Its 6 hrs away from my enlistment!! 2am right now and I'm still blogging away. Lol. Suddenly I treasure my civilian time so much, so guess I know how it feels when we have limited civilian time when we are out on the weekends.
Guess I'm pretty much prepared already. Had my graduation ceremony yesterday. Everything was great, but it was very nerve-wrecking when I'm on stage. Gosh... Don't even know why I'm feeling so nervous. Tsk tsk tsk. Sweet yet sorrowful because I'm successfully graduated but sorrow cos this is where we depart from one another and live our life on. You may view my graduation photos over here
After the whole thing, went to celebrate advance Father's day for my dad. Sent my poster for framing service and laminated my certs earlier on. Went over to Jason's place for my last cell group meeting before my enlistment and had a short guitaring session with Ivan. Thanks Ivan, I've really enjoyed and learned much from that session alone. Will practice hard!
Well, I've recevied many 'take-care message' and blessings from friends, members and 'mummy' thus far. Am really grateful for all these. Please keep me in prayer. Thanks everyone!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
2 more days ...
hmmm 2 days away from my enlistment, am kind of nervous and wondering how's things inside gonna be like. Anyway for this entire week, I've been going out day after day non-stop with my mum and friends spending time with them like never before. Lol really feel like spending my last hours with them before my 2nd phase of life begins.
Now that my mum had stopped working, been spending lots of time with her at home and going around to shop for my NS stuffs. Really felt so blessed all these and every morning she's like prepare lots of nice breakfast instead of the normal bread for me. Thank God for blessing me with a mum like this!
Thanks Sihan for organizing the outing with the rest of the guys. Had much fun too and of cos, not forgetting the shopping spree on Tues with Henry. Wahahaha!! Shop shop shop! and my mum was like going into NS alr no chance to wear still want to shop so much? lol.. But well, really thanks so much guys!! This is one of the best moments I have with all of u =)
Later on will be my graduation ceremony and tmr night will be my last cell group meeting before enlistment, so yep, photos photos and MORE PHOTOS!! (with hair).. muhahaha
Now that my mum had stopped working, been spending lots of time with her at home and going around to shop for my NS stuffs. Really felt so blessed all these and every morning she's like prepare lots of nice breakfast instead of the normal bread for me. Thank God for blessing me with a mum like this!
Thanks Sihan for organizing the outing with the rest of the guys. Had much fun too and of cos, not forgetting the shopping spree on Tues with Henry. Wahahaha!! Shop shop shop! and my mum was like going into NS alr no chance to wear still want to shop so much? lol.. But well, really thanks so much guys!! This is one of the best moments I have with all of u =)
Later on will be my graduation ceremony and tmr night will be my last cell group meeting before enlistment, so yep, photos photos and MORE PHOTOS!! (with hair).. muhahaha
Fish '&' Chips @ Manhattan Fish Market with the guys
Fang Ming and Zhen Eng
Reeve!!
Sihan (organizer) and Eric
Fang Ming's BMW X5
Crayfish Ramen @ Ajitsen Ramen - Mum's treat
Lamb chop with mashed potato @ Villa'ge - Henry and Paige
Back from KL!
Woah finally I'm back from KL. Overall its a pleasant trip for me and my family. Thanks Jason for his recommendation for the travel agency, guides and etc... The service on the bus was really good; attitude and service of the steward is good, they make sure you are fed with food and biscuits, feel comfortable with movies and music and hot drinks throughout the journey to KL.
We reached KL around 11.30pm and took a cab to our hotel - Royale Bintang (I will recommend this hotel and will definately choose to go back to this hotel again), check-in and went down to the night street for supper. Was quite surprised that the entire street sells food till really late in the wee hours, some are 24 hrs. So there won't be lack of food to eat over there. Haha and what surprised me was that when we went back to my hotel room, I saw 2 ladies with an extra bed waiting outside my room. I had requested for an additonal bed for my room with my family earlier on but the thing is that we had informed the receptionist that we are going out for supper, and I know that the room service ppl can have access to our rooms and they can just leave the bed there.
So seriously I do not know how long have they been waiting outside and I felt really bad about it. So we are like asking them how come they don't want to go in with the access key and just leave it there. And their reply was they are told that if the guest is not in his/her room, they are not supposed to go in although they have the access key. For whatever reason I don't know but one thing that I'm sure is that I know I can trust the hotel staffs and leave my things in the hotel room without any worries that they will ransack my stuffs or take some stuffs away which I experienced quite a few times at diff hotels before.
The next morning we went down for breakfast and the food is good with lots of variety! Then we set off for Berjaya Times Square(Vivocity). Witnessed a 1st International KL dancing competition over there, its very interesting. Then we moved off to Lot 10(Lido) for lunch and some shopping. After which we proceeded to Sungei Wang and Bukit Bintang Plaza(Far East) and I got most of my tops there. Seriously there's nothing much to buy over there for my parents and relatives. My relatives only bought some baby clothings and I got a few tops. The rest are spend on eating only. I also realized the KL is dominated mainly by Starbucks. I walked past like 10 starbucks, 1 coffee bean and 1 dome? Haha. After all the shopping, we went back to the hotel for a rest and went down for the Latenight Chinatown Buffet. The food was phew... fresh and delicious! Haha.. After which we took a cab over to Chinatown. Was very crowded n pretty chaotic over there too but didn't buy anything. Then we decided to walk back to the hotel. The distance was like er... dunno how many kilometres but I only know we walked really long! I'm like telling my mum I can train for my 48 km for NS lol.
Went to Plaza Low Yat(Sim Lim square) and KLCC(Takashimaya) the next day but too bad cannot go out to the twin towers since its only open from Mon-Thurs. Left KL at 4pm and reached SG at about 10.30pm. Halfway through the journey the bus broke down to the rain. Heard that the sensor of the bus come into contact with water or something and its not functioning properly. So they arranged for a back-up bus for us. I will rate a 7/10 as an overall experience. Hees.
Please view the photos I took over here
We reached KL around 11.30pm and took a cab to our hotel - Royale Bintang (I will recommend this hotel and will definately choose to go back to this hotel again), check-in and went down to the night street for supper. Was quite surprised that the entire street sells food till really late in the wee hours, some are 24 hrs. So there won't be lack of food to eat over there. Haha and what surprised me was that when we went back to my hotel room, I saw 2 ladies with an extra bed waiting outside my room. I had requested for an additonal bed for my room with my family earlier on but the thing is that we had informed the receptionist that we are going out for supper, and I know that the room service ppl can have access to our rooms and they can just leave the bed there.
So seriously I do not know how long have they been waiting outside and I felt really bad about it. So we are like asking them how come they don't want to go in with the access key and just leave it there. And their reply was they are told that if the guest is not in his/her room, they are not supposed to go in although they have the access key. For whatever reason I don't know but one thing that I'm sure is that I know I can trust the hotel staffs and leave my things in the hotel room without any worries that they will ransack my stuffs or take some stuffs away which I experienced quite a few times at diff hotels before.
The next morning we went down for breakfast and the food is good with lots of variety! Then we set off for Berjaya Times Square(Vivocity). Witnessed a 1st International KL dancing competition over there, its very interesting. Then we moved off to Lot 10(Lido) for lunch and some shopping. After which we proceeded to Sungei Wang and Bukit Bintang Plaza(Far East) and I got most of my tops there. Seriously there's nothing much to buy over there for my parents and relatives. My relatives only bought some baby clothings and I got a few tops. The rest are spend on eating only. I also realized the KL is dominated mainly by Starbucks. I walked past like 10 starbucks, 1 coffee bean and 1 dome? Haha. After all the shopping, we went back to the hotel for a rest and went down for the Latenight Chinatown Buffet. The food was phew... fresh and delicious! Haha.. After which we took a cab over to Chinatown. Was very crowded n pretty chaotic over there too but didn't buy anything. Then we decided to walk back to the hotel. The distance was like er... dunno how many kilometres but I only know we walked really long! I'm like telling my mum I can train for my 48 km for NS lol.
Went to Plaza Low Yat(Sim Lim square) and KLCC(Takashimaya) the next day but too bad cannot go out to the twin towers since its only open from Mon-Thurs. Left KL at 4pm and reached SG at about 10.30pm. Halfway through the journey the bus broke down to the rain. Heard that the sensor of the bus come into contact with water or something and its not functioning properly. So they arranged for a back-up bus for us. I will rate a 7/10 as an overall experience. Hees.
Please view the photos I took over here
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Extravagant Worship Snippets 1
Friends, recently I've been reading a book called "Extravagant Worship" written by Darlene Zschech. She is known to many of us as the worship leader of Hillsong Church. Through this book, I realized that she is not just a powerful worship leader but also one incredible spiritual leader.
The first time I saw the book, I was thinking deep down in me, "Woah, this is an interesting book, what could be in the contents of a book written by a worship leader of a chuch? How to sing and worship in a way to get into His strong presence during service and our daily quiet time?" - Is all I thought of, but lo and behold, when I begin to read the book, something in me exploded as I begin to read her teachings about being an "extravagant worshipper".
Here are just some of the reviews by people who know her and read this book:
"God is using Darelene to impact the way people worship all around the world. My family and I have been impacted by her ministry and her passion for the presence of God. More than a gifted songwriter and singer, Darlene is a true leader who is pasionate about worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth and is committed to raising up others all the world to do the same. SHe is real, transparent, and vulnerable as a worship leader, but more importantly, she is the same person when she is not in front of thousands. I am honoured to endorse Darlene's ministry. As you read this book, I know you will never be the same again." - Don Moen
"Darlene's passion for the Lord and worshiping Him is clearly heard through her music and song. Be inspired as you read treasures from the heart of a true worshiper." - Michael W. Smith, singer and songwriter
"Darlene's passion. spirit and music have captured the hearts of millions of worshipers around the world. However, as a personal friend, I've been able to see her as a wife, mother, pastor, and leader. Darlene's humility, insight, and expereince will help you to unlock the door to the secret place. If you're ready to know God more, get ready to read!" - Alvin Slaughter, music minister and concert artist
"When chuch historians reflect on the worship revolution that happened around the turn of the twenty-first century, Darlene Zschech will be credited for playing a major role" - Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church
"... What truely blesses me is that she is the same person whether she is on or off the platform. She remains the same gracious, humble woman whose heart has always been to worship and glorify God ... If you long to become an extravagant worshiper, the this book will inspire you, as Darelene shares her journey to attain her foremost desire and passion: to be an extravagant worshiper herself!" - Brain Houston, Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church
So here I am, to share some snippets from the first chapter of her book about what true worship is about, to those who haven't have the chance to read this book.
As paraphrase from her book:
Everyone in the town knew her as a sinful woman, a prostitute, but her selfless display of extravagant worship changed how everyone remembers her now. Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at he table in the home of Simon the Leper. "When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them" - Luke 7:37-38
Imagine the depth of this woman's tears being enough to clean the dusty feet of Jesus! Imagine the gratitude that moved her to boldly display her devotion and adoration of the Man reclining at the table. With tears flowing from a sobbing heart, she washed the Lord's tired feet and wiped away the soil with tresses of her hair. Then she perfumed His feet with oil from her alabaster jar that was valued at a year's wages. Her love for Jesus knew no bounds. When the others voice their disapproval of her extravagance, Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has done a beautiful thing to me."
So what does it mean to be an extravagant worshipper?
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines it as "2a: exceeding the limits of reason b: lacking in moderation, balance and restraint c: extremely or excessively elaborate 3a: spending much more than necessary b: profuse, lavish."
Extravagant worship means to be elaborate in our offering of admiration of Him; our worship is to be over and above reasonable limits previously established. The cause of Christ pumping away in our veins should cause extraordinary praise to the Father.
When we stand before the Lord to worship Him, we are to worship Him in truth. To do so, we must ask ourselves, "How big are the debts Jesus canceled for me?" How generous was He towards me when considering the pain my sins inflicted upon Him? How much thanks do I owe Him for canceling the consequences of my past? Am I overgenerous with my worship? Do I exceed the limits when praising Him? Or am I merely doing what is required, merely fulfilling the basic level of commitment? Am I simply trying to earn my right of passage? If our worship is spiritual and truthful, we will search our souls and appraise the value we place on His love for us.
The Oxford English Dictionary describes extravagant as "wasteful." This particularly grabbed my attention, for one of the most beautiful accounts of extravagant worship in the Bible is this story of how the gift of perfume from the sinful woman was considered "wasteful" by those around her. But as she poured out her costly perfume from the alabaster jar, she must have wished she had even more to give Him. As she poured out her tears in offering, He washed away her brokenness. As she loved extravagantly, He forgave extravagantly. Her action of elaborate love toward her Lord is a powerful example of true, heartfelt worship.
Her act of worship had nothing to do with music or song, but it had all to do with being extravagant in devotion to her Saviour. What is worship, and what are we doing when we worship? True worship, the kind of worship that God seeks, is described in John 4:23-24: "Yet a time is coming and has onw come when the true wroshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Friends, true worship is when one's spirit adores and connects with the Spirit of God, when the very core of one's being is found loving Him, lost in Him. True worship is not about songs being sung; it is not about the size of the band; it is not about the size of the choir. Although music is a wonderful expression of worship, it is not itself the essence of it. The core of worship is when one's heart and soul, and all that is within, adores and connects with the Spirit of God. In fact, regardless of how magnificent the musical moments are, unless one's heart is fully engaged in the worship being expressed, it is still only music. The song of a pure heart this is yearning for more of God and less of oneself is the music that holds the key to many victories and delights the heart of our King!
The first time I saw the book, I was thinking deep down in me, "Woah, this is an interesting book, what could be in the contents of a book written by a worship leader of a chuch? How to sing and worship in a way to get into His strong presence during service and our daily quiet time?" - Is all I thought of, but lo and behold, when I begin to read the book, something in me exploded as I begin to read her teachings about being an "extravagant worshipper".
Here are just some of the reviews by people who know her and read this book:
"God is using Darelene to impact the way people worship all around the world. My family and I have been impacted by her ministry and her passion for the presence of God. More than a gifted songwriter and singer, Darlene is a true leader who is pasionate about worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth and is committed to raising up others all the world to do the same. SHe is real, transparent, and vulnerable as a worship leader, but more importantly, she is the same person when she is not in front of thousands. I am honoured to endorse Darlene's ministry. As you read this book, I know you will never be the same again." - Don Moen
"Darlene's passion for the Lord and worshiping Him is clearly heard through her music and song. Be inspired as you read treasures from the heart of a true worshiper." - Michael W. Smith, singer and songwriter
"Darlene's passion. spirit and music have captured the hearts of millions of worshipers around the world. However, as a personal friend, I've been able to see her as a wife, mother, pastor, and leader. Darlene's humility, insight, and expereince will help you to unlock the door to the secret place. If you're ready to know God more, get ready to read!" - Alvin Slaughter, music minister and concert artist
"When chuch historians reflect on the worship revolution that happened around the turn of the twenty-first century, Darlene Zschech will be credited for playing a major role" - Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church
"... What truely blesses me is that she is the same person whether she is on or off the platform. She remains the same gracious, humble woman whose heart has always been to worship and glorify God ... If you long to become an extravagant worshiper, the this book will inspire you, as Darelene shares her journey to attain her foremost desire and passion: to be an extravagant worshiper herself!" - Brain Houston, Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church
So here I am, to share some snippets from the first chapter of her book about what true worship is about, to those who haven't have the chance to read this book.
As paraphrase from her book:
Everyone in the town knew her as a sinful woman, a prostitute, but her selfless display of extravagant worship changed how everyone remembers her now. Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at he table in the home of Simon the Leper. "When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them" - Luke 7:37-38
Imagine the depth of this woman's tears being enough to clean the dusty feet of Jesus! Imagine the gratitude that moved her to boldly display her devotion and adoration of the Man reclining at the table. With tears flowing from a sobbing heart, she washed the Lord's tired feet and wiped away the soil with tresses of her hair. Then she perfumed His feet with oil from her alabaster jar that was valued at a year's wages. Her love for Jesus knew no bounds. When the others voice their disapproval of her extravagance, Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has done a beautiful thing to me."
So what does it mean to be an extravagant worshipper?
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines it as "2a: exceeding the limits of reason b: lacking in moderation, balance and restraint c: extremely or excessively elaborate 3a: spending much more than necessary b: profuse, lavish."
Extravagant worship means to be elaborate in our offering of admiration of Him; our worship is to be over and above reasonable limits previously established. The cause of Christ pumping away in our veins should cause extraordinary praise to the Father.
When we stand before the Lord to worship Him, we are to worship Him in truth. To do so, we must ask ourselves, "How big are the debts Jesus canceled for me?" How generous was He towards me when considering the pain my sins inflicted upon Him? How much thanks do I owe Him for canceling the consequences of my past? Am I overgenerous with my worship? Do I exceed the limits when praising Him? Or am I merely doing what is required, merely fulfilling the basic level of commitment? Am I simply trying to earn my right of passage? If our worship is spiritual and truthful, we will search our souls and appraise the value we place on His love for us.
The Oxford English Dictionary describes extravagant as "wasteful." This particularly grabbed my attention, for one of the most beautiful accounts of extravagant worship in the Bible is this story of how the gift of perfume from the sinful woman was considered "wasteful" by those around her. But as she poured out her costly perfume from the alabaster jar, she must have wished she had even more to give Him. As she poured out her tears in offering, He washed away her brokenness. As she loved extravagantly, He forgave extravagantly. Her action of elaborate love toward her Lord is a powerful example of true, heartfelt worship.
Her act of worship had nothing to do with music or song, but it had all to do with being extravagant in devotion to her Saviour. What is worship, and what are we doing when we worship? True worship, the kind of worship that God seeks, is described in John 4:23-24: "Yet a time is coming and has onw come when the true wroshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Friends, true worship is when one's spirit adores and connects with the Spirit of God, when the very core of one's being is found loving Him, lost in Him. True worship is not about songs being sung; it is not about the size of the band; it is not about the size of the choir. Although music is a wonderful expression of worship, it is not itself the essence of it. The core of worship is when one's heart and soul, and all that is within, adores and connects with the Spirit of God. In fact, regardless of how magnificent the musical moments are, unless one's heart is fully engaged in the worship being expressed, it is still only music. The song of a pure heart this is yearning for more of God and less of oneself is the music that holds the key to many victories and delights the heart of our King!
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