friends.

"Friends.

A simple word isn't it?

It's uttered everyday to almost every person imaginable

Who are your friends?

I used to think that friends were the people that you could laugh and talk to

Now I know that friends aren't that

they're the people that touch ur heart

You could spend hours with them doing nothing at all

and it can be the best time of your life

just becuase it was with them

They're the people you can share your secrets with

cry with

laugh with

and just have fun with

They don't judge you or make you change

They accept you exactly as you are

They look at you and they see a great person

one they love spending time with

You all share something in common

and are tied together by memories

tears

laughs

and smiles.

You're tied together by love for the other.

Friendship is the strangest but greatest thing in the world.

I find my time with my friends

the best times of my life.

My friends are my heart

my soul

my fun

my laughter

tears

love

and my life."

-Kate Tierney

missions

the warm smiles

the tight hugs

the gleefull laughter

but look deeper

and you'll see

the broken spirits

the torn hearts

the broken lives

the wanting

the longing for something deeper

something solid to stand on

in a world where everything is surrounded by

garbage

rubbish

trash

and empty souls

the longing for something to believe in

and something to hold on to

a friend that lasts

a person to talk to

a real life to lead

and all this sets you thinking

of how really blessed we are

like

really blessed

i had lunch with one of the youth helpers in cambodia

and offered him a french fry

and he had no idea what is was

at all

they've never even seen a swimming pool before

all the things we take for granted would be like

treasure to them

so i urge you to take up the challenge

to share the love of God to the people

you don't have to cross oceans and roads to do it

you can do it right where you are..

in your school

in your families

anywhere

yup

it does set you thinking..

so step out of your cushy comfort zones

and enter

the real world

cos it's not nice out there

but it could be better

and you could make that difference

enter the world of

senseless killing

worm infested waters

no electricity

the place where

the filthy rich live next door to the filthy

or just appreciate what you have

ramblings.

and soon everyone's got one of them

masks

everywhere

you never know what's real anymore

is he really happy?

or is he just hiding behind a forever smiling mask

hiding the hurt and pain

might never know

masks

everywhere

you never know what's real anymore

nobody's real anymore

and how can we?

were we to be real to ourselves and everyone

what then?

shunned by people

another form of conforming to the ways of this defeated world

a world of masks and lies

a world where everyone seems happy

and everything seems alright

but how can we ever be happy and alright in this

rubbish bin we call earth

surrounded by things that leer and judge you

criticise and put you down

is it really that hard to believe that people can

snap

go mad with depression

or burst with anxiety

not really

even saying "oh i'm fine"

has become the norm

the usual

the expected

it's expected that everything's green and beautiful in

everbody's lives

yet another form of conformation

everyone seems so confortable in this status quo that we've created for ourselves

nobody daring to be different

even in being different we try to copy others

the rivalries that swell up

all for what?

nothing's gonna last anyway

short term goals coming to nothing

why do you press on?

looking for promotions

plaudits

acceptance

"friends"

only when you find your purpose then do you live

it's much like a maze sometimes

you don't know where you are

you don't know whats around you

you don't know where you're going

and

you don't know how on earth you're gonna get there

or what to do to get there

wherever

there is

all this hurt and pain and depression

arising from a single problem

accentuated by smaller problems

caused by rivalries

competition

envy

and it seems like there's no way out

when the other party refuses to budge

stand their ground

and the problem drives everybody mad

frustrated

determined to end it

to go back and

nip the problem in the bud

or

damage control

and try to resolve whats left

lifeless souls walking down empty streets

heading to nowhere in particular

grasping so tightly onto nothingness

and who's to judge them?

we're all pretty much doing the same

until someone comes along and pulls us out of this

ditch we keep digging for ourselves

deeper and deeper

until there's no way we can get out

by ourselves.

a warrior once said

"every man dies

but not every man truly lives"

start living

Love

I saw them hang Love on a tree.

I saw them brutalize and hurt Him badly.I saw them slap, curse, and spit in His face.

But, Love remained Love and never did He retaliate.

Love stood as a lamb.

He stood gentle, humble, and calm.

Love stayed silent, Love stayed still, even when His blood was about to be spilled.

Love did not think evil when He was wrongfully chastised.Instead,

Love expressed more love and humiliated Pride.

Why did Love do all of this for such a wretched people?

And why did He suffer such trouble?

why did Love send Love to die on a tree?

The answer is simple.

Love had a deep affectionate Love for you and me.

part II of footsteps in the sand.

"Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road
together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along "Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your prints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns.

For much of the way it seems to go like this. But gradually, your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends. This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: your footprints that once etched the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sandprint', safely enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles. But gradually you notice another change. The footprint inside the larger footprint seems to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

Again, this goes on for a long time. But then something awful happens. The second set of footprints is back. And this time it seems even worse. Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.

You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream. Now you speak. 'Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and fits and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you.'

'That is correct.'
'Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely.'
'Very good. You have understood everything so far.'

'Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I was becoming like you in every way.'

'Precisely.'

'But this is my question, Lord. Was there a regression or something? The footprints went back to two, and this time it was worse than the first.'

The Lord smiles, then laughs. 'You didn't know?' He says. 'That was when we danced'."

Faithfulness

He has loved me from the beginning.

I wouldn't accept Him.

He has been present every moment of my life

I wouldn't acknowledge Him.

He wanted to carry my burdens.

I wouldn't let Him.

He wanted to ease my pain.

I wouldn't give it to Him.

Yet in my deepest and darkest moment,

He carried me through to the end;

Where on bended knee before His Son,

I humbled myself and . . .
Accepted His Grace,

His Mercy,

His Peace,

And His Love in Faith.

.the meaning to life.

just what exactly is the meaning to life?
everybody's asked themselves that.
few have found the answer.
the question is.
why have we been put on this polluted little grain of sand?
whats our final and only objective?
when you put it in perspective.
it's not that hard to see actually
cos the answer to the question is.
there is no meaning to life.
except one.
and the meaning to life is just
God.
singular
perfect..
.. God.
and our one goal in life.
our real reason why we've been dropped on this world
is to simply find God.
and all these troubles you may be facing at this present moment
are merely hurdles placed in front of you
to help you get stronger.
more alert
fitter.
to help you reach your final goal.
so don't give up. don't put away your shoes
when you face these troubles that seem so overwhelming
so uncomprehendable.
cos it might be uncomprehendable considering our situation
but it's comforting to know that
up there
not too far away
looking down on you
(not as in "looking down on" anyway)
watching over you
standing by your side
carrying you even
is our God.
and it's nice to know that he's really in control of everything
i mean that.
if He wanted to
he could just erase all your problems
then WHY doesn't He?
you ask
cos if they don't kill you
they'll build you up stronger
and it's good to know that
He won't let a trial kill you
unless of course it's your time to go.
so thats why we can have our full faith and trust in him
cos. he rocks.
he rules over everything.
and he cares to death for you.
literally.

thoughts of october 3rd

life's too short.
it's too short for grudges,
or lies,
or enemies
or even secrets.
cos it could anytime.
even now.
for all you know
this could be my last entry.
this could be my last time
i touch a keyboard
or play a guitar.
cos life can end at anytime
whenever God wants us home
and will you be able to leave this earth
knowing that you told everyone everything
that you wanted to say to them
forgave the last guy that gave you a black eye
or a black face.
forgave the guy that last insulted you
told your friends how much they meant to you
made peace with your worse enemies
thanked your parents for all they've done for you
said sorry to the last person you did wrong to.
will you be able to say to yourself after you're dead and gone.
that your work on earth is accomplished?
and that you won't be kicking in your grave?
kicking yourself?

fear of man

today's shineforth sermon talked about fear of man and how it drives us to do stuff out of fear.
and i'm beginning to understand more and more why people around me act the way that
they do. then i said to myself. wow thats really dumb. then i lOOked at myself and then i said. heh i do that too! and it IS real dumb. oh it is real dumb by the way. and then there was that old wesley man saying. he said: give me one hundred men, who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, such will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on earth. ANYWAY. my point was that why should we even be afraid or fear sin as he put it. because we know that satan "he can't touch us- tan gee paw". he can't do nuts to us cos we got God. and he's in the house. yups. that was my randomly random thoughts for today. tonight i might get further random thoughts. haha.

ps to ben: oh by the way.. maybe i do. but i'm trying not to. [refrence to you question]

thoughts of 1st october

after talking to ben last week about some stuff it gave me alot to think about. it made me think about the controversy of my life. and how i was just like that song from planet shakers. where it talks about being all good and stuff on sundays etc and being a different person during the week. been really hoping that i'll bring my two "lives" together. where sunday will be like a "recharging base" or such. and school and the rest of the world is where we're supposed to minister to ppl and change lives and all that. but it seems so much like we die off on monday to friday.. it's really quite bad. breaking down the masks. breaking away from status quo. being labelled a Jesus freak. its something we all should be truly. martrys. we should be standing up for all we believe. like "the pledge of the unashamed" my pledge for life. something i'm hoping to eventually become. hopefully sooner. and i see my friends. fellow christians falling into temptation and being hurt so badly by things of this world. people of this world. because WE aren't people of this world! this world is and gone. ruled by satan. condemned to . but we've been saved. we're not of this world. this is merely but a part of our lives. that we must fulfill in order to achieve greater heights. anyywayy. this week taught me alot too. cos i've been like phoneless this whole week to concentrate on my studies.. usually i talk to my friends and share my thoughts and problems. but because i haven't been able to it kinda forced me to talk to God alot more. and it was good. although i didn't plan it that way. God turned something bad for me to something good. and it goes to show how much i've been depending on the comfort and help from my friends. you guys are really great. you know who you are.. i wouldn't have been able to make it through alot of stuff without you.. yeah but it also shows how lacking my faith is. that i don't turn to God as my number one source of comfort hope and all that. yeahhh. so anyway. hope all of you will learn with me and go through all that God's planning for us together. i also hope that the sec 1 camp will go great. yupps. all the best for exams ppl! have a great week.

the fellowship of the unashamed

I am part of The Fellowship of the Unashamed. The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't go back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure, i'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.
i no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labour with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up till i have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till i drop, preach till all know and work till he stops me.
And when Jesus comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, my banner is clear. i am a part of The Fellowship of the Unashamed.

thoughts of september 22

something that God said to me one of the late nights at phuket was while i was asking whether or not i should go for the missions trip in december.. anyway : [if you want to go overseas for missions trips, why not start first with those in your country? you are surrounded by people not yet saved. why spend $1000 to go overseas to share God's word when you can do it for free right where you are? if your reason for going for missions trips is truly to spread God's love then you need can spread God's love right here. missions to singapore! we're SURROUNDED by non-believers! in your class alone there are enough to last you a year! not talking about the rest of your school, teachers and even in church! our church has alot alot alot of people who just go for the sake of going i.e going cos of friends, parents, 3rd generation christians etc. but how many truly know the love of God? ] yup well thats what made me knock myself on the head with the desk three times. its like DUH. what are you doing? anyway. just wanted to share that with all the mission trippers going this december!