wise advise from a friend

shortly after i posted the last post on how i want to relook at my focus,
a friend texted me..

and she asked (among many things), what were the difference between the "happy EG times" and now (the not so happy "non EG days)...

and my honest answer to that was: the people.
from the leader who took care of all of us,
to every EG-ers...

nothing can replace anyone of this group.
people will falter away, and the sad truth is.. once gone, its gone.

i can bring together another group of like-minded ushers to form another fellowship group, but the feel is different.

where can i find another creative "Jeff who is always able to string some melody, when we want to compose some songs for someone special?

where can i find another Xinyan who never fail to bring laughter and energy to our midst, just by her voice (read: singing)

where can i find another Van, who is always so helpful, so caring, so mindful...
i believe everyone will miss her home-brew herbal drinks..
i can never forget the times that she will purposefully brew some honey drinks for us, just because she heard we are not feelin well..

where can i find another "4 heavenly kings"?
the handsome FM, YQ, K & J? (you know who you are right?) =p
people who's very presence will bring laughter, peace and joy to our lives...

but most importantly,
where can i find another HM?
the "standard" of leadership?
the example of TLC?
the heart of a leader, who is not concern about the duties, but the persons.

i can bring together another group, but it will be very different becoz of the way we were taught.

but then..
i must try.....
but yet...... i miss the people so much...

looking at the youtubes videos, i am just getting so emo...

the days that I put on make up...

for the past 2 days, (or rather, Tues and Thurs), i have done the "impossible"..
or at least, something that i wouldn't think i would want to be caught doing..

i put on make-up!!!!!
and its so....

my skin was almost crying out for fresh air..
and can you imagine when you are in the hot sun, when your pores are choke with the powder.. and you are sweating.. and dirt is stuck onto your skin.,.... its... (sorry gals).. so..

you get the idea..

now.. how can those girls stand the thick layers of makeup?
layers that threaten to break up when they laugh?
so fake!!!!

and worst... those boys who want to act "Gothic"...
ya... more like clowns..

the last time i applied something on my face was during NS.. black and green face "cream"..
and I am always the first to wipe it all clean once we are in the "jungle"..
imagine me putting on make up for the whole day.. and i am suppose to smile..

make up = put me down.....

but that is not saying i don't enjoy the photo shoot sessions.
its so fun, posing around...
and of course, to pose around with my dear dear for the whole day is just so sweet...

actually, anything that allow me to spend time with rach will always be something that i would look forward to... haha..

=p

Relooking at my focus...

funny how God will use the slightest memories to jolt us from what we are doing now, and ask us whether are we "happy" doing whatever we are doing now...

was just browsing through EG's blog, and just out of "fun", decided to click on the You tube link of the song that we wrote for Jing Jing..

and it hit me.

almost the whole EG is now scattered throughout the church family.
Van, SE is at JW.
YQ, Terence is at Expo svc 1.
JX, XY is in CG ministry.
Jayme left us..

and i am just wondering...
when was the last time i came to serve, becoz i want to serve..
when was the last time i want to serve, becoz of the friends that are serving with me...

Jing said it so well...
"usher ministry is all about work, but its who you work with, that make the difference.."

maybe i have really lost my passion for this ministry...
way before things turn ugly...

i have not enjoyed the duties, and there were nothing to look forward to.
no EG.
no HM.
no fun.
no laughter.


why am i still here?
should i be plannin for the next step?


there is no direction from the leadership... and the heart is cold.


in fact, its like the desert.
just that this time, its with a heart that is totally unbothered to go that extra mile.

ROM montage

our PG is amazing...
within 48hrs, he has compiled the whole ROM photo montage!!

and its not just a simple boring powerpoint..
but in my view, the best photo montage!
the perfect montage!!!

view it @ http://www.melvinho.biz/slideshow/rara/

ROM-ed

was counting down...
from 16hrs,
to 4 hrs,
to 2 hrs,
to 1 hr..

and from there, it became a mad rush...
of smiles, posing, welcoming the guests, smiles, posing etc..

everything flew past so fast, that thinking back,
both of us can't really remember what exactly happened.
the fine details..

but 1 thing i will remember:!!!!
never let anyone stand between us since we are 1!!!

We were trying to take photos with the JP, and was thinking of asking him to stand in the middle, but kena suan that I am allowing someone to stand between this relationship!!! =p

hahaha..

it was fun, and though i was very nervous even to the very min before we exchange our vows, really want to thank all those who value witnessing our ROM more than anything else.
your friendship with us is priceless.

EG, for always been there.
you guys (and gals) are the best bunch of friends both Rachel & myself can ask for.

all the wedding helpers (and partners: WHPs)
we really appreciate your contributions..

Special thanks to Samuel for coming 3hrs before the start, to ensure that everything was set up in the most professional manner.
And since he is the pro, he reroute the whole sound system, to make the ROM an memorable one.

Kenneth, Alan, Yong Quan,
thanks for driving us (and our family members) to the venue.

Joy, for making the whole journey such a breeze, with your smile, and your assistance.

Van, Celeste, and all the EG sisters,
thanks for setting up the place

Changyan, Gordon, and all the EG brothers.
you are the nightly men whom i trusted in all situations.!!
(read:esp in another 4 more months!!)

all UM leaders, Bro Darren, Jonathan, Vivi, Ling Ling, Yul for your presence.
this journey will never be completed without you in the picture.

all family members & cousins.
what can i say?
you are always the so close to us...

Jesus.
You lead us together, and in Your love, we love.

but i can never stop telling the whole how much i love this girl...
Rach, you are the ONE!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

4.5 more hrs to go...

its so exciting...
and so nervous!!!!!!!

goodness... its boiling over...

sitting here waiting for Kenneth to pick us up..
my mind is just working overtime thinking of the grandest event happening later..
(at least, for Rach and myself, for now)

what will happen later?
what should we be doing?

wondering, wondering, wondering if i will trip later?
so scared, so nervous, but also so excited.
goodness... you must be in my shoes to understand how i feel...

100% looking forward for the ROM later.
100% excited.
100% happy.
100% nervous.
100% gan chiong
100% lost.

talking about lost...
i lost my water bap cert recently when i was moving out of my previous house.
was looking through all the files of documents that i kept, and was telling myself, that since i wouldn't really have much space to keep all these files, I may as well, just throw it away...

and i threw away 10+ files away.. without looking through the files..
and guess wat??
i threw away my water bap cert, all my BS certs, and all other church given documents!!!
(kept all these documents in a blue file, which also keep all my sermon notes when i first came to CHC in Dec 1998.)

the most regretful part?
the Holy Spirit was working through my sister to look through the BLUE file, but i totally ignore her.
her exact words: "do you want to check through that blue file?
you can also keep that BLUE file, since it look quite new"

MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and with the lost water bap, both Rach and myself went one big round to get a deed poll to certify that i want to add "Ray" into my IC, so that it will appear in my wedding cert.

actually, i should have changed my name years ago..
but i didn't... lazy, dint want to spend the money...

anyway...
its 10.40 now!!!!
time to change and go to the bridal studio...
FOUR hrs to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so happy!!!

Specially to My Wife;

371 days ago,
i asked whether will you consider the "possibility" that we come together, to consider the "possibility" of us getting married one day,..

the days seem so short with you by my side.
the hours seem to rush through when we are together,
but crawl when i am missing you.

your hugs are always so comforting,
your kisses so empowering,
your words so encouraging,
your smile, so lovely.

i made this promise to you 371 days ago:
"i will do everything possible,
with all my heart,
with all my strength,
with all my mind,
to make you smile."

the only thing i want in this world is to see you smile.
coz you are the only focus of my life.

i may not be the richest man in this world, but i will never try to be one.
i may not be the most handsome guy on planet earth, but at least, i can keep fit.
i may not be the most romantic lover alive, but you can be sure that you have one faithful lover.

tempers may flared, and we may disagreed,
but let's always focus on the positive.
We must disagree for the goodness of the family, but we must never let disagreements to come between us.

but after the dusts is over...
i have only 3 words to say:

" I LOVE YOU!"

make it 5 words.

"I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!"

make it 2 sentences.

"You are always my beloved baby!!!!!!!!"

leadership is. . .

Rising to the next level. . .

how to enjoy life to the fullest. . .