Testimony

Church was amazing yesterday. I led worship, with Kennard on the drums. Kennard is a good friend who left for studies in UK a couple of years ago. It's great to have him back with us now and the coming weeks. I gave a testimony, a song presentation and a video presentation. I was glad that quite a few came to me after that with really encouraging words, support and some volunteered to fight alongside with us! This was the sharing on Sunday....

I grew up in a church. When I was 5 or 6, towards the end of my kindergarden life, my beloved and now belated teacher, Miss Foo asked my mum what I’ll be doing on every Sunday morning. My mom told me that I’m free and usually I’ll be sleeping most of the time on that day. That’s how I actually got invited and start attending church in First Baptist. When I was in church, I often hear God’s word, be it from the Youth Pastor or the Sunday School teachers or my fellow Christian friends. But still I don’t really know who God truly is. All I knew was He was the creator of all things and we must submit to Him for He is our master. So to be in church on a Sunday was more like a routine rather than coming because of passion for God. And I grew up well in these years, blessed with such a loving and caring mom.

When I was 12, First Baptist had a renovation and has shifted to Subang for about 2 years. At that time, I didn’t want to go to Subang and I was churchless for about a year plus. During this period, my grand aunty has brought my grandma and mom to Emmanuel Baptist and later on extended the invite to me and my brothers. I didn’t like being here initially. It was rather boring to listen to the long winded sermons, strangers everywhere, and all my friends that I used to mix were no longer around. Almost everytime when I make my visits to EBC, there will be this young man coming to me, putting his hands on my shoulders like I’m his best friend, telling me, hey what you do on Sundays mostly? Very free right? COME TO EMMANUEL BAPTIST. And each time I see him, I’ll try to move further because he will tell me the same thing and it scares me away because I don’t really know him and it sounds like some church advertising or sales approach to me, like trying to sell your church with a more aggressive manner. And that man is Pastor Joshua Tan. He was just an ordinary church member or probably an intern in church during that time. This is how my journey in Emmanuel Baptist Church actually started.

Strangely I never see Joshua anymore for a long period of time when I was in church. He was just missing in action and I only realized it months later because… no one actually came to me to ask me every week without failure to COME TO EMMANUEL BAPTIST. Few years later, one Sunday I saw Joshua attending church, dressed with a nice suit, tie walking to the parsonage and I went to him “Hi Joshua”. He replied me, “Hi, I’m gonna be your pastor”. *My heart stops beating* I was shocked and couldn’t believe it because almost all the Pastors I’ve seen were at least 40 years old or older. Many things happened in that few years till today. I didn’t quite put all my trust in Him. I hold on to every other thing besides God. I tried to find my purpose of life thru studies. However it only satisfies me for a moment, when I get good results and everyone would praise me, after that I don’t feel anything great. I tried to find my purpose of life thru friends. However it doesn’t make me happy all the time no matter how great or close the friends are to me. Even close or best friends will argue, mistreat you or betray your trust. I tried to find my purpose of life thru love. Yeah, at that age love was just finding a girl and go on dates and live happily ever after. And I have failed in 3 relationships miserably. I tried to find my purpose in life thru every other way besides God. And I failed miserably. I wanted control in my life. I wanted to be the God of my own life.

Jesus has unconsciously shaped me and changed me thru out the years slowly. I was put as a backup into a worship team, later on I’m here today, serving the Lord as a worship leader and I had many experience with God. In this recent camp that I went to, God actually revealed to me that the youths in our church are lost. The numbers in our church are decreasing and many leaders had left. Who is there to actually guide the youths? Who is there to grow and take care of the youths? Who is actually there to teach and empower the youths? It kept me thinking and even right now, look at our attendance today, where are all the youths we used to have in church? That truly upsets me and I went to Pastor Joshua, I think God wants our church to have our Youth Service.

One Sunday, Joshua shared to us that if the adults and members of this church, fail to successfully pass the baton to the youths someday to lead the church, there will be no tomorrow for Emmanuel Baptist Church, there will be no tomorrow. I personally couldn’t agree more on that because people have to grow old one day, they have to die and meet God one day, and who will actually take over their role and place in the church? It’s the future adults in church, the young people, the youths. It’s okay if we start small, but I hope and I pray that all the youths and members of this church will give us full support and come back to God if you have strayed away from Him and help the church to grow. Right now we are still in the planning phase and I’m constantly praying that the members of the church will be blessed by God and the youths to come back and serve and have a great time in this church. We need a lot of young people to actually come before God and give their best for God. If everything goes according to plan, perhaps we can successfully start the Youth Service next year, and of course we are not disconnecting the youths to the Main Service. We want to reach out to the young people with a different approach and connect to them. We want to train future leaders or the church, we want to teach them how to honour God, how to love your parents, to excel academically and in their spiritual walk, we want to have a community where the young people can turn to during their trouble times, we want them to not forget about God during their high and low times in their life. No matter how successful you are in the future, you will be lost and empty without God. I would like to ask all of us here today to keep in Youths of this church in your daily prayers and end this sharing session with a song, Amazing Grace(My Chains Are Gone) and later with a video presentation of the camp I recently attended. Thank you.

p/s: There a lot of other names I would like to mention, like Lilian Ang, Wendy, Chee Seng, Sally and others but I wasn't give sufficient as it was a normal worship session. And..... Congrats Debbie! She is the runners up for ASQ 2008. You made us really proud.

This is Debbie, me and Wei Leng. I still remember this is our very first meeting that sparkled a friendship couple of years ago. We looked so INNOCENT! xD

Chances

There are countless chances in life, and there are also possibilities we might miss them all. However sometimes, not everything has second chances, especially in this cruel reality. They don't come by everyday and when you miss the flight, you'll be left behind. There won't be any second flights for you. If that's the only opportunity in life, be quick, firm, determined and pray. The Lion King who fails to bring back food for its herd of lives, is risking the whole Kingdom to perish. Seize the only chance, or just die like the foolish & unworthy.

Tagged By Yeen Hoong

h1. At what age do you wish to marry?
~>I once begged my mum to teach me bake cookies for a girl. She said, NO, all your relationships are unsucessful, teach you is like wasting my effort and time. I replied, but mom, I'm still young and I have time to choose the best wife if it doesn't work out. I'm 22 and it would take at least about 4 to 8 more years for me to get married. So what you think? ;)

Mum: Okay, I'll teach you how to bake cookies in 4.5 years time.
Me: *Cha Dou*

Anyway, she taught me at last and I baked London Chocolate Almond Cookies!

2. Where will you go if someone sponsors you a tour ticket?
~>America, Australia, Japan etc. I want a world tour ticket haha.

3. If you could have one word that'll describe your mood right now, what would it be?
~>Sleepy, I just rise from my dreams.

4. How long can a true friendship last?
~>Forever. I grew up with a bunch of friends since Primary One. Some even from kindergarden before we went to the same Primary school. I'm proud to say, you guys are my bestesrestest buddies.

5. If you can have 1 dream to come true, what would it be?
~>Become a singer/rockstar/running a business (ain't giving the details!).

6. Do you believe you can survive without money?
~>Yup, but I might need to live inside the cave in some forest thats rich with natural source of food, dress like Tarzan and use the rocks as pillow.

7. What are you afraid to lose the most?
~>My faith.

8. If you win $1 million, what would you do?
~>Put in CIMB bank, into a fund that provides fairly well returns until I graduate I'll plan again.

9. List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you?
~>Loves calling me kor kor, aite thats not a good point. Christian, soft hearted and polite.

10. What are the requirements that you wish from the other half?
~>I've answered this before. Aite here goes round 2. She must be loud like thunder, sakai like Ivy, click better than Click 5, active like monkey, flexible like rubberband, rational like psychics, creative like rainbows, happy like hyena on estacy pills, talkative like tv, sweet like sugar and preferbably Christian, well mannered, strives to improve, understanding.

11. If you could rewind time would you?
~>Is it like... this movie.... The Click?!

12. What's your ambition?
~>I'll either start off as an auditor or work in a finance firm, get my professional certificade, maybe a master later on and see where God takes me from here. The best is yet to come.

13. Are you emotional?
~>Yes, if someone who meant a lot to me hurts me. *Sniffs* Tissue plwease.

14. What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
~>God, family & friends, other half, health to fullfill my dreams.

15. If you could undo doing one mistake in the past, what would it be?
~>Learn singing as soon as I can speak.

16. If you have a chance, which part of your character would you like to change?
~>Naiveness. I still have some of them in me despite the fact that I try my best not to be cheated when I place my trust on people.

17. What music have you been listening to recently?
~>Rock, Duets, Asian Idol 2007, Astro Talent Quest 2008(Go Debbie! I'll support you in the finals this Saturday, my treat for makan aite? I'm not good in doing banner xD).



This is Debbie Lim/林淑晶!! representating ASQ2008 for Billionstar PK round in Taiwan.

Those interested to come with me for Astro Talent Quest 2008 finals can get tickets from me. Saturday, Stadium Merdeka, 7.45pm. I still have a bunch of tickets! Come support Debbie!

18. What is the one thing you cannot do but you wish you could?
~>It's not I can't but I don't have it yet, lots of cash, like 10 trucks full, there's a lot I want to accomplish with it.

19. What will you do if your life left 3 more days?
~>Jalan-jalan cari makan, write some poems, give everyone I love a bear hug, wish them goodbye and sleep in my wifes embrace. Hey future wifey, you cannot die before I do, aite?!

20. Should we lie or confess in love?
~>Confess, no mater how slim the chances are, whether she's Miss Africa or millions of guys lining up for her till it reaches Sabah, I still give it a shot!

Homesick

Keep digging, dig.... and dig,
Not even a drip of water,
Shades from the hidden dungeon,
Give me, my path to freedom,

A stroke drawn with my blood,
I count the days to release,
Marking the escape of the sun,
Darkness blinds my sight again,

Secret plans kept like a silent mice,
A two side coin bet on this hole,
Not knowing where it leads the soul,
Give me, my path to salvation,

One day I'll break this chains,
These bars won't hold me back,
The gods tried to rob my faith,
Unworthy compared to my Master,

I rejoice, even when I bleed all over,
The path to a brighter tomorrow,
I vow to fly like Him someday,
Keep digging, and seek the route,

Free me from this murderous sin,
For they did not bow in awe,
When I'm set alive to see the sunlight,
I'll never miss you ever, Homesick.

Whatever It Takes

A strangled smile fell from your face
It kills me that I hurt you this way
The worst part is that I didn't even know
Now there's a million reasons for you to go
But if you can find a reason to stay

I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
Believe that I can change
I'll keep us together whatever it takes

She said "If we're gonna make this work
You gotta let me inside even though it hurts
Don't hide the broken parts that I need to see"
She said "Like it or not it's the way it's gotta be
You gotta love yourself if you can ever love me"

I'll do whatever it takes
To turn this around
I know what's at stake
I know that I've let you down
And if you give me a chance
And give me a break
I'll keep us together, I know you deserve much better

But remember the time I told you the way that I felt
That I'd be lost without you and never find myself
Let's hold onto each other above everything else
Start over, start over

Tagged By Asmice

Tag! Tag! Lets spread the virus

7 facts about me:-
~>Loves singing, everybody knows that.
~>Romantic, I think? according to some reliable sources lol.
~>Loves God, you bet.
~>Infinite hobbies, tell me about it.
~>Lame, with countless exciting jokes that ends up in silence.
~>Creative, loves "eye talking", filled with crazy ideas.
~>Darnnn naughty & playful if you know me well.

7 things that scare me:-
~>Crazy dawgs... after being chased by a 4 legged brownish nutcase.
~>Guys grabbing mens' butt? Man, I'll kill that dude... REALLY!
~>My pastor having period.
~>My brothers having period, too?
~>Girls joining the period session, three?
~>Being alone watching a horror movie in the cinema, that's scary crap you know.
~>Being robbed, it's alright if the robber wants to rob my cash plus my cards or the wallet if he's make good use out of it, but don't hold a knife and tell me "I'm stabbing you before I ciao". Man, I'll kill that dude..... TOO!


7 songs playing in my mind:-
~>Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace(My Chains Are Gone)
~>Dr Bombay - Rice & Curry

Hurry hurry hurry, buy my rice and curry,
Buy my rice and curry, so hurry hurry hurry,
Buy 1 for 2, special price for you,
Oh wey oh, curry nam nam curry curry curry nam nam!

~>Alex Band - Tonight
~>Lifehouse - Whatever It Takes
~>Crazy Frog - I Like To Move It

All girls all over the world,
Original Mad Stuntman pon ya case man!
I love how all girls a move them body,
And when ya move ya body, and move it,
Nice and sweet and sexy, alright!

I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
I like to move it, move it
Ya like to MOVE IT!

~>Jonas Brothers - When You Look Me In The Eyes
~>Rick Mugrage - Blue Skies

7 valuable things in my life:
~>God
~>Family, although I pretend to be ignorant.
~>Friends, I've been praying for you guys.
~>Love ones, maybe like future pets, future girlfriend, wife and stuff.
~>My assets, not those assets aite haha, stuffs like handphones, cars and comp, it burns cash when it has problems.
~>Career, its a must, I'm a guy.
~>The voice inside me.

7 'first times' in my life:-
~>Calling an indian lady while I sleeping on her shoulder and she pushes my head away like 5 times, "Mummy, don't lah!". I woke up, look at her..... *shocked* Where's my mum?!
~>Got the tip of my middle finger crushed.
~>Singing a love song specifically to a girl in public.
~>Period life, lol.... literally perioding during my entire years in senior high.
~>Got my left cheek pinched my a stanger girl out of a sudden during LEO I.U. Nite.
~>Buttocks expose half on stage with 600 audience laughing. A girl came to me, "Oooo... nice butt". Shitt!!!!
~>Waking up and thinking it was dawn, packing up all my schooling stuffs and asking mom to fetch me to school, until I saw a large crowd playing football in the "morning" at the fields, it was EVENING, 6pm.

7 words/things I always say/use:-
~>Heys, Heya, Hi, Hello, Yo.
~>Mama, what you cooking tonight? (in the morning)
~>I wanna use (thats a standard msg to my bros when I wanna use comp).
~>Good morning, good night God.
~>My fan, Malaysia gets really hot at times.
~>Jom movie! What movie? Anything lah.
~>Jom bball! Don't Care. Coming now.

Friends that I wanna tag
~>All the readers, You're tagged! really, if you have time, tell me I'll read it.

The Heart

Dwelling in the glory of riches and fame,
Faster than any bullets could fly,
A man may live like a King of a nation,
But his heart... does not tell lies,

Like a hungry wolf craving blood,
Days of stravation brings insanity,
Bread tasted like the source of life,
Is it possible revive a dead?

Our days in this place are numbered,
Tressures shared forever remains,
In my head I know our truth,
These heartbeats, wasn't a coincidence,

Feelings can be a dangerous weapon,
Blinding one's mind to rationality,
Robbing one's rights to the truth,
What else can we hold on to?

Everynite I put myself to bed,
A dream that I'll never be awake,
Those sweet days in black and white,
Sugar was never the same again,

I'll sing for you under the little stars,
If eternity requires it shall be,
For you I'd die a thousand times,
Just to turn your face back once more,

You left that day without my prayers,
Don't forget, the memories we had,
I love you once, you're second to none,
For I know my heart... does not tell lies.

Promise

Push me till the very edge of the earth, drown me through the seven seas, burn me with snow or freeze me with fire, down to the depths of hell, passing each bizzare and storms, to every corner of the walls, I'd still stand strong. This is my promise to You, till my very last breath.

Music In My Life

As far as my memory reminds me, I grew up in an era where Michael Jackson gains his recognition as the King of Pop, boybands was once on top of the world, risen stars like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera had dominated the pop chart. The whole world was into pop that time. When I was younger, put aside Christian music and kids song, the very first music I listened to is The Backsteetboys, one of the most influencial American pop group in the 90's. It was my favorite then, still the favorite boyband up till today. After their first and second album Backstreet Boys and Backstreet's Back, with hits like Everybody, Quit Playing Games, As Long As You Love Me, their popularity increased tremendously and constantly being the limelight of the media. Several boybands rise up rapidly as well around that time, N'Sync, 98 Degrees, A1 and what not, sure you heard of them. That was music to me during primary and junior high schooling.

During my 2nd grade in high school, I was introduced to rock music by school mates. There was a twist in the music industry where boybands are refered to as "gay" and they only do "lovey dovey" music in a group of 4 or 5 people. Thus, rock music began to gain favor of the younger generation. I still remember it was then bands like 3 Doors Down, Paparoach, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Vertical Horizon, Michael Learns To Rock, Limp Bizkit and many others music career shot up sky high with the amazingly large fan base of rock music lovers. However, I didn't enjoy listening to it even abit, to me it was all noise with all the drums, guitars (some of the guitarist even wank it), vocalist screaming, "Where were those time where music is suppose to grant peace and harmonize with my soul?", I asked.

Ryan Cabrera

One fine morning when I traveled to school, my friends were telling me in class "Shut up when I'm talking to you, shut up". I smiled? not knowing what was going on till..... someone told me it was a part of the lyrics of One Step Closer song. Soon it became the music industry's attention, the birth of Linkin Park, one of the most appealing 6 piece rock band in the world with a DJ in it. Remember the hype? I was carried away by their music as well, be it peer pressure or friends influence, that was how I start listening to rock music. And little did I know that a lots of rockstars in the west actually got into drugs, drinking, sex, causing a lot of troubles to the authorities. Well not all of them, with some even from broken families, foster parents, drop outs, orphans, to some extend once a "rubbish" to the society with the life they led. It was the starting point for me to begin finding out about the personal life of an artist each time I really like their songs. I did listen to some chinese music as well.

Towards my end of senior high, my Sunday School teacher, Lilian Ang approached me and the youths in chruch often meet up to spend sometime together on a weekly basis. Suddenly, one day, I was forced into being the back up singer for a worship session and man, I don't sing in front of public... it was a big no no No! The only time I ever sung is in my bathroom or when no one at all was psychically near me. Having said that, they still force me into it, being a person who doesn't know how to reject, I tried but very shyly, almost muttering or talking when I'm singing. To my surprise, once they all stopped singing and the worship leader said, "Everyone stop singing, I just want to hear Simon's voice". She gave me the clearest mic with the loudest volume and I was like reading the lyrics with my head facing to the ground. Even when my high school mates conned me to Red Box Karaoke I'll never sing but spent my time laughing at their voice. It was hillarious and why I said conned? It's because of the Hong Kong TVB dramas, I thought they serve alcohols for lunch and girls for dinner in the karaoke center. Soon as time passes, I slowly get used to singing and became a worship leader for my church. I remembered the first time I worship led, I wrote down everything in a piece of paper which includes my prayers. I was nervous until I got up there, I felt peace in my heart, God was there for me, while leading many was smilling to me, even Pastor Joshua and my friends. I couldn't hold myself but to smile back with joy. I never thought God with Christian music can be so great. It was a fantastic experience that I'll never forget.

Jason Wade

After SPM, I did my foundation in APIIT KL, later on in HELP Damansara and currently in Metropolitan College, Subang Jaya. During this period, I gained countless friends, some remained, some went missing after sometime. I was exposed to various types of music like Jazz, Metal Rock, Ochestra, Contemparary Christian Songs, R&B, Rap, Hip Hop, Oldies, Love Songs and I still listen to them. I learnt how to appreciate all sorts of music in order to catch up with different people that walked into my life. Don't get the wrong idea, I still serve the church as a worship leader and love worshipping God in church all these while.

Alex Band

However after all these time, I came to a point where I begin to search myself what music I actually love deep within me. I read about many artist, watching their videos, two vocalist actually caught my attention, Jason Wade from Lifehouse band and Alex Band from The Calling. It's their voice, the type of music and passion that I can connect to. I pretty much like Ryan Cabrera also, but nothing really special about him. I used to spent a huge amount my time watching their live videos in studio, concerts, performance, personal life, childhood, anything and everything about them. Jason has this unique warm voice that reaches to many hearts and Alex? When I hear him sing, he sounds determined and strong. He was like a young cub raised up to be a lion reaching out to the world with music. This song you're listening in my blog now is Alex Band - Tonight, second song is Lifehouse - Everything, my current favorites. They are my source of inspiration in music. This is the music I love right now. Let the music search our souls.

Summer of A '07

I woke up in my comfort shell,
Memories of the past reveals my identity,
Those days wrapped with boxes and strings,
The summer serenade of a 07',

I used to be your shoulder,
A promise till you grow older,
When you cried and feel like it's over,
I was there till you're sober,

We used to laugh at each other,
How silly but we grew stronger,
In our little own small world,
Love was bonding our hearts together,

I used to walk you back home,
It breaks my heart when you're alone,
The times you told me it striked you,
Wishing I was your comforter,

I used to be your everything,
All of the things we gone through,
When I miss you I closed my eyes,
It's you I dreamt about all nite,

I could never forget that day,
How the monsters attacked us,
Blood shed and flowing tears,
An eternal separation from you,

Our hiding place has been wrecked,
Nothing was left, all dried up,
Let bygones be bygones,
Stay strong and loved without me,

The clock will never tick back,
The summer serenade of a 07',
A time in my life that was true,
I was once the happiest man.