Hey all W429 peeps!
I've been given the task of uploading the photos of today's gathering cos' I had the best camera in a phone. Wahahaha! :) So, I'll just give a short summary of the happenings for the day as well!
Kelvin and I woke up quite early to set off to Dhoby Ghaut an hour plus before the scheduled meeting time at 12 pm cos' he wanted to go to the arcades first. It's been ages since I've last been to the arcades and it was refreshing for a change.
Time flies quickly when we were having fun and Wen Long had reached Dhoby Ghaut after awhile to meet us. GV at Plaza Singapura was extremely packed with movie-goers, so we decided to go to the much more peaceful Grand Cathay.
After booking out tickets, we headed out on the streets to source for good food to satisfy our tastebuds during lunchtime! We settled for this Hainanese chicken rice store, and wasted no time and ordered our meals!
After a satisfying time of fellowship over lunch, we went back to Grand Cathay for our next program of the day... LAN gaming!!! We only had a short 1 hour of playtime cos' our movie starts in awhile, but it was a good time to relax and settle down, esp. after lunch when we need some time to digest our food. :)
Kelvin and I had yet another craving for Ya Kun's kaya toasts and eggs (lol), so we headed down to the Basement for a time of tea break before the movie. Wen Long was also tempted to buy some toasts! You can see for yourself how Wen Long enjoyed his kaya toasts...
Wahahaha... Well, after indulging in delicious kaya toasts and half-boiled eggs, Jun Wei finally reached Grand Cathay after visiting his god-ma for CNY. How can seeing a movie be complete without the presence of the 'movie king' himself? Rofl... :D
We promptly went to the cinemas and sat down comfortably in the movie theatre in anticipation of the highly acclaimed Jay Chou's newest directorial offering entitled 'Kungfu Dunk'. Wen Long is a HUGE fan of Jay Chou, and well, as u guys know, Kelvin and I love to sing his songs alot, so, seeing him on-screen brings a relatively new perspective of his talents, and better appreciate his talents in other aspects besides merely singing.
The movie ended quite crappily (haha), but we were overall entertained and left the movie theatre with relatively positive reviews. After the movie, Kelvin had to buy something for Debbie from Carrefour, so we accompanied him. However, following which, we were at a loss for what to do next, and we just wandered... and wandered... around the shopping mall!
Wen Long had to leave earlier cos' he had promised his parents to have dinner with them, so that leaves Kelvin, Jun Wei and me. After a moment of comtemplation, we decided to head over to a snookerium to play some pool! Similarly to the arcades, it's been donkey years since I've played pool, so I stumbled a little at the beginning, but gradually picked up towards the end to compete better with the pool 'mastas' Jun Wei and Kelvin. Haha! =)
Look at how intense Jun Wei is at the game, and the pose he strike definitely shows the makings of a pro-pool player! :P We ended the day after an hour plus of pool, and we bidded farewell to Jun Wei when he alighted at Dhoby Ghaut to return to his home sweet home...
The outing was great and I hope there'll be many more to come! Just a big thanks to Kelvin for taking responsibility for his role as Connect Group Leader, and for Wen Long and Jun Wei for making all these happen! Let's continue to strengthen our brotherly bonds and stand for one another in the gap!
There's been discussions about organising a Kbox outing for a 'combined' Connect Group outing, and I know some ppl in the CG can't wait to lay their hands on the microphone and sing their lungs out! :) Kelvin is particularly enthusiastic, so it's up to you sisters to set a date suitable for your schedules! Cya guys tml for service and get ready for an awesome time of CNY visitation tml! :D
Your shy-and-quiet-brother-without-KC-around, (Wahahaha, bro, I really dunno what to put)
Benedict
CNY Bai Nian 2008 - UPDATED!!
February 6, 2008
9:24 AM
Hello everyone! Happy Chinese New Year's Eve! I'm so enjoying this good break from work and I hope everyone is in the joyful festive season as well! Do spend quality time at home helping out with the da shao chu and the tuan yuan fan later on tonight!
Of course, how can I forget? Our cg tua yuan fan and bai nian that is taking place this sun 10 Feb. Here's the latest NEW updated itinerary:
10am-12pm: W429 family goes to church service at expo
1230pm: Arrival at Yuling's house to add on to the festive atmosphere there. Lunch kindly provided!! :) ( Yuling's extended family will all be there, pls be good and nice to everyone!! :P)
115pm: The family now embarks on Journey to the West
230pm: NEW!! Arrival at Anxian's place, rare chance! must go!!!
330pm: Family now proceeds to Benny's Residence to check out his "messy room". :)
430pm: The family moves on to next destination not too far away - Kelvin Pte Ltd. Can't wait to bai nian to his mum and make her really happy.
530pm: Family proceeds to the palace our pretty Debbie grew up in. Her mum will be awaiting our arrival so lets really make her day. Also, looking forward to see her 2 cute malteses.
630pm: Family prepares to leave for a tuan yuan steamboat dinner at the "bistro" (actually.. is coffeeshop la) near Debbie's palace. Debbie's mum will also be joining us. Spread to her our w429 family spirit. :)
8 till late: Phototaking and free and easy time!
So guys, pls pls pls pls do not miss this once in a year event. Pls bring along your oranges and/or any goodies you wanna bless others with. Also, bear in mind .. no obligation for angbao ah..
We'll have fun!!! ONE MORE DAY TO GO!!Looking forward to meeting you guys tmr!! :)
Love,
Diana na na na
Fortitude!
February 5, 2008
11:53 PM
Whew, after spending 12 full hours over 3 days on a single lab assignment, I successfully coded my program! The wisdom of God must be on me cos' it was a very tough assignment, I'm really lousy at programming, and I've got more than a month's rust cos' I neglected revision for the whole semester break. :S CNY is coming, and the workload has relaxed a little (not for long!), and I've not contributed significantly to the CG blog yet, so I guess there's always a time to for a brand new start. :)
I've just did my quiet time over the message by Pastor Tan last service about fortitude, and it reminded me of my situation for the past one year or so. It seems like I'm facing persecutions in every phase of my life. After two gruelling years in NS, I'm immediately hit by a chronic uncurable illness, and I had to suffer through this even as I entered university, coupled with new problems of study stress and another chronic headache problem.
At times, I really felt like giving up and even wanted to blame God at certain junctures, cos' I really couldn't take it no more. Yet, time and time again, God reminded me of His goodness and that I should rely on His supernatural covering, instead of focusing on my problems and attempting to solve them using my own strength and abilities.
So, to me, this message is like a revelation and exemplification to the feelings which I felt so strongly over the past year, giving me a better understanding of God's words to me. 1 Peter 1:6-9 specifically jumps out to me, asserting that God will not pose a trial too hard for us to handle, and that by molding our faith AND fortitude, we'll emerge stronger than before.
I frequently find my faith and fortitude faltering when I get a relapse of my illness. After garnering valuable revelation from this message, I'll be sure not to have the old mentality and put on God's mentality.
I also remember Psalm 23, a Psalm of David, declaring his steadfastness in God despite the trials he was and would be going through. The transition from a third-person view to a first-person view "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;...", is a valuable insight that we should rely on God all the more when we're facing tribulations, instead of distancing ourselves from God and find ways and means to solve our problems using our own strength.
By the way, I want to take this opportunity to thank u great peeps, brothers and sisters alike, for praying for me and showing care and concern for the past 1 year plus. I really appreciate it! :)
Guys, no matter what circumstances you're in now, always remember this message about fortitude.
1) Embrace God's purpose in your situation
2) Nurture your spiritual roots
3) Direct your attention to Jesus Christ (God)
4) Use your experience to help others
5) Rely on God's power
That's all from me, for now. :D I'll be looking forward to our first connect group outing, coming up soon to see Gongfu Dunk lolx. I'll be more than willing and available to help my best buddy, Kelvin, with his new appointment as Connect Group leader, to make this outing a success!
I'm also looking forward to our CNY visitation plans this coming Sunday! It'll be a new twist to the same ol' boring CNY I experience every year.
God bless everyone! :)
Your crazy-only-on-Sat-cos'-of-KC brother-in-Christ:
Benedict
A short message for Janet - Happy Bday!
February 4, 2008
12:35 AM
Janet Yang: Told in the eyes of me (your leader and friend)
The girl sits quietly at the back of the room as the Word is being shared. Occasionally she smiles in response, most times she listens on silently. This is Janet, told in the eyes of me. :)
I have not had the chance to spend much time with her, but each conversation we have is quality time to me. Janet is a girl who may look tough on the outside, but deep within I see a girl with a good heart. In the midst of my busy life and commitments, leading the group can be challenging. However, she has, on more than one occasion, made me feel that my work is all worthwhile. Not that she has done anything earth shaking or mountain moving. But simple acts of kindness on her part is enough to make me love this gal.
Who is the one, who, seeing that my hands were full, offered me a seat in the train? Who is the one who, while everyone couldnt take their eyes of the movie screening, willingly offered to help out in preparing the cg refreshments? Who is the one who, came and apologise for being late for cg? Who is the one who, when her niece was born, included me in the list of receipients to get first hand news? Who is the one, who not afraid of being scolded or "preached" at, openly shared her thoughts? These and many more has made me feel that leading her is a blessing. Im sure Im not the only one who feels this way.
Janet, to me, will always be the gal with a good heart. a heart to serve, a heart for God.
Happy Birthday my dear. Continue to seek Him and see how His purposes unfold even more in your life!
Love,
Diana
Janet 生日快乐 !
12:04 AM
Love you!
We love u lots dearie!Have a great b'dae.Our happy star!God bless you gorgeous!
