle, only to find nothing. Mr. See then told us that we'd have to share the cost of the $700-odd paddle. Ah, well.

After changing up and catching a bus home, I got back home by about 5.45 or so, of which I went to sleep the moment I sat on my bed. When I woke up, I somehow had a few random doubts about life in my head, and they went around until I knew something was wrong so I quickly called out, "Good evening, Lord!"

And instantly my mind was calm again. Heh, comes to show you can never start a day right without starting it with God.

Well, since tomorrow's a sub-holiday in many schools, Dad said he'll permit me to watch TV late tonight! Yay, CSI and Criminal Minds! Well, I've just finished watching the shows, so I better turn out now. Can't be late for tomorrow's (sorry, today's) duty at the OneACS thingy. G'nite and God bless y'all!