Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Pray For IRAQI Christians



Hey everyone, hope you all are willing to pray and give some money.. if you want to give some money, tell me and i'll do it for you, can pay me after that... thanks.. :)

Or, if u have a credit card, you can do it yourself here:

http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/PageNavigator/GiftCatalog20082009

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Last Sunday In 2008

And so ends the last sunday of the year... as well as the last evangelistic event, yesterday, and soon the last week of 2008... time sure flies... and more so when u count the years...

Today was a unique sunday for me.. very unique. For the first time in like 5 years (estimate), i didnt attend sunday service, cos i was at home in case my mother needs any help or looking after... she had bad stomachache but thank God now she's already ok... actually, i had stomachache too, but i think mine was normal lah =)

Then, went to Church, fellowship as usual (hand cramped a few times trying to play the classical guitar for the welcome song, which was almost all bar chords!), then... at night something most unique - JC class reunion!

Such reunions just make people think back to the times they spent together... I can hardly imagine that it was almost 8 years ago when we first met in Jan 2001, ACJC, for orientation and then met as a class... really can recall those days - the days of nonsensical games trying to make guys and girls stick closer, mass dance, then lesson after lesson, day after day... i guess the more memorable times were caused by the super playful classmates pranking each other and the teachers (oh man....) and the fun fair that we did, trying to raise exorbitant amounts of money from cheap stuff and a lot of marketing and peer pressure. (It all went to the school.).. Well... its been like 6 years since i'd seen some of my classmates.. strangely everyone seemed not to have aged much... but i guess the stuff we're doing are really different... one girl is engaged already.. another is a lawyer now (or soon), and another one working for the Nu You magazine (some of u know her).. as for the guys, most are still studying... well, actually only 7 ppl came and the rest are probably overseas... rich ppl lah...

Sometimes it seems like not long ago when we were still in class, dozing off and laughing at lame jokes... i feel like i'm not that old yet.. but seriously.. its been almost a decade since the beginning of JC. Just another indication of something important - we all dont have much time left in this world... when 6 years can pass like that... army + many long holidays and university life... it can be concluded that drifting through life year after year without any purpose or any knowledge of where one is going is very possible and very likely to happen to those caught unaware.. we can pursue many objectives in life but at the end... what do they all count for?

Yup.. those are my thoughts for the reunion... as for 2008, really thank God for many things (already listed in prayer req, but here they are again):

  1. for His grace in each one of our lives, especially in 2008 - many ups and downs but His purpose prevails through it all
  2. for another year of our lives over - 1 year closer to Heaven, but also 1 year less to do His work
  3. for the Church and CYYAM and all those who care for us - its a joy to be loved and to love
  4. for His faithfulness throughout the years and His love for us sinners
  5. for the events in Dec - really good although tiring, and for the YA and YF work that He has blessed
  6. for the chance to serve Him and to experience life at the fullest, together..

And some prayer:

  1. for each of us to refocus back on God before the new year begins - equip ourselves (in His Word) to do His work
  2. for follow up work to be done especially for the recent events - that we will do our best for each and every seeker to feel God's love
  3. for 2009 - that CYYAM will be able to continue to grow in depth and width and continue to put our all to advance His Kingdom
  4. for each of us individually to experience the victory in life from giving our all, 100%, to God
  5. for closer walk with God everyday for everyone in CYYAM and our Church in 2009
  6. for revival to come in 2009 - that seems to have already begun...!!
Yup... guess 2008 was a memorable year and many things happened... really happy to see the YA and YF growing and be part of it... its truly a joy... and its my hope that in 2009, we'll all continue to grow closer to God, desire Him and His Word more, and as a result, be greatly used by God to advance His Kingdom, wherever we are....




On a side note, I just saw an article that gave a new perspective on President Bush:

http://sec.online.wsj.com/article/SB123025595706634689.html

To summarise, the author actually is a friend and aide of the president. In the past 3 years, they have challenged each other to see who can finish more books and each year, and although the president lost, he has read 95, 51, and 40 books for 2006, 2007, and 2008. Amazing. And just look at the books he reads.. Not story books or those easy reads.. History, biographies, and current affairs make up the main portion of his list. And, most importantly to me, he read the Bible once through each year as well. This is definitely only possible through great self discipline.. as President of the US, i'm sure he is as busy as we can be.. and yet he can find time to read through the Bible once? thats like 5 chapters per day.... all of you who have tried before know what its like... and on top of that, about 1 book per week, non-fiction?

I guess this shows that it is possible to make better use of our time... We dun need to read so many books but at least the Bible for a start...? I'll try to do this in 2009 and finish the whole Bible... another self-discipline related issue to work on... :) remind me ok...?

Thursday, December 25, 2008

O Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
.
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
.
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

O Come O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.





When we think of the world if Christ did not come, we realise just how significant and how glorious His birth here is. And how thankful we should be.. For He has brought us from utter darkness.. into the light...

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

My Results!

Hello everyone.. got my results today... thank God.. not too bad though its not good enough to get me a 2nd Upper Honours... but thats ok...

Principles of Economics
A-

Science of Music
A+

Quantum Mechanics 3
B-

Surface Physics
B+

This's sem's average point: 4.125 (these 4 modules)
CAP: 3.78 (Over 7 Semesters)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Abraham Laboriel

Hello.. this post is about a bassist. A guy who plays bass. He's good!! and he's Christian... In fact he's so good that he has played on more than 4000 recordings and performances! One of the most sought after studio musicians in the US.. This intro video to him shows him playing a very simple but very groovy interpretation of "He Is Exalted"... I like....


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Beautiful Music

Hello everyone.. Exams are over finally.. thank God the papers were quite ok... anyway here's a few guitar videos by this Christian guitarist who is world famous among the guitarist circle (yet, i only just discovered him!!)... my favourite is the first video... i don't know about you all, but it just makes me imagine some beautiful and peaceful land far away... :) well.. enjoy and please listen with good speakers and turn up the volume.... if time is short, at least hear the first one... =)

Phil Keaggy - The Wind and the Wheat


Phil Keaggy - Addison's Walk


Phil Keaggy - Castle's Call / Pilgrim's Flight


Comments, please! :)