Friday, September 14, 2007
didn't take many pictures during ymlc, so here are the few i snapped. lest you're wondering why the middle picture has so little people, it's because this was the post-worship bit on the 2nd night (ended quite late with each participant being individually prayed for).
Labels: ymlc
Thursday, September 13, 2007
you know what they say about eating too much, makes one feel sleepy. seriously i feel it now, no good... and that's the only reason why i'm blogging. let me try to type faster hopefully this will wake me up. i can't try to jump around since i'm so full, so i can only resort to exercising my fingers - which isn't much exercise, dang.
got a test tomorrow. bloody chem test. another chem test coming tues. and a few thousand word essay to hand in on wed. not to mention got to complete a lab report with a full report - don't even know what that means but a heckload of writing and cracking of my very unchemfied brain.
i must have overate, feeling awfully satiated. must be all the making up for the buffet spread that i couldn't enjoy fully at batam. must admit i'm still reeling in from ymlc. it was really a wonderful time spent away amidst all the crazy busy going-ons of school. not to mention it was more than a holiday, was vital time spent with God and encountering Him.
seriously this must be the effects of the rice expanding. i do wonder if alcohol will cause it to shrink or help to assimilate some of it faster. at least alcohol will get rid of the oil and fat in my tummy i think, that should free up some space. okay talking rubbish now, seriously need to feel awake and refreshed so i can mug! and by the way a lychee martini, and all other martinis alcohol base is vodka, not martini. i don't know why the cocktail name is so misleading when only a few drops of vermouth (martini) is added.
got a test tomorrow. bloody chem test. another chem test coming tues. and a few thousand word essay to hand in on wed. not to mention got to complete a lab report with a full report - don't even know what that means but a heckload of writing and cracking of my very unchemfied brain.
i must have overate, feeling awfully satiated. must be all the making up for the buffet spread that i couldn't enjoy fully at batam. must admit i'm still reeling in from ymlc. it was really a wonderful time spent away amidst all the crazy busy going-ons of school. not to mention it was more than a holiday, was vital time spent with God and encountering Him.
seriously this must be the effects of the rice expanding. i do wonder if alcohol will cause it to shrink or help to assimilate some of it faster. at least alcohol will get rid of the oil and fat in my tummy i think, that should free up some space. okay talking rubbish now, seriously need to feel awake and refreshed so i can mug! and by the way a lychee martini, and all other martinis alcohol base is vodka, not martini. i don't know why the cocktail name is so misleading when only a few drops of vermouth (martini) is added.
Labels: ymlc
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
back to reality, oops there goes gravity...
so i promised i'll write about ymlc. to be honest i went with an expectant heart, i really just wanted to encounter God. i think if you ask me about retreats, i can think of a million thing as my expectations. but i think one thing i learnt from the cs retreat was that He'll encounter me the way He wants to. sure i admit i was really alright with getting slain, hey that's quite an experience of firepower alright! and even more towards what i call firepowerish stuff. i didn't mind getting an emotional high, taking on such a ride as long as God takes me on it (here's coming from the more likely skeptic than enthu az). i had 2 things in the back of my mind at the beginning, they were perhaps the 2 things i desired to know, but above all i desired most to encounter Him. i shared the first with my mentor group, it's about purpose and ambition, and to be honest i truly believe He's guiding me in that even right now. as for the 2nd one, wow wow that got answered, definitely a highlight of ymlc.
i realised that God seems to speak to me not at the usual things. like when everybody got prayed for the anointing of the Spirit, when the pastors and mentors would come up to you and just pray for you. well... more people had their ymlc 'breakthroughs' and highlights then. and that was only 'okay, alright' to me. i definitely felt the Spirit's presence, heart beat faster, but that was about it.
there are some things when i, a natural cynic and skeptic just have to believe that this is something more than psychological. that these experiences transcends into something Spiritual. and i, am just in awe of God. that's why they say faith needs to be exercise. God usually gives you enough room to doubt... or to believe. He, being the gentleman that He is values (i cannot emphasise this enough) our free will. He allows US to make the choice, to choose Him, or not.
looking back, although i felt my group was a bit quiet. and that my stomach really wasn't feeling too well on the first 2 days. it was a great 3 days spent away, enriching, fulfilling. i crashed another mentor group for dinner, and i met someone in the same zone as me! new asgl for 'the ark'. and coincidentally my unit mate (2 rooms in a room) was also in that group.
back to the real world now though. i pray that all that new-found knowledge and increased conviction won't leave. instead to be convinced each day of your unlimited power in this life, and in the lives around me.
found love beyond all reason
You gave Your life Your all for me
and called me Yours forever
caught in the mercy fallout
i found hope found life
found all i need you're all i need
the time has come
to stand for what we believe in
so i for one am gonna
give my praise to You
today, today it's all or nothing
all the way the praise goes out to You... - the time has come (this song has really been replaying in my head)
but i probably shouldn't end with a hillsong song. should be proud of the wonderful songs entered to the songwriting competition.
by Your unlimited power
unlimited grace
unlimited hope for us in this place
with the unlimited truth
Your promise remains
unlimited love that we can't contain
by Your unlimited power - theme song for ymlc
the song that came in 2nd place really touched me even before the conference. and the songwriter's from wesley! hoorah! what struck was his verse of 'the world cannot touch me when i'm down on my knees', and 'running with the victory'. diametrically opposite in imagery, but how true, how true! prayer is the strongest sword we have, yet so often overlooked. we talk about fighting it's with guns and brute force, who thinks of going down on your knees? in fact the latter would even seem weak or resigned, but no that's where all strength comes from.
(nearly lost this post, yes this long long post, but it's still here, saved as drafts. and that usually doesn't really happen with blogger when my window just closes)
so i promised i'll write about ymlc. to be honest i went with an expectant heart, i really just wanted to encounter God. i think if you ask me about retreats, i can think of a million thing as my expectations. but i think one thing i learnt from the cs retreat was that He'll encounter me the way He wants to. sure i admit i was really alright with getting slain, hey that's quite an experience of firepower alright! and even more towards what i call firepowerish stuff. i didn't mind getting an emotional high, taking on such a ride as long as God takes me on it (here's coming from the more likely skeptic than enthu az). i had 2 things in the back of my mind at the beginning, they were perhaps the 2 things i desired to know, but above all i desired most to encounter Him. i shared the first with my mentor group, it's about purpose and ambition, and to be honest i truly believe He's guiding me in that even right now. as for the 2nd one, wow wow that got answered, definitely a highlight of ymlc.
i realised that God seems to speak to me not at the usual things. like when everybody got prayed for the anointing of the Spirit, when the pastors and mentors would come up to you and just pray for you. well... more people had their ymlc 'breakthroughs' and highlights then. and that was only 'okay, alright' to me. i definitely felt the Spirit's presence, heart beat faster, but that was about it.
there are some things when i, a natural cynic and skeptic just have to believe that this is something more than psychological. that these experiences transcends into something Spiritual. and i, am just in awe of God. that's why they say faith needs to be exercise. God usually gives you enough room to doubt... or to believe. He, being the gentleman that He is values (i cannot emphasise this enough) our free will. He allows US to make the choice, to choose Him, or not.
looking back, although i felt my group was a bit quiet. and that my stomach really wasn't feeling too well on the first 2 days. it was a great 3 days spent away, enriching, fulfilling. i crashed another mentor group for dinner, and i met someone in the same zone as me! new asgl for 'the ark'. and coincidentally my unit mate (2 rooms in a room) was also in that group.
back to the real world now though. i pray that all that new-found knowledge and increased conviction won't leave. instead to be convinced each day of your unlimited power in this life, and in the lives around me.
found love beyond all reason
You gave Your life Your all for me
and called me Yours forever
caught in the mercy fallout
i found hope found life
found all i need you're all i need
the time has come
to stand for what we believe in
so i for one am gonna
give my praise to You
today, today it's all or nothing
all the way the praise goes out to You... - the time has come (this song has really been replaying in my head)
but i probably shouldn't end with a hillsong song. should be proud of the wonderful songs entered to the songwriting competition.
by Your unlimited power
unlimited grace
unlimited hope for us in this place
with the unlimited truth
Your promise remains
unlimited love that we can't contain
by Your unlimited power - theme song for ymlc
the song that came in 2nd place really touched me even before the conference. and the songwriter's from wesley! hoorah! what struck was his verse of 'the world cannot touch me when i'm down on my knees', and 'running with the victory'. diametrically opposite in imagery, but how true, how true! prayer is the strongest sword we have, yet so often overlooked. we talk about fighting it's with guns and brute force, who thinks of going down on your knees? in fact the latter would even seem weak or resigned, but no that's where all strength comes from.
(nearly lost this post, yes this long long post, but it's still here, saved as drafts. and that usually doesn't really happen with blogger when my window just closes)
Monday, September 10, 2007
i just reread my post on ymlc and realised it really didn't do the conference and God justice. i'll write more, just wait. it's something i'll definitely remember a week, month from now. and i'm not shy to say this because God is real.
all glory, honour and praise be to God!
all glory, honour and praise be to God!
Labels: ymlc
ymlc
i don't think i'll go into details of it. but i must say i brought my swimming costume for nothing, as expected. the only time one can swim is before the first session starts at 8.30am. but breakfast starts at 7, not to mention the swimming pool is in front of the cafe where breakfast is served. but anyway the real reason is that free time was too precious, the thought of swimming just didn't really come in. i suppose a swim is only enticing when the weather is swelteringly hot, but you see, i didn't even know if it was since i was in the air-conditioned ballroom morning and afternoon.
worship was very youth-ish. not surprising since majority of the participants were youths or involved in youth ministry. i'm just an oddball since i wasn't in youth ministry, so felt my group was alright only. but you know the funny bit was at the last sharing i was really in awe and so grateful to God that each one of us encounter Him in His own way He wanted to encounter us. so filled with gratitude and joy that i actually teared. one think i did was tear a lot, coming from someone who abhors shedding any tear in public, it's truly amazing.
it was definitely a great conference. i might go back again next year if given the opportunity to, or maybe i'll attend it in 2 or 3 years time.
do want to write more, but got to run. soci quiz tomorrow! 'welcome back to the real world', i was telling yl. but even back in the world, with God in us i don't think we'll ever want to be the same again, and not let this world ensnare us. AMEN to that!
i don't think i'll go into details of it. but i must say i brought my swimming costume for nothing, as expected. the only time one can swim is before the first session starts at 8.30am. but breakfast starts at 7, not to mention the swimming pool is in front of the cafe where breakfast is served. but anyway the real reason is that free time was too precious, the thought of swimming just didn't really come in. i suppose a swim is only enticing when the weather is swelteringly hot, but you see, i didn't even know if it was since i was in the air-conditioned ballroom morning and afternoon.
worship was very youth-ish. not surprising since majority of the participants were youths or involved in youth ministry. i'm just an oddball since i wasn't in youth ministry, so felt my group was alright only. but you know the funny bit was at the last sharing i was really in awe and so grateful to God that each one of us encounter Him in His own way He wanted to encounter us. so filled with gratitude and joy that i actually teared. one think i did was tear a lot, coming from someone who abhors shedding any tear in public, it's truly amazing.
it was definitely a great conference. i might go back again next year if given the opportunity to, or maybe i'll attend it in 2 or 3 years time.
do want to write more, but got to run. soci quiz tomorrow! 'welcome back to the real world', i was telling yl. but even back in the world, with God in us i don't think we'll ever want to be the same again, and not let this world ensnare us. AMEN to that!
Labels: ymlc