Getting To Know Strangers

I just finished packing all the items which I do not need to use in the remaining two days of my stay here in London. Surprisingly I am able to pack everything in my luggage. The only concern I have is that it may have exceeded the weight limit. Well, I shall pray that the check-in staff will close an eye to it. :)

I have bought most of the things I need except for an item or two which I will purchase tomorrow. I will probably spend some time with God reading the Bible and praying in my favourite park - Hyde Park. I love reading in the parks, be it in Cambridge or in London, as the weather is so conducive to do so.

Anyway, this afternoon while I was in Debenhams window-shopping, I saw two of the staff rushing to a section where there was a crowd around this elderly gentleman lying on one of the sofas. I asked the staff what happened and she told me that the man was experiencing chest pain. I told them that I am trained in first aid and also in using the defibrillator.

I kept talking to the man as I did not want him to lose consciousness. While doing so, I got to know his name as Mr. Paul Cawthorne. He is 81 years of age. We had small talks as I did not want to strain him too much. Not long after, the medics came and took over from there.

They suspect it is a heart-attack and quickly brought him to the hospital after running some checks on him. Well, as they wheeled him away, I prayed for him that God will protect and heal him.

After that I went to Covent Garden as I needed to buy some stuff from there. As I walked past one of the street entertainers who was taking a break, I decided to speak to him. I have seen his performance - he dressed himself like a Roman soldier and he has such a rubber face that one cannot stop laughing as he teases the passers-by.

I told him he was good. He smiled and thanked me. He has been doing this day in and day out for more than 10 years already. Anyway, I wished him well and went on my way.

After everything was done, I went to meet a dear brother-in-Christ for dinner and we had fish and chips near Victoria Station at this restaurant named SeaFresh. The meal was not bad.

Anyway, before I leave, I am going to visit the Italian restaurant next to where I have been living. I have bought pizzas a couple of times from this elderly gentleman named Pannier. When I first visited his restaurant he dawned upon me as a grouchy old man but after buying from him regularly, he has been more friendly.

He has his business for more than 10 years but it has not been doing well with only about 10 customers daily. Anyway, I affirmed him that his pizzas are one of the better ones I have tried and he smiled. His son is a pilot for a private Swiss airline.

Well, I guess that is all.

I feel a little sad that I will be leaving London in two days but at the same time I am also looking forward to going home though with a heavy heart as I know there are a couple of matters to attend to. The main one being grandma. Well, I have been praying for God to use me to encourage grandma and I shall see how He can do that. One step at a time, I guess.

Good night, all, in this part of the world and good morning to the rest of you at the other side. :)

Trials Are Not Bad

Once in a while my heart is saddened when I thought of how things have changed in my relationship with someone I hold dear to. It is not a romantic relationship, if you readers are wondering.

Many times I asked God why it has to be what it is now. The answer I always receive is that both parties need to put aside our pride/grudges/frustrations/bitterness/unforgiveness in order for reconciliation to happen. Every day I pray for this to happen but it has yet to happen. Communication has ceased. Everything is swept under the carpet. There is no more openness and transparency. Promises made were broken. There seemed to be no more trust.

As I was spending some time in a park with God near where I am staying, it just baffled me how things have become what it is now. As I was reflecting, I realised there were many false assumptions made. There were distrust. Care shown became suspicion that there were more to what it is.

Anyway, I am not ashamed to share this struggle because I am a human. I struggle with relationship with another but my desire is that I want to make right should I err. That is why every day I still pray about it.

Well, that was the burden in my heart this morning. I spoke to my brother to obtain an update about grandma. I thank God that the sleeping tablet she took has lost its effect on her and that she is less sleepy now. I also praise the Lord that she is able to eat better and that she is alert to the surroundings and that she is responding to my brother and parents. I do not want to speak to grandma as I do not want her to worry about me.

Another thing I learnt while I was spending time with God this morning is that yes, there will be times when one has to face a lousy situation. More often than not, we dwell in this misery and becomes negative and bitter. Today I was reminded that I should be encouraged that as much as I have to go through this trying period, so long as I am doing something about it - something as easy as saying a prayer or doing something as difficult as being thankful for what I am going through - it is already a step to making the situation better. Eventually it will be overcome and life carries on.

I told God that I am ready to face what is ahead of me when I go back to Singapore so long as know He is with me at all times in dealing with grandma's forgetfulness, bearing with her when she throws her tantrums, encouraging my brother or parents when they get frustrated, having to go through the inconveniences of having to bring grandma for her check-up, etc.

Well, I did a little shopping - bought a couple of shirts and I am also thankful to God that an online order I made went through smoothly. I have received the item and the price is really cheap due to a ongoing promotion and also being able to claim the VAT returns.

I came back to the hotel to rest for a while before going out to have dinner with a friend. We ate at an Italian restaurant and I simply enjoyed the pizza which is supposed to be very spicy but when I took the first bite, it was not even close to mild. Haha. I asked for more cut chillies and the waitress was shocked when I finished the whole bowl of it. :)

I am now in my room again. I am actually quite tired. I shall sleep soon as I have to be in Cambridge tomorrow to meet my ex-course supervisor.

Praise God for today. The reflections this morning have allowed me to once again surrender everything to God when I am at my wit's end. In His time, He will bring about reconciliation in my relationship with my loved one. In His time, my grandma will be well again. In His time, I will learn more of Him and myself. :)

Grandma Will Be Well!

I just had a sumptuous Indian dinner with a dear brother-in-Christ. I always thought that those in Singapore are delicious... well, after tonight's meal, I must admit that this restaurant serves better food. We had chicken briyani served in a claypot, garlic naans and also chicken mirch masala. There was a complimentary cup of soup. For starters, there were papadoms with six different kinds of dips.

Anyway, grandma has been discharged from the hospital. It is not just because she is well but the doctor felt that if she stays any longer, her dementia condition may worsen. My brother updated me on this in the middle of the night when I was sleeping... due to the time difference between Singapore and the U.K..

After that I could not really sleep as I was thinking how the family and I can help affirm grandma as her memory slowly slips away. I spent a considerable time praying for her and also asking God for solutions.

Well, in the midst of just being still, I roughly know what I need to do when I go back. Well, it is not the kind of return I would love to look forward to but I cannot have this kind of thoughts. After all, it is grandma I am talking about - the one who took care of me from babe to who I am now.

I guess I will spend more time with her in prayer and also reading the Word of God so that she will be reminded that God is always there to help her and in times when she feels helpless, she can depend on Him for help. I also need to call her a few times a day just to let her know that she is remembered and to assure that I am there for her anytime. This is to ensure that she eats her meals regularly. The doctor suspected that her fainting spell is due to her forgetting to eat her meals regularly.

I need to speak to my parents and brother and also my cousins and uncle to see how we can all unite together to help grandma. It is going to be a bit of adapting to but I feel every one needs to play their part in ensuring that grandma is at no time feeling unwanted or useless.

On my part, I will pray for grandma daily that God has mercy on her and also to sustain her in whatever remaining days she had on this earth.

After praying, I corresponded with my sister and also a dear friend about grandma. I felt better after that.

I am supposed to be in Cambridge today but it had to be postponed as my ex-course supervisor had a staff meeting to attend at the last-minute. It was changed to tomorrow but I received a message earlier that it had to be postponed again. I could understand his busyness as it is also the examination period. Well, I hope before the weekend we could meet. If not, I guess we may not be able to catch up at all.

I did not really have much mood to do anything. I basically went to buy the cycling shades for my friend and I. After days of visiting various optical shops, I decided on one which I felt was reasonable and friendly. Praise God it was the right choice made - not only did the kind gentleman allowed me to change one set of lenses to the photo-chromic ones, he also gave 20% off to both pairs of sunglasses bought. In the end, they cost much cheaper than those sold in Singapore.

I felt bad that I could not get the one my friend wanted as that particular model is sold out. Even for me, I had to settle for another colour because the one I wanted, though there was one available, it had a scratched on it.

Anyway, praise God that the deal was done. :) I also needed to buy a DAB radio for another friend and when the purchase was done I headed back to the hotel to rest.

It was still early but I wanted to just stay in as I did not have sufficient sleep. The other reason was also due to a slight fever I had last night, coupled with a sore throat. Thank God after taking some medications, I am well now.

I shall end here. Oh yah! I finished one out of the two books I brought. I hope I can finish the other before going back to Singapore. :)

Appreciating Worship

This morning I went to All Souls Church for the 9.30am service. Whenever I am in London, this is the church I will attend. The late John Stott used to be the rector of the church. It is sad that he is no more with us but I am also happy that this faithful servant of God is now in heaven.

Today's sermon is taken from Revelation 11:1-19. In context with this passage one thing hit me hard. The preacher shared that sometimes we do not appreciate praising God because we have not experienced suffering enough to know how blest we are and how good God is in our lives. Many times we take our blessings for granted and forgotten from whom these come from.

Usually it is those who are going through hardship and persecution who are more thankful to God for the little things in life. Even the opportunity to live through yet another day warrants them a time of praise to God for His grace and mercy.

Food for thought for the above-mentioned. It was a rebuke for me and I was humbled. After the service I spent some time in prayer asking God to help me be thankful at all times. I also prayed and asked God to help me live a life which is pleasing in His sight and edifying to the people around me. First things first, I will always seek to glorify God. I hope I will be able to press on.

I called home to find out the status of grandma's condition. So far, the doctor confirmed that grandma lacks vitamin B12 and they are now going to supplement her with that deficiency. For her recent weight loss, the medical staff will have to do a CT scan as well as a scope but these can only be done tomorrow. I pray nothing serious will come out of that.

I sent out prayer requests to my sister, cell group and also the mission team to ask them to intercede for granny. Those who saw my FaceBook posting also affirmed me that they will be praying.

I hope all these effort will bring healing to grandma.

Well, after service I brought a dear brother-in-Christ to a steak-house, named Hawksmoor, for lunch. It is also to celebrate his super-belated birthday. The food was not bad and we were very full and satisfied.

My brother-in-Christ left after the meal while I stayed back in Covent Garden to watch the street performances. After that I went to a bike shop in London Bridge area to buy two cycling jerseys - one for a dear friend and the other for me. We thought the design is unique and since the price is right, the purchase was made.

I went next to Selfridges next to buy for another friend some Nespresso capsules.

When all these were done, I was drained physically. Before I went back to the hotel, I bought kebabs for dinner.

Praise God for today. :)

Prompted To Pray

After lunch today I decided to go to Hyde Park to spend some time in reflection and prayer. I could have gone to shop or check out more bike shops but I felt the need to put that aside for a moment.

I sat on one of the benches and prayed for my family and other loved ones. I specifically prayed for healing for grandma as I have been burdened for her health since a few days ago when I was informed that she has been unwell.

Then came the message from my brother informing me that grandma has been admitted into hospital. She apparently blacked out while in the kitchen. Thank God my brother was there to catch her before she fell. She was unconscious for a while.

She was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department and is now admitted for observation. The doctors will also be running some tests to ascertain the cause of the black-out. I just pray that there is nothing serious and that the medical staff will know how to help grandma.

My brother will update me accordingly and he assured me that everything is in control and there is no need for me to go home.

Anyway, I went for a walk along River Thames. Again I prayed for grandma. I was supposed to watch some fireworks display but I had no mood to do so. I headed back to the hotel after spending some time in quiet and also feeling super cold from the sudden drop of temperature.

Other than the shock I received back home, I had a great breakfast at this cafe called Latana Cafe where they serve very very delicious English Breakfast. After that I followed a dear brother-in-Christ to buy some computer stuff and also a new backpack. We headed next to Portobello Market and then for lunch at Bayswater.

After Hyde Park, I went to Greenwich to check out a bike shop and it was here when I receive the message from my brother about grandma.

Well, I am tired. I will share more about my reflection soon.

Praise God that He has everything under His control and I know He will make all things beautiful in His time.

Goodbye Singapore, Hello UK!

I am shivering as I am typing. It is very cold in my hotel room. I just turned up the heater and hopefully it would be warmer soon. Time flies that it is already my fourth day here in London.

Eversince I touched down, it has been helping a dear brother-in-Christ settle into his hostel as he prepares for his PHD programme. We went to do the necessary paper work and also buying of all the items needed for his accommodation. Well, we have settled most of the stuff and it is now for him to unpack and to arrange the room as he deems appropriate.

I just moved to another hotel. I was initially at Earl's Court but I am now in Hammersmith. There will be a couple of commuting to do the next few days. I will be in Liverpool on Saturday, attempting to buy a ticket for the Liverpool - Swansea match. On Monday I will probably be in Cambridge to visit my supervisor. I am considering visiting Ireland but I am not sure yet.

I was supposed to go hunting with an ex-coursemate but he just informed me that it may not be possible due to the cold spell.

Though I mentioned that I have been helping my brother-in-Christ with his lodging matters, I have also been visiting various bike shops to check out some wheels for my bike and also shades for a dear friend. I am basically just making price comparisons before I decide when and where to buy them.

As much as I am enjoying myself so far, my heart has been burdened by grandma's health. I called home earlier and was told that she is not feeling well. I spoke to her and she sounded weak. I pray that God will heal her as soon as possible.

Though I am on holidays, I cannot just simply tell myself that I do not care about matters at home. Hence I still keep in touch with my family and friends via WhatsApp, sms or phone-calls. It also helps me to know what I can pray for them when I spend time with God here.

Anyway, praise God that He has taken care of all matters so far and I shall continue to trust that He will do so till I go back on 15 November 2011.

Well, nothing much to share for now but will write more in the next few days. :)

Being On The Same Boat

It has been a great weekend for me but a part of my heart is troubled and burdened over a matter concerning a loved one. Well, I can only pray about it for now (and I have been doing so for a few months already). All I can do is just hope for the better.

Anyway, since Friday it has been running of errands and ensuring that everything at home is in order before I leave for London tomorrow on a two-week getaway. I stocked up the refrigerator and also the kitchen cabinets, cleaned the house and did all the laundry.

On Friday evening, a dear friend and I went to check out some cycling shades at Parkway Parade and Queensway Shopping Centre and had dinner together at a Japanese restaurant (Sakuraya) in Anchor Point. We did that again this afternoon at Novena Square and had lunch at an Indonesian/Thai restaurant, named Bali-Thai Restaurant, but the food was not great. No matter what, I thank God for His blessings that we, as Singaporeans, still have food to consume daily.

Well, from the two days of enquiries and looking at the different brands of shades, we have decided on the one we are comfortable with. When in London I will do a price comparison and from there purchase the item accordingly.

On Saturday morning, the same friend and I went cycling together. Instead of covering the usual route to Changi, we headed towards the Marina Bay area instead. It was an impromptu plan but it was fun as we explored and found new paths leading to the Marina Barrage. After that we went to this cafe (named Loysel's Toy) in Kallang Basin and had our breakfast. We cycled back to East Coast Park after that.

Overall, I had an enjoyable time and I praise God for that! I enjoyed the time of catching up and also working out. :)

This morning as I was doing my devotion, I learnt something which humbled me. Many times I get disappointed with people because of their shortcomings but today I learn that I should not be feeling that way because of the fact that no one is perfect... not a single human being on this earth. Who am I to be disappointed with another when I myself am not perfect. What benchmark am I using to be feeling that way towards another.

What is the alternative then? I guess, first of all, we must bear with one another. This does not mean that we tolerate their shortcomings. Instead we should help one another in overcoming our weaknesses or struggles so that these can be turned to strengths. It will take time but we must not give up on each other. Instead we should walk with one another.

If we cannot have the patience and perseverance in doing the above-mentioned, then we will always remain the same and it will be a vicious cycle where the disappointment and frustration will come back to haunt us again in another circumstance.

If we are in the same boat, let us steer it in the correct direction rather than rock it and in the end have everyone fall into the water and drown.

Anyway, I will try to blog once in a while during the trip. I am going to miss cycling for two weeks but will look forward to it when I come back. :)

I guess that is all. Take care everyone and have a blessed new week ahead!

A Humbling Experience

This weekend has been a humbling experience for me. Nothing serious but it has to do with my recent interest in cycling. I joined this riding group called the Fellowship of the Ride ("FOTR") - it was an invitation by a dear brother-in-Christ. It started off with a few Christian siblings-in-Christ and it now has 101 members.

Yesterday morning I decided to join some of them for a 90.5km ride from Thomson Road to the western part of Singapore. As I was looking forward to the trip the whole week, I thought it should be a breeze since I have been 'training' for the past one month or so. Having covered an average of 60km per ride and maintaining a constant speed of 28kph, I thought I was good to go.

Boy, was I wrong! Two areas I totally were not prepared for - the hills and also the mental aspect in conquering them. Right from the start already, I encountered one after another up-slope! Though my brother-in-Christ was there to pace me, I could not keep up after 30 minutes and I felt bad as we were quite far from the rest.

In the end I decided to ask him to go ahead. He respected my decision and went on. For me, it was a battle - to turn back and go home or to press on in the route I have more or less memorised. I chose the latter, knowing jolly well that there will be more hills ahead.

As I went on, I told God that I really did not think I was up to it but I was determined to cover at least the majority part of it. I went ahead to roads I have never been before and in the cover of darkness as the sun was not up yet.

I told a dear friend that I intend to cycle to my workplace which is Nanyang Technological University and yesterday I did. I was so proud of myself. Haha.

Anyway, I cycled a total of 68km. 8km more than my average and I praise God for that because that is a new record for me. I covered a couple of up-slopes which sometimes felt as if my legs were going to drop off. There was one point I had to take a pit-stop, eating my energy bar and also drinking my electrolyte enhanced drink.

I started at 5.00am and I arrived at my estate at 8.30pm. By that time, my thighs were cramping up and they felt so tight. My bum was painful due to some abrasions. My arms were a little sore too. But I was happy and satisfied. :)

Throughout the trip, from the point I cycled alone, I reflected on my walk and I was just asking God - "Lord, what can I learn from this?" Well, below are some thoughts I had.

Many times I feel that I know God enough that I do not need to know Him anymore. Whatever knowledge I have of Him, I thought it would have been sufficient for me to experience life. But the encounter I had with the up-slopes yesterday humbled me that there is never enough when it comes to knowing God. Hence I prayed and asked Him to help me not be complacent in my walk with Him so that everyday I will continue to yearn for Him by reading His Word, praying and even being still before Him.

I also learnt that in my life's journey, there are seasons to rest and seasons to press on. Just like the ride, I could have turned back when the going got tough but in choosing to press on, I learnt to trust God to show me the way and also to strengthen the areas where I am weak. The process may be slow at times but it will still get me to the destination.

Then comes the other discipline where I also need to stop to recharge... just like when I needed to eat the energy bar and drink the water. It is the same for my life. If I had gone on, I would have fainted. This is where personal retreat away from the routines is important to re-organised my life and to chuck away those areas which are not beneficial for me.

Of course, encouragements from a dear friend and my brother-in-Christ helped. I remembered what they told me and as I went on and during times when it was just so painful, having remembered their words spurred me on. :)

Well, praise God for the above-mentioned.

On Friday I was riding too. I went with my dear friend and another new friend from East Coast Park to Changi Village. I met the former earlier as I needed to repair her bike and also to pass her a couple of things. We then cycled to Bedok Jetty to chat.

The whole journey was fun and it was also food-ful as I had my dinner of nasi lemak at Changi Village.

This morning I was at Changi Coastal Road to cheer some of the FOTR members in their participation in the Cyclone Race Series 2011. For the Fun Quad Category, they came in third and that was great result as this is their first time. After that we went for breakfast before heading back to the event ground for the prize presentation. I basically the photographer for the day. :)

Okie, there are more which I did but I shall stop here as I am tired.

Good night, all, and have a blessed week ahead!!! :)

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

Memories Fading; Hope Rising

I just looked at grandma as she laid on her bed and my heart suddenly sank. Sometimes I feel sad for her especially when I see the emptiness in her eyes. Suffering from dementia, sometimes I cannot fathom what is running in her mind (if at all).

Eversince she has been diagnosed with dementia, my prayer for her has always been asking God to take away all the bad memories first so that the good ones will continue to drive her on in life (whatever that is left of it). Sometimes I also pray (which I hope is a right kind of prayer) that if there is no more meaning for her to live on, that God take her soon so that she can enjoy a life of eternity in heaven with Him.

I have ever been advised to send her to an old folks' home so that proper care can be administered. As much as that is a convenient thing to do, my love for her does not compel me to do so. I have shared this before and I will share again.

Grandma has been the one who has taken care of me since I was a baby and she is still doing so now that I am an adult. No matter how bad her condition is, I will be there for her physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually till she is no more with us. I want her to know that she is still wanted in whatever condition she is in now. All I pray daily is that God gives me that perseverance and also the wisdom to know how to care for her appropriately and also to shower love which I hope will bring a certain sense of peace and assurance in her heart.

Well, I am going to join her to do some marketing after this and hope little things like this will make her day. :)

I am also looking forward to meeting a long-time friend whom I have not met to catch up for a real long time. We are planning the venue and time now and I cannot wait to have a time of fellowship with her.

After that I have to run some errands and then a time of cycling with some dear friends. I am going to take it easy tonight as I have a 90km ride tomorrow from 5.00 to 8.00am. It is a challenge I have taken up for myself and like what a dear brother-in-Christ has encouraged me - finish or not is not the goal. It is the doing and the endurance which matter. :)

Have a great Friday, everyone and a restful weekend ahead! God bless!

A Thin Red Line

I did my secret cycling training last night and my legs almost fell off as I tried to maintain a constant speed of 30kph. I started from my place all the way to the Changi Coastal Road. It was when I reached the National Service Resort and Country Club ("NSRCC") that I picked up my pace and kept between the 25 to 30kph speed. I could feel my thigh cramping up but I pressed on.

I had a pit-stop at the Changi Village hawker centre where I drank a can of 100 Plus and a plate of fruits. It was here I met a veteran cyclist who owns a classic Conalgo bike. As we were travelling back the same direction, we cycled together. It was here I saw how fit he was. He is probably in his late forties or early fifties but as we ride on, he began to pick up speed. I managed to keep up but slowly I lagged behind because he went on between 35 to 40kph. I kept to my 30kph... sometimes dropping a little as my legs were sore!!!

When we reached back NSRCC, we slowed down and chatted as we cycled towards Marine Parade. We went on our separate way when I reached just opposite Parkway Parade as I needed to find out whether my friend needed me to fix her saddle. I was already at the underpass leading to her place. As she was just on her way home and mentioned that she was super tired, we did not meet and I went on my way home. During that ride, I also maintained the 30kph speed.

By the time I reached home, I was dead tired and I struggled to carry my bike up to my home though it was light. It was a great feeling though but I will probably have to tell a dear brother-in-Christ that I may not be able to keep up with him this Saturday as I joined him on a 80km ride at a constant speed of 30kph. Stamina not there yet. Haha.

Anyway, so much for the training. I like cycling and talking to God at the same time. I did that last night as I shared with Him some burdens I have for a particular loved one whom I have not spoken for a while already. I basically asked God to take away all our differences, forgive each other for the hurts inflicted, understand each other's differing views on certain issues and see how we can support one another. It saddens my heart that we are at where we are now. I also told God I am willing to wait for that day when all will be resolved and reconciled. I know He will make it happen so long as my loved one and I are willing to put away our pride, our disappointments, frustrations, etc.

Though we do not interact like we used to, I still intercede for this individual daily. It is the only thing I can do for now. :)

On another topic now - since last month I have been going through a phase where I have to be careful in a decision that I am considering. This sharing will be vague as it is not time for me to go into the details yet. It will be something which I have to be careful especially in the area of handling the matter and also not to be a stumbling block to others especially my siblings-in-Christ.

There are a couple of things I want to do but I have to weigh my motives and sometimes it is a very fine line. That is why I pray daily that God gives me wisdom and also the discernment to know what I am doing.

So far I know where my stand is and I have accounted this to some closer siblings-in-Christ just so that they can bring me back should I go off-tangent. I have been reflecting and evaluating daily and this process is also teaching me how I can use the lessons learnt to counsel others in future who may be going through the same struggle.

Well, sorry to keep you people in suspense. I may or may not share this again. I will see how as the time passes by. :) All I ask is that I will glorify God in this. :)

Time to go.

Living With The Leaving

I am trying to rush an article which I am to submit to my faculty by tomorrow. I am almost done but I am not satisfied with one portion. Anyway, I should be able to get it done just slightly after lunch time. I want to have it sent out by today so that tonight I can concentrate on my cycling training. Weather permits, that is.

Praise the Lord for the weekend which has just passed. Yesterday I participated in the World Hospice Day ride from Tan Tock Seng Hospital to East Coast Parkway Carpark F2. Prior to that I cycled to Marine Parade to link up with a dear friend who was riding, for the first time, a longer distance on the road. I thought I accompany her just to ensure that she was safe.

Well, praise God for His journey mercies upon my friend and I... and not forgetting the 300 over other cyclists. For the both of us, it was our first time riding with such a big group and we both concluded that it was just too congested. It was an experience though.

One thing I felt upon reflection of the event is that the focus was more on the cycling rather than on the work of the hospices. I thought it would have been more meaningful if we could have visited some of the patients and bring a little cheer to their lives. Probably that may move some to do volunteer work at the different hospices in Singapore.

Towards the end of the event, my friend and I left for lunch at the East Coast Lagoon hawker centre. We both had bak kut teh with pork knuckles and also tau pok. They were delicious. We chatted as we ate and it was another great time of catching up.

The ride home, after walking my friend back to her place, was torturous as I was pretty full and the weather was so hot and humid. Thank God I made it back alive. I had to hydrate myself along the way though.

A cold bath was so heavenly and the bed looked tempting but I had to resist a nap as I needed to rush to church to join the youths in the mission trip planning. I was very encouraged by their enthusiasm in brainstorming the activities together. It was just so heartening to see most of them did not lose steam even though we have not met for a month due to the examinations. I am so looking forward to serving the Lord and the Khmers in December. :)

Next was The All Blacks vs The Wallabies match of the Rugby World Cup semi-final 2. The former won! I cannot wait for next Sunday when they play against France, It should be a good game and I hope The All Blacks will win the trophy!

I was tired when the match ended but I wanted to do photography of the moon. Two dear brothers-in-Christ joined me for dinner at Ramen Champion in Iluma and then it was off to Marina Barrage but the moon rise was at 10.09pm. We decided to go to Singapore Swimming Club to bowl first in the meantime.

Well, the photography attempt was a failure. The moon was not round. We were on a pedestrian bridge which had vibrations when people walked past. The wind was strong and the lens kept swaying. None of the shots were clear enough. After a while we gave up.

Well, an eventful day I had.

Okie, back to my article. :)

An Enjoyable Day

I woke up early this morning as I needed to go for a shooting practice as part of my reservist obligation. I almost forgot about this until an army buddy of mine reminded me. Praise God all went well and by about 10.30am, I was done.

I left for Marine Parade to meet a dear friend to pass her some items and also to re-assemble her cyclo-computer which measures speed and cadence. The last time I did it for her, I made a mistake and since both of us are going on a cycling campaign tomorrow to commemorate World Hospice Day, I thought I get them rectified.

Once that was done, I also helped her clean and lubricate the chains so that tomorrow's ride will be a smooth one.

We had lunch at my favourite Japanese joint - Sakuraya. It was a great time of catching up and getting to know one another as we chomped on the yummy sashimi and a couple of other dishes. While eating both of us concluded that we prefer the Sakuraya at West Coast but it has since closed down.

Next was to a bicycle shop along Race Course Road where my friend needed to get her road-bike's handle-bar and saddle adjusted. The boss of the shop, whom we both like, helped us with that. We also met some representatives from the Wilier group, Italy, who were there to negotiate some deals with the shop owner.

Well, thank God that everything has been settled. My friend gave me a lift home while she went on to meet her good friend for their weekly activities. Looking forward to riding with her tomorrow along with some other cycling buddies from the Charity Bike 'n' Blade group.

I came home and did some housework while I watched the Wales - France match of the Rugby World Cup Semi-Finals 1. Well, I was hoping for Wales to win but they lost by one point. The final score was 8 - 9.

I am going to sleep early tonight as I need to be up by 5.30am to meet my friend at 7.00am. I am riding to the East to meet her first before we head for Tan Tock Seng Hospital. I am so looking forward to it. :)

Well, enjoyed myself today. In the morning, I was burdened for someone but I committed that person to God. :)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is dad's 77th birthday. We had a simple celebration over dinner at a Japanese restaurant, named "Shin Yuu" located in Greenwood Avenue. Mum had a craving for Japanese food and since dad did not mind, all six of us (dad, mum, grandma, brother, sister-in-law and I) had a great time of feasting together.

I had my birthday celebration in the same restaurant and it was with a dear brother-in-Christ back in June. It would have been my third time there but the second one did not happen.

Anyway, in the late morning and whole afternoon, my parents and my uncle with another friend were in Johor for shopping and eating. I am glad they all had fun and I praise God for sustaining mum, who is physically weak, throughout.

Well, this morning after I prayed for dad, I wrote a short poem which I read to him over the dinner table. It read, "A God-blessed birthday to you, dad. The sacrifices you've made for me, I will always remember that. You watch me grow from a babe to an adult, your love for me is without a doubt. Our relationship as father and son have never been prefect but this is a reminder that our lives are works in progress. I'll praise God always for Georgie Chew, for giving me a unique father like you."

Dad and I have our differences but over these past few months, things have improved and I want to thank God for that. I feel that it is pointless to bicker over matters which are sometimes trivial but blown out of proportion. Instead I want to channel those energy to building relationships not just with dad but with everyone at home. There is still room for improvement and with God's help, I know our bond will be much closer in the near future.

We are supposed to celebrate dad's birthday yesterday as I have cell group meeting tonight but I decided that we should celebrate on the actual day itself. Cell group meetings fall every fortnightly but one's birthday comes only once a year. I guess missing one meeting is alright for the sake of family bonding.

I guess that is all.

Happy Birthday once again, dad!

Being Spiritually Inflated

I was planning to go cycling alone this morning. Initially a dear friend was supposed to join me but she told me that it was quite unlikely that she could as she had to work late last night and she wanted to sleep in this morning.

Before I left, I messaged to fill her in that I was setting off and to my surprise, my friend replied and informed me that she was up and that she was going to join me. It was great to have a cycling partner.

Both of us were inspired to take up cycling when we volunteered at a Charity Bike 'n' Blade event in early September. When we came back, we went to check out road-bikes. She got hers first - a Specialised Roubaix. A while later I got mine - a Wilier Izoard XP. Through the recommendations and advice from other regular bikers, we bought them at quite a good deal. Praise the Lord!

This morning, we met at the end of Fort Road and from there we cycled all the way to Changi Village where we had a simple breakfast. We shared a table with this guy named Ming and he was a cyclist too and we talked about cycling. Wow! Not too difficult to guess that, right? Haha.

I wanted to visit this elderly lady who sells wanton (dumpling) noodles but her stall is closed today. I have known her since my army days and that was back in the 90s. Well, another day, I guess.

Anyway, my friend and I went on the Changi Coastal Road on our way back to East Coast Parkway. She has not been on the road because she was not too confident as yet and since I am riding with her today, we decided to do so. I stayed behind her to ensure that no vehicles came near her and thank God it was a pleasant one! In fact, riding on the road was much smoother than on the pavements of the Park Connectors.

Although a little tired, I am proud of my friend who made it to and fro! :)

We had a light lunch at Komalas and it was a great time of catching up and also knowing each other better since we only became friends last month. Praise God for her!

After walking my friend home, I cycled back. The sun was intense and the road was actually quite busy but thank God for His journey mercies!

I would like to share a lesson I learnt this morning when I was cycling from my place to Fort Road. Nearing the destination, I felt that the road was suddenly very bumpy. As I looked around, I suddenly noticed that my front tyre was flat. I went off the road onto a pavement and checked whether there was a puncture but I could not find any. As I observed further, I realised that the valve was loose and air was actually escaping through it. I took out the pump and started filling the tyre with air again. Thanks be to God, it was inflated fully and I was able to carry on.

The above experience can be an analogy to one's walk with God. Along the journey, some of us may have lost steam in our walk and our lives suddenly become very bumpy. The main reason could be that God is no more pre-eminent and something or someone else has taken His place. I have come to realise as I reflected on this is that the only way to get ourselves back on track is to have God injected into our lives again so that we can move on ahead! One other thing we have to note though - He cannot take second place in our lives.

Only by doing so will we know exactly what God's will is for our lives and also be aware of what pleases Him and what does not. This was my morning reflection while doing something I like. :)

That said, when I came back, I did some maintenance on my bike, followed by doing some housework by bathing my pets and also sweeping the floor and doing the laundry. At the end of it all, I was tired but I felt satisfied for an enjoyable day I had!

Oh yah! In the midst of doing all the above-mentioned, I was also watching the Rugby World Cup quarter-final matches: one was between Wales and Ireland which the former won; the other was England versus France and the latter won. I am so looking forward to tomorrow's one especially the match between The All Blacks and Argentina!

Well, I guess that is all. Time to rest and also to play the guitar... it has been a while since I touched it. :)

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25

Cycling, Reading, Praying And Chatting!

It has been a couple of days since I blogged. I thought this week would be freer for me since I am not helping out at a dear sister-in-Christ's office as she is away on a holiday with her hubby. As I sat down and looked at my schedules, I realised there are a couple of research which I need to do this week as they are due next Monday.

Well, thank God I managed to get most of them done. My fingers are basically numbed from all the typing and now as I close my eyes, all I see are words and more words. Looks like I am not used to all these since I have been away from work for a while but this is a good preparation for me as I look forward to going back on 2 January 2012. :)

Today has been filled with meetings - three in all. Two I had to chair as they come under my purview and one was a long one which I had to attend as it would involve my area of research. It does not help that when I woke up this morning, my thighs weighed like a ton of bricks. Haha. Thank God towards the evening, they are more relaxed and I am already looking forward to an evening of cycling tomorrow with a dear friend - weather permits, that is.

I felt the strain on my legs this morning as I cycled about 60km in total yesterday. 30km to and from my place and another 30km with three brothers-in-Christ from another church. We started from East Coast Parkway carpark F2 all the way to the end of Changi Beach and back to East Coast Parkway hawker centre where we had a drink together.

The ride along the coastal road alongside the runway of Changi Airport was long and straight but it was mentally challenging as the stretch felt like infinity. When you think you are reaching the end, the next thing you know you see another set of street lamps. Certain places were quite dark too, as warned by a dear friend, and one has to be careful especially in spotting a bend. It is quite strange that in the dark, a bend looks like a straight path so one had to be alert. One of my friends fell off his bike because of that. He had some superficial wounds on his arm but thank God he was alright generally.

Anyway, I spent some time with God at the Bedok jetty before I met up with the cycling gang. I basically read the Bible on my iPhone and prayed for a few matters and people. Though in my postings and generally in my blogs, I have been joyful and having fun doing the things I like but in my heart, I still have my burdens for certain people whom I cherish a lot. I also prayed about something which I hope one day will come to fruition but I told God also that it is alright if it does not. Well, He knows what is best for me and I shall trust Him to give me what is beneficial. :)

In my burdens for certain of my loved ones, I told God sometimes I do not know what to do. I am sometimes confused as to whether certain things I do or say will make matters worse. Then when I choose not to do anything about it, I also do not know whether these loved ones will think that I am holding a grudge against them which I am not.

Well, I will continue to keep praying and hope one day everything will fall in place. :)

Oh yah, before I headed home last night, I popped over my god-sis's place and had a chat with her elder sister. I am so happy that she is happily engaged and in the process of looking for a home. It is always a joy to see two individuals coming together and preparing to spend their lives in marriage. :) We did not chat for too long as it was very late and I needed to cycle home but it was a great time spent. Praise God for that!

Okie, I shall stop here. I need to really sleep now.

Good night all and have a great TGIF tomorrow! :)

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:4

So What If We Are Now Adults?

I am actually very tired but I guess I shall blog a little before I sleep.

It has been a great weekend of workout. Yesterday was the first time I went riding on a longer distant - 47km in total. I rode to the east to link up with a dear brother-in-Christ, Timothy, and then it was off to East Coast Parkway and then to the Changi Coastal Road and back.

I really went by faith, asking God to protect me as I was travelling on the road most of the time. I was a little nervous as I have not done this for a while. Anyway, I told myself it is now or never so with all the courage I could muster, off I went!

The ride was very pleasant and I have to say I am very pleased with the bike. Though to me 47km was really a feat, I managed to do so with much ease as in I did not experience much of a pain to my thighs or other parts of my legs. I was also afraid that my butt would hurt but nope, nothing of that sort... thanks to the invention of biking shorts with the padding. :)

I started at around 4.00pm and got home at slightly part 10.00pm. It was not all the time that I cycled. We took pit-stops and also had dinner at East Coast Hawker Centre. Tim's wife, Val, joined us there by car and it was a feast. I wanted to eat my favourite wanton noodles which my sister and I used to eat regularly but it was closed yesterday. Sigh.

On my way back I messaged a few friends to see whether they were home as I was passing. I managed to get hold of two of them (who are a couple) and I popped by their place for a chat. It was a great time of catching up. :)

After I got home, it was maintenance time as I cleaned the bike and did my laundry. I was so exhausted after that. I slept pretty early as I had to be in church by 8.00am just now.

Today is the distribution of t-shirts for those who ordered in support of the Youth Ministry's mission team's fundraising effort. We were hoping that all would collect by today but apparently not. Looks like we have to set up the booth for another Sunday to give out the remaining ones.

Overall praise God for a great time in church!

In the evening I went for a run. There was an inertia to do so but I felt the need to do so and off I went on a 5km jog. I did not want to strain my knees so I took it slow and steady. It felt good after I reached the finishing point. :)

In the morning before I left for church, I took some time to pray for some people and matters I am burdened about. One thing I learnt is this - reaching adulthood does not mean that one can always tell right from wrong. The motive of the heart usually blurs the line. Have the humility to seek the godly counsel of others so that one's decision made is wise and informed.

We must not fall into the trap that once we become adults mean we know all. We are always learning and we must constantly seek the counsel of others who may guide us through certain phases of our lives. This will then show us whether the decisions we are about to make on certain matters are in accordance to will of God.

It is those times when we refused to seek counsel that we know certain decisions made are not right hence we did not want to listen to the right advice which others would give us.

Well, that is the danger of entering into adulthood thinking that we can do what we want and that no one can control us anymore. We can choose not to be accountable to others but eventually we have to be accountable to God Himself.

I am just burdened by the above-mentioned and it pains my heart that while trying to help some of these individuals that they still choose to go against what they already know or have been told about.

I can only keep praying whenever I am affected by this.

Anyway, I shall end here.

Have a blessed week ahead! :)

End-Point And The Process

I just came back from cycling. A good two hours or so. From my place I went to Braddell Road and then to MacRitchie Reservoir where I spent some time by the dam area to reflect on some matters I have been burdened with throughout the second half of today. I also shared with God my concerns. In all I spent about 30 minutes there.

I decided to go home by backtracking the route I took earlier. I wanted to try another direction but looking at the time, I thought it was not that wise to do so. Perhaps another day.

In the morning, I was watching this video clip entitled "Beyond the Gates of Splendour." It was about the lives of 5 young missionaries who decided to go to Ecuador to reach out to the Acua tribe which was known to be very hostile and violent. One of the missionaries was Jim Elliot. To cut the story short, all 5 of them were killed by the tribesmen and their bodies were dumped into the river. It did not end there though. It also depicted how Jim Elliot's wife and few others decided to reach out to the same tribe and eventually many of the people turned their lives to Christ, even the killers of her husband and his four missionary-friends.

I know I am not doing any justice by summarising it this way. If you want to know more about it, you can go to YouTube and search the title of the clip as mentioned above.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot.

This quote has shown me what my life on earth is all about. Life is short, as we all know. Instead of always hoarding what we have, why not use some of these blessings to touch the lives of others? I have a dear friend who once shared with me, when I first got to know her, that she wants to give a portion of what she has to bless others. I was very encouraged by that!

I think doing the above-mentioned gives us more satisfaction in life than anything else in this world - hence the part on "to gain that which he cannot lose."

As I was reflecting on the story of Jim Elliot and his friends, I also learnt one more thing from them. These five men of God knew their end-point in life hence to them there is no fear going through the process.

If they had lived to tell their stories of their ministry in Ecuador, they would still meet God one day when they die of old age or illness. If they were to die while doing His work, which they did lose their lives, they still meet God.

That is why there are very few in this world who are willing to sacrifice so much, as would these men. Perhaps many of us are not sure of our end-point, hence we struggle a lot during the process.

The other lesson I learnt after receiving a sms from someone this afternoon is this - sometimes we fail to see the reason behind someone's action and hence we become too quick to fault that person. If we had sat down and reflected long enough, we would probably realize he or she had meant well all these while.

Yet another lesson which became a prayer for me - ‎"Lord, when I am far away from you and do not know whether certain decisions I need to make in life are pleasing and according to Your will, give me the humility to seek the godly counsel of others. Then give me the wisdom to decide and the courage to obey and do Your will and not mine. Amen."

The prayer above has reminded me that I must not put God to the test by doing something which I know may be against His will, as stated in the Bible, and then expect Him to right it, even though we know of the abundance of His grace. Yes, our walk with God may not always be close but during those times when we are unsure, we need to seek the godly counsel of others and then from there, help us make better decisions.

The above-mentioned is not meant to be holier-than-thou statements but they are some areas I am troubled about and felt the need to share here. I am also evaluating myself whether there are people whom I have misread their good intention because I am blinded by my selfish motives. I am also learning to seek the counsel of others when I am not sure of certain decisions which I may need to make at certain points of my life.

Well, my legs are aching but I feel good - in the cycling aspect where this is probably my first proper ride on my new bike over a longer distance; the time spent in reflection and prayer; and also coming home in one piece. :)

Good night and have a restful weekend ahead.

Nevermind The Inconveniences

I have about an hour before back-to-back meetings commence. The morning meeting is not so bad but it is the afternoon one which I am a little nervous about as we are meeting an important person which I am not at liberty to mention here.

Well, I hope everything will end as scheduled. Tonight I have another gathering which I hope I do not have to rush for.

Yesterday has been an eventful day for me. Towards the evening, I had to come back home at a last-minute's notice as grandma was throwing her tantrums again. As there was no one home, I had no choice but to head back to ensure that she is fine.

She was sharing her frustrations that no one loves her and the usual stuff. At one point she was also crying. I just listened to her as I felt she needed a listening ear. After that I prayed with her.

Sometimes it can be frustrating and inconvenient when I have to deal with situations like the above-mentioned but I learnt yesterday that there is no point questioning thoughts like "Why is God or life being so unfair to me?" or "Why can't my loved ones be healthy and okay so that all these inconveniences will not happen?"

I know they are all valid questions and everyone has the right to ask them but all these are part and parcel of life. Growing old is a natural thing. Being sick can happen to anyone. I have learnt in the past few months that it is pointless to ask the "Whys" anymore as they are quite rhetorical. I guess it is better to focus on the "Hows."

This is where God comes into the picture and the one main thing I can do is to pray. Some may ask, "So what, after that?" Well, to me, usually after praying it will help me look at things in perspective and this will allow me to deal with matters at hand more rationally. It also takes away the frustrations or the disappointments. All these then help me to see that as much as grandma needs my help and it may cost me something, she is afterall my grandma and if I can make a difference in her life by just being there for her, then so be it - I will be there for her! Sometimes I feel that it is easier and faster in handling matters with this attitude.

I hope I make sense here. Anyway, I went out to catch a breather once mum and dad came home. I joined a couple of friends to The Boiler Room to listen to some nice music. After that we had dinner at Vivocity.

This was where another incident happened. While waiting for our food to arrive, we heard screaming from the escalator area which was not too far away from the restaurant we were in. I decided to go and investigate as a crowd was building up.

On one of the escalators I noticed an elderly couple. It was the man I took notice of as he was bleeding from the forehead. I quickly rushed to him and requested for tissue papers from the people around as I needed to stop the bleeding. Praise God for a young parent - he took out a big pack of tissues from under the stroller and I quickly used a thick chunk of it and pressed against the gash which was quite deep.

Soon the security guards came with first-aid boxes. Two nurses were in the vicinity and they took out the gauzes and I used them to cover the wound. One of them called the ambulance and another kind gentleman went to buy a bottle of mineral water so that the injured man can take sips of it.

We occasionally probed whether he was okay by asking whether he felt giddy or numb or whether he saw white spots when blinking. Thank God there was nothing of that sort.

The ambulance came. The police took down my particulars. After that I joined my friends again.

The police called me when I reached home to inform me that the man's gash has been stitched up and that he would be discharged that same day. Praise the Lord for that.

Apparently, the man tripped while coming down the escalator. He fell and hit his head against the sharp edges of the steps. He and his wife were carrying a lot of things and they were strewed all over.

Anyway, like I said, an eventful day but not the kind I would hope for. Haha.

I shall end here and prepare for the meeting. Looking forward to the day ahead! :)

Picking Oneself Up After Falling

I am having some difficulty bending my right wrist as I kind of sprained it when I was learning to ride with my cycling shoes. I fell three times in all. All because I could not release the clips in time when I braked. The first one was okay. The second one I had bruise on my right knee. The third one I twisted my wrist a little and had a few small holes on my palm.

Well, I am getting the hang of it but I am definitely not ready to go on the road with that pair of shoes yet. I guess I will use my track-shoes for now.

I had wanted to cycle to East Coast Park but I changed my mind as I was held up by the servicing of my Polar watch and wear-link. It took longer than expected. A dear friend is cycling there now. Well, another day perhaps.

While waiting I decided to explore the different roads around Boon Tat Street. There are a lot of restaurants and eateries. I also found a couple of them serving Korean food. I shall one day try them.

Anyway, as I did not want to eat much... I basically had fruits at the hawker centre.

Thank God the technical staff at the service centre helped me expedite the process by allowing me to jump the queue on the waiting list. Very sweet of them. It is great to get the watch working again after they changed batteries on both the watch and wear-link. The charges were reasonable too.

Oh yah! I forgot to share about this security guard who was stationed at the Public Utilities Board Pump Station located at the end of this secluded road I was practicing my bike on. He saw me fell down a couple of times and he was there cheering me on to not give up. He said something in Mandarin which I think is this - "It's okay to fall down. Just pick yourself up and try again. You will be better after that."

I was encouraged by his words and it is true. It is okay to fall down because each time you pick yourself up, you are a much stronger individual. Pain is temporary but the lesson learnt is permanent. :)

Okay, I shall stop here. Praise God for protecting me against a more serious injury. :)

An Exciting Day Ahead!

I just read a very long email sent by my dean. Though I only start teaching again in January 2012 he has already been updating me on some plans which are in the pipeline. He also suggested that I attend some of the major staff meeting so that I will not be so lost when I officially commence work in three months' time. This is scary but exciting. Haha.

This Thursday I am supposed to follow him for a meeting and since I am free that day I decided to go along and see how I may contribute to the discussion. Not use to wearing office wear after so long. I hope I will not sub-consciously wear a pair of bermudas and polo-tee to the meeting. ;)

Anyway, I am going cycling this evening... weather permits. My grandma made me laugh yesterday when she commented that my road bike is so "chio" (pretty or beautiful in the Hokkien dialect) that I should just leave it at home and not ride it. Her reason - it would be quite sad to dirty the bike. Hee.

I think she loves the colour as she kept telling me of my late grandpa' bicycle which was always black. She also gave instructions to Sasha, my doggy, to not go near the bike and have her loose fur stuck all over. Sasha understands and now there is this invisible wall where she would just stand at a distant. Such an understanding Silky Terrier I have there.

I have a couple of errands to run today - need to buy lubricants for my bike and perhaps also a jersey. I need to send my Polar watch and the wearlink for servicing as it has been a while since I used them. I also need to settle some banking matters. Lastly grocery-shopping as my fridge is almost empty! :)

Oh yah, this morning I woke up at around 6am but after sending out a message I went back to sleep. I only woke up around 9am and this is a first for as long as I can remember. I guess the past few days have been very exhausting but it was a good rest I had. Praise God!!!

My left eye feels weird. There seems to be a growth. It is better and less painful now but if the discomfort persists, I think I may have to pay the doctor a visit. I have to say that I have not been drinking as much fluids as I should. I am going to do that from today onwards.

Alritey, time to start ticking the "To-Do" list!

Have a blessed day everyone... whatever is left of it! :)