Preaching test week

It's been a tiring week. The week of preaching tests. But it's better than I expected.

Was nervous though. My mike was shaking on the 1st day of preaching test that I needed to use 2 hands to support my mike. Personally I think I need more hand gestures (it's not the comments of any of the evaluators. Just personally). Anyways, it gets better and better with each day. Fr glory to glory. Think coz I'm more used to talking in front of a crowd of 20++ pple. Our evaluators are all very nice, friendly and encouraging. Learnt a lot from this week. And I feel that my team has quite a number of future preachers. Also LYL zone are all dynamic preachers (that's what 1 of our evaluators said). :) *A round of applause for everyone* Wooooohoooooo! Well done team 25! We have overcome the week of preaching tests. YEAH! Let's jia youz with our book reviews. The book reviews that are supposedly due on 28th June has been postponed to 1 week ltr. Every1 in SOT rejoiced. Haha. But I finished them liao. Reading books due in July and working on each book review individually.

Rush off to iluma after preaching tests before heading down to far east. Went off b4 our last 'preacher' preached coz it was already close to 2pm. Wanted to stay till the end but couldn't coz I had an appt at 2.30pm. When I reached iluma, the person whom I had appt with is alr. waiting for me there. It's been one week since I last went to the outlets; 2 weeks since I collected back all the cash sales money left in the shop which has been accumulating, accumlating and accumlating in the shop. After settling the things I wanted to do in Bugis & b4 heading down to Far East, went to queue up for KOI. The queue today was not so long. Quite fast. Yum! Finally gotten my KOI bubble tea.

16th June 2010

Ever since after AC, still haven't recuperated fully. Think not enough sleep. Been sleeping late. Like 2-3am. Earliest also 1am. Super tired sia. Coffee has become my best friend in SOT. A must everday during the 1st break. For some reason, didn't drink any coffee today. Nearly fell asleep in class. Was trying to keep myself awake. Shagged.. Shall take a break today & get my mind off work & SOT for a while. Been rather siong lately. Don't wanna end up falling sick.

Tmr got to work on new stocks that just arrived before reading up and prepare for nxt week's preaching tests which will be happening on nxt tuesday to friday. Have to preach AT LEAST 1 sermon each day. That means we need to preach at least 4 sermons in those 4 days. Some will be selected to preach 5 sermons. We've to prepare 5 sermons just in case. The topics (in sequence) are faith, prosperity, prayer, healing and holy spirit. The other 5 topics that we just need prepare sermon outlines for are evangelism, praise and worship, revival, leadership and discipleship (these 5 topics quite tough. Thank God dun've to preach them). Just ransacked my "mini library" for books to prepare the sermons. Found quite a number of unread books and a number of books that I can make use of for the sermons. Will only be reading the relevant chapters. No time to read the whole book; still got 5 more books to read. Need the anointing of God.

1/2 of June has just gone by. Another 2 and a 1/2 mth to go b4 we graduate. We HAVE successfully made it through. A new chapter has just unfold in SOT - exams, readings, book reviews, sermon preparation + preaching tests AND more exams, readings, book reviews, sermon preparation. All things are possible! Amen! Not forgetting there also mission trip. This is going to be my 1st mission trip. This is going to be my very 1st mission trip. Excited! Really looking forward to it.

Most of my teammates will be going to 22nd - 25th July to either Probolinggo or Malang (Indonesia). A few others will be going to Sitiawan (Malaysia) on 6th to 8th August. In both Probolinggo and Malang, there'll be outreach/cg/visitations whereas in Sitiawan there'll only be youth outreach. By the looks of it, we'll get to learn more things in Probolinggo/Malang. I want to go for in July. But it's a busy mth for me. On top of all that I need to do at work (accounts & stocks), there're 5 books reviews & 5 sermons due on 28th Jul and more exams are expected. Really hope that Pst will postponed the Jul due date for the book reviews/sermons to Aug. Need wisdom grace and strength from God.

Had GS, CL, VL exam last wed & FT1 & FT2 exam today. GS, CL & VL is okay but FT1 & FT2 paper is tough. Even Pst Bobby said so. :( Anyways, over liao. No used thinking abt it. That's 2 papers down. More coming up soon. The nxt paper will be on 1st week of July (according to Pst Kim Hock). Should be GOTP (thinks this is the toughest) & Gifts of the HS. Completed all the 5 book reviews that are due on 28th June on Mon. Took a long time to do them. Think I read the books quite a long ago. Needed some time to recall. Used too much brain power. Dunno how many brain cells died on that day. Hahaha. Have decided that for the 5 book reviews due in July, I'll get each book review done after I've finish reading each book. And not wait until I everything all 5 books. Some of my teammates who know that I've finished the 5 book reviews said that I'm stressing them. If I'm stressing them, then what abt those who have finish at least 8 book reviews? They are the ones stressing me. Haha. Wonder how did they manage to do that.

Have cleared May's accounts last week. Will have to clear June's account in July and subsequently for the subsequent mths. There's a 50-50 chance that I won't have to work in the shop after classes in July and August. It'll be VERY siong for me to rush from JW to Iluma at least once every week. This is coz my friend has found another PT staff ("B") to work for him after the current PT staff ("A") leaves for NS nxt mth. I'm actually sharing my current PT staff "A" with my friend. My friend smsed me the other day to ask if I want to interview "B" to replace "A" after he leaves. Have arranged an interview time with "B". If he can work, then it'll be great.

10th June 2010

It's time for assignments, exams, preaching test in SOT. Let's see what do we have got to do.

1. 11th June (tmr): Getting Started, Christian Lifestyle & Victorious Living exam.

2. 16th June: Foundation Truths 1 & 2 exam.

3. 22nd-25th June: Preaching test (5 sermons: faith, healing, holy spirit, prayer, prosperity)

4. 28th June: 5 book reviews due (reading the 5th bk. after which will start on the bk reviews of 500 words each).

5. 22nd-25th July: Mission trip. We'll be going together us a team (splitting into a few grps). Will be going to Malang with the majority. Wanna go taiwan but ex.

6. 28th July: 5 book reviews & 10 sermon outlines due (5 of the 10 sermons are already used in the preaching test).

Just looking at it. Stressed sia. With God, I can do all things! Purposefully cleared my accounts on hand today so I can concentrate on SOT stuffs. The accounts will start piling up soon again. Time is flying by so fast. It's already been 3mths+++ in SOT; another 2 mths +++ left. Frankly speaking though I'm physically tired, I don't want SOT to end so soon. Love SOT! Love my team! Team 25 is the best!

My part time staff will be working til' end of this mth only coz he will be entering NS nxt mth. 1st July is officially his last day. Have to make adjustments to staffs' work schedule and to cut cost I'll have to work in the shop after class at least for 1 day fr July onwards (mum will be taking the morning shift when I'm in SOT).

Asia Conference to 5th June 2010

Last week's such an awesome week in Asia Conference 2010. Though I had to miss the sessions & electives on Thursday due to work and also miss out on all my electives to serve, I feel very very very blessed throughout the 1 whole week. It has been rather challenging waking up early in the morning to get to expo early to queue every day. But Matt 6:33 says "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you". So impacted by all the speakers. It's truly a life transformation week! Oh...btw, I saw my hairdresser's wife at Asia Conference while serving in Attributes. She does highlight/dye and hair treatment while her husband does the hairdressing. She's a christian too but her husband is not.

Right after Asia Conference, the CHC news hits the papers/tv. Was questioned by my parents abt the whole CHC news. Tried explaining to them the best I know how. They didn't say anything much abt it. No matter what happens, I will not let my faith waver. God is still the same faithful God yesterday today and forever. I also strongly believe in the leadership of Pst Kong, Sun and the rest of the pastors & leaders in CHC. Without Pst Kong and Sun, there wouldn't be CHC and I wouldn't have gotten to know God and won't be where/what I am today. It is during this period (since Asia Conference) that I found how much I truly love CHC and Pastor. With God by our side, nothing can be against us! There are more on for us than those who are against us. My parents esp mum is once again complaining that I spend too much time in church. I feel that the main reason they're unhappy is coz I'll usually be "free" on sat to do work and nothing else, but for last week & this week I've been out in church and not home to work. It's actually really a small thing. But to them, biz should always be no. 1 and not church. Already kena scolded how many times b'coz of this. Whatever.... In regards to biz, Far East sales has improved slightly but iluma sales hasn't been too good since the start of the mth. It's GSS period leh. Staffs, if you're reading this please promote. I know far east staffs are promoting coz I've heard/seen them telling customers abt the promotion and pushing them to buy more to enjoy more discounts. Gambatte neh Bugis!

Every morning in SOT, we'll come united in prayer. The entire SOT prayed up a storm. Can really feel the strong unity of this church I call home. Let's continue to pray like this even after SOT. Will continue to pray and fast for church, Pst and etc in my own QT. God will fight for us. I strongly believe that we as a church will ride out this "storm" together and will emerge from it even victorious than we were before. Afterall, before every great breakthrough there is always a great trial/opposition/challenge. Our breakthrough IS on the way!!!

3 mths has passed since SOT started & feel that my personal and spiritual life has transformed. The nxt 3 mths is going to be awesome. Can't wait to see the move of God in my life, business, family and church. Will be having 2 exams next friday: 1. Getting Started, Victorious Living & Christian Lifestyle. 2. Foundation Truth 1 & 2. It's been yrs since I last touched Getting Started, Christian Lifestyle and Victorious Living. A bit rusty already. Haha. I still have the books (I put all my bible study books together). Need to flip through my books to refresh my memory liao. Other than the 2 exams, 5 book reviews are also due end of the mth. And mission trip coming up soon.