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(Monday, June 4, 2007-)
+8:19 PM]*
# Emerge!
Basically this is the reason why I haven't been blogging the past few days. I've been occupied with the totally awesome Emerge Youth Conference by City Harvest Church! And its so worth it!
What's worth it? Well, for one thing, the queueing (no idea how that's spelt) for about an hour on the first night was good. The crazy 8am till 10am wait was ok but the killer was the 5 till 6 wait in the sun with Heri's cell and some of my youth. Then the last night (that I attended) was brilliant cuz it was after Habitudes and Emmanuel got us a bus down to Expo (that's where it was) and we jz queued and jz moved smoothly all the way in and got ourselves a seat in the main Hall 8 which was most liekly the last of the seats in there! So cool!
Ok, i'll jz start with an overview of the conference
Things I found completely awesome
-->Ps Kong! Like what e405 members had for Gideon, I have for Ps Kong - He can REALLY preach. Not jz the charisma and style and stage presence that he has, but rather the message. He preaches with such power and authority on the Word! Not to mention he (and the rest of city harvest) has a good dress sense!
-->The culture! Hat's off to CHC Youth! They are the most supportive, enthu and well discipled bunch of people around. From the sharpness they have in them, the willingness to stand up and cheer, the endurance (which CFC has too!) for long services, the good attitude while in queue (cuz close to none of them complained or made a lot of noise like us (we made noise lar k?))
-->The songs! Ok, not all, but some. The Malay one which i think is titled Mengenal-Mu which can be sung in Jap and Chinese! And Breathe in Jap is cool too! But overall, their praise and worship is really annointed. Even in the overflow room, you can feel it! And u can follow their songs quite easily even though they are totallly new!
Things i found quite cool!
-->The Emerge! Silver dude on the booklet
-->I CAN DO ALL THINGS as the theme
-->The wristband/bangle for entrance
-->Parade of Schools.. okay, maybe this can go into the awesome category
-->Who Wants To Be A Missionary + Preaching Challenge + Maths Olympiad
Things that were a bit er... yeah.. er.
-->The winning design for the costume/make-up competition
-->Dota competition
-->Swimsuit category for Pageant?
Okay, enough with the basics, time for a breakdown of the event! But I don't quite have the mood to blog so i'll jz have the highlights ya?
Day 1 Night 1
I arrived. That's it. What? I mean, I, I, arrived. Not CFC or even YA. Nobody was there at 5.15... come on ppl, this is City Harvest, You don't turn up half an hour before an event, you simply WON'T GET IN. So I waited and eventually 5 ppl (including me turned up) and we queued. For a long time.... Shall skip the details of how we got crammed ard and then finally the breakthrough came, we were told that we were going into the overflow section.
So yeah, arrived alone, queued late, had to go to overflow, things were looking bad ryte?
No, im not gonna say I felt God and everything was alright. It was kind of crappy. Felt so wasted, shortchanged. Then after that, once i settled in my seat, the worship was nearing its end and Ps Kong came out.
It was jz us in the overflow, (which was jz a section in the main hall which was cordoned off), a screen and one speaker/amplifier in case of ambiguity(which wasn't too good at first but some guy adjusted it halfway and it got better)
Then Ps Kong started introducing the celebrity guests and visiting pastors that were around. Then he said that tonight's service was gonna be broadcasted live across the world! And that they were gonna start the actual service at 7.30! Haha! Then my mood changed!! I hadn't mised much after all! Yup, it was cool! Then there was a countdown to the service going live on air with a cool countdown timer! The cheerleaders with us at the overflow were going nuts and finally, it started!
They had a cool opening video, and then there was fireworks and an opening drum performance, complete with cool lights and water bouncing off the drums! Then we started off in praise and worship! It was really really good! My first time being in an overflow room, but i could feel the presense of God in there! I mean, it really can't be emotions or hype, cuz come on, let's face it, u're looking at a flat tv screen and one speaker... there's no way its the cool swinging overhead cameras, rotating lights or superb music blasting from the speakers. They're services are really annointed man. I didn't know e songs, or the ppl or whatever, but u could jz feel God in that place!! So cool!
Then after that, they had some performances, but the highlight was the parade of schools, in the form of a cheerleading contest, with teams from each cluster! The best in my books were the SMU/SIM team. Saw some cool moves, some not too interesting ones, and some that were jz plain WOW. The best has to be the 3-tier leg split. Haha!
Then came the performances by some popular taiwan pop star Tank, which i had no idea who he was but some girls were going crazy over him. Ok lar, i guess its cuz i dun undz a word he was saying. Fast forward all of that, to the preaching.
It was on spiritual hunger. It was how God could say in Romans 9v13 Jacob (who was a deceiver, cheater) I have loved but Esau I have hated. It was all because of Jacob's hunger for God. How he didn't let go of God although he wasn't perfect. God can only move in your life if you hunger after Him.
There was also this subpoint about how you turn out to be like your mentor. Isaac was a man without vision. He loved food and showed favouritism. So thats how Esau turned out. Had no vision when he sold his birthright, loved food so much that he gave up his birthright and hated his brother.
Similarly for Jacob, his mother taught him how to be tricky and crafty, and that's how he turned out. Of course God didn't jz love Jacob and say it's alright, hunger after me and whatever wron u do, i'll jz overlook. Jacob got his fair share later in life when he got tricked by a man more evil than himself to work for low waes for 10 years, to get tricked into marrying the wrong woman and work another 10 years and how his favourite wife died, and his favourite son was later held captive. But through it all, God saw Jacob, the man who wrestled with God, through the perils in his life and blessed him.
So that was the ending of night one and Ps Kong gave an altar call for uni students, too bad i wasn't there or i would have went! Yup, and it inspired me to go for the next day of emerge! Oh yeah!!
Day 2 Morning
It started with me reaching expo at 8 while Heri said he was reaching there at 7.25, but he actually only reached there at 8.45... Okay, but i queued and got myself a nice seat but eventually moved over to Heri's cell place.
[to be continued if i feel like it]Labels: City Harvest Church, Emerge 07, Heri
the story ends like this;
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(Saturday, March 3, 2007-)
+2:39 PM]*
# Awesome God
Okay, I just HAVE to blog about yesterday. The 2nd of March. Perhaps the biggest checkpoint in my life so far. A Levels came out today.
The day had already been anticipated by me a whole 3 weeks ago. When all the rumours saying it was after Os or whatever. I knew it had to come. And reliable sources indicated it was to be today. And it was so.
Day started off like any other day.
YEAH RIGHT!
The moment I entered the staffroom, the atmosphere was different. I knew by the time I finished my first lesson, the results would have arrived. My ingenious plan to stay out of the staffroom didn't materialize. But I wasn't nervous. I was so much better prepared this year than any other results day. Cuz I know my God will make a way for me. It's Gonna Be Alright! So I was rather calm.
Went to 421 for my first lesson of the day. I must have dreaming or something cuz 06 arrived before I did. Miracle of miracles eh? So I went ahead and taught them the AQ, which is pretty obvious to them by now, my favourite part of GP!! Did the whole "structuring an argument" lesson based on the AQ and spent the rest of the time (which always finishes too fast) on the AQ.
Dunno why but I decided to bring my water bottle to class and good thing I did too cuz its one of the first times i started to choke on nothing... So weird. But lessons still went on. 06 must have thought i was too scared or nervous, but let me assure you, I wasn't. Okay, maybe a little. Haha.
Then went back to the staffroom. Siok was there. She couldn't sit down. Haha. Paced around her desk. Talked to her and soon, it was time for 21.
CR 104 i think. And surprises of all surprises, there were some of them already there!!! Results should come out everyday man.. then can have more time for lessons. But the excitement was short lived when only half the class was there and the remainder came in late. Haha, remainder sounds like maths to me. Yes, i know its just me. And did the same lesson on the "structuring an argument" and then the AQ. Really hoping 21 and 06 caught the AQ well, cuz its actually easy to score in it. *wink to Shermin* And the choking thing happened again. Oh well... And i accidentaly stepped on the article i was using and put it at Zsa^2's folder. Forgot to take it back. Sorry to Zsa^2. Then it was Ms Kuah's lesson. And I was already late for 04's.
Reached 04 and its no surprise by now that they were already there. Oh well. Gave them the world's hardest compre to do and went through their essays. Missed Selina and Zach though. At the stroke of halftime, 5 more players were brought onto the GP field (jz read James' football blog) *Phildia, u can give it a read too* from the KI locker room. But there were two casualties in the conversion process and off they went. They took a token of appreciation for their participation in the form of papers.
It was soon lunch time... ok, didn't feel to quick for me though... And Kenneth still wanted to avoid the staffroom. Nice to bump into Mr Eugene and went down for lunch. Bought my food and placed it on the table. Then i went through Shi Min's (pronounces it the way i like it... bluack...) essay. Mary Jane maybe? Haha and then Y/Ni N/Ying's. Then Kathleen's, then Hui Shian's. By then, flies already turned my Malay Food Meal into a Gourmet of Bacteria but txs and txs to those who turned their arms into fans, i didn't get a stomach upset. Yay.
Finally ate my food and talked to the 21-ers around. Then that fateful sms came. I dun think the P or VPs of TJ will ever find my blog unless you people tell them, I shall let this private information be shared in bits and bytes.
Teacher A sms-ed me (yes, I am being a little paranoid here) saying congrats and that Teacher A was proud of me! I was really overjoyed, ecstatic, exhilirated. Then there was one more sms. I knew what it was and didn't want to open it. Julie had the privilege of being the first to know my exact results, even though she didn't know what it actually meant. Haha. I was really in a state of ecstatic-shock. Trembling, in joy. Shivering, in excitement. Tearing. On the inside. I knew my prayers were answered. I knew, they were more than answered. They were pressed down, shaken together and over-flowingly answered. I couldn't move! Couldn't stand. Couldn't talk. It was just an awesome moment. Thank you so much, my Awesome God!
Then on, a big weight had been lifted off my shoulders... I had this (most likely, please do tell me 21) spastic smile on my face for the whole day up till the actual thing in the hall. Went opposite to meet up with the others from 01. Yup, a whole bunch of botak guys and an Indian, an Indo and various other people. Then came back to TJ to use the toilet with Thammie. Met some 06 OGLs and various other people along the way. Then went to the guys toilet and I went to the staff one jz to make fun of Thammie, who was slightly slower than usual. Haha. Anyways, we wondered around school with ChenYi.
And to those of you who actually remembered what she was wearing, I like those kind of Tees. Haha, its jz my taste in how girls should dress up. Told her she looked nice in it. But don't think she realised what it really meant. Oh well. The colours were nice too. It jz looked great. *smile* And this is my blog so I shall be slightly more thick skin ya? Then again, don't think anyone would remember what she wore though but that's ok. My batch people were dressed in many different types of outfits. Ranging for casual to ARMY. From 6-inch-nano-pico-micro-minis to Oversized pants. From dull and black to striking reds. From polos to Polo's. From simple to triple layered with matching make-up. But me, I jz liked the simple top ChenYi had on.
Had a walk with Thammie and ChenYi cuz we were "clique-less" at that time. Walked around school, from canteen to audi to back again and aimless stoning. Saw all sorts of people and emotions. From the cool to the clueless. The calm to the calamity-stricken. From fooling around to frozen cold. From nervous to nevermind. It really was a big day.
Soon, the hall was open and Ms Thangam tried to get me to go in and i said i didn't want. Haha, but i did anyway.. so good boy.. haha.. then sat down like the super obedient 01 that we are. And Mr Tong started things off by reminding us he was the DM, in a funny way. The biggest error of the slideshow was them using the college crest without the letters J and C in it. Don't think any other TJ fanatics noticed it but oh well. Its just me.
Mrs Loke gave an "inspiring" speech before the results were announced. I was once again sitting beside Thammie. And to my students, Thammie is a MALE. Then soon the countdown began. Or rather, count-up. 3Ds... 4Ds... Dissapointed gasps as well as satisfied screams were echoing the hall. Was so shocked when Thammie didn't appear in the 4 or 5 D list either. We thought it was over. 6 D. Still nothing. Neither had I anything to be certain of.
7 DISTINCTIONS
01 - KENNETH STEPHEN WILSON
*SCREAAAAAMMMMMMMSSSSS!!!!!!!!! (louder than Phildia maybe, with back up from my class, fellow cohort and even my own students)*
First name on the 7D list. It was like a dream-came-to-life moment!! Was so so so so so so overjoyed!! Didn't bother to look at my results when I got it and just came down the stage although i was most likely still on cloud seven. Oh yeah. Jun Yi was the next name and the nest four of the 7 D list were also from 01. People say we are the best! Hee.. We rock.
And on the second page, Tham Zhen Hong Benjamin. along with Wenny and many others. 8 D, Mei Lien. along with 3 other scholars. Haha. Top 4, with 8 Ds, of Temasek Junior College were from Malaya (3) and India (1). What a sweet irony. But yes, the majority of the scholars did well which I am very happy over. All in 18 and the 01 (with minor exceptions) and econs students got their straight 4. Hall was a rather surreal place once the results were out. People were obviously happy, but mindful of the less fortunate. Lots of talking. Lots of faces. Just Lost. Talked to many poeple. Met JoJo but not Denise. Congrats to all and special mention must also go out to top sciencer Koh Chau Sean followed closely by Zhongshan and Bharat. Both from the same room lar.. IMBA M4-04. M4-06 also had our IMBAness when we were the only room with full attendance despite having an Indo, a Sabahan and a KL guy who needs to shop more than his results. Plus even the permanent residents and illegal immigrants of 4-06 were there too lar. M4-06 Rocks!!!
Left the hall and met Amanda and Aishah. Then met my students. So nice to see them. Had a mini group hug even. Haha. Pras and Jack Jack. Lol, talked with them quite a lot, walked around too. Too bad they didn't get to see their eye-candy. But then again, they had me! Haha, ok, Im not that perasan. Met many of my students later on, Yingen, Yumei, the 06s basically, Julie and 21s. Met Xue Wen adn Cai Yu and Selina too. Talked a lot. Was very high. Very happy. Elated.
Walked around rather aimlessly till tuition. Traded umbrellas with Riyanti and went off. Reached late but Benjamin was later. Haha. Talked with Mrs Quek abt my results before actually giving the tuition. I can't believe i've gone through 12 chapters of sec 2 maths in 4 days. Wow.. And then rushed off for Fish and Co. Glasshouse.
Waited forever and a day for 14 which never came so Phil and I cabbed down. MAJOR mistake. Firstly, the cab driver purposely drove slowly... Then, it was majorly jammed during peak hour. Then he tried to avoid telling us how long it will take to reach by talking blurly and murmuring. Hated the cab ride. It cost me slightly less than 15. So cheated. But oh well, it wasn't going to ruin my day!!
Reached Glasshouse just as 01 was leaving. Darn. Scholars were there though. I ordered Grilled Sambal Fish which was nice!! Yay! Txs for the recommendation Quen. Talked a lot with the scholars and talked even more. Stole Heri's fries and let him taste some good, non-oily, fish. Fish n Co. is always nice. Except the price. Oh well, it was a nice day. Had live music though I didn't like most of the singers cuz they ruined songs i actually liked. To those of you who heard me comment, those were really the very few secular songs i actually like. JY should know at least 1 of them from 14/02 dedication. But poeple go to fish and co for the people. Not the money. And there were 3 birthdays. Lame Fish n Co. cheer didn't help... But it was really nice catching up with all the scholars and others. So many places. Greats will certainly arise out of the few of us.
Then walked over to Cathay Cineplex for no reason. Wondered around and stood around while talking. Girls left first and then me, TK and Phil left while the rest went on wandering. Movie maybe? I dunno. Sean left to club first and took my phone along. Hope it comes back jz fine. It should lar... Unless he gets too drunk.
Waited 14 revolutions of the earth around the moon before 14 came. It was crowded but there were seats. I was so stoned out of tiredness I didn't notice Iman and Hafiz came on board. Oh well, they looked blissful together. Chatted until reached home. Talked with Phil and then surfed the net a bit.
Replied the many many people who msged me. Wanna specially thank 06 for their creative msg too. Sorry goes out to mommy. Didn't mean to let you worry. Really. Sorry.
Had a few replies come back in. Yumei, u need more sleep. Phildia too. Haha.
Summary of the day
General Paper A1
Malay Language A1
Mathematics A
Physics A
Chemistry A
Further Mathematics A
Mathematics S Merit
Physics S Distinction
Project Work 1
BIG THANKS TO JESUS, MY AWESOME GOD. WITHOUT YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. SPECIAL TXS GOES TO YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ANSWER TO MY F MATHS PRAYER. TRULY, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH YOU.
To my students, if you want to be inspired by me, don't be because of my grades, but be because there is a God out there who answered me when I cried out to Him for wisdom. When I was an average scholar who never touched A for FM, who's first GP grade was a C, whose Year 2 results were worse than year 1, He gave me what no tutor could. Hope. Love. Wisdom. Peace. Truly, without him, I would be in the pits of despair right now. But He is faithful, even when I wasn't. He was always by my side. He was my wisdom and I was dumb. My light when I couldn't see. My strength when I wanted to sleep. My conscience when I wanted to pon. My peace in times of fear. My security in times of doubt. My reason. Its You.Labels: A level results, Bharat, ChenYi, Fish and Co., God, Heri, Jac, Julie, Mei Lien, Phildia, Philip, Pras, Quen, Sam, Sean, Teik Kheng, Thammie, Yingen, Yumei, Zhongshan
the story ends like this;
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