Day Two of Retreat - Part 1
Did Quiet Time on Romans 8:1-17. I was rather an interesting passage... but did dwell very much into the passage. My mind was half here, half somewhere else.

Breakfast was great. Had a packet of fried mee hoon and another packet of fried mee. I'm a pig. Ate the entire two packet by myself. Lol.

Roy came timely for his message on F.A.I.T.H. Roy was my spiritual mentor when I was in Singapore Polytechnic. He is a insightful, wisdom and humble man of God. The few Man to man sessions helped me through some of my difficult issues in my life.

F - aithful
A - vailable
I - nitiative
T - eachable
H - umble

That was the break out of his message. He started off with the last alphabet.

Humbility
Humbility is seeing ourselves as who we are... not more, not less.
Humbility needs to be cultivated and protected.
God loves the humble

Teachable
A continous eagerness to learn and to be taught
We stopped being teachable when we think that we had known everything.
We need to constantly desire to learn to keep in step with the Father.
We can learn from everyone, young or old.

Initiative
Jesus took the initiative in many of the passage in Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. Eg. Feeding the thousands, calming the storm, washing his disciples feet etc...
We don't take the initiative b'coz it is unimportant.
Thus, we need to be initiative.... to complete the Lord's task

Availablility
We can be available for the wrong reasons.
Sometimes, be are available to ministry b'coz we want to run away fromour home.
Sometimes been available means to stay in the ministry too.
Be available even it is boring, mundance etc.

Faithfulness
Do things well, not for the things that can be seen but not seen.

"Our goal in life is to please HIM whether visuable or invisuable."

Lastly, Faithfulness & Humbility are the two pillars while Availability, Initiative and Teachablity are the application of Faithfulness & Humbility.

To be continued...

... back from the retreat yesterday. It was both enriching and tiring experience. Little sleep, lots of talking and seeking after the Lord. The four days, three nights went past with a blink of an eye.

Day One of Retreat
Before the whole retreat had started, I had already experience the Lord's blessing. I was having doubts on whether I would be able to make it since my leave was pending on the actual day. I was praying madly for the Lord to create a miracle to allow me be there without having to worry about my work.

Praise God! My leave was signed in the morning and thus I was able be on leave after 12pm.

My heart skipped a beat for that. I tried to clear as much work as I could.

Packed my stuff and cleared my table. Print out some notes for the recreation. Went over to Marine Burger King, had this new burger which was launched. Grabbed a quick bite before sped down to Navigators building.

Quite a no. of teens and labourers had arrived. Greeting them before settled down and changed to my sports wear. Shortly, they were getting ready to clean up the place while Hungkiat and I retreated to one corner to go through our recreation. Checking the procedure and the logistics need for each games that we played.

After Kia Yuan finished his briefing, we started our indoor recreation. Had quite abit of hard time trying to get these people to settle down. I wasn't in the mood to try to catch their attention. My engine was still running cold... I guessed I was still trying to put off the hectic week at work. Nevertheless, thanked God they were able to settle down after much prompting.

Started out first game, 'Scissors, paper, talcum powder'. The game was played in a such a way when the loser would get a stroke of talcum powder drawn on his/her face. The game were played for 3rounds, 10mins each.

Everyone was having lotsa of fun in this game. Many of their faces were painted white. Carried on with some other more games... Ended the last game with everyone trying to have the most cloth packs on his/her body. I was impressed by Jas that she could put so many of them on her face and not feel any pain. I was the last to played... couldn't put much on my arms... I should have tried put the on my tummy, I could have a better chance of winning.

After washed up, when everyone was thinking that the speaker, Tah Chong would start with the topic of Vision of Disciple-Making. Kingmum told the teens that they would having TMS(Topical Memory System) Quiz. Everyone was booing.. that don't play this kind of practical joke. It was scheduled in the program sheet.

Hee, it was part of our planning to include TMS Quiz anytime of the retreat. Most of them were taking aback but they did their best for it.

How I wish, I could participate in the TMS. It was my motivation every time, I go to camp... it's was a highlight for me in the camp. However, over the years there wasn't chance for me to challenge with anyone over 60verses... most of the time, the quiz only stopped till 30verses. In order to encourage the younger ones to participate. Now, I'm a labourer, there wasn't much chances to compete with anyone anymore.

15mins after the unprompted TMS Quiz, TC began his message.

What is vision of disciple-making?

"A clear mental image of a preferable future imprinted by God to His servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstance."

It's investing your life in the life of another, with the aim of helping him/her to grow and mature as a fruitful life.

Matthew 4:19 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

However, there are cataracts in disciple-making if we don't deal with them properly.

1) Shallow conversion
2) Faulty discipleship
3) Making poor transitions of new phases of life
4) Overcome by the cares of this world
5) Lacking God's wisdom

The ending note... "Start Investing Your Life today..."

Had a 15mins short prayer for the various aspects of the camp.

The last program for the night was conducted by Chris Lian, Serendipity. An interesting time of making the various group(F.A.I.T.H) to promote their team to apply for a job from the Navigators. It was a wonderful time.. The night were on a higher note when Kenneth make a presentation on behalf of the labourers. I almost fell from the chair with him making such presentation... eg. our combined prayer hours was something x 10 to the power of 53 hrs. We fed 1000 people blah blah. All these chaps. It was a hilarious.Only he could have such an ability to make the whole session a laughter-filled time.

Finally, it was time for wash up... Day one of the retreat was over...

To be continued...

... Praise the Lord! I was able to obtain 1and 1/2 leave for the oncoming retreat. Was kinda of paranoid that there was last minute issues that need to be resolved. I was kinda of upset thtat it had disrupted my initial plan. Prayed like mad that it's really God's will that He was able to straighten my path so that I can go to the retreat without thinking of work at the back of my mind... My prayers were answered yestersday and today. The issue was solved yesterday and my leave was approved this morning.

Thank God for answering the prayers of your lowly servant.

I will be off after 12pm to the retreat... and I foresee a extremely lengthy blog when I return. In meantime, have a blessed weekends!!! God blessed.

Tuesday - 17/06
...Was out eating sushi on Tues with a group of unplanned group... consisting of Tim, Wern, Jason, Joshua, Sin Fee, Galv, Kel Tan, Mich, Dorothy, Joy, Eve and not forgetting myself... what a group. Had not been out with such a big group since I left poly. We were at Suki Sushi in Lot 1.

I discovered that everytime, I meet some of these people in the west... I will always have to run from West Mall to Lot 1. The last two times, I was at Lot 1 cinema while the rest is in West Mall, This time round I was at West Mall when they were at Lot 1. Goodness, it's like playing hide and seek... F...u...n...n...y...~!

The sushi was good... but wasn't the best coming from the mouth of someone who had been to Japan. Well, I just contented with whatever they had. "I eat to live and live to eat"... hee.

Sitting with Galv, Kel Tan, Sin Fee, Eve and Wern proved to be hilarious... Galv was commented that why did Wern to bring so many under... Beep. when there should be some sets at his hometown. The word 'sets' sparked of many laughters. We were teasing Galv over it. Din know under...Beep comes in sets... You mean there are sets of Mon, Tues, Wed blah blah... Lol. Been the only lady in the table, Eve was been bombarded by our censored language... Goodness...

Proceeded to Gelare for our little dessert, waffles with a scoope of ice-cream. Treated Galv and Dorothy to a plate, another plate was shared among 4 of them while Tim and I shared.

Sitting in between Joy and Tim proved to be another entertaining affair with Tim suaning Joy mercilessly while I added some spices to favor the suaning... I'm evil. Leaving Joy vexed... Oopz... I'm just too 'encouraging' liao. Gonna stop. Building my ego at the expenses of her... Okie, gonna find something encouraging to encourage her.

Parted with the group and headed home alone, when I received a sms from Mich saying that she had a wonderful and enjoyable dinner. More so b'coz it was a impromptu one. Couldn't agree more...

Wednesday - 18/06
... Watched 'Finding Nemo' yesterday with some of the group, I met the day before. Met up early for dinner prior to the show. Had this so called Lasi Lemak dinner set which I never failed to eat whenever I am in P.S. Will post them once I download them into my computer. Go and try it. It's value for money and nice. Oh do take plenty of chilli. It's really excellent... with ika bilis mixed.

Tim and his trademark sign...

Galv's food...

Mine...

'Finding Nemo' was a well reviewed movie and it had. Actually, I realised that it was more of a father and son animation. And Father's day was 4 days back... I'm sure those fathers who had watched the show with their sons on Father's day would have find the show meaningful. Nevertheless, it prompted me to think about my relationship with my own dad. Yes, my dad is not perfect. He, too have his shortcoming. However, I still want to model his life... Over the years, my relationship with him grew not b'coz of my own effort rather it was God's intervention. I believed that was one of the greatest blessing my Heavenly father had bestowed upon my life. Dad, I love you. God loves you even more~!

"Go...watch...'Finding...Nemo...'...if...you...can...you...will
...not...regret...it..." trying to speak like a whale. Those who had watched the show will understand this last sentense. *Laughing hysterically*

... too tired to type out the whole day trip... in short from ECP to Newton and back to ECP... from 11pm to 6am. Check here to see the pictures...