sharing my thoughts...yifen~*

Back after more than a year!

2007-09-02T01:09:00.000+08:00

*Blows away dust* It's been more than a year since I last blogged! Work has been overwhelming but thank God I am coping better now. Just missed blogging all of a sudden. =) I am not surprised if many people think that this blog has long disappeared. ;p

Well, just to update a bit on my life here. In a nutshell, teaching has been good despite the many challenges. Basically, I do a juggling act everyday. Sometimes, I picture myself as an octopus. Multi-tasking is definitely needed in this job. Teachers, agree? To me, the core of my job is teaching and learning. It always encourages me to see the twinkle in a child's eye, and an appreciative smile when a kind word is spoken to a child. There were times when I failed, but everyday is a day to be a better role model for my students, and to impart the right values. As a Christian teacher, I do pray that I may be able to discipline my students wisely and at the same time, to be the salt and light for God, attracting them to the good news which has transformed me.

With regards to preps for marriage, there are hurdles we have to cross, both now and in the future. Thank God we have His Word that point us to the reality, and to comfort us when we are down.

In terms of ministry, thank God that the youths are growing in their maturity as Christians, and taking more initiative. Pray that I will watch the way I live, and lead a life that the younger ones can imitate.

Spending time with Dad

2006-06-09T09:57:00.000+08:00

Glad that I can rest a bit this June before I enter into a new phase of my life as a full-fledged teacher. At some point, I was rather anxious about the challenges ahead of me, and wondered if work will drain me eventually. I guess it will to a certain extent, but as we are reminded in Philippians, "do not be anxious about anything." What I should do is to worry less and pray more. Anyway, before work kicks in, I'm glad for this break. I've been spending the past few days with my Dad. It's a rare chance that we spend time alone. Since my mum is away at church camp, I got to cook for him and talk to him more than ever. It's especially more meaningful as he turns 70 today. To him, it has been days of celebration. haha! He got to try my cooking which definitely can be improved! Cooking is fun, and reading food blogs motivates me to try out the recipes. Too bad I don't have an oven, can't do grills and baked stuff. It's definitely on my wishlist. Hee hee.

(:

2006-05-01T20:23:00.000+08:00

Flowers. I like them but think it is a waste of money to buy bouquets. ;p especially roses on V Day. Finally, I've managed to get this flower that I've always wanted. Thank you! (: Not that they aren't around, but most of them just have some weird messages on it, and don't appear cheerful enough to me. Haha..Anway, it sure brightens up my mood a bit and I'm going to place it at my cubicle when I start teaching. Smile! (:

Wretched

2006-05-01T20:17:00.000+08:00

Rom 7:15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Rom 7:16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
Rom 7:17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Rom 7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Rom 7:21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
Rom 7:23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind
and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

I know that it is insensitive to say those things, but I did it. I know that some things are not important, and I shouldn’t be bothered by it, yet I’m affected by it emotionally, and not serving others the way I should. I’m sorry for being impatient when I know that I should be patient, and just being so inward looking instead of being other-centred.

What I know, what I do, and what I feel will seldom reconcile whilst I’m still living as a foreigner in this world. Often, what I know is constant, while the actions and feelings are just inconsistent. I do not like the feeling when I know what is right, yet deep inside me, I’m battling with the feelings that I shouldn’t be having. It’s tough, and many will agree. This will always be a struggle I (and other Christians) will have to face till Christ returns, only then will we be perfected.

Rom 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Thank God that Romans 7 didn’t end at v23. If not, I would have probably given up the faith. It’s really comforting to know that Christ has paid the price of our sins and took upon the death we all deserve. May this post also encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you (both God and R) for being so patient with me.

Peek-a-boo

2006-04-29T12:29:00.000+08:00

Isn't she CUTE?

My 1 yr and 2 months niece, Edna. :)

Cedele by Bakery Depot

2006-04-29T12:08:00.000+08:00

I got hooked on this curried pumpkin soup when I first tried it on a cool evening some months ago. Started having a craving for it again these few days and managed to have it last night, some more on a rainy night. What better weather than this to have a bowl of nice soup? A pity it was a tad bit cold but i couldn't care less as both soups were the last portions! R got hooked onto the grilled tomato and red peppers soup, and had lots of fun playing with the oil and vinegar, while I watched in amazement. Not because of the bubbles formed, but how he could have so much fun with those stuff. Anyway, the soups are really good, the health conscious will probably approve of it (i'm not really one by the way). Free flow of bread if you go for the soup and bread bar, which costs $6.50.

Some updates...again

2006-04-27T20:47:00.000+08:00

Now that Practicum's over and the final assignment submitted, I'm back to the usual routine of throwing and packing stuff during my break. In the midst of doing all these, thank God for the time to do some reflections on my walk with him, and also my relationship with those around me. In terms of ministry, somehow I've started shifting from teaching a group to one to one due to changes in arrangements in church etc. Have met up with a girl once and will be reading the bible with 2 other girls this coming Saturday, and hopefully, we can continue doing so once or twice a month. May God help me to be a faithful teacher of his Word, and also be clear in communicating it. There's always a tendency not to put in the best effort to prepare, appreciate your prayers in this. :) Much to be learnt not just in teaching the bible, but also in dealing with other practical aspects of one to one ministry.

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

On another note, I went down to Starhub Centre today to renew my contract. Thank God for the MOE corporate subscription, it's much cheaper than my current one! Got a new phone also at $0. Though the process was quite fast, I managed to chat with the guy who attended to me. While transferring some of my contacts from my old phone to the new one, he saw the message 'God is Love' and said 'you are a christian right?' and starting telling me that he has stopped going to church after he entered poly. Apparently, he attended church during secondary school days due to BB. Pity we didn't have time to talk after that, pray that he will read the 2 Ways To Live gospel tract which I passed to him. It's interesting to see how God can open up gospel opportunities in our everyday life, even when we least expected it.

Greatest desire

2006-03-13T14:31:00.000+08:00

Everyone desires different things, be it tangible or intangible. As for Paul, what was his greatest desire? In the book of Galatians, Paul likens himself to be in the anguish of childbirth for the Galatians, and he greatly desires to see Christ formed in them (4:19).

In the light of the Galatians turning to false teachings, Paul can’t help but feel perplexed and can only warn them time and again that it is only through faith in Christ alone which saves them – You started with faith, continue in it. Christ has paid a high price for your freedom, why submit yourselves to law again? A challenge was put forth at the end of the sermon this morning. How great is your desire to see Christ formed in others? That is, to see others growing increasingly in Christ-likeness. This question doesn’t just challenge our time and efforts, but more deeply, our motivation in Christian ministry. Even as I work on being more diligent in my preparation in bible teaching, may my motivation be the same as Paul’s.

Comprehension is hard work

2006-03-13T14:29:00.000+08:00

Yes, Chinese comprehension can be tough, but comprehending the bible and communicating its truths is definitely not easy. In a recent bible study leaders training session, this challenging task was once again presented clearly to me. The conclusion I came to at the end was that I really fall short of what is needed for a good bible study. Do I really comprehend what the passage really says? I’m afraid I’ve fallen into the trap thinking I do, but in reality, I do not truly comprehend it. Laziness and complacency have crept in. It is only when I was told the importance of writing in a sentence or two the main points of a passage that I realized that I’ve long neglected this very important step. It’s high time I work on this!

What REALLY matters

2006-03-13T14:27:00.000+08:00

One more thing which I really want to give thanks to God also is that I’ve been able to attend the midweek bible study group despite the heavy workload. A good break from the lesson plans and stuff, and getting my mind focused on Christ again. It’s been a challenge spending time reading God’s Word on weekdays, not to mention studying it. There’s always the temptation to get into the hustle and bustle of teaching once I enter the office, with a mental To Do List waiting to be checked off. There are times when I simply gave excuses that I’m in a rush for time or having that feeling of insecurity that my teaching resources and lesson plans are not printed out yet.

On this note, I thank God for rebuking me recently for my lack of diligence in the studying of the bible, and half-hearted preparation in bible teaching. It’s been really humbling. Will share more about it in the next few entries.

What Matters

2006-03-13T14:26:00.000+08:00

Day after day, week after week…It’s been a while since I last blogged (again). Practicum’s fine so far, and time really flies! Fleeting moments on this earth. Heh. It’s so much faster than the first round, and observations come and go so quickly. Getting quite used to the school considering that I’ve been there a couple of times for School Experience and Practicum I. Thank God for sustaining me and giving me the wisdom to plan for the lessons, and by His grace, provided helpful people along the way too. Classroom management is a challenge day by day, especially with regards to my unmotivated and rowdy P5 class. Shall not dwell on it too much here lest this becomes a grievance channel.

Thanksgiving

2006-02-13T14:50:00.000+08:00

Thank God for Christian fellowship made possible through His son Jesus Christ. Am really thankful to God for two encouraging meet up sessions with different brothers and sisters in Christ this week. It was encouraging not just because we have not met up for a while, but there was true encouragement in the Word, and not just words of comfort. Even as we shared about the ministries in our different churches, and also sharing our lives and the issues we face, we were once again reminded of our gracious and loving God who gave up His Son for us, so that we are saved from the penalty of death and judgment. In response to this and in the light of Christ’s sure return, our only right response is gratitude and thankfulness, and loving Him and others more and more. Many a times, we focus so much on the ‘doing’ of ministry, and our problems that we tend to forget that our God is sovereign, and whose ways are higher than our ways. His Word has clearly shown us how we should live. In a sense, the ‘solution’ to the issues we face in our lives has already been given, it’s just whether we take that ‘solution’ or not. Come to think of it, isn’t this easier than having to rack our brains to think of our own?

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

On another note, I received a paper bag filled with a variety of biscuits and two bars of chocolates from a sister in church. I am really touched by her concern that I may not be having regular meals during my upcoming Practicum. Her act of love and thoughtfulness has humbled me as I reflect on my love for others, and this is truly a model for us all.

* She joked that she's the supplier for the first two weeks only, and the remaining six will have to be taken care of by someone else, whose response is "She spoil market lah." Hahaha..

Yet another round of 'battle'

2006-02-05T22:45:00.000+08:00

Another round of 'battle' will start soon...ah...It seems like yesterday when I had my first round of Practicum. Am preparing myself mentally for the heavy workload to come, the constant churning out of lesson plans, marking, preparation of teaching materials, etc. Hope to learn much more in this round of Practicum, and also improve in my time managment. :) Keeping my fingers crossed whether I'll be able to attend the midweek bible study group. May God strengthen me!

The loving kindness of God

2006-01-28T09:07:00.000+08:00

Many people will agree that the book of Ruth hinges on the theme of the loving kindness of God. What about this in exactly? Is it just the mere providence of husbands and food? Thank God for His loving kindness shown towards us not just in providing for our physical needs, most importantly, His greatest kindness towards us has been shown in the providence of His Son to die a death meant for us. Although Ruth is just a short book with only 4 chapters, yet much can be learnt from it. In the backdrop of famine and chaos, God was still faithful in keeping his promises to the nation of Israel, and continued to work through finite people like Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Once again, God is sovereign even in the control of events. A very good reminder to all Christians that whatever happens, God works for the good of those who love Him. May we always thank Him for His loving kindness towards us, even in seemingly insignificant things in our lives. Just a short summary of what I've learnt from Ruth. :)

Shocked at myself

2006-01-12T11:01:00.000+08:00

Was shocked, frustrated and angry at myself. Not so much now, as I've come to terms with my sinfulness and repented, and defintely am reminding myself to move on to grow in Christ-likeness. Didn't expect myself to lose control during a game and shouted/screamed. Did that to my students before when I had a difficult time trying to get their attention. However, it was really uncalled for this time round, and to make things worse, there were non Christians, young Christians, etc, a mixed group altogether. Most people were shocked, partly because it was real loud, but more so because it came from me. Makes me wonder what image I've always given others. Am more worried that I've stumbled or offended others in the process, and I'm deeply regretful of what I've done. On hindsight, it was really unloving. After the incident, I sent a sms to those who were around and apologized.

Would like to take this chance to say SORRY once again to those who were around, and I do hope you will not be afraid to speak to me in the future, especially FOM. Thanks to those who encouraged me and prayed with me, am thankful to God for your patience and love. Appreciate your prayers for me, that I'll not be too discouraged by this incident, but continue to strive towards Christ-likeness. Thank you!

Yearly affair

2005-12-29T03:47:00.002+08:00

This can fall under the Christ-less Christmas Part 2. Since last year, my sister and her family started the trend of having turkey and ham on Christmas Eve, and of course exchanging and unwrapping of presents. Initially, I was glad that we are meeting up, and it is a good chance to share the gospel to her and her family. After the gathering at my brother's place this year (they take turns), I can't help but say that I'm disappointed. Didn't expect it to be yet another Christ-less Christmas gathering when my brother and his wife are Christians. There was no mention of Jesus, but crude jokes and pagan talks here and there. I need to repent as well, for not trying my best to bring in the gospel in our conversations. When it's Ray and my turn to host them in the future, would we dare to correct their understanding of Christmas and proclaim the gospel to them? A test of whether we are ashamed of the gospel. Gave a copy of 2 Ways to Live to my brother and sister-in-law, and hopefully it will remind them of the gospel that has saved them and the need to pass it on to other people, especially our own family members.

Christ-less Christmas and beyond

2005-12-29T03:47:00.001+08:00

Had a good time catching up with my predecessor in NIECF. Talked about teaching, ministry, and also her plans for theological studies. Was quite sad to hear about the problems she faces in church, reminds me of my past, but I think she is having a much harder time. With a youth pastor and leaders who are not clear about ministry, often being irresponsible in their duties, it can really get very discouraging. Week after week, the youths come to church but do not learn about the gospel, and fellowship is just meeting up and feeling comfortable with one another. Even so called bible study sessions are just studying the popular 40 days book, and not the bible. Christmas event in church was just a series of performances put up by people of different ages. My dear sister simply felt a sense of shame just sitting down there, sad that the people who came do not even get to hear the gospel being preached. Looking at her, I'm just amazed at her perseverance, being able to endure for so long, and fighting silently. Was encouraged to hear that she has been buying materials from Matthias Media, and at least some people are being built up in the midst. Though it has been heavy on her finances, she is indeed an example of someone who uses her singleness effectively for God and His people. Fighting slowly and patiently behind the scene, that's the way she has been serving for the past many years. Am thankful to God that she doesn't lose heart, but in fact grew even stronger in the years as she continues to run the race, and fight the fight in guarding and passing on the gospel in her church.

December Updates

2005-12-29T03:47:00.000+08:00

The Dec break is ending soon, but it has been a busy and fun one thus far. Thought I'll just do a quick summary of what I went through. Had the chance try new things, explore some places, building relationships with others. For example, being a bridesmaid, went for prison carolling, translated the gospel message into chinese, spent time with fellow BTPC people at the Lower Pierce Reservoir, checked out Jazz@Southbridge, etc. Yes, and more ultimate frisbee sessions during the Youth chalet. Was tiring playing on the beach but really fun. Attended two weddings as well. :) Got to spend more time with Ray and his family too, getting to know them better during his brother's wedding. Although his cousins are almost twice our age, it was easy talking to them. Had my own family gathering on Christmas Eve, which I will share a bit more in my next post. In between these events, am currently studying 1 Thessalonians with Ray, and listening to past talks on Revelation and Malachi. Have almost accomplished my To Do List for this break, especially in meeting up with some friends. Aiming to finish reading D.A. Carson's 'The Cross and Christian Ministry' which I borrowed from Pastor Andrew last CNY, before I get real busy with Practicum in Feb. Not very nice of me to hog it for so long. ;p

Take a peep ^^

2005-12-22T19:38:00.000+08:00

Hi hi..Know that I've not been blogging for a while. I'm working on the draft now. Before I post that up, let me share with you a link :)

http://giraffeandmouse.blogspot.com/

Christian Acrobat

2005-11-21T19:20:00.000+08:00

It's rare that I'm still awake at almost 3 in the morning. And blogging. haha..Don't think it's the coffee I took this afternoon, making it a sequel to Sleepless in Serangoon North. ;p Not that I'm overly excited or anxious about the exams. Maybe not stressed up at this moment. heh..Just can't wait for the moment when I place my pen down for the last paper, the final academic paper in life. Woo hoo! Unless I flunk.Hmm..> <

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the Romans studies come to end, the 'theory' is easier but the applications are many times more difficult. Loving the unlovable, blessing those who persecute us, obeying the authorities instituted by God (which means deleting all the songs and software which I don't rightfully own), standing firm in gospel matters and being conscious of not dwelling on disputable matters, etc. The motivation behind our striving to apply these in our lives is simply Romans 12:1 " I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 13 ends off reminding us " For salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand." In response to the coming Day, we are to put on the Lord Jesus, walking in the light and not darkness.

The act of balancing came into my mind as I pictured a diagram with 'gospel living' at the centre, 'In view of God's mercy' on the left and 'Christ's 2nd coming' on the right. Being skewed on either side causes us to lose our focus on the other. Do I really long for the Day? A question that I have to keep asking myself and other Christians, especially those under my care. The Christian is not just a soldier, farmer, athlete (2 Tim), perhaps an acrobat as well. :)

Passing the g-baton

2005-11-08T14:26:00.000+08:00

Time to take a break from studying! Here are some thoughts regarding the Youth Retreat. Think I’m getting old, I slept through the whole afternoon on Friday to recuperate. Thanks to late nights of Cranium and entertainment by Wai. Haha..Really give thanks to God for the Youth Retreat. Not only was the study of 2 Timothy very fruitful, the sharing of our lives was evident too. Just very much encouraged by the youths who have a desire to grow in knowledge of the Bible and seeking to live it out. Hard to describe the joy I have. :) Although it was my second time studying 2 Timothy, there are new insights and humbled me that we never study too much of a particular book. It was a very good reminder to guard the gospel and passing it on to the next generation, even in the midst of suffering. The aspect of Paul serving with a clear conscience was a strong reminder to check my motivations in serving God and His people, and seeking not to win the approval of men but God.

The often quoted verse in obituaries – “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) has perhaps been understood as just finishing the race as a Christian. What about it in particular? However, as we understand it in the context of 2 Timothy, it is the race of guarding the gospel from false teaching, preserving its purity, suffering for it, entrusting it to faithful men and women and even making strategic plans for the gospel to go forth. Even as we reflect on whether we have the desire to say the above like Paul, the question I had in mind was “Am I already fighting the fight?”

Some of you may have heard me share about this. Hope I don’t bore you. Haha..Anyway, thought I’ll repeat myself here to encourage others who read my blog. :) In 2 Timothy 4:1, 8, it is mentioned that Christ will return to judge, and also the appearing of his kingdom. This kingdom consists of God’s people, which is also what will last ultimately. Looking at the young people in this ministry, it is my prayer that they may all run the race till the end. Pray that I may indeed treasure these young people and be faithful in my teaching and that my life may be a model for them.

Do join me in prayer for the youths in BTPC too, that they may continue to grow in maturity in Christ, and be willing to suffer for the gospel, so that the next generation may also hear of the gospel in its purest form. Exciting times ahead!

“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” ( 1 Thess 2:19)

Relationships

2005-11-02T02:08:00.001+08:00

Thank God for relationships. :) Last Saturday was a day of catching up with a few friends, thanks to Caleb and Angeline’s wedding. It has been a while since I last met up with my MEET Team. Although 2 of them couldn’t make it, it was still a good time catching up with Xingtang and Hanley. The wedding at Nazareth Bible-Pres Church brought back wonderful memories of us preparing for out mission trip to China, which we did not manage to go eventually due to SARS. In the afternoon, I attended the Welcoming Ministry training in church and Pastor Andrew spoke about the functional and relational component of this ministry. It was a good reminder that relating to people and loving them is a Christian response wherever we are. In the evening, I met up with Jean, a very good friend of mine since poly days. Although we only meet up once every few months, there is no awkwardness and we are still able to share very much, even the struggles we face in our lives. Even though I had a very long day, it was a fruitful one and reminds me to treasure the relationships in my life and to learn to love others more.

With this in mind, am looking forward to the Youth Retreat starting today till Thursday afternoon where it will be a great opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the young people, many whom I do not know very well yet. Please pray for Wai as he teaches us 2 Timothy, and also pray that God’s Word will bear fruit in the lives of these young people, that they may grow in maturity in Christ. ( Will try to study a bit during the retreat? *keeping my fingers crossed*)

Change of status

2005-10-11T13:46:00.000+08:00

Oct 9 marks the day of the transfer of my membership to BTPC. Thank God for the warm fellowship and faithful teaching I have been receiving. :) Praying that I will use the gifts God has given me to serve the people. Pray that I may be able to translate the bible studies material well. :)

Put to death

2005-10-03T16:00:00.000+08:00

Rather than saying that I’m still alive, it is definitely more encouraging to post something that I’ve learnt. Before I sort out the Revelation studies, I would like to share about Romans. Due to time constraint (tests and assignments!), I can only share the main points in the form of a summary. Following on from Ray’s entry on fighting sin, the sermon today was on ‘Keeping God’s Law through the Holy Spirit’ based on Romans 8:1-17. Paul ends off in Romans 7 by thanking God that through Jesus Christ, he will be delivered from the body of death which is the result of law of sin. Romans 8 continues that there is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Thus, we have been set free from the law of sin and death. As a result, we now no longer walk in the flesh (sinful nature), but according to the Spirit. This refers to the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us and leads us to please God. In our new lives as Christians, we have the privilege of being called sons of God, calling God our Father, being heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him. Therefore, with our new status, we are to live by the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the body.

Living by the Spirit is to be led into holiness, godliness, and not being understood as being ‘led into this job’, ‘being led into this relationship’ etc. The idea of being led by the Spirit has often been wrongly understood, and the results disastrous. It is not some spectacular thing, experiential encounter, but it is real every moment in our lives. Now that we are being led by the Spirit, we are to put to death the deeds of the body. ‘Put to death’ means to take extreme measures to cease completely from a particular activity, and this is to counter the very powerful and seductive sinful nature in us. V5, 9 and 14 shows that we must actively choose to cooperate with the Spirit in us to put to death the deeds of the body.

We often find excuses to justify our sinful deeds, but it is definitely true to say that at some point in time, a decision has to be made, whether to obey the Spirit’s leading or to obey our sinful nature. After learning about Romans 7 and 8, I’ve finally understood more clearly what fighting sins is all about and the many implications it leads to, the way I perceive sins in my life and what practical measures can be done. Really thank God for the opportunity to learn from a faithful teacher. Obeying God’s way is hard, just want to encourage all my brothers and sisters to fight on, 24/7. (Besides sleeping time..haha) p”q For those who sleep less, you may need to fight more…haha.

Still Alive

2005-09-04T01:04:00.000+08:00

I'm still alive..hee. Received a gift subscription of The Briefing from a friend. Thanks! You know who you are. I've enjoyed reading the Sep issue which I received yesterday. For those who are interested, feel free to borrow from me. :) The week has been a very busy one for me, and I was glad to meet up with fellow BTPC members for our monthly prayer meeting last night. Very much encouraged to see 2 of our youths joining us for the first time. :)

Things have been fine lately, learning to be more disciplined in spending time with God especially when I have long days in school. Simply knock out when I reach home. Perhaps I'm growing old..haha. Learning to be more self-controlled in my actions and speech. Sometimes I really think I've not been a good witness for Christ, especially amongst my friends in school. Pray that I'll be more conscious in whatever I do and say.

Hope to post up some lessons I'm learning from Revelation, which I'm doing for the membership class in BTPC.

Some updates

2005-08-08T14:08:00.000+08:00

Been about two weeks since I last blogged. :) It's already the third week of school and I haven't been doing much, except digesting some of my notes. haha..Time to start on my assignments! The modules this time round are pretty interesting. Finally get to learn more about learning disabilities (LD) and behavioural problems. I think it is essential for every teacher to at least get a general understanding of the various types of LD and behavioural problems. According to my lecturer, NIE is currently training the first batch of Special Education Officers who will be deployed to schools. At least MOE recognizes the need, which is in fact increasing. Hope to explore more in this area too!

Humbled

2005-07-25T13:13:00.000+08:00

School is starting tomorrow! Feeling neutral. Heh. On one hand, I’m glad that I can meet my friends and learn new things, but sad that I won’t have the luxury of time anymore. Anyway, I should be thankful for the 3 months break I had. It had been a fruitful one, which included a trip to Japan, a wonderful church camp, and a bible conference. I also give thanks for the various gatherings with friends and the time I’ve spent studying for the correspondence course. Thank God for His providence of a temp job too, which helps a great deal in my expenses for the coming term. Before I get busy with school, thought it will be good to share what God has taught me recently. :)

I give thanks to God for the opportunities to learn more about Romans, from both the Project Timothy Bible Conference and the sermons and bible studies in church. As I’ve shared with some of you, God has humbled me once again, reminding me who He is, how sinful and worthless I am, and what I need to constantly guard myself against. Though I can never fully understand why God chose me, I can only respond in gratitude towards what He has done for me in Jesus Christ, who has turned the wrath of God away from me. God is indeed a merciful and righteous God at the same time. As I prepared and taught Romans 2, the reality of God’s judgment struck me once again, that God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ (Rom 2:16). I’ve been critical at times, being quick to judge and failed to look at myself. Who is in the position to judge? Only our Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God that the very one who will judge is my Saviour as well. Thank God for the reminder to constantly watch my motivation and thoughts, for He will judge my inmost secrets and motivations.

Today’s sermon on Romans 2:17-29 was not only peppered with good illustrations, but most importantly, the message was clearly delivered too. Religiosity doesn’t please God and definitely don’t make us right with Him. The only way to be right with God is to love Jesus and have an inward change of our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Lastly, as the sermon was concluded, I was reminded to guard myself against doing many external things to please both man and God. As I assess my life, this would be ministry in teaching the youths, reading the bible with people, studying for a correspondence course, attending trainings, conferences and camps. May I always check my motivations! As for the correspondence course, it has helped me to understand more about the O.T, and it is really encouraging to know that our God is a faithful God who keeps to His promises despite the constant rebelliousness of man. Hope I can remember what I’ve learnt, and be able to pass the exam. Haha. I have a poor memory!! However, the most important thing is that my life will indeed be shaped by God’s will and commands, and what I’ve learnt will also benefit those around me. Thank God for the many precious lessons He has taught me, and do join me in prayer that we will all continue to grow in knowledge of God, so that we may please Him in the way we live. :)

Danger Zone!

2005-07-20T12:10:00.000+08:00

Danger zone at home! A row of tiles in the master bedroom started cracking loudly this morning. The moment I heard the noise, my initial thoughts were either a mirror came crashing down or my dad fell in the bathroom. Thank God none of us were hurt. Apparently, this is quite common in HDB flats. My neighbour experienced it 3 times! The problem now is we have to remove all the existing tiles as they can still crack anytime. An unexpected expenditure, no choice I guess. Oops, I just heard another one cracking.

Some updates

2005-07-15T15:21:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I last updated as my laptop was sent for refomatting. It's much faster now. Phew! Thanks Ray. :) Spent most of my nights out this week. For Mon and Tue, I attended the 'God's Word Is Alive!' workshop organised by ARPC and conducted by Sandy Galea. It was quite an eye-opener for me, and I've learnt much about teaching children. Indeed, it is even more difficult to teach children who are concrete thinkers as compared to us adults who are abstract thinkers. Some of the ideas mentioned are similar to what I've learnt in my Education Studies modules in NIE. Sandy emphasized that only one point is to be made for every children talk. On top of that, we can teach the Word creatively by having activities targeted at multiple intelligences (based on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory.) A pity we had to rush through the notes. Could be better if we had time designing activities on the spot. Nevertheless, it was interactive and we learnt many interesting activities. More information can be found on Kidswise. :) On Wed, BTPC's mid week bible study group met together for the very first time at Wai's place. The discussion was great and it was good to see new people joining us. Will probably switch from Sunday's group to this group. Spent Thur accompanying Dad to National Dental Centre for a day surgery. Appreciate your prayers for speedy recovery. And now, looking forward to the Bible Conference over the weekend! :)

Opportunity

2005-07-06T07:19:00.000+08:00

My siblings and their families came over for dinner last night. It was a busy time for Mum again, having to cook for so many of us. The house was very noisy too, with my nieces Hannah and Abby running around, baby Edna crying (she cries real loud), the adults laughing loudly, etc. In the midst of all these, I had an opportunity to talk to my sister's maid, Liliah. Thank God for the chance to share the gospel with her. Unfortunately, I only managed to share part of it as she had to leave. However, I'm really happy that she asked for a copy of 2 Ways To Live. Do hope and pray for another opportunity to finish sharing the gospel with her!

“伊芬，你变了！”

2005-07-02T14:33:00.000+08:00

Many thoughts are running through my head. Perhaps I'm in one of those reflective modes again. Well, at least there's still time to reflect despite a busy week.

Like I've mentioned before, I see myself as a crappy person. In a way, only people close to me can see that, although I do joke with people I meet. I wonder why I've become like this. Is it due to the influence of the people around me? (Anyone feeling guilty?), or is it just my personality? It could be both, but I think the second reason is definitely true. As I observe my parents, I kind of get the answer. Both my parents are chatty and my mum is rather witty. Blame the genes? Of course, I do have a part to play in controlling myself. Heh. Anyway, the crux of this issue is whether this crappiness side of me is a stumbling block to others, especially non-Christians. During a class gathering two days ago, my NIE classmates and I had a good time catching up. As teachers-to-be, you can expect most of us to be chatty. In fact, I think I pale in comparison to The Chatterers in my class. Anyway, I can't remember exactly what I said. What a friend said stumped me. “伊芬，你变了！” She claimed it wasn't a serious comment, but I decided to give it some serious thought. Perhaps there is some truth in it. I guess the reason is because we've built our friendship to a certain level where I show my true colours? What worries me is whether it has affected their impression of me as a Christian. The Bible talks being encouraging in speech but none about crappiness. I've come to the conclusion that it is fine to crap once in a while, but not excessively, because it irritates some people, and worst, stumbling others. Defintely not an expression of others-centredness.

To my non-Christian friends out there, my apologies if I've irritated you before in my speech and action. I pray that I may seek to display the attributes of a true Christian, and that you will see a difference in me. Most importantly, you may know that it is God working in me so that I can transform into Christ-likeness. May this also cause you to think more about the Jesus I proclaim as Lord and Saviour. :)

Do pinch me when I get too crappy!

Busy week

2005-07-02T05:51:00.001+08:00

It has been a busy week for me. I haven't been home for dinner for the past few days due to gatherings with friends, classmates and a bible study session last night. As such, I haven't been studying for the course this week. It's going to be a long day again tomorrow. Accompanying my mum to TTSH for endoscopy at 8am, BS leaders training at 1.30pm, Youth evangelistic talk at 3pm, and finally, CG at 7.30pm. Need to get back to studying for the course soon! p"q

Half Time Reflections

2005-06-27T12:20:00.000+08:00

Attended a Bible Study Leaders Training yesterday and we were given a list of reflection questions. Decided to take the afternoon to go through them and do a spiritual audit. It has been 7 months plus since I first attended BTPC. Time really flies and I hope to take time to review my service there and work on the areas which I've been neglecting. I guess prayer is one area I need to work on, especially to pray more for the youths whom I'm leading, and to spend more time with them. Acts 20:28 says “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit had made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” One thing which struck me in the training session is that we can spend a lot of time preparing for bible studies yet fail to let God's Word soak into our hearts, that is, we forget to teach ourselves first. Is my life a model for them? May I always watch my doctrine and my life.

Thank God for a couple of young adults He has brought into our midst. There's Jonathan and Jean who just joined us recently. Jonathan used to attend ARPC and I think he got to know about BTPC through Pastor Andrew. Jean will be doing the BSc in PE soon, guess I'll be seeing her quite often in school. Besides both of them, there are familiar faces around too, and many teachers! 7 in total, including trainees and lecturers. :)

The art of drinking frappucinos

2005-06-24T04:01:00.000+08:00

Almost forgot to blog about an interesting observation I made on Sunday. :) Let's take a poll first. Question: How do you drink your frappucinos? 1) Finish off the whipped cream first and then drink the rest of the nice blended drink. 2) Drink the frappucino together with the whipped cream. 3) Go without the whipped cream (for the health conscious). I've always thought there's only 2 ways, both 2) and 3). Apparently, someone drink it by eating the whipped cream (yes, on its own) first, and he thought that is the typical way. Haha..you know who you are. ;p

Tables in blogs?

2005-06-19T08:56:00.000+08:00

Does anyone have any idea if it is possible to create or paste a table in our blog postings? Tried copy and paste method but it didn't work. I would like to share some summary notes on the talks. A pity if I can't present it in a table format.

Back from Church Camp

2005-06-17T03:13:00.000+08:00

Hi all! I"m back. :) The camp was great! It's my first time attending such a big camp, it was like a conference to some extent. I must say Marriott is a very good choice for big camps, there was sufficient space for both ARPC and BTPC. The rooms are big too, you can even hold a small BS group. The talks were great, challenging me to fear God in all aspects of my life, for that is really wise living. Worldly wisdom is always lurking around us, pray that we may all choose to be wise in all that we do! Besides the good teaching, I thank God for the opportunities to build up relationships with other people in BTPC and ARPC. Managed to know the Helping Hand brothers better. What struck me is their generosity and care shown towards others, exemplifying servanthood in small ways. I used to think they are very quiet and keep to themselves. The trip to KL city was alright only, as there was nothing much to see at Times Square. The kids and youth had a good time at the indoor theme park though. A pity we couldn't check out the many food places which Cheryl recommended due to time constraint. However, Cheryl, Isabel, Kum Fun and myself managed to catch a decent meal of dim sum at Sungei Wang. BTPC had our own special night thus we missed a good talk and some Q & A session over at ARPC side. Hope to catch part of it online though. The wrap-up session by Pastor Andrew was clear and well presented. Will put up the notes soon. :) The journey back was pretty long, and our coach reached at 8.30pm. I thought it was very late already, turned out that Sern Khoon and Barnabas' coach reached even later! Now it is time to consolidate what I've learnt and put it into application.

Short notes on Japan Trip :)

2005-06-11T15:29:00.000+08:00

The Japan trip was really enjoyable, how I wished it could be longer. The package was pretty comprehensive, covering the main attractions in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, which of course includes Mount Fuji, Universal Studios and Disneyland. A pity I did not take MANY pictures as some of you expected, although I used up both my cards. On top of that, my parents and I used up 3 rolls of film, and there are some pictures on my neighbour's digital camera. The standard of living is very high, and there is no way that you can get a bowl of noodles at $2. (exchange rate being 100 Yen = S$1.55) Perhaps you can get a triangular shape 饭团 at that price. Bottled and hot drinks from the vending machine cost around 120 Yen. Although it is quite pricey as compared to prices in Singapore, the variety is wide. I was quite excited when I saw the different types of drinks and was really spoilt for choices. Most were different types of tea, and you could even catch a video of the drink-making process while listening to some upbeat music. Tried this drink called cc Lemon, which supposedly contains a high content of Vitamin C. It is very refreshing! Had a chance to eat ramen at a roadside stall while being entertained by the owner who kept saying ‘好吃，好吃’. We thought it didn't taste too good though, a tad bit too salty and not much of ingredients, and it cost 600 Yen! Had a better deal on the last day at Ikebukuro, tasty ramen at a comfortable restaurant with prices that ranges from 390 Yen to 540 Yen. Surprisingly, the coffee at Starbucks is cheaper than in Singapore. Some snacks are cheaper as well. Generally, the cost of living is still very high. Transportation is worse, just a 12 minute ride on the bullet train cost almost S$20. So much about the costs, will share more about the people and culture when I'm back from the camp. :)

Love amongst believers

2005-06-03T01:19:00.000+08:00

After hearing what some of my Christian friends go through in their life, be it in ministry or in relating with others, I can't help but feel saddened by the lack of love shown amongst believers. I know we are imperfect and we still live in this fallen world. But I hope this isn't an excuse. I admit that I've failed many times in this aspect as well, but it just saddens me that I see an increasing trend. Perhaps it is coincidence. I don't know. What is the point of knowing so much of the Bible yet unable to apply the truths to our lives? Just a note of encouragement to all my fellow brothers and sisters who have been hurt in one way or another. Press on and know that we always have other Christians who are willing to lend a listening ear and shoulder your burden. Let us also keep one another accountable in our doctrine and way of life, and gently correct or rebuke if we go off track. This is not easy, an art I would say.

On a lighter note, I'm heading off to 'The Land of the Rising Sun' tonight! Gonna take many pictures and try authentic Jap food. Will try to post up the pictures when I'm back. :) Looking forward to meet the other tour group members too. Do pray for opportunities to share the gospel.

Getting High with 10010101010

2005-05-28T06:37:00.000+08:00

Ah...taking a break now..this job is a test of my patience, especially with super-on discussion groups. Ger and I have finally finished one Project Work topic consisting of 10 Project Groups. Erm..we still have 60 over groups to go. *_* Getting a bit blur and restless. Fortunately, we can crap and laugh. Oops, not sure if the technicians at the other end can hear us. hee...

A Relaxing Day

2005-05-24T15:23:00.000+08:00

Spent most of the day lazing around and had a good 2 hrs nap in the afternoon. Was really warm and humid though. Visited some PRC nursing students in the evening, together with 2 other ladies from BTPC. I met them once during a cruise outing, but spent more time talking to them this time round. It's interesting to hear about their job and also how they are coping generally. Admire their perseverance in handling their struggles in a foreign land. One of them is quite keen to find out more about Christianity and will be coming down for service this Sunday. Appreciate your prayers for Wen Li. :)

01010101001

2005-05-20T03:44:00.000+08:00

Back in NIE for a part-time job on data coding. Thanks to my Classroom Management lecturer (also from BTPC) who offered me the job. :) Basically, I go through online discussions done by some secondary school students from a couple of schools. It's some inter-school Project Work which they were involved in, part of a research funded by MOE. The work is quite tedious though, have to look through every thread and individual posting. After which I write down coding of either 0 or 1 based on the rubrics given. I must say the students are really creative, and some of them are quite business-like, and are strong in their command of English. Of course, there are those Singlish phrases we are attuned to.

Sleepless in Serangoon North

2005-05-18T14:12:00.000+08:00

I suffered from severe insomnia last night and only managed to fall asleep at 5.30am! All because of a cup of coffee from the Taj Mahal store in Adam Rd Market. ;p

Warning

2005-05-16T08:38:00.000+08:00

The sermon and bible study today was on 'Birthright and Blessings' based on Genesis 25 and 27. Despite the sinfulness of man, and in this context, displayed in the scheming and deceptive ways of Rebekah and Jacob, God chose to fulfill His promises through them. Esau gave up his birthright to Jacob over some lentil stew (like red bean soup) without thinking twice. It was not even meat stew. This fulfilled what God told Rebekah earlier on in Gen 25:23 -“and the older will serve the younger”.

As we read Hebrews 12:14-17, it warns us not to be like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, when he wanted to inherit his blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing of tears. The book of Hebrews was written to warn the Jewish people not to fall back to their old ways, and trade their inheritance for short-term pleasures and ways. Likewise, it also warns us against the same thing. In our days, it could be marrying a non-believer, choosing success or fame over God, and work itself could even subtly draw us away from God. In the above passage, the warning is very clear. We could be like Esau, just a step outside heaven, deeply regretful, but it is too late for us to repent. God has chosen us, but we are also accountable for the way we live. I'm really glad that we have a family in Christ, whom we can always be accountable to, as we await the glorious return of Jesus. At the same time, I'm also burdened for those who proclaim to be Christians, yet do not seek to live out the gospel in their lives.

Hymn 714: I Know Whom I Have Believed
Daniel Webster Whittle, 1883

1. I know not why God's wondrous grace
to me he hath made known, nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.

Refrain: But I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day.

2. I know not how this saving faith
to me he did impart, nor how believing in his word
wrought peace within my heart.

3. I know not how the Spirit moves,
convincing us of sin, revealing Jesus through the word,
creating faith in him.

4. I know not when my Lord may come,
at night or noonday fair, nor if I walk the vale with him,
or meet him in the air.

Some updates...

2005-05-15T02:20:00.000+08:00

Haven't been doing much for the past few days..Celebrated my parents' wedding anniversary on Wed at Grand Shanghai, next to River View Hotel. I've always wanted to check out the place, and since my Dad enjoys music, thought it might be a good idea. Glad that they enjoyed themselves very much. The food is good, albeit slightly pricey. We had shanghainese handmade noodles,炒年糕, 小笼包, a tofu dish and 豆沙锅饼. They serve more variety of dim sum in the afternoon. The music was indeed good, and there were some 老外who came for the music. For those who like oldies, you may want to check out the place. :)

A few days ago, I had a discussion with two sisters and a brother on what it means to be gentle and quiet in spirit. Some people think I'm quite gentle..haha. ahem. (Some disagree?) I've always thought of myself as rather 粗鲁，and not the gentle type. I can get quite chatty and crappy. heh. After listening to last night's sermon on 1 Peter 3:1-7, I think we all have a clearer idea. Being gentle and quiet spirit can be understood as such: not being quarrelsome, insistent, pushy, selfishly assertive, argumentative. Simply put, women should not be like opposition parties. In a nutshell, women have to submit to their husbands. Shall continue to work towards being gentle and quiet in spirit, whether I do get married in the end.

Goodbye President Wee

2005-05-07T15:05:00.000+08:00

Spent the past hour or so watching 《前线追踪》's feature on President Wee. Many people shared about how loving and caring he is, a person without airs, 不分贵贱。的确，对国人来说，他将长眠于心。Sadly, he is not a Christian. This thought came to my mind: As Christians, do we even exhibit the sincere love and humility like he did? Perhaps we cannot be certain about his motivation, but hope it reminds the Christians that we should even love others more when we have already known the greatest love.

Spent a good afternoon catching up with Ann while Dr. Ray did a check up of my laptop (hope it survives my final yr of studies!) Thanks Ray! :) Looking forward to partnering with Ann in the sisters bible study group which begins next week. May God give us the wisdom and perseverance as we prepare the studies.

Went for prayer meeting after dinner. Turnout was small, only 5 of us including Pastor Andrew. But it was good sharing nonetheless. Pastor Andrew encouraged the rest to attend the marriage retreat which ARPC will be having, and at the same time expressed slight disappointment that he has not been able to attend for past retreats as he had to preach. We should give our pastors a break. ..heh :) Upon knowing that I have a 3 months break (techinically speaking, about 2 months plus left), he encouraged me to take the Moore College Correspondence Course. Hmm..it's not easy isn't it? Nevertheless, shall go find out more after posting this entry. Is anyone doing the course?

Making the best use of time :)

2005-04-26T05:54:00.000+08:00

After handing in my final report last friday, I feel a great sense of relief. At least I can slow down my pace of life (at least for a while), and catch up on lots of reading! This is probably the final long break in my life as a student. Better make the best use of time!

Some plans on my mind:
1. Meet up with the youths more often, and strengthen our relationships.
2. Meet up with non-Christian classmates and friends, and pray for opportunities to share the gospel.
2. Spend more time encouraging my Dad.
3. Dig deeper into God's Word.
4. Finish reading some books which I'm halfway through. (Bad habit, don't learn from me!)

Besides the above, I'll be away to Pulau Besar with my parent's senior citizen's fellowship (yes, I'll be the youngest in the group. ), a 7 days trip to Honshu, Japan, followed by Church Camp! Really looking forward to it. :)

End of Practicum

2005-04-17T14:35:00.000+08:00

My first round of Practicum ended on a happy note. The last day was simply memorable. :) I'm glad it's finally over, but feel sad that I have to leave the kids. I guess this happens to everyone. All in all, the 8 weeks was a frutiful learning experience and a bittersweet one. I didn't do much on the last day, except to complete marking a stack of spelling and some worksheets. Did a revision game with my P5s to ensure that they still remember what I taught, which fortunately they do. I was really touched when I received handmade cards from the P3s. :) One parent told me that her daughter stayed up till 10 plus to make a card for me. Aw..So sweet. Although I am doubtful that I've contributed much to their learning, I was touched to hear that they enjoyed my lessons. After saying endless goodbyes, I left the school understanding why teaching can be so rewarding. :)

Practicum Stress

2005-04-01T13:35:00.000+08:00

Received a sms from a NIECF friend, requesting that I pray for a fellow trainee who's contemplating suicide due to stress from Practicum. She has been on anti-depressant pills and keeps crying. Seems that she's not the only one, someone did commit suicide a few weeks ago, and she died. It may not be due to Practicum though. Coincidentally, both are Christians. Feel sad for these people...Reminds me once again that we are to look forward to the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I'm getting a bit stressed up too..don't worry, I'm not contemplating suicide..:) The thought of having 3 observations early next week is a bit daunting, and I'm anxious too. The sermon in church last week was about talking to God. Indeed, we are to rejoice in the Lord always and not to be anxious about anything! Compared to everything else, we have eternity in Jesus Christ, in the Kingdom of God. (Note the imperative "Do not"). We fall into the trap of not praying when we are busy, but let's remind ourselves that the more busy or the more worried we are, we should pray. Christians are to pray about everything and worry about nothing! :) May this entry encourage my dear friends.

Philippians 4:4-7 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. "

One more obs down. :)

2005-03-30T06:57:00.000+08:00

One more observation down today! I thought it didn't go well, especially when the class was unresponsive today. To my surprise, my CT said I'm more confident today. Seems that we always have different perspectives. ;p Anyway, she will speak to me more tomorrow, and hopefully, I can improve soon.

Many lessons have been interrupted recently due to health visits and the MobileKids organized by Mercedes Benz. It's some safety awareness exhibition, including simulation and games. On top of that, some students went for Learning Journeys where they go for excursions to the Dragon Kiln, Kampong Glam, etc. My P5 class was affected today because it is combined with another class. As such, we usually teach 《好公民》,the 'not so important' subject. I had a good time teaching only 10 students today! We even had time to play games and chat. As expected, they always ask about my age, whether I have a boyfriend, where I live, etc. It was fun but most importantly, I saw a different side of the 10 students. Realised that they don't feel comfortable speaking up when the other class is around. How nice if classes are smaller, where students learn better and teachers mark less!

Good Break!

2005-03-26T17:10:00.000+08:00

Hi friends! I've gone into a disappearing act once again, this time due to the demands of Practicum, as expected right? Much to share about teaching but don't think I will say much here, don't want this to be some grievance channel. It's been generally a fruitful learning experience, and I thank God for the nice people around, especially my CTs and HOD. Of course, there were times when I felt a bit depressed, when I didn't communicate well with my students, and I felt tired out having to churn out lesson plans continuously. I've been looking forward to today ever since the week started. March holidays flew by so quickly and all my fellow trainee teachers actually looked depressed when I saw them on Mon. Heh.

It's a good break today, especially so when I could join other brothers and sisters in reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in Christ. The Good Friday service today was the largest I've ever attended, and it was good to see some friends. Michael Raiter gave a clear sermon on Zechariah 12:1-13:1, although I lost him at some juncture. Maybe I am slow..haha . Pastor Andrew says he is one of the most engaging speakers he has come across. Personally, I prefer John Chapman, who is able to simplify his message without diluting the Word. Maybe, like I've said, I am slow in understanding..haha. After the service, I had lunch with Isabel, Grace and Hui Kheng. We had a long lunch at Coffee Club, and got to know one another better. It was a gathering of women from three generations, ranging from 22 to 44. Age isn't a problem at all. :)

Quite slacked tonight, and for once, I've not done any work for a day. Think I need the rest. Will start working on all my lesson plans again tomorow. Practicum has not just gave me a glimpse of teaching, but made me reflect on the struggles that will come my way. The workload is already quite heavy now, what more for full-fledged teachers. My friend shared about her struggle reading the Bible, and everything else seems more appealing, even marking books. I felt the same way recently, when I just wanted time to rest my mind. What a great danger I am in! Edmund preached at BTPC last Sun on our Back to Basics series 'Listening to God', and I was really thankful to God for speaking to me through His Word, and pushing me back on track. I recognise once again that I should be thankful that God speaks to us each time we read His Word. What a personal God we have! Reading His Word shouldn't be a dreadful thing, instead, it is a privilege. How easy for us to go off track. It is always necessary for us to go back to the basics, isn't it? He shared a quote by D.A Carson, which some of you may already know. "Do not be masters of Scripture, but be mastered by it." Even as we read God's Word seriously, may our lives reflect Christ too!

Facing the real world of teaching

2005-03-02T06:33:00.000+08:00

What NIE teaches is sometimes..too idealisitc. Our lesson plans look terrifc, but in reality, we can fulfill possibly at most 70% of it? Seems that whichever subjects we teach, doing, marking and re-marking corrections can simply take up a period of lesson (even when there's two of us in class). Then, there's 听写，订正《新天地》etc.My CT kept asking me to rush, and I just feel like I'm throwing all the 生词 to the kids and that's the end of the lesson. All the preparation on critical thinking activities seem to go to waste. Guess it's the way my CT teaches. She's always worried that she can't finish teaching all the 生词。I think it's also due to the pressure of meeting the timeline set by the department. Oh well, will try my best to teach the way she prefers, and at the same time, adding in creativity. Appreciate your prayer too! The kids are too 乖，not very reponsive except a few. Not sure how things will turn out when my NIE supervisor observes them!

Classroom Managment in practice

2005-02-24T03:52:00.000+08:00

Finally...classroom management in practice! Had to relief classes yesterday and today. Had quite a difficult time controlling the EM3 students yesterday, although it was only 1 period. The boys were rowdy and bullied another boy in the class, who ended up crying. At the same time, they were spilling water on the desk and floor. One boy was rocking his chair and fell backwards. He refused to stand up and sit on his chair. I had no choice but to shout really LOUD!

It was another battle today when I went to my P5 class. They were restless too and I seriously don't think they are afraid of me. It was only when I shouted really LOUD that all eyes were on me. Thankfully, some of them are reacted positively to me, and commented that I look kind and are glad to have me in the 'Getting to know you" form which I asked them to fill in. A fellow trainee teacher had a tough time with this class too. Looks like it's going to be real challenge in the weeks to come!

入得了厨房，出得了天堂？！

2005-02-18T07:38:00.000+08:00

忘了跟大家分享一则笑话。有一位学生既然将“入得了厨房，出得了厅堂”搞错，说成“入得了厨房，出得了天堂”天阿！！

Work piling up

2005-02-18T07:25:00.000+08:00

Just confirmed yesterday that I'll start teaching next week, which is one week before the stipulated timeline given by NIE. Getting bored by just observing and doing nothing. ;p Won't start teaching my P5 class till 7 March though cos my CT wants to do revision for CA. Quite excited that I'm teaching soon..but that also means I have lots to do, meaning to complete draft lessons plans for 12 periods (30mins each) for the whole of next week by tomorrow, so that my CT can look through and give her comments. There's a lot to do in one week: 生词，朗读，习字，听写，好公民，《新天地》，作业和复习。Learning from the teachers how to space out everything. :)

1st 2 days of Practicum

2005-02-16T06:28:00.000+08:00

I'm in school now..No, I'm not lazing around. ;p in fact, all the other trainee teachers have left. I'm in the AM session but staying back to discuss my lesson observation scedules with my CT. Thought I might as well make use of the time now. hee.. Thank God that this desktop computer in my cubicle works and has internet connection. :) Sharing it with the rest. There's 6 of us and I heard that 3 more PGDE students will be joining us next week! That means 3 people to one cubicle. It's still alright, considering that we are taking the HOD's cubicle. hee...at least we are away from the battlefield upstairs (staffroom). The first two days of Practicum have been quite enjoyable, especially today. Just after recess, I went up to my P3 class for observation and saw one girl bleeding from her nose. It was quite bad, but thankfully, the chinese teacher was with her. In the end, we brought her to the General Office and gave her mum a call. She was very calm, and I think it is because she is used to recent bouts of nose bleed. Soon after, her nose stopped bleeding and things were back to normal. By then, 20 mins have passed.

When we got back to class, one P3 student actually remembered that I went to his class last year! He even doodled something for me. Still trying to decipher what it is. He drew waves and wrote: "This is a maze. If you teach us, you can tell me." Hmm..Hope my rapport with the class can be built up over the weeks. The kids in this P3 class are lovely and warm up to me quite easily. I guess joining in their group work just now helped a bit. Looking forward to teaching them! My CTs turned out to be more approachable that I expected, and they are generally easy to work with (my gauge at this point in time). :)

先甜后苦

2005-02-13T16:17:00.000+08:00

若你不能理解这则网上日记，请多多包涵。我突然灵机一动，想尝试新点子。哈哈。。。请放心，我不会从此单以华语与你们分享我生活中的点点滴滴。今年的农历新年还算不错，至少有机会和多时没见面的亲戚聚一聚。相信大家都和我一样，一直吃喝玩乐。哈哈。。。对我来说，这是先甜后苦。一旦实习开始，恐怕没这样的机会，悠哉闲哉地放松心情。或许你认为我很悲观，但我想我应该现实一点。哈哈。。。盼望不高，失望也不会太大。昨天，我终于到学校（康柏小学Compassvale Pri)与校长和协导老师（Cooperating Teachers)见面。果然不出我所料，主任换了。新主任是我的Chief Cooperating Teacher，挺友善的。当我获知另两名协导老师的名字，我的心顿时沉了一下。哈哈。。。我最不想“中”的老师果然都“中”了。根据上一次观摩（observation) 的经验，她们并不是很友善(初步印象）。其中一名来自中国，另一名是老一辈传统的华文老师。而我的教育学院的督导讲师则是一名强调创新，“活动要有趣”的老师。看来，我将面对一向艰巨的挑战。我就像是夹心饼中间的cream。不过，我还是很期待接下来8个星期的实习。希望会是一个充实的学习机会！不过，就如一名弟兄所说的，最重要的是敬虔（godliness)，以基督的心为心。

Ministry Matters! Part II

2005-02-10T13:38:00.000+08:00

Setting Hearts on Fire III– John Chapman
What is Apostolic Ministry: Acts 20:17ff

Taking a look at Paul and his ministry...

(17)Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. (18)And when they came to him, he said to them:
"You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, (19)serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; (20)how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, (21)testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (22)And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by[a] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, (23)except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. (24)But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (25)And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. (26)Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, (27)for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (28)Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God,[b] which he obtained with his own blood.[c] (29)I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (30)and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (31)Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. (32)And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (33)I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. (34)You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. (35)In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

1) Paul's way of life was transparent (v17-21)

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the day that I set foot in Asia.” Paul reminds the Ephesians elders that they have seen how he lived his life; he was humble in serving the Lord despite trials that he suffered as a result of the plots of the Jews; he did not shrink from declaring to them anything that was profitable, and teaching both in public and houses, testifying to both Jews and to Greeks of repentance towards God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. What he did publicly and one to one is the same, teaching the Bible.

2) Paul's perseverance in ministry (v22-24)

In spite of imprisonment and afflictions that await Paul, he perseveres in ministry by testifying to the gospel of the grace of God, which came to him by revelation at the road of Damascus. The message of repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ goes hand in hand. It is a way of life.

3) Same Lord-Same gospel (v25-27)

Paul goes about proclaiming the kingdom, and did not shrink from declaring to the people the whole counsel of God.

Ministry is about the proclamation of the gospel and not holding back anything that is profitable. What do we want people to repent of and to trust? As we go through new circumstances, new temptations, we keep repenting and trust in what God has done for us in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can say that Christianity “goes backwards” – looking at the gospel. Note that Paul repeats the idea here.

20how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

4) The Challenge (v28-30)

We are to keep watch over ourselves and our flock, and care for them for they have been purchased with his own blood. What do we do? We are to watch our doctrine and watch our lives. Sniff out error and sins in our lives and guard our flock! Significance doesn't come from by what you can do but what God has made of you. On the other hand, false teachers make us dissatisfied with our Christian life, that we need to do things to improve it or to be made right with God.

5) The Persistent Pastor (v31-35)

With the above challenge, we need to guard ourselves against false teachers, and be faithful in proclaiming the gospel plainly, renouncing any disgraceful, underhanded ways. We are to admonish others faithfully and constantly, building them up in God's Word.

Each time I look at Paul's way of life and ministry, I feel ashamed of myself. His life of devotion to preaching the gospel faithfully and loving others is a model for me and all fellow believers. The priority of godliness and maturity in Christ marks the content of his prayers, and he presses on in ministry despite all the afflictions he goes through. How can our inconvenience in traveling and sacrifices in time and money for the gospel work ever compare to what he went through? May we be encouraged and continue to spur each other on as partners in the gospel.

Acts 20:24

24But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

If I've made any mistakes, please feel free to correct me. Thanks! :) Any other suggestions are welcomed too!

Ministry Matters! Part I

2005-02-09T02:33:00.000+08:00

It was a good weekend learning God's Word and building relationships with like-minded Christians. Just like to share some lessons I've learnt and some personal thoughts. Although I must say that my sharing here won't be as in-depth as some of my friends'. Do check out Adrian's if you are interested, since he has mentioned in his blog about outlines to come.

Although it's my third time attending MM, I'm still very much refreshed and encouraged by the lessons learnt, not to forget the meaningful friendships and gospel partnerships formed and strengthened. I strongly encourage everyone to attend in the future, regardless of whether you are considering full-time paid Christian ministry. What's more important is being clear about what Christian ministry is, and how we should go about doing it as revealed to us through the Bible.

Lessons which I've learnt:

Setting Hearts on Fire I &II – John Chapman
The Nature and Content of Christian Ministry: 2Cor 4:1-6

1) We do not lose heart in ministry because it is by God's mercy that we have this gospel ministry. Therefore, losing heart is also a temptation which we will face especially when the going gets tough.

2) Preach the gospel faithfully; set the truth plainly without any shameful, disgraceful and underhanded ways. Example, by working people's emotions over.

3) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers. Only God can open their blind eyes. Thus, we are to be in total dependence on God for results.

As John Chapman puts it, the best and succinct message of Christian ministry – 2 Cor 4:5
“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.”

4) If we are to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, let us be clear of who he is! Jesus is Ruler, Judge and Saviour. Our response to this is to live a life of repentance and faith. To repent means to turn over to a new way of living under God's rule. We can repent but may not have much feeling about it. Unfortunately, sometimes we may have much feeling about the things we have done wrong, but we do not repent of our ways.

5) Since we are servants (slaves) for Christ sake, we are to love his people too. Do we see ourselves as slaves of other Christians? One example is to make our teaching/ sermon as easy as possible for them to understand, making it a pleasure for them to listen and learn.

As for personal thoughts, I thank God for His mercy that I can be saved, and now being part of this gospel ministry. It is a good reminder to me to proclaim the gospel faithfully, not with any underhanded ways, but simply setting the truth plainly. May God have mercy on those who still reject Him, that He may unveil their blinded minds.

Will continue sharing after I've sort out my notes. :)

cLaSsRoOm mAnaGeMenT

2005-01-31T12:36:00.000+08:00

I had a taste of classroom management in the Sunday school today. Although the class is relatively small as compared to classes in school, the kids are still the same..restless, they don't talk but shout, and are always grabbing for attention. Heh..but it was fun. It's my first time teaching BS to children. We learnt about parables and I had to think of day to day examples to help them understand the passage. While teaching them, two girls started whispering to each other, while Pastor Andrew's older son, Joshua, started grabbing my hand and talking to me at the same time. He even sat on my lap! As I've mentioned in one of my entries, my classroom managment module tutor attends BTPC as well, and she's also helping out in the Sunday school. Felt quite awkward when she popped by to see how I was doing..heh..don't know why..each time I see her, I'm reminded of classroom managment. ;p

Link to Photobucket

2005-01-25T15:40:00.000+08:00

Sorry guys..overlooked a detail in my Photobucket's account. Anyway, it's available to the public now. Access by http://photobucket.com/ Under 'Go to Album', type 'Yifen'.

Photobucket

2005-01-23T09:27:00.000+08:00

Ah..i've finally managed to upload a photo to my blog. Got to know of Photobucket through Phy. Thanks Phy! :) I think it is very user-friendly, which is what I need. It's more than an online photo album..and I can upload photos to my blog directly! Will upload the rest of my albums to Photobucket soon! there's only abby's photo in there now. Can check out my album in the future. http://photobucket.com/albums/v300/Yifen/

Family bonding

2005-01-23T03:40:00.000+08:00

I've always been a pro-family policies person. Not that I totally agree with our government, but I really treasure family bonding. :) I spent a meaningful Sat morning with my sis and her family. Although breakfast was just simple fare like prata, it was an unrushed period of time where we could catch up with each other. Met one of her friends who is a typical kiasu Singaporean parent. She could never stop talking about getting her son into a good primary school. Upon knowing that I'm a trainee teacher, she got even more excited. Haha..then she shared about the Chinese classes her son is attending. Wah..then all the X, Y, Z methods came out. Gasp. I need to know more to handle parents like her. I need my rice bowl..haha.. Anyway, we went for a walk at the Lower Peirce Reservoir . It was quite a good workout mostly due to chasing after my nieces, and running up and down the slope with them. My Dad's belly became the cushion as he waited down the slope to catch them. The most embarrassing thing was..I fell down together with Abby. ;p Fortunately, Abby was alright and I only suffered slight scratches cos it was a grass patch. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw all the grass and soil stucked in her hair. Good thing is she's the adventurous type so the fall was nothing to her. :)

Pow'r Jump!

2005-01-17T15:09:00.000+08:00

After reading the papers a few days ago, I rekindled my interest in skipping. "Skipping burns up even more calories than running in most cases." Ah..an alternative to running during wet weather. I got a simple one at $8.10, as featured in the papers. I used to skip but my rope started to give way, and I decided to run more. With the fact that it burns more calories..it is worth picking up again. Furthermore, I can watch TV while skipping. :) And no, I'm not skipping in an attempt to grow taller (although it would be great)...haha..I know it's impossible lah.

MSN

2005-01-17T14:54:00.001+08:00

Hi friends..apologies if i've not responded to your MSN messages. In case you think I'm ignoring you..haha..it is not the case. Apparently, someone has been using my account when I'm not even online. I'm still trying to figure out how this has happened. Anyone has any idea? I've emailed the MSN support..hope to get it reinstalled soon.

My weekend...

2005-01-12T03:04:00.000+08:00

It was a busy but fun weekend. My friends Ben and Shiyin from YCKC are finally married! It was great seeing them go through all the planning and eventually implementing it. At the end of the dinner, I can't help but say, “Congratulations! It's finally over.” And they couldn't agree more. Thank God that everything went smoothly, although there were slight glitches here and there. Good experience for those of us who helped out in various ways. Tiring but FUN!

A pleasant surprise...

BTPC is a pretty small church. Guess what? My Classroom Management tutor attends BTPC too!!! This is a common module for all Year 3 students, and out of 8 groups, I happen to be in her group. And I'm the only one from the Chinese specialization. Indeed, it's a small world. :)

Helplessness

2005-01-07T17:06:00.000+08:00

A sense of helplessness. A tinge of sadness. I just wish I knew how to help my Dad. Pls pray that I have the patience and wisdom to encourage him, and that we will have an opportunity to study the Word together.

Reflection and Rainy Days

2005-01-03T14:44:00.000+08:00

This rainy season has given me excuses to stop running for a while..haha..really slacked. Before I forget, Happy New Year! New Year's Eve was spent catching up with friends, and as usual, I read through my journal entries for the past year. It has been a difficult year of managing relationships, but still a good year overall. I don't believe in making new year resolutions, but I wrote down a few things which I need to learn and apply constantly in my life as a Christian. New challenges like teaching BS in the Children's Church and also Practicum, but I'm looking forward to them!

Blessed Christmas

2004-12-26T16:50:00.000+08:00

Blessed Christmas! :) Sorry for the late greeting. ;p Just came back from my sis place. It is the first time when the whole family gathered at her place. We had a typical English Christmas dinner, followed by unwrapping of presents together. My parents, being conservative Asian parents, didn't really get used to the idea, which they think is very ang moh. Later, I found out that my brother-in-law, who is a real ang moh, had memorable christmas celebrations in his childhood. Guess that's why he wants his children to have memorable experiences too. I'm really happy tonight, not because of the food and gifts, but an opportunity to introduce the gospel to the family. I was contemplating whether to give my nieces a christian CD on the whole bible story ('The King, The Snake and The Promise'), with fear that my sis may react negatively. Really thankful when she eagerly played it. Praying that this is one step nearer to sharing the gospel to the family.

What I've been up to...

2004-12-26T16:40:00.000+08:00

Have been too lazy to blog..been thinking about a lot of things. Sometimes, it may not be helpful that I blog. Prefer to pen it down in my journal. Anyway, it has been a good break thus far. Am thankful that I've learnt much from God's Word, and being challenged to live out the truths in my life. Also spent quite a far bit of time catching up with friends and my family. Not forgetting catching up on sleep as well. :)

It's high time that I announce publicly that I'm no longer in YCKC (in case some YCKC friends are still wondering.) With regards to the reason, it is personal. Feel free to contact me if you wish to know. Apologies if I've made a sudden disappearance, because I didn't want to declare it to everyone at that point in time. Thus, I've only made known to a few people who are close to me or whom I'm directly accountable to. Once again, sorry if I've not handled this matter well.

As for which church I am with now, I've been attending Bethany Trinity Presbyterian Church (opp Helping Hand, near Bethesda Serangoon) since early Nov. Thank God for the warm fellowship I receive there, and I'm settling down well. Coming next year, I'll be serving in the Youth Ministry and trying out the Children's Ministry for the first time! It's indeed an exciting year ahead. Appreciate your prayers as I build up relationships with my fellow church members.

As the break draws to an end, I'm glad that the decision making process for the FES issue is finally settled. At least we can move on to the next stage of speaking to resource persons and planning for ministry. As Ann mentioned in her blog, all of us must have thought hard about this issue, and definitely important for us to do so. Through it all, I'm really thankful for the encouragement I've received from fellow exco members and also Fred, Steff and some of the graduates. Looking at the same issue from different perspectives (yet not displacing God's Word in the decision-making process) is very helpful. I'm sure all of us have matured in the process, sharpened our understanding of the gospel and ministry, and putting it into practice in this issue. It is my prayer too that we will seek to encourage one another in every step of the way, and many years down the road, we will still be guarding the good deposit that has been entrusted to us, not compromising in any way. :) True gospel ministry is tough, may our focus never waver.

Wedding cum Class Gathering

2004-12-01T03:55:00.000+08:00

Attended my Sec 4 classmate's wedding last night. She's the first amongst us to get married and I guess more to come soon. The dinner was much of a class gathering as well. Most of us have not met up for a couple of years and it's really nice to catch up with one another. Guess wedding dinners are the time when most people are committed to meeting up. :) My Sec 4 form teacher has recently been seconded to NIE for research in pedagogy and teaching practices, and she is staying serangoon north too! What a coincidence. While giving me a lift back, she shared about feeling claustrophobic being a christian. The thought of meeting the same people few times a week puts her off. Also, the commitment level in service also drains her. Wanted to encourage her but time did not permit. However, we agreed to meet up for lunch when school starts. Hope we'll have a good talk then!

Breaking the silence

2004-11-28T02:06:00.000+08:00

Ray..this is quite a long post..so it's not that quiet here afterall. ;p

Went back to NIE to attend a class on flash and took the opportunity to download sermons. It is really SUPER FAST as compared to dial up connection at home. On the way back, I managed to listen to part of Chris Chia's sermon on Single Sex. Thought it'll be good to go through that before I listen to the sermon on Married Sex. Although different issues were touched on briefly, the important reminder is that Christ suffered, died and resurrected for our bodies, thus our bodies do not belong to us. This comment is also worth thinking: If you are not happy as a single person, you are probably not ready to be married, because that will bring problems to your married life. i.e. you are insecure and expect your spouse to make you complete.

For the sermon on Married Sex, Chris handled the issue of sex candidly and humourously. Some of the examples he gave about married couples were really funny..haha.. Especially the comparison between man and woman. Sex for woman begins in the lounge room and kitchen, but for man, it begins in the bedroom. Not so much of the act itself, but the differences in our attitudes. After the service, a brother beside me asked me if it's true. How would I know? Haha...Anyway, for those who are going today or tomorrow, have a good time! Apologies that I've not managed to put the link to previous sermons on my blog. For those who are interested, you can go to Sern Khoon's blog (see Friend's Blogs on the left).

Was glad to meet some SMU CFers and we had a good time of fellowship over supper after the service, encouraging each other to press on in living Christ-centred lives. Also had a chance to bid Denesh farewell before he sets off for Moore College in Sydney.

As I shared with Fred, there are quite a few changes in ministry going on in my life. New plans, new environment. But it is indeed exciting, trusting that God is sovereign as I continue to share and teach the gospel by His grace, and looking forward to the hope I have in the future.

After-exams ritual

2004-11-21T01:49:00.000+08:00

Woo-hoo!!! Can't believe this semester is finally over. :) Wanted to post this up earlier but Blogger's server was down. Anyway, i'm still very glad that I can finally slow down and take a break. Time to catch up on the books which I borrowed from others and listen to good sermons. Oh ya, not forgetting the after-exams ritual which I have, that is to tidy up my room. I took my own sweet time clearing up yesterday (and I've not finished), and threw away about 3 bags of stuff. As time passes by, some things just seem to be of less importance. Looking back at some of the sermon notes and BS materials for the past 2 years or so, I thank God that He has given me opportunities to learn from faithful bible teachers. In comparison, some materials are better recycled to save our earth. Heh..;p

Report Free!

2004-11-07T04:59:00.000+08:00

Finally! I've cleared 16 reports or so! :) It's really a load off my shoulder, but not too satisfied with some of them though..Anyway, it's time to start studying for my first paper on the 9th. Hope I'll have enough time to study!

God's family

2004-10-26T08:09:00.000+08:00

Hi..I'm back..:) one more paper down, yeah! :) two major papers due on fri though. So much has happened recently..as i sang the song 'One Voice' in church yesterday, i was affected quite a bit. guess it reminds me once again that as a body of christ, we are to be united. but do we know what we are united in? the saddest thing is when we even fight against ourselves. don't you think so?

visited arpc mandarin ministry yesterday, and mum came along for the first time. once again, we sang a song about being part of God's family. the lyrics came even stronger this time round, encouraging us to shoulder one another's burdens in times of trials and tribulations. how apt it is in these difficult times of standing firm for the gospel. thank God for the encouragement through the songs...the message was good too! the topic was “今日还有神迹吗？”. boon yong did a good job of covering the old testament (exodus) and bringing us through the gospels, pointing to the fact that miracles were shown as a sign to salvation. that challenged my dad quite a bit, and i'm really glad he was there. having been to a few healing rallies, he was confused about miracles and what faith is all about. after the sermon, we had a good 20 mins of discussion, and quite a no. of doubts were cleared. i left the service very much encouraged, being reminded that the salvation i have in christ, and each day, being transformed into christ-likenss is already a miracle by itself. most of the time, when we talk about the topic of miracles, the first thing we think of is those healing rallies and start criticizing them. thank God for this fresh perspective on miracles. :)

Decisions..decisions...

2004-10-20T01:56:00.000+08:00

Counting down the number of assignments i've to hand in. In the midst of churning out paper after paper, I'm bogged down with many issues to handle. Major decisions to be made, problems to be settled. By God's grace, I'm still surviving. Things are not that bad..just that it's not convenient to mention here..but some of you may know what is happening (with regards to either one or both issues).

Visited ARPC Mandarin ministry on Sunday. Was a last minute decision cos Dad suddenly mentioned that he wanted to go in the morning. The topic was “我们都是罪人吗？”.
Boon Yong preached from Romans 5:12-21 and referred to Genesis 3 as well. Though I've just done this passage in English, understanding it in Chinese is slightly different. Slower, I guess. Haha.. After the sermon, we had a group discussion to reinforce and clarify what we have learnt. Thought it was really helpful and also provides a warm environment for seekers, no pressure at all. The small congregation gave us an opportunity to get to know more people, a few whom I've met at Project Timothy and the Friday service as well. Glad to find out that my dad found the preaching clear and it challenged him to study the passage even more. To my surprise, met Dr. Ng (the guy who shared at the recent Teachers' Retreat). That makes it 2 NIE lecturers. The other one is my current lecturer Ms Foo. Small world...Boon Yong invited my dad to join them for Bible Study class every Tues, hope he will attend and grow in knowledge of God. :)

I'm back...

2004-10-08T16:18:00.000+08:00

Yes, it's almost 2 weeks since my last entry. I'm still alive, and my blog is surviving still. ;p Hehe..Decided that it's time to post something after lazing for a while. Would like to share about a book I finished reading sometime ago, and it has challenged me to be different in an indifferent world. 'Distinctives' by Vaughan Roberts is a great book that reminds Christians to stand firm for the gospel and living it out in their lives. I've always found Roberts' books clear and easy to read, not too cheem for me at least. Ok ok, perhaps I'm just lazy to think. haha..He has aptly touched on the different topics, contentment, purity, holiness etc. The one on relativism in this world is something which is helpful for us to think through. Sadly, we are living in a world where everything is acceptable and nothing is absolute. In fact, this has crept into our churches, our lives so much that we may not be aware of it! We agree with teachings so long as they are quoted from the Bible, which sadly, may be taught out of context. We agree with everyone's views when it comes to studying the Word, but do we look to the absolute truth? For those who observe what is happening around the churches, it is clear that this situation is not getting any better, in fact, worse. Let's put on our guard against false teachers, and may we encourage one another to stand firm for the gospel, so that we can guard ourselves against all the seemingly truths around us!

Something light to end off this entry... :)

10 Biggest Brain Damaging Habits:

1. No Breakfast
2. Overeating
3. Smoking
4. High Sugar Consumption
5. Air Pollution
6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
7. Head covered while sleeping
8. Working your brain during illness
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts (Serious Bible Study definitely helps)
10. Talking rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain.

Are your habits here? ;p

Busy Weekend

2004-09-27T16:22:00.000+08:00

Much to share about the weekend...I think this is my longest entry so far.

Friday..

Thank God that Geraldine agreed to visit ARPC on Fri night. It came as a pleasant surprise. :) As usual, the lecture every Fri morning is super boring, and our dear lecturer never seems to get past the first slide. Being a typical task-oriented Singaporean, I would want to use my time productively. While I was browsing through Matthias Media's Resource Guide, I had an opportunity to discuss with Geraldine some questions she has pertaining to Christianity and was glad that she found some of the books appealing to her as a non-Christian. I briefly told her that some of the books are available at ARPC and took the opportunity to invite her to the Fri service. Glad that she went, and it actually showed her a different perspective of how sermons are preached faithfully. Sometime ago, she was put off by a group of Christians who kept pressing her to make a decision for Christ week after week. On our way home, she shared that she liked the way the sermon was presented and expressed interest to attend the Fri service every week. Thank God that despite her tiredness that day, she could still concentrate on the sermon (Btw, she apologizes for appearing unfriendly that day cos she was not feeling too well). There were many questions on her mind, and an excitement on her face which I do not often see. :) How we wish the bus ride could be longer! The problem now is her parents are not in favour of her attending church. It is my prayer the Spirit will convict her of the truth, and as her close friend, I may also be able to explain the Bible clearly and be Christ-like in the way I live my life.

Saturday...

After my GE class, I rushed down to FES Council Meeting together with Charmain. Again, I was fighting the Z monster halfway through the meeting. Various issues were raised, with some that a few of us are especially concerned with. Anyway, that's how it is with meetings, esp. with regards to some. ;p

Was trying to do my work and prepare for bible study while the mid-autumn celebration was on. I failed to beat the "glass-breaking" voices.

Sunday...

I had a long day....Youth service started at 9am, followed by main service at 10.45am. Today's sermon was on the 7th Commandmant, "You shall not commit adultery". Halfway through the sermon, I was fighting the Z monster again, struggling to keep myself awake. Lime mints didn't seem to help much. ;p Anyway, right after service was lunch, followed by writing the Christmas script with James, Adrian and Jan. I dozed off in the midst of it. haha..but for abt 2 mins only. Not sure if anyone noticed. ;p Finally, the last thing on the schedule was Ben & Shiyin's wedding preparation meeting. All of us were tired, but we managed to come up with a list of 'To-Dos' and settled our roles. Shiyin said I'm responsible and punctual, thus she appointed me as timekeeper and logistics officer based in church...haha..actually, I tend to be late for about 10-15mins. Geraldine can vouch for it..haha..I'm working on it, hope there will be some progress..heh. But I'll make sure that things go smoothly for the wedding. :)

One year older...hopefully wiser ;p

2004-09-24T14:57:00.000+08:00

For once, I get to stay back after Lunchtime Talk to mingle with the rest. It was great seeing two newcomers, who got to know about the talk through the announcement on the NIE portal. :) Had a chance to talk to Pastor Boon Yong too. He's very soft-spoken..haha..could hardly hear him at times. ;p Very encouraging person, and he has a broad smile too.

A BIG THANKS to my dear friends (classmates, church friends and CFers) who made my birthday a memorable one! Appreciate your gifts, and sacrificing your precious time to celebrate with me, especially when the deadline for all the assignments and projects are just round the corner. Thanks Grace, Poh Lin and Ray for the photobook! I was touched when I saw it. :) Indeed, the photos bring back wonderful memories which we've shared for the past year or so. :)

Birthday Celebration

2004-09-24T06:36:00.000+08:00

Thanks to all my YCKC friends who celebrated my birthday for me last night, esp. those who planned it and topped up the cost of the gift and stuff. :) Pai seh that you guys spent so much! I really like The Briefing CD-ROM. I casually mentioned that I've wanted to get one eventually, and you guys really got it for me. Thanks!! I'm sure it will benefit many others. Nice choice of place too, a place where I've always wanted to check out. haha..The Settlers Cafe is a real cozy place, and it is a great hangout for board game lovers! It is located at North Canal Road, very near Clarke Quay station. Though we only had a short time of Taboo and Cranium, I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves! :) Once again, a BIG THANKS TO ALL!

My blog is still alive

2004-09-17T17:03:00.000+08:00

Yes, this blog is still alive. Haha..Have been busy doing my assignments that I didn't blog for one week. ;p Anyway, i'm back..and yes, this one week break is almost over! It's 1.53am now and I've just finished my second report, actually not yet, left the conclusion part. Decided that I've had enough of Chinese Rhetoric for the day. I should leave it to tomorrow. Hopefully by tomorrow noon, I would have completed my last report, on the condition that I'm disciplined to focus on my work. haha..Keep telling myself that I need to finish my work asap since I'll be away for the retreat late tomorrow afternoon (oh..it should be this afternoon since it is past midnight already), that's a form of motivation I guess. Ah..that sounds familiar. I just did an essay on that. Sorry to all my readers..I'm crapping here..heh..Anyway, I'm looking forward to the retreat! Good food at Changi Village, and hopefully I'll get to enjoy the beach!
Oh..Wee Seng asked me if I could help cook fried bee hoon or fried rice for this Sun's Supper Talk. Anyone wanna help? :) (Hmm..thinking of Grasie. *hint*)

Term Break!

2004-09-10T11:44:00.000+08:00

At my sis' place now, finally managed to find time for a jog in the midst of the week. :) Can't help but looking forward to the term break next week. haha..not that I'll be resting much..but I do hope to get some work done. My aim is to complete the assigments due in Sept, which includes about 4 papers. Somehow, I feel that time will fly pass very quickly and I'll just spend too much time on stuff other than school work, as usual. Though some are well-spent, catching up on my reading and listening to sermons. But I'll also start regretting not managing my time well. haha..that sounds contradictory..oh well. I'm also a procrastinator at times...heh..We'll see how the break goes. Anyway, there's already a 3 hr make-up class for my Tang Poetry module on Mon. Half day out of 7 days gone.

Ah.....I need Ideas!

2004-09-05T14:35:00.000+08:00

Finally, I've managed to start on the picture book for my GE. Due to my lack of creativity, I took quite some time to come up with the storyline. ;p It's going to be just pictures teaching kids about colours through things we come across in our daily life. For example, tomato sauce (red) + egg yolk (yellow)=orange (orange juice). There will be flip flaps to reveal the colours. After a good round of sharing in the class, I decided to design the book in the shape of a palette, and probably providing some poster paint and a blank page for kids to play around with the colours. There were suggestions to use colour film also. This is only the start...so much more to plan, and eventually draw, paste, colour, etc. Let me know if you have any suggestions. It's fun designing a picture book but it's really tedious too. I hope that I'll be able to do a decent job. :) Some of my friends are really creative, good for them!

Liliah

2004-09-02T15:47:00.000+08:00

My sister and her family has gone back to Scotland to visit her in-laws. This makes a good opportunity for the rest of the family to get to know her maid better. Liliah has just started working for my sis last month, am glad that she's much more efficient and responsible as compared to the previous maid. After taking my shower just now, my plan was to chat with her for a few minutes, but we ended up talking for an hour plus. Through the conversation, I learnt more about the plight of the Filipinos in their country, the struggles she faces in her family and also interesting facts about her country. Felt very much for her but there's nothing much I can do besides to encourage her. Through a change in topics, we ended up discussing about Christianity and Catholicism (Correct spelling?), and in the process, I encouraged her to think about the basis of our salvation. Praying for more opportunities to share our lives and sharpen our understanding of who God is.

"好吗?"

2004-09-02T15:25:00.000+08:00

Eh.."好吗?"
Ever since the start of this semester, my classmates have been calling me "好吗(妈)" . Guess this is more or less my nickname in NIE. ;p An addition to '1 cent'. They decided to call me that because I've always been asking them "好吗?", and thus I'm stucked with this nickname now. Haha...I don't mind actually. My classmates are real funny, and almost all are bubbly and crappy. It's great that we can joke and this defintely makes our time in NIE memorable. Though we've been classmates for the past 2 yrs, I still don't know some of them well..hope to do so before we start our Practicum next Jan. :) Anyway, just want to take this opportunity to thank all my classmates for their friendship and help in one way or another. Thanks gals!

Obligation

2004-08-31T01:45:00.000+08:00

The word 'Obligation' has been mentioned very much in the past few days, esp. during my conversation with a friend, whom I shall call Z. Was pretty upset yesterday after a so called debate with Z. Perhaps it's a misunderstanding, or what I've said doesn't hold. I gave the impression that I've been obliged to a group of people. Though I was frustrated explaining myself, but through it all, it made me think clearly of my motivation in the things that I do. Anyway, I do thank Z for that.

Are we obliged to our friends? This is another question that came out of the conversation. In life, we hold expectations. We expect 5 star hotels to provide excellent service. We expect the food from a well-known stall to be good. We expect someone to treat us the way we treat him or her. We expect our close friends to be there for us when we need them. I don't know how to deal with the friendship, all I know that it is tough. Tough because we hold different perspectives. Perhaps it may not be as close as before....But, I would not want to lose this friendship...

The Tea Party

2004-08-31T01:00:00.000+08:00

After a tiring day of lessons and project meeting, I met Dorcas, Adrian, Simon and Yahui for dinner at Sixth Ave. After which we went to check out The Tea Party (located at Sixth Ave Centre), owned by Jan's cousin. I'm not exactly a tea person, but I'm really impressed by the list of teas offered at the cafe. The prices are pretty high, ranges from $7.90 per pot (about 4 cups) to about $10.90. A few of us love coffee, and to satisfy our cravings for coffee, we tried the MateChino. It's a fusion of black tea with cocoa bits, some herbs (think so), and I can't remember what else is in there. It smells really nice and tastes like coffee, but with a lighter taste. The Earl Grey La Creme with a tinge of vanilla won't go wrong with the masses, unlike the Vanilla Coke that's too artificial. Defintely a great place for tea lovers and for those who want to catch up with friends over a pot of fusion tea.

Be God Pleaser and not Man Pleaser

2004-08-28T16:11:00.000+08:00

Reflecting on myself right now..Am I being superficial and outwardly religious? Am I a God Pleaser or a Man Pleaser? I've been reminded twice this week through faithful teaching of the Word. I guess it helps to constantly think about this, especially so when I'm busy with ministry. I've to admit that sometimes I lose my focus, thoughts of what others think of me and whether they approve of the things I do fill my mind. But I thank God for convicting me of my sins, that I may learn to fix my eyes on Christ, who has made me right with God. I'm just like the pagans if my heart is far from God. I think Rev Andrew Ong puts it appropriately, "Maximum Appearance, Minimum Obedience." May I learn what it means to tremble at God's Word and seek to be obedient to Christ always.

A meeting of the intellects

2004-08-22T14:14:00.000+08:00

I spent almost half of my Saturday stucked in a meeting of the intellects. It was actually a seminar I had to attend for my general elective. At first, I thought it will be quite relaxing and I could probably catch forty winks. Man, it turns out that it was held in a small conference room at the Chinese Heritage Centre in NTU, and there were the intellects from the Masters and PhD classes, with a significant number from China. I was fighting the Zzz monster and progressed to stoning after the Q&A session started. I was lost in their debates..for a start, I could not even fully comprehend their questions. Even my lecturer gave me the "This is really a cheem discussion, it's really heavy going" look. haha...Some interesting observations though..there was this sporty, tanned looking guy who looks more like a PE teacher, but his knowledge of Chinese history and literature, and his command of Mandarin was really good. Jaw dropped. A classic case of "looks can be deceiving".

Be not ashamed of..the gospel.

2004-08-19T03:02:00.000+08:00

I've been feeling less tired this week, probably because i'm getting used to sleeping less nowadays. And i think a good rest over the weekend helps a lot. :) Not forgetting coffee..haha.
It was great hearing Wai preached last night. I'm really thankful for his faithful teaching all these while, espcially when I first joined CF. His patience in explaining the Word to me, and correcting me in love has been really encouraging. In the book of Philippians, Apostle Paul instructed fellow Christians to imitate his way of life, his labour and love for the people and God. By God's grace, may my life also be an example to those around me.

During the talk last night, I've been challenged to think what it means to not be ashamed of the gospel, especially in seemingly unimportant situations that I deem. For example, the daily conversations I share with my classmates and friends may seem very casual. But one think that struck me was whether I do see these casual topics as even opportunities to share the gospel, and presenting the hard truth to them, that they are rebels against God and He is angry with them. I've to admit that sometimes I do take the easy way out and tell myself that there's going to be other opportunites in the future. Thank God for the reminder last night, and I pray that I may strive to live out the truth in my life, and remembering that the gospel is for all, and has the power to save and transform lives.

A picture speaks a thousand words

2004-08-15T18:31:00.000+08:00

In the library now..super cold..but enjoying the broadband here..hee. It has been an enjoyable day thus far, probably due to the very fun lesson I had for my general elective Children's Literature. I never knew there's so much to observe and anaylse for children's big books..quite an eye-opener for me. :) Truly, a picture speaks a thousand words. Knowing more also means that I have to do a good job for my assignment, which is to design a big book for a kid. Still thinking about the storyline..no inspiration yet..haha..let me know if you have any great ideas. :)

I can be wise, if you teach me how

2004-08-15T18:15:00.000+08:00

Preparing a good bible study is really not easy. Teaching others and structuring questions to lead them to the aim of the study is a challenging task...Thankfully, some of the teaching modules which I'm currently doing are really helpful for bible study too, skills like designing questions, summarising, reading in context, ways to organise a text..etc....haha..kill two birds with one stone. ;p Will share with anyone who's interested. :)

After studying Romans 1:18-32, I realised that there's so much more that I've not really understood. Have been really humbled in the process. Although I've been a Christian for 5 years, I did not grasp the aspect of God's wrath upon mankind till I was taught (still being taught) by faithful bible teachers. God has revealed Himself to mankind, but we choose to reject Him and think that we are wiser than God. In response, He gave us over to our sins...it is this aspect of the gospel that people are uncomfortable with, and even Christians sweep it under the carpet. Sadly, this is happening so much around us. Brothers and sisters, let's press on in presenting the true gospel!

Making the most of every opportunity

2004-08-13T13:59:00.000+08:00

The first session of the Lunchtime Talks in NIE went well. (CFers and friends - anyone beg to differ? ;p) Really thank God for the people who came. Though it is just a one hr session, it is an opportunity for God's Word to be shared. We should have done this earlier! :) Keep praying for my friend Geraldine..that as she seeks to know more about Christ, the Holy Spirit will convict her of the truth (Yes Ger, I know you are reading. ;p) May we make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel!

Food and Family :)

2004-08-08T23:21:00.000+08:00

Just came back from my sis-in-law's niece's one month old celebration..had a good time getting to know her extended family..and as usual, someone thought I'm in JC. heh..let's take a poll..do i really look young for my age? hee..but i know i definitely am short. ;p Ate a lot, seriously a lot tonight! The food was good, thanks to my sis-in-law's mum who is a peranakan. The kuah pie tie is yummy! :) Most importantly, it was a good time catching up with my brother and sis-in-law ever since they came back from the UK. Think my niece Abby has a huge appetite for her age, she eats non-stop..Serious. She's proud of her tummy. haha...;p

Coffee and Crumpled Notes

2004-08-07T13:48:00.000+08:00

As I was saying in my previous entry, I've been deprived of sleep recently. Coffee is the first thing I look forward to in school..haha..be it NIE Canteen's or Canteen A, i'm ok with anything, so long as it's coffee. Think I'm addicted to coffee already. Heh..but I limit myself to 2 cups a day. Sometimes I just wish that I stay in hall, so that I can have more rest and don't have to rush back after CF meetings. Aiyah, how come MOE don't pay me for my third and fourth year?? Anyway, I'll get used to it...

Been spending a lot on notes, and the Tang Poetry notes are real thick! After just half a day of walking around and travelling, the first and last page are really crumpled. Worst thing is the rubber band slipped out of the whole stack of notes while i was travelling back home..and it hit an uncle beside me. Oops..he went "Ouch!" Pai seh ah..Anyway, thanks to those who helped me carry my notes along the way. :)

Sorry if this entry is rather boring..well..just sharing bits of my life...;p esp to those whom I don't meet often.

All Set!

2004-08-06T16:03:00.000+08:00

Have been deprived of sleep for the past few days due to CGL Training and Welcome Tea, but it's all worth it. Had a good time talking to the freshies at CF Welcome Tea yesterday. In the midst of settling admin stuff, it was great meeting people and just encouraging each other refreshes me after a long day of classes. As for today, glad that I could meet up with 2 of my CF friends to discuss our Bible Study on Romans next week. It's really hard work as we work through the passage, and thinking how we should phrase the questions, etc. It's indeed a challenge for us to put across the message clearly and faithfully to our CG members. And we need to prepare for BS every week...it's going to be tough when we get busy during the term. Appreciate your prayers friends! Coming next week, Corporate Meetings and Lunchtime Talks will start too, and I'm really excited and praying that more people will hear the Word preached faithfully and be convicted of the truth. :)

Yawn..going to sleep now..hope to go for a jog in the morn before I head down to school...very unfit now..;p

Be Good...

2004-08-04T20:57:00.000+08:00

Not sure how many of us can still remember what we learnt in 'Hao Gong Ming" when we were in primary school. Did it really impact us? Hee..

I just had my first lesson on Teaching of Moral Education (I). Note: It's Part One. One more to come. MOE really think it HELPS the kids. But...looking at the kids now..I think we know the results.

I've always thought it's a waste of time. I've spent 2 modules on Moral Ed in Year One already. It's good in one sense..cos it's the most relaxing lesson, no need to think, just drink tea and listen to my tutor joke...then crap for reports. haha..

On a serious note, I'm still thinking how I can be teaching kids about morals and it's implications on the gospel. Sadly, our government knows that we have to keep on teaching kids to be good, upright, decent, filial, etc. so that they wil not be corrupted in their thinking, esp. in this age of globalization. The fact is Man is sinful, but this is in total contrast to what we have been teaching in school, that by default, Man is good. The challenge for me is to fulfill my job as a teacher, to teach what I'm required to and be wise to know when I can be bring in the gospel.

Home Sweet Home

2004-08-04T20:07:00.000+08:00

Welcome home brother and Su (my sis-in-law)! :) It's great to see them after one year.Time really flies man..and they are going to be parents soon! Very efficient..haha. Really happy for them. They were pretty tired after a long journey home, hope to catch up with them soon!

Hi, Can I be your friend?

2004-07-31T03:34:00.000+08:00

I wonder how my hp no. ever got to this guy called Nick. Intially, I thought he was one of the freshies who called regarding CF. Before I could clarify things, he insisted that he met me during one of his clubbing sessions, but that was lame. He's just trying his luck to get to know a girl. Sorry lor, I'm not so dumb. And I don't go clubbing. Called me a couple of times for the past 2 days, and once at 5.50am! fortunately i was going to wake up soon. Ignored his nonsense and he has not called today..hopefully he will stop calling, if not I'll take action!

Fragility of Human Relationships

2004-07-30T00:51:00.000+08:00

Human relationships are indeed fragile...this is the reality. I am surprised to find out that 2 couples whom I know broke up after a pretty long relationship, and I was expecting a wedding invitation soon. Though I'm not sure what were the reasons, but I guess it was a decision clearly thought through. From another perspective, as Christians, we take heart in knowing that Christ is our Bridegroom, and we are his Bride. As I read a book called 'Life's Big Questions' by Vaughan Roberts, I was struck by how little I've grasped in terms of understanding the relationship I have with Christ..Have I been living my life as though I'm waiting for my Bridegroom? Each day is a day nearer to meeting Christ. May we be gripped by the fact that Christ offers to all of us a perfect marriage with him that will last for eternity.

Literal Translation

2004-07-28T02:03:00.000+08:00

My niece Hannah did a literal translation of fishball over dinner. Was feeding her and she said "Yu Qiu" instead of "Yu Yuan"! My natural reaction was to laugh. Before I knew it, she was crying away. Oh dear..I need to be real sensitive when it comes to her. Tender heart.. :) Hmm..I hope this doesn't happen to the kids when I start teaching. ;p