Wednesday, October 14, 2009

hello!


It's been a month since I've last updated. I've been into photography recently, reading up on stuff and splurging on things. Shall stop spending for the time being. I realised I love to switch hobbies and explore or pick up new things real fast. Got a short attention span, but then again, multiple skills!

Here're some of my selected pics:























seriously this is screwed up. the pics are all over the place!
NOW IS THE START OF MY DOUBLE DIGIT COUNTDOWN TO ORD!










































Tuesday, September 15, 2009

photos!

yay i bought my nikon d5000 and I so love photography! I've joined in the DSLR race and from now on, i'll be posting my photos regulary (I hope).

Do follow my flickr here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simpleone89/

Sunday, September 06, 2009

to jeremy choo

Jem asked us to send in our visions to him, so why not let me share mine here? After all it'd make another mark in my life.


_________________
HELLO JOKER JEM, sorry if I'm the latest but I really procrastinated and I repent for that.

MY VISION:

currently, my vision is (or was) to build strong, skillful and biblical musicians to train strong, skillful and biblical musicians. However, apparently only Kaiwen turned out well, if you really considered him as a disciple as well.

I'll probably change my vision when I go down under, because I really don't think I can build any other musicians anymore that side. however, after all I am the FIRST YWAMmer to go international. As such I already discussed with Yao what I would do before I leave. I've planned to:
1. conduct an electric guitar workshop to discuss issues such as good tone, how to improvise, playing with different parts, and to inspire (indirectly fulfilling vision)
2. vomit out everything kaiwen needs to know, basically train him to train others (fulfills vision)
3. connect chris and kaiwen together as they'll be working together next time, and kaiwen can influence chris as well
4. continue to find out about joshua
5. source for younger, stronger musicians

Well, the personal vision for me in the long run, as I embark on my studies and then my career, would probably be to practice the gift of healing on those who are burdened, weak in health and spirit, so that I may be able to show the love of God through me. Sounds kinda cool huh?

I dunno what to expect when I get there, whether I would join a small church or a big one. and I wouldn’t know my schedule over there. as such I have no plans yet with regards to music ministry when I get to sydney. however, I plan to start building a network of friends and hopefully honing my faded, unpracticed pastoral skills. hopefully God has called me there to build the local church, by going back to the basics of evangelism. of course my musical skills would be put into practice.

so in conclusion, I'm afraid I can't join u guys on all that dreams of playing in indoor stadium, or a music school because I think my focus has changed pretty much. I won't see myself doing what I have done in the past 3 years when I get to sydney. I think it'll be more of "back to the basics" kind of thingy. but who knows, maybe I'm there to influence the whole music scene of down under. after all, playing so many musical instruments could finally have been put to great use?

Simon.

___________________

And to continue from my last post, I'll just sum it all up into one very overused sentence:

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

And it so happens to be my car's bumper sticker! Coolness right? I tell you all of them copied that quote after seeing it.

So oh well I think I can't escape this calling, but it's my choice to follow it. 6 years of challenges await in Uni, probably like 40 years of challenges await in the hospital, and out of these 40 years, probably 10 years in further studies? I dunno...but all I know is I'm excited to embark on this new journey!

And so happening! Kai lun from BMT will be joining me in this 6 year programme overseas! I have a MATE to G'DAY with!

Bye!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

hear me out

Well, you'd have probably noticed, or didn't, I changed my blog title. "Called to serve" has been changed to "My vision my passion". Why?

Let me describe, elaborately, the process of my 2 years in army, which has led me to do some thinking, and eventually conceiving a new vision for me.

This vision, has got something to do with my medicine course, which will begin in less than half a year, for 6 years. This vision, is to be able to help the sick and poor to live the last days of their lives as if they were the best, and to show the love that Christ has for these people. I think I am privileged to be able to go overseas to pursue this noble profession. I've been praying for God to break my heart for what breaks His, tough prayer.

Before I go into any detail of what I plan to do for the next 6 years of my life, and for the remaining 6 months in Singapore, let me bring you back in time. Let me share with you why the sudden change in my career path, and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, it will change some the mindsets of some of you guys.

---------------------
It all began last year, after I received my A level results. Not knowing what to apply for, I chose the normal path, which about 60% of my classmates had applied for -- Business. Wow nice, business, such a vague degree which can be applied to any area in life. Business, hmmm, big money?

So I applied for a double degree in Business and Accountancy, not knowing what I would do in this course. All I heard was that it was challenging, but could guarantee you a place in a high-paying job with a 5 digit salary! $_$ that's nice.

So case closed. I would study that course and that's it!

NOT. Something deep inside me was struggling and trying to break out of that "let's-follow-the-trend" mentality to tell me, "Hey Simon, is money all you care about? Would you like that course, that job, that lifestyle?"

I ignored that thought.

I talked to one of my course mates in the army. He happened to disrupt halfway to study medicine in NUS. I vividly remember him telling me, "My dad wanted me to earn big money by doing business or accountancy. But I think I want to help people through being a doctor. I think it's really nice just to help those in need."

Later in the year of 2008, there was Missions week in church. A video was shown on screen, and it depicted the lives of ordinary but noble people, who left their comfort zones, went to a foreign land, and planted churches. One story was this guy who went to a certain part of Africa, I think Zimbabwe? Anyway, there are many poor people in this country, but the simple acts of kindness shown by this foreign white man were warmly received with immense gratitude. My heart was wrenching with grief but happiness, because I know there're certain things in the world beyond my control, but at the same time I was glad that some people actually bothered to try to make a difference.

The world needs love.

So turning point, in my life! Well, no, not yet. This was just one of the little events.

Fast forward about half a year. It was december camp, like finally! On the second night, when Torchie lead the PnW session, I was the guitarist, and he prophesied that many of us youths would rise up to be powerful and influential people in the 21st century. Nice. Powerful. He prayed for a number of people who would be influential in the Media industry, in the Financial sector, in the Arts industry. At that point of time, I didn't raise up my hand for the part of the "Financial sector", not because I was tired, but because something deep inside of me, was trying to tell me that that won't be it. This something was clearly the Holy Spirit speaking to me. So while everything was in slow motion, I found myself immersed in a conversation with the Holy Spirit, debating about whether it was the financial sector I should go into.

Instead, He challenged me to go into the healthcare industry. Wow, thanks God. HUGE responsibility.

I once told a few people around me, after receiving the A level results, "I would NEVER, EVER study medicine". Ironic huh? I will be soon. Well I guess I was a coward, not wanting to study that much, work that hard. But since that night, a seed was planted in me. I was CHALLENGED to take up that responsibility. After all, my results weren't so bad aye? ;)

Anyway, I shared that moment with people around me. Some were supportive, some tried to discourage me. Well, I put aside that thought for a while.

Ok post is too long, part 2 to continue...

new template

Ok I'm such a block-head when it comes to all these HTML and fancy computer geeky language. But I changed the template to something nicer, more pleasing to the eyes, instead of them dark and gloomy black background. I don't care less for those fancy templates that many people spend so much time finding and changing regulary, just something pleasant and simple would do.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

HIIIIIIII!!!!

SUCH A LONG TIME SINCE I LAST WROTE HERE!

The previous post marked my 1 year to ORD, now 5 months to ORD!!! I've not written here on this blog cos I simply grew lazy of blogging, and no one reads my blog anyway so, whatever!

Well it's more or less official.

I'M GOING TO PURSUE A MEDICAL DEGREE IN UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, SYDNEY FOR THE NEXT 6 YEARS.

YES! 6 years. What a bloody long time! By the time I'm back, I would be 27. Can't imagine that man, so old. (That's if I choose to come back, Sydney's too nice a place.)

And yes I'll be leaving Singapore in 6 months time, for 6 years. I still can't imagine studying for another 6 years. It's like primary school all over again, x10000 times the difficulty. However, I so am looking forward to ORD.

Looking back, I think I have grown so much in joy. Reading my previous posts months ago, I think I stopped complaining so much. I guess the more I put my trust in God, the more problems seem soooo tiny and easy to solve. Yes, God's favour's upon me. Many times I struggle in army, but He always provides a nice way out, and yes rewards too! LIKE OFFs! Hard to get offs in my unit, but there's still some!

I have come a long way. Time really flies. I think 2 years of army can't compare to what I'll go through in these 6 years. I'm free in army, but I have NO freedom. Don't think I'll be very free in Uni though.

I'll start a new blog once I get over there. Hopefully I'll be able to update everyone about my future place and Uni.

Bye!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

:(

and so the long awaited happy times have ended, although i'm only half as happy as i should have been, i'm still sad that i still have to wake up early and go to the s***h**** they call sungei gedong camp. well hopefully the remaining 3 days there this week will really be the last time i'll ever set foot back there other than going for master parades, running errands, or doing work. i DO NOT want to go back to CCO QM (the crappy unit i'm in, whereby i'm treated like nobody).

anyway, i failed my driving, i didnt get my 3SG rank yet. but i still managed to have loads of fun during my korea trip last week. it's scary how time flies when i had so much fun, and it's even more scary to look at another year of army life. it's like feeding a hyena kimchi! it's so torturing!
i took beautiful pictures in korea! check them out!

yes skiing is very hard. and painful.

Friday, January 16, 2009

oh well

i failed driving the SECOND time. oh well, scored too many demerit points. hahaha. but the tester was really fierce and strict, what a pig. certain things cant be helped, maybe it isnt my time to pass yet. but still it's wasting my time and money.

off to korea tonight!