May-July 05 Term Break Plans

Ed @ Home in the midst of preparing for sports psychology paper.....

This is a rough outline of my holiday plans

1. [ Ministry ]

~Post Exam Celebration (5th May)
~Church Camp @ Hotel Eden , JB) ( 9th-12th June)
~Gen-Acts Matric Camp @ Aloha Resort, Changi ( 3rd July - 5th July)
Done> Start my care grp blog
X Mission trip to E.Malaysia?( Late May) [ Postponed to later date]

2. [ Learn ]

~Driving !!! ( First step is to register and sit for my basic theory test)
~Guitar ( I always wanted to learn it...now that my shepherd can teach me..)
~Photography ( Else my Canon S1 would be yet another white elephant)
~Cooking ???

3. [ Trek ]

Done > Mount Ophir with the 29th/30th Tahanners( 29th April - 2 May)
X Gunung Tahan ( 30th May- 8 June) --- Still not confirmed [ Crash with Church Camp ]

4. [ Service-Learning Club ]

~Meetings ( to decide on strategies and direction for the next work year)

5. [ Teach ]

~School experience ( 5th-8th July)

6. [ Play ]

~Tennis @ NIE
~Trail running

7. [ Web-Design ]

~Revamp my web-portal
~Revamp this blog

8. [ Work ]

~Biomechanic Research Assistant @ Singapore Sports School
~Outdoor Camp Facilitator ?????
~Tuition ?????

9. [ Travel ]

X Bangkok ( to meet up with my classmtes returning from their Europe trip...???) ( 29th June-2 July)

10. [ Personal ]

~Decide on my personal goals for the next half of the year
~Update my outdoor inventory and take pictures of it
~Update my books inventory
~Update my general inventory
~Clear the content of my 3 email accounts



Shall evaluate 3 months from now , how successful I am in achieving all this......

Choice. Action.Consequences

While in the midst of preparing for my exams, as I prayed...I was reminded of this simple truth in life...

"whatever choice you make, consider beyond the immediate effect, but rather the long term consequences..."

d(choice)/d( time) = action

d(action)/d(time) = consequence

I must admit, sometimes I make choices for my own self interest and benefit...but as I think deeper, then I realised the decision is not parallel to my purpose in life, thus the internal conflict in my head.

I remember what my shepherd said to me...

"Whatever decision you make, always check your heart, ask yourself.."Does it honour God? "

..Is it done out of love for people, love for God, or it is to please my own sinful desire, for my own comfort and pleasure?

Is it in accordance to the values and principles laid down in the bible?

A Sat Trek @ Southern Parks

Squirrel @ Labordor Park


Went for a noon-afternoon trek to Labordor Park, Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill, with Weiqin to meet the 29th/30th Tahanners. I am going with them to Ophir on the 29th April-1st May

Check out the rest of my photos @ my Image Station album

Am I living out my full potential?

Today, my classmates ( Hongwei, Melvin, Jachin, Cheryl and Ker Shin) and I had dim sum buffet lunch with Dr Michael Kok ( my biomechanics lecteurer) @ Tung Lok Seafood Gallery, East Coast Recreation Centre.

Among the many things that Dr Mike talked about, the one that impacted me was his mini life journey, on the part about fulfilling his full potential.

"I wanted to challenge myself to see if I am capable of getting a Phd...now that I have done it..I have no doubts about my own abilities....but now I am challenging myself to see if I can be a good father to my 4 children and a good husband to my wife, and also a good teacher trainer"

This words stuck a chord in my heart. I have been praying this few days and what I sense from God is that

I AM NOT FULFILLING MY TRUE/ FULL POTENTIAL......

Is it in the area of my studies?

Is it in the area of my walk with God.....am I truely serving in my ministry. Can I do more than that? Can I serve more? Can I love people more ?

I just have this feeling that I can achieve more...but my laziness/ inertia/ procrastination is hindering me. I just do not like the idea of not giving my best.........

Am I undergoing testing and trials now?

I will try...asking for feedback to improve .......will you encourage me?

I pray that I can always focus on my purpose in life, may my love for GOd and his people may the true motivating force that substain me through it all.

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Another issue that Dr Mike was talking about is ETHICS.

Ethics in NIE, amongst the lecteurers.

One wonders what is their true aim in conducting research, publishing papers ( so as to earn more money or in the true spirit of seeking knowledge ?)

( Forgotten what's the link but...)

"Guard your heart, for no one can control that except yourself....."

When he mentioned that, I was reminded of the teachings that I received yesterday.......resisting temptations, undergoing testings.....

Shall remember these wise words .........it really speaks to me.......


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Other issues to take note/ be aware of ........

1. PE teachers ought to be proficient in different skills so that they can demonstrate in class .....recalling back........

"show me what you can do...not what you cannot do"

Some skills are generic across the same type of games, for example invasion games

"why can't the trainee teacher demonstrate the skill instead of merely 'talking about it' ; because he lacks the skill......."

Application point : I must make the effort to improve on my own skill proficiency level in most sports.....

Temptations, Testing and Trials

How God deals with his people

- A reflection of the teaching by Alan Tee ( my district leader) @ NTU TR122

Man will face temptations , tests and trials in his life , but how does one deals with it?
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The key takeaway points :

1. To be a good Christian, overcome temptations

2. To be a better Christian, pass tests

3. To the best Christian, go through trials successfully

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A. Temptations- Do not love the world


Temptations appeal to your sinful nature............

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. ( 1 John 2 :15-17)

A1 : Appetite ie cravings

A2 : Covetousness ie wanting what others what

A3 : Pride ie boasting of one has or does

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Ed : Upon reflection , I realised that I am very guilty and had succumbed to all 3 types of temptations in recent months. I have failed to watch my heart, to guard myself...

God, I pray for your forgiveness, did I do not want to and will not, live in my past regrets and wrongdoings, that I will be be forward looking and live NOW, drawing strength from you, that I will guard myself against temptations, and to exercise self control, that I will always check my motives for doing what I am doing.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful : he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it ( 1 Corinthian 10 :13 )

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B. Tests

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthian 3 : 10-15 )

Tests appeal to and reveal your Christian convictions....

B1 : God allow it to happen

B2: Man tests man..ie testing by spiritual authority

B3 : Man test himself .. ie self test

..."Sometimes you dont really know why you are doing something until a test comes along and it reveals your heart's true desire .... "

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C. Trials

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance.4 Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ( James 1:2-4)

Blessed is the man who perserveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him ( James 1:12)

Trials appeals to the HIGHER GOOD in you..

Trials are very unsettling....

"Trials does not answer why? when? what? "

- one may never understand why one is undergoing trials at that moment in time, maybe when it is over, as one reflects, one is able to see that everything links and happens for a reason

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

But maybe the trial will last til the very end, til one dies, but rest assured God is faithful, he will answer you why you have to endure this trial when you meet him face to face.

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Ed : What are the temptations.testing.trials that I am facing in my life right NOW?

1.Temptations that I am facing

- My appetite ( I am always hungry...literally...)
- My desire to go mountain trekking
- My desire to go travelling ( Tibet, Mongolia, New Zealand)
- My desire for intimacy???? ( As feedbacked by my shepherd)

2. Testings that I am under going/ have undergone recently

- Do I read the bible consistently, daily?
- Do I spent quiet time with God, pray to God regularly?
- Do I guard my own heart?
- Do I trust God to provide for my needs ?
- Do I trust God in my decision to let go of the relationship and move on?
- DO I trust God in all circumstances?
- Do I go out of my comfort zone, to love the people around me , to be geniuinely interested in their lives?

3. Trials that I am enduring ( are these really trials?)

- Forgiving myself and letting go of my past wrongdoings/sins Vs moving on
- Letting go of a relationship and moving on???
- Overcoming my pride?????
- Fulfilling my full potential in academics ???

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, ⁶because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

That's my name....E.d.m.u.n.d :)

My grandpa's 90th birthday celebration

My grandpa's 90th Birthday celebration @ Food Haven, The Restaurant

Anyone interested to go paddle @ Mac Ritchie Reservoir ?
How does it feel like to be surrounded by lush greenery...a sense of serenity....

Types of boats/rental available at Paddle Lodge @ Mac Ritchie Reservoir

Areas to paddle @ Mac Ritchie Reservoir

View of Mac Ritchie on a Sat morning

[ Mac Ritchie Reservoir on a Sat morning ]

With the opening of Paddle Lodge..the public can now canoe at the reservoir.

I went to Mac Ritchie for a 4.8km run with Weiqin today. It was a mini breakthrough because I have been 'thinking about doing it for a very long time'

Of personal gifts and travel artifacts

My collection of gifts from my friends and my own travel artifacts.....but missing 'Sarah..my penguin'