Hey Magnificents!!!

Here's what you all have been eagerly waiting for(yeah right, haha) - details regarding my mini-birthday celebration! We're gonna have steamboat BBQ at my place so come dressed in comforatable clothes ya (but pls pls pls follow the dress theme, heh). I've considered all factors(different ppl who couldn't make it on different dates) and this is the best date liao so do try to come ok?

Date: Friday 7th July
Place: Blk 138 Simei St 1 #07-40
Dress Theme: Mis-Match
Time: 7pm

We'll all meet at Simei MRT so that it's more convenient, for those who can meet earlier to buy the food and help with preparation, we'll meet at 5pm at Simei MRT. Heh okie I guess that's all the details that's needed, am sooooo looking forward to the company of all you dearest ppl!

God Bless,
Russell :)

Morning dear all,

I have to agree with Angele, i'm aching. Thighs, calves, ears. You name it, i ache it. Tuesday was super fun. So glad everyone enjoyed themselves. You guys are a blast la! Exercise and food is really complimentary for our group eh? Oh yea, and last night was great too. We chanced upon some animals; a number of cats and an orang utan. Oh dear, have i letttings onnings too muchings???


Ah yes, the much awaited photos.....

Three Lightsticks

Us

At Clarity Cafe

The Commissioning

Angele and Vanessa

For Lynette: Hey dear, i know things arent exactly smooth sailing right now but we're here for you, always.

So i was thinking and as my thoughts are at an elementary stage, feel free to chip in. I started thinking of this after Jason's sharing on the third night. Its about strengths, God's and our human strength. My thoughts are not wholly based on what Jason shared but rather, what he said triggered it. I feel that strengths (both God and human) enable us to reach greater heights, push us beyond our capabilities. There are many differences between the two but i'm just going to pick on one. I feel that when we go on our strength, achiving more, we also have another agenda. That is to showcase our abilities, to be applauded, marvelled at. Perhaps this is where the difference lies? That our stengths are complete when we are recognised??

okay, i have to close here. Everyone, please take care.

Love ya,

Becky.

Hello Everyone!!

I had a marvellous time with all of you on Tuesday!

Badminton was really good.. although my thighs are aching now, this shows how long I havent exercised. haha. And eating the whole day with catching up sessions were great too! haha. more fellowship/gathering sessions are always welcome.. haha. Rather sorry I could not make it on Wednesday.. but I am sure there will be many chances to! =)

And as promised, these are the photos for tuesday.

Presenting the candid expressions and actions of our dear friends! =)

Hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures. I feel like a paparazzi.. haha..

cheers!

Yoz dear Magnificent people,

Today's chill out was amazing haha, its like in the end only myself, van, becky and nick were there. But nonetheless it was like power to the max man. We enjoyed ourselves like crazy. Its amazing when u place light-hearted people together, its like "zap" and magic juz takes place, the synegy occurs. oh no i'm starting to sound a little like a chem teacher haha.

Anyway we were pigging out and thinking of Russ's royal bash haha. Oh top of that we had a mini-road-march from esplanade to clark quay haha, come to think of it... its rather far, no wonder we took it out on the jokes to keep ourselves entertained haha (just like army, for the guys haha). Juz thinking about going back to camp tml for the next 78 days, thanks guys for everything. I'm really prepared la haha, in fact to a certain extend looking forward to it too!

Lets keep jeremy in prayers, for a safe trip and that he and his family wld enjoy the holiday and bond more closely together. Also pray for emma's grandma who had a minor heart attack and leo's dad who had a fall at work. Praise God they're both fine and on the road to FULL RECOVERY! AMEN !

Okies take care yeah,

Agape,
Paul

Hello my beautiful magnificents!!

Just finished packing for my trip tmr, damn last minute man.. Haha

Anyway, i totally agree with all that Paul said, there is something special about this group of ours and i can really sense the love and peace the group brings to everyone..

Btw, thanks rebecca for planning today's outing, it was really fun and I look forward to more of em! You bring so much life and love into the group and i think we are really lucky to have you around! haha

Haiya, feel so sad that I'm going to miss all the activities over the next few days, especially the prayer rally this sat.. Good luck yup Lynette!! Pray the event will be a smashing success!!

Hmmm alright, i think i better go sleep, gotta catch an early flight tmr.. Look forward to catching up with everyone next week when i get back man!

In the mean time, just wana wish everyone a pleasent week ahead and do take lots of care k! See u guys soon..

God bless..

Jem

Yoz Magnificent ppl,

Today is like so so fun man ! Its one of the best badminton games i've ever played haha. With our pro Russ n Jason, and our very own contorsionist van haha, its like sure a fun time.
Anyway guys, juz wanna say a big thanks you for making life and ministry fun and enjoyable. Treat this group like your own ministry and you'll see it not only as a spiritual support group but also a bunch of friends who can advise and listen to you when u need a listening ear or even for practical advise.

Ministry has al ways been fun for me, though i wouldn't say always smooth, sometimes there are bound to be hiccups here and there but be quick to forgive and to move on. I love wat prisc said when i asked her to keep sats once a forthnight free for our cell group .. " of course sure can make time one man , its our group leh ! ( in the cheena slang)" . Its amazing how a enquiring catholic to be can be so enthusiastic about God and how she would have seen Christ in each and everyone one of our friendship and faces. How we as much or little , have made a difference in the lives of our group members. Its really a decision to run the race together, and i believe it'll be fruitful and exciting.

Anyway thanks guys for this friendship and all the lessons of life. Also thanks for cheering up my bittersweet feelings of returning to camp haha. Love you all lots.
I believe there are so much God wants to do for each of you individual, for some , He's showing me already for the rest, i hope that thru this journey we can all help to discover for you thru this beautiful community.

Btw thanks becky for booking the courts and for bringing life into the group !
Cheers!

Agape,

Paul

Hello dear all !

Woho... i'm so excited abt tmr!! :D It's been like donkey years since I've played badminton. I won't be surprised if I end up picking up shuttlecocks half the time... haha, but who cares? I'm sure tmr's gonna be a whole lot of FUN! I know Paul's like all geared up and ready for it... haha.. Paul, relax ok? you're scaring me hahaha :P

Anyway, yes... rly miss all of you man. I went down for the 4th Sat Mass... and P&W was great as usual. But it just felt so different not having you guys to jump & do our special "mambo" actions to that Into Marvellous Light song!! so paiseh for me to do alone! hahaa...

Oh oh, I'm also gladly anticipating our Training Ministry thingy! Such cool stuff... rly can't wait to launch into it...

:D Haha! I'm just so excited about everything... Life with God in it is never boring!

Now that You're near
Everything is different, everything's so different Lord
I know I'm not the same, my life You've changed
I wanna be with You, I wanna be with YOU!!!

Lots of Love,
Vanessa

Heya dear Van, Russ, Jason, Nic, Jeremy, Prisc, Lyn, Angele and Becky ,

I'm finally back from my KL trip. It was quite a funny one though, glad to be back. Its about a week since our "Heavenly" experience and I'm so excited for things to take place. Well, but before anything's gonna take place, we've gotta start our engines to build up and be ready for whatever's coming by our way! Revival !

REVIVAL - Something that has always been on my heart since I attended YISS'98 and experience God in such a tangible and amazing way. I wanna believe that as we've already started our journey since YISS, we would also want to continue this "life in the spirit".
Its not easy, but very possible! For God is the God of the impossible and in Him we live and move and breathe!

I'll once more be back in the airforce.. sigh haha, from this friday onwards, for 78 days. People pls help me keep count haha. On a more serious note, its really a bitter-sweet feeling of going back there. I love the place and job but the people can get pretty "one kind" sometimes. But I guess its my duty to the nation, juz remember each time u hear the planes fly, i prob be the one working to see it thru.

Thanks everyone for really making a difference in my life. Its amazing how God placed us together all for a purpose, to build His dream team, to gather the available, to bring together broken instruments to make good music. Wow, its so amazing isn't it? The God of the heavens and the earth, so interested in loving us ! I believe that as we walk thru the walk we may from time to time feel down and lost, don't worry , thats what this community of magnificent people are here for. I pray that we can make some time to gather as a community like once a forthnight to pray , learn and share and also fellowship. To grow from strength to strength !

Cheers,
Paul

Helllllo everyone... hows everything, hows everyone? Good? yea? Great! oh man, its been a week and i really miss u guys!! anyway anyway we're meeting on tues right.......


The One About Tuesday
So yes, tuesday, here's the plan. Badminton at Bishan Sports Hall from 1200 to 1500. yup 3 hours and i booked 2 courts. After which we'll head for food at 'longhouse', thomson. They have shiok prawn mee and popiah. Any violent objections/suggestions? Must state ah.... Oh yes oh yes, there are bathing facilities at the sports hall so remember to bring your showerables.

In attendence are van, russell, paul, angele, me and nic(most prob can right?). Jeremy cant for obvious reasons (has-to-defend-the-nation-so-we-can-play-safely). Then the work/sch pple, jason(ends at 2) and lynette (ends at 3) will be able to join us for makan! woo. pris only ends at 6 so perhaps we can stretch it to dinner yea? [i'll have to go off at 6 though =( ].

How to get there: Can u guys meet at Bishan MRT then walk over together? Vanessa knows the way so yay. Then those who dont have raquets ask those who have extra to bring k. Can someone bring shuttlecocks??

yup yup, that's about it. Have and great monday and week and God bless!!

Love ya,
Becky

Hello all my beautiful magnificents!!!

Hope all is going well for everyone. Never ever posted on a blog before, but i guess there's always room for a first. Haha anyway I pray everyone's doing great and that the Spirit of the Lord is still burning with fawnest in ur hearts!

Just wanted to share a short little story with you guys..

LAKE WALKING

Walking around the lake I noticed the winter had done a number on the shorelines. A season without use left a tremendous amount of debris liningthe banks and clinging to trees and shrubs.

Many of my wife's family joined us for a meal the day following this revelation. Several of the guys wanted to go for a walk. At the last secondI grabbed a handful of plastic bags and thought to pick up some of the debris I came across as we walked around the lake.

I didn't realize I was beginning a crusade. Two of the other guys picked up the battle cry and we spent a few hours picking up several trash cans full of trash; plastic bags, fast food containers, wrappers from fishing lures, plastic and glass bottles, styrofoam containers, a rubber ball, a pillow, a glove, insulation, a broken lawn chair, aluminum cans, a piece of carpet, a pair of trousers, a twenty pound bag of water softener salt,a plastic gas container and an odd assortment of chip bags.

We finished with a surprisingly real sense of accomplishment. We had single-handedly reclaimed the lake from those who carelessly left remindersof their visits behind. A few days have passed and I noticed remains of a fast food meal in an area we had cleaned just days ago and it occurred to me that the lake that was so painstakingly cleaned up has a unique kinshipto the human heart.

You see, because we all sin, our hearts get amazingly cluttered in a veryshort period of time. We contend with bits and pieces of pride, gossip, theoccasional lie, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, envy, the desire to have what belongs to another, and the list goes on and on.

Yet there was a Man who was able to reach every area of our heart and in His crusade of holiness accepts our invitation to clean our heart by picking up and discarding the sin that so easily finds a home within our being.

And because He has observed mankind from the beginning He knows that we will need to send another invitation for a heart cleaning. He might even have to do it several times a day, but He willingly complies with our request and intentionally forgets the sinful debris He has already cleaned up.

Three guys spent three hours cleaning a lake and will remember this unusualgesture for the rest of our lives. Jesus cleans millions of hearts daily and forgets what He's cleaned up.What a mighty God we serve!

By Glenn A. Hascall

Hope the story just gives a little reminder to everyone that the forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ is complete and without limit. His graciousness and mercy extends even to the worst sinner and His arms are open to welcome all who call upon His name in truth. He is able to make clean every soul if we just call upon His name.

I hope this message encourages your heart to see that no matter the mistakes in your past, God is able to make clean and anew every soul as long as you call upon Him and trust in Him.

Do take lots of care k everyone and God bless!

Jem

""It is God that girdeth me with strength, and make the my way perfect. Trust the Lord to be your redeemer and know that He loves you with an everlasting love that is pure and without motive."

Hey All!!! Haha it's the 1st time I'm posting a blog entry so am pretty excited, heh must post something substantial, I mean must have some standard right? Haha. Ok I'm sure some of you guys have seen this before, but those who haven't, and even those who have (it wouldn't hurt to view it again right? heh), please go to this link -

http://linux20230.dn.net/cgi-bin/pop/card.pl?1.9.023259.06

Its An Interview With God.

The picaresque background, the soothing music and the simple words of wisdom all combine to create such a heartwarming presentation. I was just thinking about it - life is often defined by dualism; you have good, bad; rich, poor; light, darkness; etc. And it is because of the nature of these dualities that we tend to compare - she's more successful than me, he's more popular than me, etc. And because dualities deal with extremes (it's either rich or poor, no in between, if you are in the middle/average, then it doesn't count, it just doesn't work that way heh) we are always not satisfied with ourselves.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying do away with dualism, but rather how about focusing on one of them and not bother about the other at all? Take light and darkness for example. If we turn to the light and really concentrate (aka be in the zone heh), and not be bothered by darkness at all, then it would be easier to discern which path to take wouldn't it?

Just like how if Christ is Number One in our lives, and we keep our hearts and minds on that, no matter how much Mr S.A.Tan tries to tempt us, influence us, it's not gonna affect us. Agree?

God Bless,
Russell :)

heyy pris vanessa paul russ becks jason jem angele bones, my dearest brothers and sisters! i miss yall just so very much. miss waking up to have bovril breakfasts and celebrating mass and getting high on praising God with yall. Praise God! seems like He's given every single one of us this new lease of life. alrights, here's a story id like to share with yall. i think it really manages to bring out the beauty of God's master plan, and gives us all an even bigger reason to submit ourselves to Him.

the three trees
Once there were 3 trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the 1st tree said, "Someday, I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems and be decorated with intricate carvings. Everyone would see my beauty."

The 2nd tree said, "Someday, I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of other world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally, the 3rd tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time, and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.

One came to the 1st tree and said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the 2nd tree, one of the other woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The 2nd tree was happy, because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the 3rd tree, the tree was frightened, because it knew that, if it cuts down, its dream would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, so I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the 1st tree arrived at the carpenter's, he was made into a feed box for animals, placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The 2nd tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.

The 3rd tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one filtered day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth, and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose, and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace," and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets, and the crowd mocked the man who was carrying it. Finally, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as possible, because Jesus Christ had been crucified on it.

-the end-

when things dont seem to be going our way, how important it is to always know that God has got a plan for us. if everyone of us placed our utmost trust in Him, how great will the gifts we receive from Him be! each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.
we dont always know what God's plans are for us. we just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best, for we are but weak and insufficient. He is almighty and ever-knowing. well good grief! He had known us even before we were formed in our mothers' wombs! foolish would we be to think that we'd know ourselves better than He does dont you guys think?

well i'd be so looking forward to next tues. hopefully i can squirm my way out of camp (and trouble too) haha see yall!!!

HELLO!!!

So cool, we have our very own blog!
Thanks van :)

So how have the rest of you been? Its amazing how much of a changed person I feel! haha.
And its been a pleasure journeying with each and every one of you those 4 days, and lets not let it end there, but continue to journey together! I am so glad to have known all of you, really. :)

Anyway..
There is a badminton session at Bishan Sports Hall on the 27th June (Tuesday) from 12pm to 3pm. And we will be going to eat afterwards too! So anything please inform rebecca.

Before i end, i shall leave with a photo of us, which was 'bluetoothed' from nic's phone.

This doesnt have Paul and Jason. But I know some of you have the updated versions.. please do upload so I can 'kope'. haha. And do we have any pictures of us during the camp? Can paul or van get it? Thanks!!

p.s I have a blog. and i shall share it with you. haha. just click here:)

Cheers! *angele:))

Hello all you Magnificent pple!

God is magnificent.. Amen?!?! ... Coooolll, love that strong "AMEN!" response! hahaaha..

WoW.. we've been so privileged to have been called to run Into HIs Marvellous Light this YISS!! Now, let us not hold back; instead, may we be bold to tell of all the wonders & things that God has done for us this YISS and in our lives!
What an exciting beginning... I really hope we can continue journeying together, edifying each other, growing in His love & spreading it to all those around us!

All for His greater glory... ! :)

In Christ's Love,
Vanessa