Abstain Alliteration

One life. Sieze it.

2007-01-22T04:05:00.000+08:00

va-va voom says:
still up so late?
Fern: living branch, live. says:
yeps..
va-va voom says:
no class tmr?
Fern: living branch, live. says:
class starts pretty late, shld have sufficient buffer hours..:)
va-va voom says:
r u goin for ur masters?
Fern: living branch, live. says:
To muster courage for work, is far more duanting than the pursue of masters.

The Initiator

2007-01-22T03:50:00.000+08:00

Awake and rise, I receive eternal hope
God's goodness bestowed, I'm fully clothed
A path less travelled, an echo of eternity
Will I walk in assurance to the goal I see?

~ Isaiah 65:17-25 ~ A Reflection ~

A Quack to you, Ms Judy :)

2007-01-01T02:30:00.000+08:00

Arh, you are that mysterious girl,
starts with a 'Quek' not a purrhh.
Your name, I've forgotten momentarily;
Embarrassed I am, my utmost apologies.

The Word became flesh

2006-12-24T02:45:00.000+08:00

It's the time of the year
where snowflakes fall
and gifts are treasured dear.
Oops I forgot we're in Singapore
where the sun and rain abound.
Still it's the time of the year and the weather stays cool.
We give thanks for our beloved ones around.
More so, to whom our hearts belong to.
To Him, our voices croon.
To the world, we make Him known.
A Saviour for all, our treasured heirloom.
The gift, the Son, the Father's love shown.

To the One who inspired this....

2006-12-20T01:47:00.000+08:00

I ramble too much,
I write like peanuts.
Someone said I should pen poems.
I think she finds my blog a boredom.
Perhaps it is.
What could I do, Miss?
Poems ain't my thing;
Nor a one-night stand fling.
I'm starting to sound silly, haven't I?
Well at least I haven't lied. =)

Really? Hmm..... how interestin'.....

2006-11-16T20:58:00.000+08:00

You Should Learn French

C'est super! You appreciate the finer things in life... wine, art, cheese, love affairs.
You are definitely a Parisian at heart. You just need your tongue to catch up...

What Language Should You Learn?

The Third Home

2006-11-16T01:21:00.000+08:00

Some nutty-flavoured latte which I can't remembered...

Blueberry muffin... it had to be you...

Yes there is free connection! And she's obviously not studying!

You are where you think you are. Gosh! SO postmodernist. argh..

I think we have many of such poses framed.

The silly things that we do even as we leave the place.

The chandelier is so pretty!

Back to basics

2006-09-12T02:43:00.000+08:00

"...Now I know my ABC, come along and sing with me."

A song we learnt by heart. A song we grew up with. A song to teach all children the English language, and therefore the necessity of embracing the alphabets. A song, by now for most of us, as easy as ABC.

Really? As we progress through the Singapore school education, ABCs no longer seem as simple. A for apple. B for boy. C for car. Or could it be: A for average, B for bingo, and C for champion? Must it be A for excellence, B for satisfactory, and C for passable. And what's with the 'pluses' and 'minuses'. A and A+ doesn't make a difference, to your scores, other than the additional strokes. Welcome to the world of CAPS! Yes, perhaps an old familiar idiom has been made obsolette, superseded by lamentating cries of we need to "pull up our CAPS". It is as easy as climbing C-B-A in ascending order. No? Oh i forgot it's cummulative.

Even the ABCs are made so complex in the adult world. I much prefer the light-hearted jingle that accompanies my childhood years. Why can't we delight in singing the song, be it in recognisable or unrecognisable melody and lyrics. Whatever the outcome may be, the joy of learning and unlearning is immeasurable.

Yes, why not.

Courage in embracing weakness

2006-09-10T00:58:00.000+08:00

Have we at times forgotten that courage is not about doing the impossible? If courage is a matter of tangible actions, then fear factor shall be the tool of measurement. Oh the world measures courage in such superficial terms!

When was the last time we summoned courage from the depths of our hearts? My last encounter was 1-2 months back. Sometimes summoning courage changes our course of life, well it did for mine at least. One week ago, i witnessed the courage of a sister in Christ. She may not have thought so, but in my eyes she displayed magnificent courage from within her. True courage will differ from individual to individual. For most, courage is facing our own music, trying to overcome our own weaknesses. For some, perhaps REAL courage lies in saying 'no'. The courage to say we can't do it. It is true, we are weak and vulnerable beings.

Rite of Passage

2006-07-22T02:18:00.000+08:00

Students reaching students, where lessons learned apace;

Of joys and sorrows we MEET, such is the case.

In trials and errors, we seek to strive

a posture of perfection in our lives.

As iron sharpens iron, so one student sharpens another.

For friendships made and pleasures shared,

with loving hearts and tender care;

And now profess the love we place

in Christ, we nobly run the race.

Of Stones and Boulders

2006-04-24T01:40:00.000+08:00

Journey
- By Corrine May

It's a long long journey
Till I know where I'm supposed to be
It's a long long journey
And I don't know if I can believe
When shadows fall and block my eyes
I am lost and know that I must hide

It's a long long journey
Till I find my way home to You
Many days I've spent Drifting on through empty shores
Wondering what's my purpose
Wondering how to make me strong
I know I will falter
I know I will cry
I know You'll be standing by my side

It's a long long journey
And I need to be close to You
Sometimes it feels no one understands
I don't even know why I do the things I do
When pride builds me up till I can't see my soul
Will You break down these walls and pull me through

Cause it's a long long journey
Till I feel that I am worth the price
You paid for me on Calvary
Beneath those stormy skies
When Satan mocks and friends turn to foes
It feels like everything is out to make me lose control
Cause it's a long long journey
Till I find my way home to you To You

In His Presence

In the quiet of this hour
As I kneel before You now
I don't always understand
What Your perfect will demands
But I'll learn to trust You more
In Your presence, Lord

In Your presence, there is comfort
In Your presence, there is peace
When we seek to know Your heart
We will find such blessed assurance
In Your holy presence, Lord

There can be such sweet reward
When I wait upon the Lord
As I take the time,
He gives His perfect wisdom
To be found in Him alone
All our deepest secrets known
We are surrounded by His grace when we seek His face

In Your presence, there is comfort
In Your presence, there is peace
When we seek to know Your heart
We will find such blessed assurance
An ever open door
To know our Saviour more
In the presence of our Lord

Mindful Feeding

2006-03-18T15:35:00.000+08:00

I'm not too sure who visits here. But I've put up 3 articles and hope that it shall bless anyone who happens to read this. It is by the way taken from a recent Epistole issue:

1. Busyness: A New Perspective
2. Consumerism and Christianity
3. The Manger and the Empty Tomb

2006-03-18T15:32:00.000+08:00

2006-03-18T15:30:00.000+08:00

Beyond Plastic Beads

2006-02-18T02:50:00.000+08:00

Beads: few cents
Strings: even fewer cents
Human Labour: a specific monetary value if according to capitalist system
The Cross: PRICELESS.

Have we sometimes forgotten the significance and essence of the cross. We wear a cross around our necks but do we bear it in our lives. We hesitate to answer sometimes, don't we. A daily struggle to abide - to deny our names and take up our crosses daily, and follow Him. Oh some words are just so hard to utter. Before God, we simply become speechless. (lest we say the wrong things! =)

"I look beyond the empty cross
Forgetting what my life has cost
And wipe away the crimson stains
And dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now
I owe you more each passing hour
And battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
And wash the feet and cleanse my pride
Take the selfish, take the weak
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
The sin-soaked heart and make it yours
Take my world all apart
Take it now, take it now
And serve the ones that I despise
Speak the Word I can’t deny
Watch the world I used to love
Fall to dust and thrown away"

--- by Jars of Clay in Worlds Apart.

The Salt in Us.

2006-02-10T23:45:00.000+08:00

A good friend shared with me something a few days ago. She said there's something about tears that's so beautiful. Although the society judges people who cry as weak and useless, but God keeps count of every tear we shed, same as how He knows every strand of hair each person has.

"Tears are God's gift to us." Aye, it's true. The world despises tears; God comforts the person who cries. The world hides its tears and pretends to be strong; God says in me there is no condemnation, a broken and contrite heart I will not despise.

A tear a day
Washing coloured lenses away
May we see the world through God's eyes
To see the silent cries we hide a
Though sometimes they appear in the night
But darkness surrounds and deceives
Behind close doors is where they should be
Truth is, they only grow in strength
Brokeness. Vulnerability. Meekness.
Tears reveal our condition for healing
Through tears of forgiveness
Healing we shall receive
From God that is, our Restorer.

"Before the world began/ you were on His mind/ And every tear you cry is precious in His eye/ because of His great love/ He gave his only son...."

2005-10-30T21:14:00.000+08:00

“Thinking is the amazing capacity God has given the human being to discover and observe the stuff of creation, to compare and contrast each of its parts, and when possible, to use them properly so as to reflect the glory of the Creator. Thinkers see old things in new ways; they analyse hypotheses, separating out the true form the false. Thinkers sometimes describe old truths in new words and forms; they help others to see how applications to life can be made. Thinkers make bold decisions, help us see new visions, and overcome obstacles in previously unseen ways.” – Gordon MacDonald, The Better man Lost in Ordering Your Private World.

2005-09-08T20:32:00.000+08:00

"When will my love return
When will my love depart
I ride with the wind
Still i can't find any trace of you
Where is my beloved whom i pine in solitude"

Photograph and Memories

2005-09-08T01:35:00.000+08:00

Nadia, I wish you could be reading this. I'm sure you remember this cat which stood outside Nydc - so entralled were we by its docility. An irresistable nudge to stroke it. What a rare beauty.

Oh! The lovely ginger cat at Holland V. It's just so pretty!

Life's Little Ironies.

2005-08-19T01:48:00.000+08:00

The irony.
Why surface the false alarm, and then discovered too late.
Why continue on when it's too heavy.
Supposedly a good news, why dread letting go now.
Why fall in love, only to step out next.

2005-07-18T13:57:00.000+08:00

LPC 2004 gallery. It's been more than a year until i realised i never did put up these photos. Generations after generations.. new leaders rise up as the ones before us had been faithful in taking that step of faith, so it passes on...

The Shower Girls!

Val-Stella-Rach-Selene

The night inspires me to write..

New Charlie's Angels stunt

Lovely Pretty Campers

2005-07-18T13:48:00.000+08:00

Was somebody bullied at the table?

Awww...

What lies beneath...

....is revealed.

2005-07-18T13:28:00.000+08:00

All-Arts-Girls Bunk! Woohoo!

And you see what goes on above as well...

2005-07-18T01:34:00.000+08:00

Into a time of Prayer...

...and still prayer...

Everyone listens intently at Garbriel's msg...

(or maybe not...)

2005-07-18T01:25:00.000+08:00

We simply love 7/11 store at nights!

*GASP!* Was Angel Gabriel present with us?

A Premonition into the

future leaders of ARTS?

2005-07-18T01:13:00.000+08:00

Insanity of the last night

Mel: Alright..alright.. i won't tell...

Warning against eLdDS....

2005-07-18T00:29:00.000+08:00

...start realising we've not taken enough photos only

when the camp's ending....

"Zhen" + "Fern" = Real Fern!

We just love zigzags

ONE Life. ONE God. ONE Glorious Ambition. YI....

2005-07-18T00:18:00.000+08:00

"The-Classic-Paul-Grin" if you have not already realised..

Another facet of Carlsen - a soft spot for pink bags?

Luncheon at HarbourFront. Hey stop salivating.

2005-07-17T23:43:00.000+08:00

Smiles of satisfaction

2005-03-30T14:55:00.000+08:00

Little glimpses of delight

2005-03-30T14:53:00.000+08:00

Lookin' good

2005-03-30T14:49:00.000+08:00

Can't take my eyes off you

Enter that Rest

2005-03-30T14:05:00.000+08:00

The body finds no rest in sleep
The soul finds no rest in sleep
Logos satisfies both in need of rest
"For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,
joints and marrow;"

Busyness

2005-03-24T01:30:00.000+08:00

"When the centre doesn't hold, everything falls apart."

Squeezing time out for the workshop was hard
THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TIME
Oh! what a timely reminder, i find
Myself in a state of lamenting for time
Where i'm caught in beating deadlines
It's such an irony for the busy ones
Will they be lazy for once,
Taking time off to fill their wants?
Someone just told me
About the theory of urgency
Versus the importancy
Indeed, urgent but unimportant essays
Delayed, til there's no room for delay.
Discipline! Discipline! these words swirl and sway
Somehow they can't seem to stay.
Somehow my flow of thoughts drift away
Somehow they've intruded my dreams
Somehow my days appear dim
That's when everything doesn't seem okay
I'm lugged by a baggage of disarray
Woah, it's time off today
To God, I meet and pray.
Let this be disciplined everyday!

2005-03-22T22:58:00.000+08:00

WHEE are at glasshouse!

2005-03-22T22:57:00.000+08:00

Woa, pretty! The bottles i mean.

2005-03-22T22:56:00.000+08:00

Deadman's pose

2005-03-22T22:54:00.000+08:00

Cheers to Beauty Queen! Beauty Queen?

Un-Shared

2005-02-20T01:20:00.000+08:00

She flew.
My day turned blue.
Emotions run dry;
Emptiness can’t lie.
Alas! I’m beckoned online,
Keeping me occupied,
Companion for the night.

2005-02-01T15:50:00.000+08:00

New angle lens

2005-02-01T15:49:00.000+08:00

Gateway of glimpses

2005-02-01T15:43:00.000+08:00

Playback from cameron

2005-02-01T15:41:00.000+08:00

Pillar frames

2005-02-01T15:40:00.000+08:00

Dual views

2005-02-01T15:36:00.000+08:00

Deck-O-full of thoughts

God's Creation

2005-01-22T22:44:00.000+08:00

The wind and blue sky were indeed my companion for the day. It's been a long time i've felt that way. I love to gaze at the naked sky, adorned with fluffy clouds. When the sky darkens, the mysterious-ness of the night unfolds itself, revealing something more with the presence of winking stars, hanging sporadically over the limitless. So tiny before my vision, yet so far out of reach. I was stunned by Mr moon's prominence, so bright it shone, like a street lamp casting shadows on the ground. Wow...

"Enjoying the wind dancing around me... music tickling my ears... and the blue sky a feast for my eyes. All these somehow make readings a little more bearable..."

2005-01-22T18:44:00.000+08:00

Pastel Shades

2005-01-22T17:15:00.000+08:00

Some things can't be hidden

2005-01-22T17:12:00.000+08:00

Ceasing light hours. Seize it.

2005-01-22T17:09:00.000+08:00

Under the Sun

Food Journal. Entry One.

2005-01-20T01:39:00.000+08:00

14 Jan 2005, Fri

Woke up at 12:30pm. My original plan was to have breakfast with Andrea at the Arts canteen, but I procrastinated in bed and decided i needed sleep more. =)

Brunch:
Wantan Mee at 1:30pm
Char Siew pastry snack ard 4pm

Dinner:
2 rolls of Chee Cheong Fun (one char siew & one mushroom)
YUM YUM YUMMY!

Supper:
a handful of chocs -- specially flown from Paris, courtesy from Sis
2 slices of Dad's 'self- invented homemade pizza' which tasted strange. Dad's cooking defies convention, that's just a euphemism for not knowing how to bake properly. =) What's new?

75cents

2005-01-07T15:35:00.000+08:00

companion alongside my thoughts.

Sandals Pyramid

2005-01-07T15:32:00.000+08:00

our invented captain's goal.

2005-01-07T15:29:00.000+08:00

Addy's creative work, Meatball duplicates.

Zoo Kids

2005-01-06T02:08:00.000+08:00

A Little flashback for you guys =)

Vegetable Roll? It's called Popiah!

2004-11-10T01:36:00.000+08:00

One of Dad's quirky moments; his impulse to make popiah. And there you have it, a POPIAH feast in the middle of the night. A blessing or a curse? I shrug. It's no doubt cool having a great chef in the family, but one who cooks usually during supper? Hmm.....

2004-11-10T01:34:00.000+08:00

A Fresh Perspective: raddish replaced by an array of components: cabbage, chinese mushrooms, carrots, and bamboo shoots. =)

The Myth

2004-11-02T19:50:00.000+08:00

Miah claims that I'm a PR in arts canteen. That's NOT true of course! I've been trying to apply for my PR in the library. But they really should do something about the temperature!

2004-11-02T19:49:00.000+08:00

What a rare sight at the lowest deck. Empty. Quiet. Peaceful. Good for writing last-minute essays...

Farewell to Nineteen.

2004-10-23T20:47:00.000+08:00

NOooooooooo! Let me out. Resist the '2'! Okay, i'm officially in the '20s' club for almost 3 days. You reckon i can unsubscribe to this membership? Guess not huh. Unless i enter into my 30s. *eyes widened* What... that's worst. Ok, i rather remain in 20s then. =)

2004-10-23T20:45:00.000+08:00

A surprise birthday cake. Dad's original recipe. A weird combination of steamed cake, dressed with dad's self-concoct "melted cream" and topped with choc chips. Hahaha... what's new... it's DAD!

Revisit Palawan Beach

2004-10-09T03:13:00.000+08:00

I remembered many suggestions for Whee! outing after FOC. But the least on my mind was to go back to Palawan beach. My Oh my! That was my umpteen times at palawan beach within a short span of time. Firstly, LPC was held at Scripture Union; then FOC comm returned for a trial-run of games, and finally the first day of FOC where we had mass wet games there. No, it didn't end. Took a monorail train for 25minutes (super slow!) to reach my destination -- palawan beach. And there i saw a bunch of people playing touch rugby. *gasp* It's Whee!

When was the last time i played touch rugby? That must have been back in secondary school days. And it wasn't a proper game either; just a group of girls trying to figure out how to score a goal by passing the ball backwards. huh?? Logically doesn't makes sense, right. Ok, at least that was what i thought then. But hey.... everything changed at palawan beach.... touch rugby is sooo fun.

2004-10-09T02:25:00.000+08:00

Whee! are on Palawan beach.

2004-10-09T02:21:00.000+08:00

threesome and weird shadow combination...

2004-10-09T02:19:00.000+08:00

Yuan Ting all ready for the lens....

2004-10-09T02:17:00.000+08:00

standing above, looking above.

2004-10-09T02:15:00.000+08:00

Miss Cloud...

2004-10-09T02:13:00.000+08:00

rest and relax.

2004-10-09T02:09:00.000+08:00

grinz.

2004-10-09T02:00:00.000+08:00

Boyband Reunion

2004-10-09T01:43:00.000+08:00

Eh... so dao!

2004-10-09T01:23:00.000+08:00

gradients of blue.

2004-10-09T01:10:00.000+08:00

Pre-trials of the perfect posture..

2004-10-09T01:04:00.000+08:00

The sunshine girls =)

2004-10-09T01:02:00.000+08:00

A rendition of 'Footprints in the Sand'.

2004-10-09T01:00:00.000+08:00

lookie lookie, whatz...

2004-10-09T00:56:00.000+08:00

...the red flying object.

2004-10-09T00:30:00.000+08:00

Back versus Front.

2004-10-09T00:27:00.000+08:00

Deceptive distance. i like it. =)

2004-10-09T00:22:00.000+08:00

Away from convention. Castles are shun.

2004-10-09T00:18:00.000+08:00

The fortress in completion...

2004-10-09T00:13:00.000+08:00

O Picnic chair, you alone there? So lovely white and plastic light.

2004-10-09T00:03:00.000+08:00

We're under watchful eyes.. *gasp* (looks around)

2004-10-08T23:55:00.000+08:00

Another round of frisbee game

2004-10-08T23:49:00.000+08:00

The Spy camera! Aha, i see a triple 5...

2004-10-08T23:46:00.000+08:00

All looking so serious.... *bluffers!*

2004-10-08T23:42:00.000+08:00

The 'gambling' makeshift shelter =)

2004-10-08T23:25:00.000+08:00

Touch rugby.. captain's ball.. frisbee.. soccer.. bridge.. bluff... WOAZ, Games over!

2004-10-08T23:20:00.000+08:00

The swooning session.... *alright cut!*

VCFFOC'04: One Life.One God.One Glorious Ambition

2004-07-31T00:39:00.000+08:00

MEANINGLESS, meaningless! Everything is a chasing after the wind. For those who went for FOC, these phrases are no strangers. "Meaningless" is also translated in other versions as "Vanity" or "Futility". One thing which stuck to my head after all the theme talks ended is this, "Everything under the Sun is indeed meaningless. But life.... under the SON is absolutely meaningful."

What does it mean to stand in awe of God? I think i've caught a glimpse of it in the midst of planning this camp.

To stand in awe of Him. Priceless.

"now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of men" --Ecc. 12:13

*Sings*: Give me one pure and holy passion/ And give me one magnificent obsession/ Give me one glorious ambition for my life.......

2004-07-30T23:59:00.000+08:00

One of the theme talk sessions; An exposition on the book of Ecclesiastes. =)

2004-07-30T23:55:00.000+08:00

Main Speaker: Dr. Tan Siang Hon, missions director of CEFC.

2004-07-30T23:52:00.000+08:00

Seems like no one is paying attention to Miah in the background! haha.

Day3_VCFFOC'04

2004-07-30T04:20:00.000+08:00

TALENT NIGHT was truely memorable. While all 8 groups were busy practising their para para dance steps, philippino accent and ludicrous script lines for the skits during any available siesta.... the comm. too was swamped with workshop namelists, writing thank you cards, running to 7-eleven for the prizes, rehearsing for the 'bamboo dance' etc.. heheh. At the end of the day, we were so thankful to God for sustaining us yet another day of the camp. Seeing how everyone participated in the skits, in fact zealous and enjoying 'emselves, reminded us of His goodness. 'Sharing' was incredible as well, one camper after another took the stage to share 'til "whee" hours of the morning. Wow! God is moving among His people. Indeed, I stand in awe of Him... at how He has used us despite haphazard plannings.... and impacted the lives of campers through FOC. =)

2004-07-30T03:25:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the "20s" club, babe! =) Oops..sorry about the Dinos....heh.

2004-07-30T03:22:00.000+08:00

Why are cream cakes used for celebration... why not yam cake, carrot cake, brownies, puddings etc...well just a thought.

2004-07-30T03:14:00.000+08:00

Delia sure blends in...who can tell she's the oldest among us... muwahaha.

2004-07-30T03:05:00.000+08:00

"WHEE! are the best" / Oh yes it was Yuan Ting's bday too! 2 birthday gals on 8July during the camp...how cool =)

'Boundaries' Workshop (conducted by: Gabe_n_Yvonne)

2004-07-30T02:58:00.000+08:00

Ice-breaker: Whois LINE is it? (Guess who wrote "i hate political sci"? Hint: ain't it obvious...)

2004-07-30T02:45:00.000+08:00

Venue: Dinning hall. (how apt considering it's a Gabe & Yvonne's workshop.. where food is always around =) *wink*