Monday, April 30
will be pretty busy the next few weeks..having meetings and preparations for the shenyang trip...preparing and exacuting the fundraising for shenyang trip...then in between there's conference, more meetings/gatherings and of course the sch's midyr exams....can't imagine how to manage everything...thankfully i have a calender organiser to manage my schedule in case i forget...my mind was so filled with all the thoughts of the schedules that i found it hard to fall asleep, but i'm glad i managed to be cleared of everything in my mind today and the gym session just now really helped a lot in releasing my stress and worries....exercising does help...but i guess whats more impt is the rest i get...and i have to constantly remind myself of the spiritual rest i need..the refreshing of my soul...everyone needs that..i got to realize that fact when i seemed to be restless even when i had enough sleep...and i'm glad that i can seek for that spiritual recharge now...fill your mind with the right thoughts and doings........
jel; 7:58 pm
Sunday, April 29
these are photos taken during friday's dinner....went to central @ clark quay...end up at billy bombers for dinner..
after a very fulfilling dinner, we roamed ard clark quay for a long time before we went to attica for a drink...had a great chat over there...basically, it had been quite some time since we've spent aome quality time catching up with one another...had some really fun moments there with the camera as well....was a very blessed time to be able to just chill out by the river and enjoy the time spent together....
jel; 9:02 am
Friday, April 27
finally, the weekend is coming again...and its fri!i'm excited..because the coming weeks will be exciting...watching spiderman 3 next week, then phantom and along the weeks are preparation for my shenyang trip...haha...and i'm so looking forward to the june holidays as well...i dun know why i'm talking abt all these now...i usu live and enjoy the moment, making every moment meaningful and enjoyment...stayed back to teach some 1a students just now...spent 2 hours in total..but it was enjoyable cause through the process, i was once again reminded of why i love teaching so much..thanks students!...going out now..will be celebrating a fellow colleague/ gd friend's birthday...hope i wun be back too late, cause tmr i still have community service at imh....
jel; 5:18 pm
Wednesday, April 25
had my interview today...went quite well..but it was kinda scary while waiting for my turn...all quiet..sitting quietly at the sofa, waiting for one after another to finish their interviews...the agony of waiting for my turn...but it went better than i've expected....managed to survive through all the questions posted to me..even though i was challenged back for what i've answered, i provided them with a satisfying answer...thank God for that...i think i managed to answer well because its really passion from within and i answer based on my experience thus far in nchs....so thank nchs for the opportunity given to me....haha..if i do get it, i'll have to teach physics!!!!! must be quite a shock...i had intented to request for a change of teaching subject to geo...but they still preferred me to teach physics and maths because of my a level subjects...so cannot win the argument but i'm alright with physics too..in fact, all thanks to 3g, i actually realised i quite lk teaching physics as well...so well, at least in the end, i didn't have to worry abt which subject to teach...now waiting for the results.....
jel; 8:59 pm
got a new phone today...i was actually quite touched when i got it...maybe due to the things i've gone throughout my experience with my phones.....since i've lost my new phone on 3jan this yr till today, i've learned many lessons and being through struggles in my heart...and today this new phone meant so much more to me than just a new phone..its the result of many pains and struggles and lessons learnt....need not elaborate on the details but i'll treasure this phone so much more due to the meaning behind it....but i praise God for the many lessons learnt for i've grown so much more from the experience!
jel; 8:07 pm
Sunday, April 22
yest after bible study while we were going for dinner, john stated this remark: "you looked kinda tired these few weeks"...well, it was just a passing comment but it meant more to me...i reflected upon those words...i may not realize it but that may just be the state which i was for the past few weeks...unaware of it, i may have just seemed weared out during the past weekends, weared out by the chores accumulated weekdays..maybe i just could not even take a gd break or rest during weekends..cause my mind will be filled with thoughts/preparations for the work on the following week...so week after week, the cycle repeats and my mind just could not be put to rest...i need a really gd break....and yest while marking the test papers, i got pretty upset/frustrated/disappointed....skills which i've painstakingly taught lessons after lessons still did not get through to a lot of them...although i've spent countless times explaining concepts to them, many still commit the same mistakes during the second test...i didn't count the first test because the results were rather bad...and while i'm marking the second one, the same mistakes occur again in many scripts, which should not have been..and i ask myself: whose fault is it? have i not spent enough time to empahsize and ensure everyone knows what to do? it brought weight down upon me...and maybe thats why during bible study, i didn't seem particularly uplifting and john prob spotted that...but during tribe metting in the evening, pastor called out for prayers for those who needs assurance of the Lord's love...and although i didn't raise my hands for it, but the Lord knows this is what i needed at that moment of time and timothy came to pray for me...what he prayed for was what i needed most at that moment of time...the assurance of His love for me...that because of His love, i do not need to be in self-accusation, blaming myself for everything....i stand secure in the Lord...and thank God for restoration of the heart, that i do not need to indulge in self-accusation which will not bring abt any gd out of it...furthermore, i was in a better state of mind to be able to handle how i shld convey my intention to them when i return the paper...not through hard scolding which i had initially intented, but through letting them understand my intention behind my actions and words...i felt so much comforted after that, that my life is once again realigned to the right track and my heart can be filled with the right spirit to face situations again...
jel; 10:23 pm
Friday, April 20
its finally friday...what a long week...attending project smile classes has been tiring, not the nature of the course but by the time i reach home, it'll be close to 11pm..so its kinda tiring for me... but next week will be more tiring, looking at the schedule and the things i have to do...have been facing a question today regarding my future....physics/maths or geo? for those who know the situation i'm struck with now, i've been wondering....how???? anw, its no worries....all these while, i haven been worrying abt this aspect of my life...ever since i've been called to walk this path, everything has been in His control and plan...so why worry abt this small issue? whatever happens, i believe His plans for me will be the best for me...yup, so wish me the best for next wed...oh, finally i'll get to watch phantom of the opera....bought the tix for 10 may...so looking forward to it...
jel; 8:41 pm
Wednesday, April 18
today is my rest day from work...i lk it when there's a day, exp mid-week, when i'll leave sch early and take a break from work...went gym with jh..had a great time exercising..i love gym sessions...cause the adrenaline released can help to ease stress and make the muscles relax...teaching can be tensed at times, u know...mind is so recharged now...then it was guitar lesson in the evening...another favourite activity of the week..so basically today is really time off from work..and recently, i've been into magic tricks..attending these magic classes called "Project SMILE" in preparation for my Shenyang trip next month...SMILE meaning Sharing Magic In Love Everywhere...a meaningful course which trains u in magic tricks so that u can use them to serve the community...so basically, i'm going Shenyang to have a youth exchange with the university students there and to facilitate their magic classes training so that they can be empowered with the necessary skills to serve their communities...its even better than just serving the communities there..now we're equipping the youths with the skills as well as inculcating them the passion in serving their communities...at the same time, we will also befriend them and bridge ties with them, hopefully for a long-term relationship...maybe before i leave for the trip, i can practise the tricks in classes for my students first..since it'll be after their mid-yr exams and its a gd chance for me to practise in front of an audience and also at the same time, my students can be entertained (hopefully)..well, that depends whether there's time after exams...haha..crossing my fingers...
jel; 9:34 pm
Monday, April 16
this is my tribe...SJ tribe...photo taken last yr during the tribe camp...
this is the bandofbrothez...where i can seek true joy and comfort from...and its taken at expo hall 9..if anyone wants to know this family/community, i always extend this invitation to come join me there on sunday afternoons....thats where u can find me every sunday afternoons...
jel; 10:09 pm
sometimes when i mention a lot of abt how God is always my source of motivation...but living in this world, you'll also need that community of pple who can provide that support and love to help another through...
it brings me to the qn which some students have asked me before..."which church are you from?" and the ans which i always provide.."faith community baptist church"...in short fcbc..its this community of pple with faith which have helped to transform the lives of many, including many...growing up as a christian in this church has brought many changes to who i am today..
just to share with everyone a large part of my life outside sch is spent in this community...more specifically, with the tribe i belong to in church..."SJ tribe"..u can visit the blog under my links..thats my "extended family" in church...a grp of 300 plus pple under pastor seng lee who lives by the motto "make our lives many miracles"...and tog, we've spent countless occasions tog doing the work of God...
and now to something very close to my heart..my "direct family"...the bandofbrothez..which we call ourselves by...all my brothers and my "dad"...all the emotions and situations i've been facing recently...if its not for this family who provides strength and love for me, esp for my dad, i dun think i can even handle it with the proper emotions...i really thank God for placing me in this family, for its this family that i grew stronger in the Lord, that i can face all the storms knowing that i have this family of Christ who will be supportive of me....
jel; 7:13 pm
Sunday, April 15
this is the wedding gift which i've made for my bro and sis-in-law..didn't have much time to do it, so its a rather simple one...but i'm glad they both loved it when i gave them...personally, i'm very pleased with the eventual product...especially the small window at the corner..loved how the window enhanced the entire look of it...and i'm proud of the flowers which i've put on the window ledge...looks pretty nice...i will be looking forward to my next 2 major art 'projects' coming up in june...
jel; 9:23 am
went for a meeting with senior pastor yest for all educators- mainly referring to those in the teaching profession...gained much useful insights abt christian educators...and i reflected on how important it is for us to conduct ourselves the way Christians should even in our workplace...that no matter what situations we face, for example when we have students who are not exactly pleasant, that we need to remain passionate in what we do...i always tell myself that i want to be a positive influence for the students....thats my main purpose...but to do that, its not just by building up relationships with students..but also to be an excellent teacher..only then will words spoken be respected and honoured..i think i'm lacking a lot in the latter..something which i need to intentionally improve on...only then will my words be of positive influence for them...it is challenging at times, but i always keep myself close to the core reason of why i'm doing all these- to remind myself of the main purpose of doing all these...and to keep myself with my purpose, i have to constantly keep myself close to the Lord's love..cause its His love that is my source of motivation and energy....i need to be refreshed and recharged each day with this love...thats my prayer everyday...
jel; 9:10 am
Friday, April 13
just 2 photos from my bro's wedding yest which i can post on my blog now..cause the rest of the photos are taken by the hired official photographer..so i haven't got my hands on them yet...these photos are taken with my sis's camera...
this is me taken with my mum...
and this is with my sis...didn't really take a lot of pic yest too...cause after all my bro's the main star of the night, so i didn't really go ard taking photos...was super tired after last night...and the tiredness dragged to today..i'm amazed i managed to remain energetic today..esp surprised i can still last till sports day last now...to help out in cheers for the blue house..haha...got scolded by all my students from other houses...but no choice, i have to choose one....took a few photos too at the event..will post the pic once i obtained them from yk...
jel; 10:38 pm
Thursday, April 12
left sch very early today..cause today's my bro's wedding!preparing to leave for the wedding dinner later...haha..being the bridegroom's bro, must make sure i'm looking my best...and i'm happy for my bro...and this is the first wedding of the family, so its pretty exciting...my sis's wedding coming up next in sept..so it'll be 2 in the same yr...will blog some pic of the wedding after tonight...will go get dressed up soon...
jel; 3:44 pm
Wednesday, April 11
how do i describe my state of mind these few days?........hmm...well, recently i'm have faced by an increase presence of detractors around me...go check out the meaning if u dun know what the word means...anw, they're in this position to hinder the work i've been carrying out...out to affect my mood and spirit down..but the more i'm challenged, the more i'm going to stand stronger in myself...for when Jesus was doing His work on Earth, He had many detractors out to stop the gd work which He had been carrying out...i am putting myself in His situation now..experiencing a taste of how He might have felt..and it encourages me..for i know God is my strength and motivation..that i must continue the gd work i'm been doing thus far...for i know my rewards at the end of the road...let no hindrance come into my way..if God is with me, who can be against me?this is a season of training to be tough, a season of emotional challenges...thank you Lord for putting me through all these...
jel; 9:29 pm
Monday, April 9
my personal prayer...that i can be strong and to continue to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord...spur me on to do the gd work and not be affected by what are meant to be distractions and obstacles....and more importantly, let my eyes be fixed unto You Lord..so that my focus is on You...for i seek not the approval of Man but the approval of God....let the people whom i come across experience a touch of God..allow His love to flow through me and touch the lives of many...use me to spread the love of God..love that is unconditional...make my life a miracle...
jel; 8:40 pm
Sunday, April 8
this is the group photo for the bandofbrothez gd friday event...some of my students in the photo...was a meaningful time spent with everyone...
these are my students who came...really thank them for coming and i'm very blessed by their presence...hope they have a great time and understood more abt the truth behind gd friday!
jel; 6:37 pm
Saturday, April 7
gd fri ended...waiting for resurrection sunday tmr...yet was a great testimony of how great God was...for those who came for the gd fri event, you wld know how blessed each and every one of u were to me....and i was also very blessed yest because of the fact that i know i wasn't disappointed by all the setbacks which i faced throughout the week...as i've mentioned, the past week was lk a battle for me..but yest, i can claim to be victorious that i've overcome all obstacles to win that battle!today was also a great meaningful day...did an act of blessing to a family who had to be displaced from their home and shift to a free lodging place...although i don't know, but its an act of kind gesture to them as they genuinely needed help...and i took this opportunity to remind myself how blessed i already am in my life and to use my life to serve others and to bless them....had a team briefing today too...on my trip to shenyang in may..its a serive learning trip where i'll be bridging ties with the china university students and inculcate in them the passion and interest in serving the community...i'm looking forward to that trip as i believe its going to be another rewarding and purposeful experience...
jel; 9:17 pm
Thursday, April 5
sec 1 students:
i'm sure all of u have received a cookie today in sch...some of u may not know who's the pple behind all these...its not me but a grp of gd-hearted sec3/4 seniors who wish to bless their juniors this easter season...one of them just happen to be my student and i extended my helping hand in giving out these cookies, so some of u saw me ard...
anw, hope all those who have received a cookie be blessed in one way or another...thats the intention for giving out the cookies...not for any other purpose or with any strings attached...so i do hope it'll be a joy to receive it....
if u want to know more abt the grp of pple who did this or want to share anything with them, do email them..the email is written on the piece of paper attached to the cookie...anw, i do encourage all of u to email them and thank them for their nice gestures..its only gd to be appreciative towards them...
jel; 1:51 pm
Wednesday, April 4
What is the greatest tragedy?It is not when our lives are cut short by death, it is when we live a long life for nothing and for not one but ourselves...i thought i want to share this with everyone...when i read this sentence in a book, it strikes a chord with me, knowing how important it is for us to live our lives meaningfully and purposefully...most imptly, we live lives not for ourselves but for others....cause i realize many pple simply live a self-centred life..which is quite sad...i always believe in using my one life to be able to influence many other lives...thats when my own life can be made useful..my living motto has always beeen to 'make my life a miracle' to others....and thats also one reason why i came to love teaching so much...for my own life to have an impact and influence over others....for the many lives who are open to me, i'll put my life back into theirs....and the joy flows from within....
jel; 8:42 pm
a few more days before gd friday...this week is a challenging week...because of certain things which are happening...i've already experienced the challenges since sunday afternoon...all these things are trying to put my spirit down...trying to stop whatever i'm doing now...but i'm going to face all these strongly....and i'm fighting all these challenges...standing tall and righteous in all these circumstances...those whom i call friends and family will stand by me, to support me in whatever i'm doing, such that i can complete what i need to do....yesterday, i was very much comforted and encouraged by the words of God...to spur me on for what He has promised me...for the benefit of the many lives i've been entrusted with, i will continue to fight the gd fight and win the victory!i wun reveal too much details here..so its ok if u dun understand what i'm saying...just know that i will continue to keep my spirit up and continue to be strong in order to complete what i need to do..so if u care abt me, stand by me and support me in whatever ways u can...
jel; 8:51 am
Sunday, April 1
i have always been told that my students don't understand what i'm talking abt in my blog...well, i can understand why..maybe next time i'll write things in a clearer and simpler manner...but i feel this is a way for everyone to know me in a different light...and a chance to know a different side of me...
jel; 12:01 am
