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...?