爷爷

-To see the Doctor we are-

This week began with an accompanying trip to NUH for my granddad's Blood test,
which spilled over to a need to be warded because of
haemoglobin,
white &
platelet counters being too low.

an agonising 3 hours and another 3 hour thereafter, because the supply exceed the demand for beds.
Granddad and I whining ocassionally about the slow pace but he's a calm sage
I keeping a look out for him while he sits on the chair.

Sitting at the waiting area, looking around, don't know what thoughts are whizzing through his mind. The sea of teochew vocabulary when I ask a question which I faintly understand half and he repeats the rest in mandrin.
His favourite past time is actually to count money & play mahjong with the pros who have money.
Him laughing quietly to himself when my face points blank after being bombarded with teochew.
He directing me where to push him while he sits on the wheelchair.

Having the previlage of the afternoon with him, topics begin.
His roots, his journey to Singapore from the Sounthern province of this place Swatou in China, to Hongkong, back to China then to Thailand before arriving at the age of 25 in Singapore.

The question of christianity I asked which bore a hardened heart after the brunt of so many year(he's 87), working and fighting to protect and raise his family.
Toiling his trade once as a painter, fending for himeself alone in Singapore.
How do I begin sharing about Jesus's story to this man? But I need to begin sharing.

Pray that he gets better, he should be getting home to recuperate tomrrow and the quality time to share on the story(:

我的天堂在哪里？

Where is heaven bound?

This is one of the many quotes my dear friend, Amanda shared the other night.

"Heaven's not a place."
"I didn't say it had map coordinates..."
"If it was in the sky, then birds would get there before you.
If it was under the sea, fish would be first."
"Then where is it?" I asked.
"It's inside you,"
Shay said,"and outside too."

I want to look with an eternal perspective(:

So far?

Walking the past month, and I write this today....what has been taking place in my life

My birthday celebration with people in my life,
the romanates retreat,
BMT parade,
worships on Sunday...
thankful for it all...

-Safra Retreat with a birthday gathering at bungalow 9-
It was as always wonderful to be able to gather with cousins on my maternal side for annual gatherings. With members putting in effort, not easy with the children growing up and different phases in life..and the surprises I got that day..
.from milk,sarsi and 7-up into a sunday's outfit
a Big welcome banner,
seeing my mates from my life..
getting drench in water and cream at my 'thank-you' speech,
very appropriate blessings I received in gifts and text greetings
to move ahead with my walk in God



-Sharing in the song 'Everytime I see a cross' inspired the sand work-

Over at the Retreat,
East Coast Parkway by the beach was humbling.
To stand at the sea, in the calmness of night, or the breaking of morning.
just open your ears, close your eyes, be still,let the heart start singing with the right heart & spirit...
the wind just passes by your face & ears and my heart aches as I faintly hear and feel something speaking to me.

Each morning when I see the Sun, any morning now practically after having a sharing from
Ecclesiastes 11:7
"Light is sweet and it pleases the eye to see the Sun."
to remember my Creator, to remember that what I prayed and asked HIM,
he has shown and delivered me, in HIS time.
And when I was confused, I just have to focus on HIM
a sense of release.

the praise when the young people lead in worship. A similar selection of songs, but with a group of true worshippers, you know it when its not the mind getting notes right, but the heart touching heart, spirit touching spirit.
Was talking to Joseph, and he shared," very long never hear such singing le"
Beauty in an offering of true praise(:

Laughing as hard as they could, light hearted talk drawing the relaxed person in each of them was a previlage to witness.

And the sharing of Burning bush that Moses saw.
Answering that call...will you answer it? do you see it? I'm still trying to piece my logic into God's will, which doesn't fit! Listen to you...
Why am I not answering the call? I seem to lack something to move my stubborn legs that are 'cemented' on the position. But I pray to not be double-mindedness when I pray, I pray that what I pray is not of me, but you lead me

From all these,
worships on Sundays just become even more powerful..
i see it again about 'its not the song, its the heart.

Being back on the sunny Island of Tekong just brings back memories of how I once was there.
People saying 'POP loh', others are yelling, "ORD Lo!"
My Enciks or warrant officers are posted to other units.
Remember this particular one personally after all the nonsense he twists at the circumstance of stuff and 'nagging' at me for not clinching 6 pull-ups. Shall push for Gold and send him a note to thank him for the initial motivation, adding colours, lots of colour to my BMT life.
Next round I get back to Tekong I shall do just that which coincides with my ORD date:)

The month of November just ended..and ahead stands new sights I'm gonna see on my journey. Set sail I should.
my Friends we shall see each other on our journey and wave hello.
Have a blessed week ahead(:

Heart Felt

How my heart moved when i saw my 3 year olds now are 5 year old, a particular one who had a developmental delay in speech, now communicating, presenting their chinese item on stage at their annual concert.
was a 'WOW',
Beautiful moments when you see these children from where they were and how the school's environment pushed limitations and gave what was best for children to be nurtured.
How when people gather together and songs sang with an earnest heart seek to honour HIM the most high before themselves, makes my heart feel.
Children using their voice in unision as they echo resoundingly.
Children listening attentively to a teacher's lesson and learning from it with their imgaination.

some of the many beautiful moments in a life of mine that were given.

Thank God for that(:

Woken Up

The past weeks, making decisions were scratching head moments. Answers of "don't you think of it?" kept popping up going about in the daily matters and planning of things. I
t was good awakening, I thank God for using brother&sisters to remind me

On top of MY struggles, MY inequities... It was MY relationship with God that mattered in ALL the situations. No relationship, don't know HIM well, I find it all the more harder to listen out to what HE has for me. Humble myself in God's presence.

It's all about You before me.

Will you take the lead?

A quick moment to say 'Yes! I will follow HIM& HIS ways' and the next moment you stumble and fall flat to the ground. How quick that happens. :/
It a vicious cycle if I'm not going to do anything about it.
A mind of Christ keeps me alert so that instead of walking and falling flat, I would miss falling narrowly, not falling becomes 2nd nature.

Being in Kaboom, I get real questions & statements from people.
"Is this your where you wanna be doing, your purpose?"
"If something's your purpose, you are gonna think of it, sleep on it, eat with it"
which also means that you commit to it, in prayer & in actions.
Changing those 'IT's to Kaboom you get the picture.
Will I take a lead?

Outpour all of Me before YOU fill and overflow in my life...

Have a blessed week my friends(:

How have you been?

So far How for me? Sorry ar, putting things off just seem to conveinent sometimes...

The month of August was working towards NATIONAL DAY. My 1st time participating in it. I thank God that I was able to go for the PREVIEW which marked the 1st time of the long awaited city March after weekends after weekends of rehearsing at the F1 Paddock, playing the blame game to who's fault is it when sound waves proven by science takes time to travel.
The unavoidable time arrived on the 9th of August, when there was space for 6 trombonists in the city march when there 9 trombonists. do the math
9 - 6 = 3 trombonists who are not going for the city march

which I was part of the 3.
And me overlooking that I'll still have the previlage of bringing the Guard of Honour to the entrance of the floating platform, the other guy & I(1 was elsewhere needed in the earlier part of the parade) just stoned & sat out for the entire thing.
How foolish of me looking back.

I wouldn't say unlucky, I still thank God for my Sunday spent there.
Missing the afternoon sessions playing chinese chess, sharing with my band mates, Helman, Kai Chuan,Brenden about Christianity as they question parts of my faith,having a mini brass quintet playing before parade rehearsal,taking walks to the old chang kee lorry, Milo Van.
watching the actual fireworks on 9th august
Thinking of the these thanksgivings, don't you think you should be thankful?

This past month of September with Concert style Dining-in for officers, all of them from my BMT batch who are going to commission.
BMT passing out, bringing me back the nostalgia of the sunny island of Tekong(:

On top of the fun & laughter we have in band,
I thank God to have fellow christian brothers who keep your faith in check. The 'hard' questions that I seemingly wonder how come I don't have much of that self directed thinking. The 'are-you-sure' thoughts, the greener grass on the other side syndrome & taking things for granted.

The reminder that "Jacob, before you begin asking asking asking, do you think you've been offering your best in the prescene in front of our Creator?"

Reminded me of the time in '08 when I was in Thailand,where the same question was asked. We get so focused on the problem that all you want is the answer to be delivered instead of the relationship with God.

So as I live my life daily, take it deeper with HIM. Meditate upon HIS word. Allow HIS spirit to flow as I spend moments with HIM. I hope you my friend have take time to sit down in HIS prescene to let HIM flow in. Time to empty our wants and let HIM fill it up with HIS(:

Have a blessed week!