Spirit of Excellence - Who’s Standard?

Spirit of Excellence - Who’s Standard?

Talking about putting on the green, for most of us, it is not just the 2.5years, we still need to serve another 10 years cycle. I start my 1st of the 10 last Aug. I thought I can get away from my work stress for 3weeks and relax from them, and I did.

But it wasn’t for the physical stress with all the shouting and little sleep time, my weekend was eve burned. I counted each day and realize at the end of it I still got 9 years to go. But Mr. Optimistic found a way to run away from these ICTs by just running. Confused? I discovered that in my unit (2PDF), there is a running team and they basically do nothing but train and run competively for AHM&SBR. Be part of the team and convert your runs to ICTs and ICTs to just runs. Some kind of advertisement ya? But I see that as a chance.

For whatever reason I have been crazy about all this marathons, biathlons & triathlons and was pretty disappointed when I missed AHM2006 for my first ICTs. In order to make use of this passion ( yes, passion), I went around looking for info, calling in to find out the charge. Finally after months I get to speak to the team leader yesterday, a full time Lieutenant Colonel. I went point blank confidently and tell him that I know that is such perk that I can just run AHM competitively as my ICT.

LTC Ho> That’s right MArk! So what is your timing?
MArk> [Ahem…] Last year wasn’t able to take part due to ICT, 2005 I did 1hr50+…(actually is ++++++…)
LTC Ho> Ic… by in order to get into the team to enjoy the perks, you need to be at least sub 1hr25mins that is our runners average timing.
MArk> …. [Stun…]
LTC Ho> Maybe you long time never train, if you can at run at sub 1hr30 maybe I still can pull you into the team, why not you just come join our training, we got all the support for all this long runs… [blah blah blah….]… here my email, once I got yours I will copy you for all training… [blah blah..]
MArk> [still in in the stun..] eh… ok, I will email you..

Nothing life and death, but it causes some disappointment, a kind of feeling difficult to explain. It like you got your primary 6 PSLE result with straight “A”s, as a kid, you were excited how please your parents are and how they are going to reward you. When you go to them they told you need a PhD before they reward you. Ok fine.. this is not a good example, I try using air ticket to explain to someone, it wasn’t a good analogy and she didn’t understand also.

Anyway I thought to myself, I thought I always have the spirit of excellence that God has taught and given me, but in fact what I do I just compete against, people or things I know. I realize my vision is small, constraint by the aperture I look through. I work only hard enough get where I wanted, to outshine my colleagues at work, train for all the sports I compete in, only to find that I am competing among my friends. Got to be part of the worship team to sing for my church on Sunday, worshipping the Lord with the voice I felt is sounded ok. I was contented by just doing things of my standard, people who has extremely good result they are just rare cases, super talents or professionals. Those were my excuses.

Being proud after achieving your own standard gains you no honor nor adding glorification to His splendor but able to work towards His, which bring Glory to Him, honor will be given by Him. I believe He is using this experience to tell me that I can do more, because He is a God of so much more. Be able to humble and work towards His standard is a challenge to me. It is impossible! But I know You will help me, reveal more to me Lord.

Men in green via SMSs

Men in green via SMSs

Remember your Army days? The language you spoke and the way your conversation is conducted, be it you are a man or commander, it is just so army. It is so amazing as it will only happen when you are in those uniform (I thought) when you are back to civilian life, it’s like the reset button is being pushed and you not even become civilize, you become smarter.

Something happened today, all of the suddenly in just a few SMSs, I was transported back to the past with one of my friend. You see we serve our national service at least 12years apart but army language never differ since from his days.

It started when I was begging around for some songs needed to help out in a wedding, apparently they were not familiar songs I sing every Sunday. Started texting 1 of my brothers who has a library of all this.

MArk> Bro, do you happened to have the song 耶和华祝福满满?
Bro> Yes, bro. U mean the CD or song sheets with chords?

MArk> Great bro… I need the song for someone wedding I and Sheryl will be helping out. You have?
Bro> Is it alright if I pass u the CD on SUN? Anyway, the original CD is Hokkien but can be sung in Mandarin also. It will be a challenge to u to sing in Hokkien. Ha, Ha

MArk> Thanks bro.. I am hokkien Ge Shen Ok ;) Haha.
Bro> Actually, I want to tell u that u have no problem singing Hokkien because u are also a Hokkien ‘Peng’ and Ah Beng. Ha, ha. Thank God you are not so Ah Beng now.

MArk> I am a sar tiao Ok!
Bro> What’s sar tiao?

MArk> Sergeant
Lance Corporal Bro> Yes, sar tiao Lance Corporal ‘lau chiao’ reservist Bro reporting to u.

Sergeant MArk> I dun care you old bird or new bird.. Under my command I say sleep you sleep eat you eat understand! Hahahah!
Lance Corporal Bro> Yes, sergent. When u ask me to jump, I don’t just jump. I’ll ask u how high to jump. When you ask me ‘sen’ chao bo. I’ll ‘cheong’ and charge all the way. Ha, ha.

Sergeant MArk> You try to act smart is it?! Take 7!
Lance Corporal Bro> U so ‘sayany’ me. 7 push up is chicken feet, haha all the way.

Sergeant MArk> Hello lance corporal! You really try to be funnie ar! Act smart again right! 7 push up my foot! 7 extra understand!
Lance Corporal Bro> I surrender all. I surrender all, bro.

Sergeant MArk> …-_-“

Is it dumb to watch movie alone?

Is it dumb to watch movie alone?

I put up the title as my msn nick today, just to check out some reaction on this. I got some responds, mostly the answer is No. Personally I don’t think it is dumb too, and dumb wasn’t really what I really meant. Anyhow these were the advantages I gathered; you get to chose where to watch it, when time you prefer and the movie that no one is interested in. It is just you and your movie! Sounds cool?

So far, only those who did it before respond to me, I haven’t hear anyone who never did watch a movie alone give any suggestion to my question.

Years back, I was force to watch alone, bought 2 tickets somemore, I didn’t enjoy it. Maybe I think differently now in another situation. I should really find out myself, but to friend who always watch movies alone ( I am not referring to dvds and those you download.) too often, I genuinely think that it is not healthy. ;D

God of all languages

God of all languages

Ever thought that Christianity is only for the English speaking? Attending Church for years, I have never doubt that God has sent Jesus for EVERYONE. Including those in mine, it was known to me that there are church services for other races and languages for many years. Yesterday was the first time I attend a Hokkien service. Two big steps for me. To worship, pray and understand sermons in mandarin is really a challenge to me, now Hokkien! But I really enjoyed it, really bring me a new insight, to realize things that I have already packed up in another language

The lyrics of the songs were so meaningful and true. But what really touches my heart is to see the old folks (which makes up most of the population) there worshiping the Lord, their heart were sincere and devoted, this is what I saw, no arguments about it. Many of them who may have some difficulty moving, bowed with the rest during the worship, reminding me what makes up a true worshiper, to sing what you mean and mean what you sing.

When we were younger do you remember parents or grandparent putting money in our hands and telling us to put into the donation box? Encouraging us to give? Christine’s Ah Ma putting some money into grand-daughter’s hand to offer them into the blue offering bag, what a way to give to the Lord I wondered. Then I felt that she practicing something that she want her children to practice too, that is to give to the Lord and of cause never come to the house of the Lord, that really touches my heart, I mean this ideas surely didn't cross my mind while many give our tithing just because we have to give ya?

Plus the way they welcome the new comers make them really spontaneous!

Believe it or not, it is in this Hokkien service that I understand why one of Jesus’s name is called “The Prince of Peace”. The topic is the same as I listen Ps Lawrence preach in English today, and I am glad that I heard it in Hokkien (& Mandarin). God is just Wow… isn’t it?

Year of Victory!

Victory #1

This happens on the 9^th Mar 2007, received a call from 1 of my friend that the result is out again. My 3^rd attempt, nervous and excited, the same feeling I had few months back. I was defeated twice for this same final subject. It was no baby food a full growth Mr. Ego can swallow easily. But failure wasn’t something I hold during this time, “there is something that He wants me to go through, something He wants me to learn, and something He wants me to do… Ok! Let’s do it again!”

And went another 3months and S$1,900, Painful and expensive lesson(S), nevertheless in this final round, I KO myself & I won! Finally I can graduate from my course after more then 4 years! All Glory to God!

God impressed on me that He is more then a God of 2^nd chance. If we don’t throw in the white towel then victory is definitely ours! Because He is fore us! In a boxing match, you can get beaten for as many rounds, but just need the final round to KO your opponent and be victorious. Many of us got bash time after time, but when we have the have the determination and right attitude, with HIM, we will overcome. (I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13)

I must admit that many times I did not have the right attitude, but thanks to all who had encouraged me, be it in good way or bad way (e.g how long more you want to take this course? With the time you used for this course you should grad as PhD … HAHA) all has been words of encouragement it is how we want to take it, they can constructive criticism ya?

Write again

Write again

For what ever reasons, I suddenly feel like writing again, my last post was way back in 25th July 2004.

Recent years I have experience many things, learning and going through trials, knowing people, new friends, and colleagues and so on... And most importantly how God has changed my life..

Positive or negative comments & feedbacks, arguments, debates, words encouragement, cool phrases, mistakes or victories, truths & lies, honeyed words hehe.. All this are mostly kept in my mind. Those that are more significant, I could more or less remembers them, but if I forget, they are gone forever. Whatever it is, I want to write them down as much as I can, so as to be encourage again when I reads them again and to encourage those who (will ever) reads it.

This time I like to write them in more proper English! Hopefully by doing this I can also improve myself.

Let's go!