i'm sorry i ve abandoned my blog again. somehow.

was glad dat kris allen won american idol last week. had thought adam would win. but am glad kris did. one allures, the other touches. happened wen i was in silent retreat. 

point to ponder: what does "in the power of the Holy Spirit" mean? we glibly use it... yet do we know?

Virtue is not the sign of a Christian. Joy is. - Madeleine L'Engle, The Rock That is Higher

Asiaone online news 6th may

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has suspended the Association of Women for Action and Research's (AWARE) sexuality programme after a thorough investigation.

In a press statement released this afternoon, the ministry said that the "Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Basic Instructor Guide" had been pulled off because it did not conform to MOE's guidelines in some aspects.

In particular, "some suggested responses in the instructor guide are explicit and inappropriate and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex"....

iving a reason for its decision, MOE said that the Singapore education system did not promote alternative lifestyles to students.

It said: "MOE's framework for sexuality education reflects the mainstream views and values of Singapore society, where the social norm consists of the married heterosexual family unit."

Apart from looking at AWARE's sexuality programme, the ministry also investigated the course materials used during General Paper (GP) lessons in junior colleges. The material had allegedly carried information on alternative lifestyles.

MOE's decision to investigate AWARE's sexuality programme was a swift turn from its earlier stance late last month.

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from the forum pages:

In light of this comment, MOE needs to also look into the Advanced CSE programme to ensure that the same content is not perpetuated. - speakingof

Now the old exco is back I think MOE schools wld have to be extremely watchful abt programs from AWARE - if it took a full investigation and a petition of over 6000 to lead MOE to conclude what was already obvious about the CSE, it's going to be hard to tell in future when there are really breaches of their guidelines. I hope for AWARE's sake that the old exco makes the step to renounce their liberal agenda and be explicitly pro-family. - veritasi

At least, one of main concern of Josie Lau and Dr Thio had been addressed. I also happy with decision of MOE on suspending CSE programme from school which might promote alternative lifestyle for the impressionable youth. - desmond.SG

Dear JackOng1,
We should not impose our beliefs on the gays? How about this: the gays should not impose THEIR beliefs on US, and on our children. That's what AWARE's CSE was trying to do. - ahnyaahnya

from yahoo news 6th May

SINGAPORE: AWARE’S extraordinary general meeting (EGM) last Saturday, which was attended by a 3,000—strong crowd of mainly women, was more than just a show of “girl power”.

It was a demonstration of how civil society, without the Government’s overt hand, can handle controversial debates on sensitive issues — and they do not come more explosive than the cocktail of religion and sexuality that dominated the saga.

Yes, the month—long public debate got ugly at times — there is absolutely no space for death threats — and the booing and heckling of speakers at the EGM were regrettable.

But as several observers pointed out, there were more positives than negatives — not least a coming of age for civil society.

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note: civil: meaning - giving of death threats, "booing and heckling of speakers"? these "regrettable" acts as said is a mark of coming of age of a "civil society"? well done. *dripping with sarcasm*

my right knee hurt 4 no apparent reason. will visit polyclinic tmr. 

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this is a season of refining. God turned up the heat, caused alot of dross to surface. also brought about alot of healing. all in a very short few weeks.

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are you on a rescue mission or a treasure hunt?

is your focus here on earth on the lost (no matter how noble n good, it is still man-centred) or on the "pearl of greatest worth", and while giving up all, also point others to the joy of finding it?

the former will result in alot of "i must do it or else" mentality. alot of things depend on oneself. the adrenaline rush is there, but the joy and the rest is absent.

many 'hero-type' personalities will be drawn 2 this kind of mission. but not the mary-type, not d enoch-type who can walk and talk with the Lord. they will be too busy to sit with Him while claiming to do His work.

the latter is a joyous discovery not unlike the journey the Holy Spirit invites us along. the adrenaline rush is also there. but the booty is not man, but God. you get God. 

the people on a treasure hunt are able to relate to the last verse of "amazing grace"with a resonance from deep inside. it is john newton's original last verse but the popularised version dont have it. but chris tomlin put it back in2 his contemporary version of "amazing grace" (my chains are gone) :

"the earth shall soon dissolve like snow

 the sun forbear to shine

 the Lord who called me here below

 will be forever mine.....

  You are forever mine..."

been busy all week.

wed was carpenter all day. do up shelves, dismantle bedposts etc. thumbs were sore from screwin n unscrewin shelf brackets. 

thurs went ard lookin 4 my particular shelf's brackets. cos some were old n rusted so they broke. anyway was hard finding. had 2 settle 4 some substitute. met trinity 4 prayer. was good. but d cafe we went too was too ex. man, silly D have atas taste but no pocket-substance. but then again she smart cos we treated her 4 bday.

today packed all day again. i nearly fall into the housewife trap - because i ve been packin n cleanin all day, i expect opp 2 come home n pick up their part asap, 4gettin dat they have been workin all day, need rest. so dun nag or get impatient! haha. like i said, i didnt fall, juz so nearly! was getting impatient with mum when i caught myself. hm.

it s been so very hot these days! n i get rash wen it s v hot. so been havin red patches these past 3 days.

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i ve got 5 disciples gettin married this year (fr next month onwards). n a cousin. n 2 dear galfriends. i think a few more sendin invites. sigh... dats at least $800! n cant siam one. must save!

they r doin retiling works at the void deck. been at it for days. wonder wat's takin them so long. drill n drill. i cant even hear myself think or read or do QT properly. feels almost as if there's a dentist in my brain drilling!

d way 2 drown out the noise ard is 2 turn up d music u wanna listen 2. 

dat's wat my bro told me as i wondered how he could study with all this noise. he blasted worship music in his room. while i didnt have the  speakers 2 do it for me, i plugged into my shuffle. listening 2 worship music, audio bible, MP3 sermons. man... what a great way 2 combat all dat drilling noise! 

today is long service award. i got it cos i served for 8 years. it's incredible how so many others can serve God in this company for more than 35 years. 

from faith to faithfulness. 

i love d song "blessing unto nations". 

it's been a rather incredible day. i wouldnt have expected it 2 have turned out dis way. 1st time connected with dad. felt his heart as i heard his tots n reflections. God is doin a gr8 thing. will fast n pray.

wat i got fr d conference in philippines:

- a few dubious looking insect bites.

- less body weight cos i didnt get 2 eat as much as i normally do

- came in contact with a godly woman (key speaker) whose love for the Word and intimacy for God is unparalleled in d conf. (praise God for debbie)

- a prayer appt set up by God leadin 2 a breakthru in an area i didnt know i desperately need, giving me handles (thank God for susan). it's like some domino effect.1 lies down n so many others topple with it. truth seeped deeper in2 my soul- God is good

- "so heavenly-minded dat u r no earthly-good" is a lie dat as derailed so many. i ve seen enough tragedies- people who spend less time wif God n in His word cos they bought into this. u cant be heavenly-minded dat u r no earthly-good unless u r "pirated heavenly minded". noe wat i mean? d bible tells us to set our minds on things above, 2 fix our eyes on Jesus (who is seated at the right hand of the Father!!!) if u r really heavenly-minded, u will definitely be of immense earthly good! 

- d preoccupation of one's mind n heart can easily be seen, whether it is God n His word or d ways of men. let me resolve to know nothing except Christ n Him crucified. (1 Cor 2)

- man like 2 pursue knowledge n be thot wise. but the wisdom of man is foolishness to God. one should not come with "clever n persuasive words" lest the cross be emptied of its power (1 cor 1:17, 2:4)

- wat blessedness 2 be accepted unconditionally n 2 have a fellow sojourner! 

i m blessed. i m loved. God delights in me. 

there's alot 2b done. many things will happen. exciting stuff akan datang! 

going to philippines today till sunday. 

hope i get 2 hang out at the beach. been 2 like d most beautiful places in philippines BUT never really seeing d beaches that i m so close to! all cos i m at conferences!!! sigh. this looks like another one of those again. colleague booked flights such dat we reach in time n leave immediately after. sigh. wat da.........

back home. busy with Easter kids' prog prep. 

here's a link i found dat is about the story of three trees. not sure if it's really by this person.

found it interesting cos it's "evan"

http://backdoorbible.org/html/evan.htm

i'm sorry i havent been blogging. alot have happened in my life.

after chennai, i attended ISOW (international school of worship) with some of the kid-worship leaders from church. learnt quite a bit. i also attended a number of other courses which took my whole days, leaving me scrambling to have my DGs and settle stuff at nights or weekends. got 4 certs saying i m competent in the relevant areas of training blah blah.

now, i m actuallyat an internet cafe in spore! haha. can u believe?! well, i m house-sitting 4 Pat. it
's more like grace and space given to me to reflect n plan. so will be there till wed. didnt bring my laptop (anyway i dunno d broadband password at the house anyway) so here's my brief attempt 2 keep my blog alive.

there were a few drafts typed in the past weeks. will sort and tidy them up and publish it after wed. so... if u are about to be real bored n disappointed by this blog. sorry. check back on fri... good fri!
and meanwhile, enjoy ur (passion) week!

Am i loving God wholeheartedly?

Am i loving people unconditionally?

this is the yardstick

in a race to save some face, why not conquer some inner space - mystics

- Benny Ho in "Finding Balance in a Busy World"

重话要轻说

坏话要好说


破坏感情的话不要说

- Perfect Cut 2 

i m enjoying myself in chennai. leen's a v good host! it's 11.43pm here. but 2.11am in spore. haha. juz the kind of time zone dat justifies my sleeping habits. ok blog more.

leaving on the jet plane. to chennai.
a ball of rojak feelings! i wonder why i feel so ambivalent.
n i wonder if this IS the way i feel every trip i make. well, this is hol. hmmm...

ok.. check back with you sometime soon. need to board now. cheers. stay walking in the Lord =)

the branch of the vine does not worry, and toil, and rush here to seek for sunshine, and there to find rain. No; it rests in union and communion with vine; and at the right time, and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it. let us so abide in the Lord Jesus - Hudson Taylor

"dun let ur discouragement be your irresponsibility" - yeep 2 D

some people are so afraid of feeling lost that they will hop onto the very next thing that comes by regardless it is from God or not. 

juz watched "slumdog millionaire" tonight.

didnt realise dat it won oscars for

cinematography (this is a clear win!), directing, best picture, film editting, sound mixing, music -song (i was surprised to find out that they incorporated chinese drums into the music. simply delightful!), music -score (only cos i think bollywood's beats r novel to the US. i do really wish Wall.E had won this instead!) and writing -adapted!

watched "changeling" wif Schua, and also Curious case of Benjamin Button

button got

make-up & visual effects. i think it wins hands down for those. 

the 166 min long movie didnt drain me as much as it did for many i know. i think i eno

changeling was such an emotionally draining one: her son's alive... no he's not... yes there is hope! sometimes we really dunno which does more harm - to hope or not. should we keep on hoping or let go and move on best as we can? can we even live without hope? 

kate winslet is a v v gracious person. i loved her thank-you speech. 

n yes i m still impressed by sean penn (with watever bits they showed on tv) tho i didnt catch "Milk"

tho there's alot of other movies i would love to catch... but i think i've spent (or wasted) enuf time already. 

i think this year's academy awards is really something. they really worked hard 2 make it different. wat i m so glad abt it was how they got past oscar winners to commend this year's nominees. the look on their faces, soaking up the affirmation, juz drummed in the message that people need encouragement no matter how "big" they are. and wat a way to do it! 

i always enjoyed watching the academy awards. maybe it fuels the performance-loving streak in me (biao yan yu). nonetheless, i also draw lessons and inspiration from it. 

the world gives out trophies and we clamour for them, but at what price? the Lord gives out lasting rewards but there's no glamour about them in this world. the world and all its glory will fade away. what is done for the Lord will last.

i m more visual than audio. (like i said on my fb: i would rather be deaf than blind) this came up in a conversation i had wif ZZ. yes i m. but sometimes i surprise myself cos i hear n remember words. sometimes shockingly well. maybe cos i LOVE quotes. and the below is one:

"i shall pass thru this world but once. any good therefore that i can do or any kindness that i can show to any human being, let me do it now. let me not defer or neglect it, for i shall not pass this way again" 

i heard this on the video tribute to Jerry Lewis (think he said it on some show n they ended his tribute vid with his voice saying this) before he came onstage to receive the jean hersholt award. i googled it and found it mostly attributed to Stephen Grellet. amazing quote. 

i got a new pair of specs. walked ard in it today. felt like the world was spinning. my eyesight deteriorated v badly.  myopia n astig increased by more than 100 degrees. sigh. changed my contact lens to the astig ones too. i didnt realise i had been straining my eyes so much and walking ard pretty "blindly". man, it's amazing how i didnt realise it at all! how can i not know?!?!

read "the shack" by Wm Paul Young. wonderful christian novel. really good writing. it's amazing to have so much theology in such a digestible form! =)  

learnt alot of things, thought thru alot of things. sorry will try shake it out of me another time... =p

i cooked laksa for mum n me tonight. it was pretty yummy. took n pic of it on mum's hp. too lazy to transfer n upload it here. had the best time interacting one on one with mum since eons. 

have been bitten by the cooking bug; have been itching to cook n try out new stuff. will really set time aside to do so. 

perhaps next weekend i'll cook fish stuffed with herbs, with cream sauce n served with olive rice balls. hmmm... n i'll start recording cooking shows. 

been fantasizing about taking leave to read, cook n paint! something like take a half year off work? hmm...yar, like i'd have anything 2 leave on.

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my white sony ericsson slide phone so died-ed-ed. i bought an ice cream - LG ice cream. rather my sis helped me get it tonight. thank you HUI! sorry for all the trouble. it's pretty n has cool lights on the front. funny dat wat i like abt it is not its cool features but that 1) it's PINK! hahah.strawberry pink. 2) it's a flip phone. no more other kinds for me! 3) it's within my budget. i refuse to pay anything above $100. 

now, it's charging n i have problem transferring my 1000+ numbers over.n it seems like my bluetooth is undetectable by it. dear me. 

if you have sms-ed or called me n i seem to not respond, pls give me 2 more days n sms/call me again k? =p

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m excited about the Alpha and the "walk thru the New Testament" courses my church is running. i pray i can get at least 1 fren 2 go for alpha. 

the next american idol's gonna b neither Caucasian nor Black. 

quoting someone:

church attendance shows how popular church is

prayer meeting attendance shows how popular God is.

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i m taking a course in a school dat shall remain unnamed. n doing my reading (the 2 textbooks of the course) left me badly disillusioned. i'm doing some cross-culture course. a christian one. for preparing missionaries. n i m so darn disappointed at how the world's ways have been used to teach the disciples of God rather than the other way round. it's a whole load of crap! i felt as if i was reading my NUS anthropology texts! m i reading a christian course?!?! academics try to infuse the world's wisdom into a Christian topic dat should be filled more with biblical principles. it's world's methods, thoughts, SOPs and the sprinklings of bible verses quoted were there to support their point. academics pumping loads of hot air into the dissertation to get some crap degree but is totally useless when held up to the Bible.  at first i thought i was being closed-minded or critical.but after reading half of the 1st tb n 1st chapter of the 2nd, i felt that i could have better used my time juz reading n gleaning from the Bible about missions and cross-culture. 

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8 years ago i said some things about Bush when he took on his 1st term as president. n i was right. 

the recession we see is not going to go away in 1 or 2 years. obama will not be able to turn it around. it will seem like he can. but it'll all crumble down like a pack of cards. US doesnt have enough money. this is the work of God allowing man to undo himself by his own greed. those are strong will fall. 

it's a time to rethink in whom we place our trust in. in a president who orates well? in a govt to put in place good policies to weather this crisis and take care of its people? has your assurance been how much you ve stashed in the bank or how well your portfolio is doing? that you are climbing the career ladder in good speed, ahead of your peers? it's also a time to question our faith. are we worrying like any other man-in-the-street who do not know God? are we as frightened as one without hope or assurance?  

God is stripping away the glory of the world. and shaking everything dat can be shaken. His word will stand. His glory shall not be given to another. isaiah 48:11. and His people, those who put their trust not in man but Him, will be saved. 

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we prayed for revival. r we ready to pay the price?