Friday, December 14, 2007

Dare You To Move

I have made a decision to move. In this world, I shall have tribulations. But I will be of good cheer, for Jesus Christ has overcome the world! If S. A. Tan is going to dwell in my failures and weakness, I am going to move to somewhere better.

I dare you to move too.
http://squeakytoad.com/dare.html

Posted by Benjamin at 12:00 PM

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Song In Season

You Are Faithful

Verse 1:
Lord of all the earth
How you care for me
You have made me
You will save
And carry me always

Chorus:
You are faithful
You are faithful
You are faithful
You joy is my strength.

Verse 2:
Lord you are my guide
I rely on you
I put my hope in things not seen
Your promises are true

Bridge:
Always you're with me
You hand will lead me
My trust is in your name

Posted by Benjamin at 7:15 PM

Backup Vocalist

The service started. The band played. The chorus board was empty. No lyrics. I was stunned. I smiled. I suddenly realised that I didn't know how to move with the music when I was holding on the microphone. I turned to look at Herbal Tea. She swayed naturally from side to side with the music. I tried to imitate, but her movements were too feminine. What was I thinking? Of course her movements were feminine. I tried clapping. The micophone seemed to picked up every sound I made with my hands. Thup, thup, thup. I put my hand in the air. I put my hand on my chest. I put my hand on my diaphragm. Ran out of movement. Repeat. I had a feeling that many eyes were looking at me from the front and from the back. I saw people running at the back of the hall, trying to correct the fault on the chorus board. Took ages. I sang 'destiny' during the song Destiny and 'rain down' for the song Rain Down. Nothing else. I realised Comestic Surgery was stunned too. I heard his voice. Then it disappeared. Then I heard his voice again. I did not know what happen to the other BVs as I did not dare to look at them. The lyrics appeared when we were singing the song You Are Faithful. Thank God. After the P & W, we went to the Artists' Room. Before I made a sound, the other BVs started screaming and complaining. It turned out that they were having problems too. Bigger ones. Comestic Surgery and More Than One J did not know the lyrics too. There was miscommunication between them and the band. Sword River knew the lyrics, but lost his voice all of a sudden. He said that this was the worst P & W experience he ever had. We sang better after the offering and at the end of the service, now the lyrics were on the chorus board. What a start for me. It will never get worse. I hope not.

Posted by Benjamin at 6:30 PM

Saturday, December 8, 2007

My First BV Practice

New experiences. I sang P & W songs in chinese. I always wonder what the BVs are listening to when they put a ear piece in their ear. The answer is... *drum roll*... themselves! They hear themselves sing! I borrowed a ear plug from Sword River for the ear piece. He told me not to leave any 'chocolate' on it, if you know what I mean. Helpful and friendly guy. When I returned to choir full-time, he was my first friend in choir (other than Sponge Jem) and the first person who made me feel appreciated. Now he was the first person who taught me the 'do's and 'don't's in the BV ministry. Tired night. Practice until 11:30 am. We had two new songs to learn: Rain Down and You Are Faithful. I almost slept on the sofa in the Artists' Room after the practice. No dinner at home. Ate cup noodles + steamed chicken legs. 无敌 is going to wake me up tomorrow morning at 6:30 am. Too tired to be nervous.

Posted by Benjamin at 11:30 PM

Friday, December 7, 2007

Solve One Problem

My parents were not quarelling le. At least not now. They had a misunderstanding on money initially. My dad was concerned about my traffic offence and talked to me about it. I took the chance to get him to open up. My mum was around. I got one party to talk to me while the other party listened. Thank God. I wouldn't say that my traffic offence was worth it. But at least it did a miracle on my family situation. I mean God did.

Posted by Benjamin at 10:00 PM

Traffic Offence

Another trial and tribulation day. My dad called me when I was driving. He complained to me about my mum. I went into a little heated argument with my dad and lost track of the road conditions. Suddenly, a traffic police appeared on my right, drove in front of my pick-up and signalled to me to stop. I knew I was in deep shit. I hung up on my dad and stopped my pick-up. Mobile phone confiscated. S$200 fine. 12 demerit points. Depressed. I couldn't control my tears. S. A. Tan was trying to slice my faith. My studies, my family and now myself. No wonder it is written in Joshua 1:7: Only be strong and very courageous. Only. Very. Indeed. I had no other choice but to make the decision to abide the Word. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

Posted by Benjamin at 10:00 AM

Slapped By S. A. Tan

A bad afternoon. After the camp, I was asked to return to the sound equipment to CHC @ Jurong West. So I called Superman at 12 pm. Superman did not switch on his mobile phone. zero battery life in mobile phone + sleep like a log = uncontactable. I called his house number but no one picked up the phone. Wasted money on an automatic answering machine. The equipment rental receipt was with him too. Die. I drove down with Daniel Wu and Bee Get Even and caught a drizzle. Bee Get Even helped me cover the equipment with a cover. Bee Get Even looked cool even when he was holding down the cover in the rain. We reached the building at 2 pm. The security guard told me that the UFO was out of the building. The building was closed until 3 pm. 2 choices. Wait until 3 pm or send the guys home. I called WK for help. He told me that I was supposed to return the equipment at 4 pm. Oh my God. Worse. Daniel Wu was running out of battery life too. I decided to send them home. I realised that Daniel Wu's smile was not run by Energizer. First he stunned. Then he slept for 10 minutes, woke up and kept his smile for 10 minutes. Then he stunned again. After I drove them home, I went to the UOB bank. My second brother deposited S$9 700 into my bank account. My job was to withdraw this money from my bank account and deposit it into my mum's bank account. Sounds simple. But the trouble was this. The sound equipment was still on the back of my pick-up. I parked at a location where it was safe to leave them alone. A road with double yellow line. I queued for almost half an hour. I was unfortunate enough to wait behind a group of elderly people which took ages to complete their transactions. Sigh. I withdrew the money, left the bank and went to OCBC bank. Queued for 15 minutes. Just when I was about to write down my mum's bank account number, I realised that my mum's bank was UOB bank. Oh my God. I left OCBC bank and returned to UOB bank. Have to queue again. Sigh. I deposited the money and returned to my pick-up. A parking fine of S$50. Sigh. I drove back to CHC. Caught a heavier drizzle. Oh my God. I wiped the equipment dry with my shirt and return it to the UFO. Then I drove home to get changed for cell group. Self-pity sets in. Negative thoughts streamed through my mind. A & R season. Friends were sleeping soundly after the camp except me. I helped my second brother and got myself a parking fine. I wasted my working day. Now I understood why God led me to read Joshua 1. Be strong and of good courage indeed. Strength and courage pumped me up again. Then a change of events occured. I reached Plaza Singapore at 7 pm. My cell group members were late. I bought the tickets for the movie The Golden Campass just in time for everybody. Once again bomberben saved the day! I had one of my best dinner at the food court: a grilled chicken drumstick set. Delicious! The Golden Compass turned out to be an interesting movie. I did not know that it was inspired by the book Northern lights: a book that I read and enjoyed years ago. No wonder it had a familiar plot. After the movie, I drove Daniel Wu, I-Loh and Matching Pipes. I had a especially long chat with Daniel Wu. Other than discussing about the concept of vision, I shared with him what I felt about fellowship. Fellowship leads to a spiritual build-up. It is not just spending quality time with friends or a moment of fun and excitement. There is always a spiritual lesson to be learnt. After the talk, he was so excited that I thought he was not able to sleep that night. I returned home. I woke my mum up when I entered the house. She was sleeping in the living room. Dispute with my dad again. I accompanied my mum till 2 pm. Both of us felt asleep in the living room.

Posted by Benjamin at 2:00 AM

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Strength & Courage

Devotion time in the morning with Bee Get Even. He suggested that I read Joshua 1 with him. God promised Joshua will "make your way prosperous" and then "have good success". I was curious about this repeition in the chapter.

Jos 1:6 "Be strong and of good courage..."

Jos 1:7 "Only be strong and very courageous..."

Jos 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage..."

Jos 1:18 "Only be strong and of good courage."

Be strong and of good courage. Why did God repeated that phrase four times to Joshua? Why did Joshua need to 'be strong and of good courage' ONLY? Why did he need strength and courage to fulfill God's calling upon him? I searched the concordance for the word 'strong' and discovered three reasons why I may need strength and courage when my faith in God is tested.

Psa 24:8
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.

What do I need to battle against? I read Eph 6 and realised that this 'battle' is not a physical battle, but a spiritual one against 'the wiles of the devil'.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethen, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

2 Cor 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefor most gladly I will rather baost in my infirmities, that the p0wer of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take plpeasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Rom 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

What can I expect if I obey the Word?

Joshua 1:7 "Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go."

Posted by Benjamin at 10:00 AM