12:18 AM
Life in 21SA after Course in Arty Institute (AI)Yes... Life is gonna be much more tougher... 1st impression already gave me a negative feeling, to the extent that people there whom we saw them sweep the leaves on the road telling us "welcome to hell". Heard of the negative stuffs that they have, and it's all true...
No doubt, life in 21SA is gonna be at least 100 times more xiong den back in AI i believe, but I gotta learn to look on the bright side of it.. Yes, I complained and keep whining bad things about it, but I think this is not going to last throughout my stay in 21SA till I ORD next year August... I must think of positive things, like I believe that I am able to get Gold, or at least Sliver for my IPPT, and perform well in my role as a GA... Everyday in camp, no matter how tough or xiong or ridiculous the training can be, I must choose to carry the joy of the Lord in my heart. It's the joy that carries the strength that I need for my daily life especially in camp.
Perhaps, my life in BMT and in 6th AOC @ AI has been pretty slack and relaxed, and now I kena posted to this 21SA, which I really (3x) have cultural shock in a very xiong way... And especially when right now I know that I am allocated to battery line, just don't know which battery, and life in there can be even more tougher as compared to HQ line, and no matter how sick and tired I am going to be, I must choose to rely more on God and less of myself, because I know and I know that all these while, I keep depending on my own strength until I am pretty drained out, and right now, I believe this is the time....
Like what my CGL shared to me yesterday during the BS with me, my quiet time has to be interesting and new, in a sense that I don't do the usual quiet time style every time, and like what she shared and what I feel about myself, I need to really start changing for the better. I realised for the past few weeks, whenever I go for service or CG or serving in Usher Ministry, the feeling that I have is much different from the past before my NS... I used to be full of passion, and being an active helper in my CG, right now it has changed a lot from bad to worst... Everytime I will ask "where is my turning point of my life?", and when will I start prospering in my life, this answer may seem to come but always never come so far until now... Until yesterday when she shared a verse with me....
"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
- 3 John 1:2 (NKJV)
The words "just as your soul prospers" stumbled me when I read that, and reflecting back, I find that it is very true why am I not prospering in my life... My soul already like quite cui, how to expect myself to prosper in all things and be in (good) health?
And everytime when I seem to forget the things that I have thought, I pray that God will lead me back to this blog and refer back to this blog entry, and always be reminded the things that God reveals or said to me through things and people around me....
Till then, I expect improvement for myself for the next few months at least....
P.S: and oh yea, I can't forget that everything that I have right now is from the grace of God, even the 2 days off for my unit, and a lot of other things....
Victor Lim
Sunday, February 07, 20106:40 PM
Hurting reflections and thoughtsGonna do a bit but hurting reflection on myself right now since I'm in a mood of doing so..
Thinking back, comparing my BMT days and my current course in AI, I find that I got 1 common worry and mistakes which upsets me...
Remember during the schooling days, we tend to say something like "all the things we learnt all give back to teacher already"?
Well... That happens for my BMT and my current course as well. I tend to have short-term memory at times (or many times?) and the important things that I learnt, especially in my current course, I can even get blurred, confused, messed up, and even FORGET the concepts behind it. Just 2 more weeks to end of the course and the rest of my NS life will be spent in the unit that I am gonna posted to, and if I still like that by then, my unit life will be damn miserable...
Also, being an IC for my course last Thursday and Friday, though it's a new experience for me cos I haven't being an IC in a course/platoon level with funny and memorable encounters like "stand by area" incident, but still, when people asked me "how? being IC good?", my answer will still be "NO"... Imagine being "tekan" and cause inner hurts in me, tell me is it fun or not?!
Now that the burden of being an IC is lifted away, I feel slightly better and really wanna make use of this coming week to really seek God and ask for restoration and heal my inner hurts, and also to mould and change me from the inside out for the better, so that after 2 weeks time from now, when I am being posted to unit, I won't suffer that much, at least for the weak points that I mentioned above...
And my time has come for the worst this coming Friday and Saturday, but at least I am not alone or with another coursemate, cos at least got the OCT ppl and I pray that I can really come back home this coming Saturday for reunion dinner with my family for this year CNY.
Having to miss the CNY church service on Friday night is already enough for me le, and I really don't want this year to be the first year that I don't get to have reunion dinner...
Pray and trust God for better things to come and for grace to come upon me....
God bless...
Victor Lim
Sunday, January 24, 20107:11 PM
The feeling of Booking In...1st of all, thank God for the confinement weekend postponed, so that I can freely go out meeting friends, going for 1st cell group meeting of the year, launch of Chinatown deco lightings + firecrackers 2010, attending church service just now, and now back home. Lately I feel that my weekends has getting shorter, especially when I know and I know that the confinement weekend awaits me but don't know when.. Every Sunday, after church service & fellowship, I always have to try to rush back home ASAP or elsewhere to get things done before booking in, and I starting to treasure the time spending with friends even more...
It's Sunday late evening now (7:25pm) and I still got my lunch to settle at home + bathing and time left for me is really not much.. In fact it's gonna be rushing for me... I got to leave house at around 8:15pm latest to go to Sheng Siong @ Ten Mile Junction and then rush to meet my bunkmate to booking in early...
And (sorry to use the word "damn") my mum is rushing me for dinner and I feeling kinda frustrated and don't have the sense of peace in my heart right now... Really what I feel like doing is, before I sleep in my bunk later, I really wanna quieten down myself before God, and really wanna pray and ask for restoration in my heart and the peace of God to flow in me....
Whether my confinement gonna be this coming weekend or following weekend or etc, I gotta be ready for it, and not gonna waste the weekend in camp doing things that is not worth of value to me and to God...
Before I end off here, just wanna share this song with every reader here... (from Youtube) It's a very touching worship song that I just can't stop listening...
I Have Come To Bow Down
I will come and bow down
At Your feet Lord Jesus
In Your presence
Is fulness of joy
There is nothing
There is no one
Who compares with You
I take pleasure in
Worshiping You Lord
Victor Lim
Sunday, January 17, 20108:10 PM
Some thoughts againAs I am spending my final few minutes at home before I gonna miss home, friends outside army, cell group and church service + fellowship for 1 week, I happened to view through my sergeants' facebook (from Arty Institute (AI), not BMT) and here comes 1 of them who happened to be in the same church as me. As I continue to read on his blog, focusing onto his walk with God especially during his NS life, somehow I feel encouraged and inspired...
I feel that God has a great purpose in placing me in AI and not other army units. In BMT, God only revealed to me a small portion of it, but when comes to AI, this is when God wants to show me great examples of my fellow brothers-in-Christ who really live up to their Christian values despite of how positive/negative examples of their personal character can be. More details of this I will say it here after my next bookout after the confinement weekend.
Well... As for the confinement weekend, I learn to take it positively. I will be confined with 1 of my coursemate but different bunk. Though I may spend in my bunk alone especially at night and will feel very lonely, I know that God is with me and He will not leave nor forsake me, and His presence will be always there for me. This is also the best time that I will spend a peaceful quiet time with God, seeking after Him, and just wanna dwell into His presence..
Alright.. I shall go bathing and set off to camp le... Blog again 2 weeks later...
Victor Lim
Sunday, January 03, 20107:12 PM
Entering Into Year 2010I thank God for today's message/sermon during the service just now in the morning by Pst Tan. He really preached an awesome message about this new Year 2010. Out of the 3 important points that he shared, 1 of which he talks about forgetting the things of the past, and he shared this verse which hits me really damn hard, in Isaiah 43:18, in NIV version, it says "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.", and he also shared another verse along that line, in Philippians 3:13-14, in NLT version, it says "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.". Well... for a moment, I paused, and really ask myself this question, i.e., whether am I willing to TOTALLY forget all the past bad moments and memories that I have, and really looking forward to what lies ahead in Year 2010 that God has instilled for me?
Well... Sometimes I wonder whether the race of life for me is as fast as this F1 car above in the photo?? (Photo taken during last year 2009's F1 night race)
And before I close off this blog entry and going for a bath before I book in to my camp, times when I am really feeling very down or faithless, sometimes I don't know whether I really live my life upon this verse above.... God I pray, that this year, let me once again really (3x) believe 100% totally, that through You, all things are possible to those who believe in Christ Jesus. Amen. (Photo taken during Year 2008 Christmas season outside Tangs Plaza)
Victor Lim
Saturday, January 02, 20101:52 PM
Transiting to Year 2010By right, I should be feeling good to end off Year 2009, but end up this time I feeling the opposite way round.. In my whole life I never feel drunk before, but this time it marks my 1st time in doing so, at least sub-consciously drunk.. 2 very most sway things happened on the last day of Year 2009, 1 of which mp3 tio confiscated + need to write statement + disciplinary actions (hopefully it's just confinement), another one in which $50 will be gone cos of the camp pass (not lost, but broken!).
On that night, supposingly to have countdown with CG, but end up was told that the plan was cancelled, and I really felt super sianz 1/2. End up I met with 1 of my very good CG friend + 1 of his friends for dinner and countdown at pub thereafter. 3 person shared 2 jugs of Tiger Beer, and for the first time, as a very passive and noob drinker, I just felt like drinking even more and after that found myself swaying to left and right, feeling kinda unconscious.. Thank God that I still can control after that and being able to cross the road feeling conscious at that moment till after crossing it.
I really thought at first after drinking, I can totally let go of all these unhappy and "sway" events that happened, but end up I was wrong... The next day which is yesterday, I really literately rot at home for the whole day with my face in front of my laptop screen, just wasting my time away.. Felt that I still can't totally let go of everything and move on, and felt like going for drinking somemore, but somehow, God has reminded me in 1 Corinthians 6:19, that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and I shouldn't harm my body just like that..
Transiting to Year 2010, although I haven't set my resolution for this year, but I really wanna believe that this year will be a greater and better year in which through Christ, I will excel well in the various aspects of my life, and 1 thing for sure is that each and every single year, I tell myself that I really want to grow more stronger and deeper in my Christian walk, but whether how stronger and deeper, that will be another question...
Right now... I'm really lost in words to type it here... I really don't want to think anything further and just let the peace of God come into my heart.......
Before ending off, just wanna wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Year 2010!
Victor Lim
Sunday, November 08, 20093:07 PM
Most Hell Week of BMT finished!!Thank God for His grace to me during the field camp aka hell week for the past few days from Monday to Saturday!
Initially I thought that I would not make it for the field camp as in will fall out or report sick... Initially I thought that it will be really 6 days 5 nights of living hell.. But the hell part is mainly the digging of shell scrap part on day 3... It's really a living hell until my bunkmates noticed that I dig until I somehow literately cry, and best thing was, during the break for that segment, we received letters from our love ones, and I just couldn't stop crying... Field camp got its fun part and also living hell part lar...
Thank God for the rain also although I initially don't want and expect the rain to happen, because if not I think I would already reported sick due to severe heat rash and all the shit stuff, and need to redo the field camp again which I DON'T WANT!! Thank God for our good OC because if not for him, 5th night we won't get to step into our heavenly bunk.
Field camp, all in all, is really an eye-opener to me and a new experience and through this, I really learn how to appreciate more things around, even our own bunk, and treat it like our heaven like that...
5 more weeks to POP, almost half of BMT is over, most living hell week is over.. Really looking forward to POP, but meanwhile I really wanna have a enjoyable experience especially with my platoon mates...
Take care and God bless! =)
Victor Lim
Saturday, October 31, 200912:22 PM
2 More Days To Hell Week...Week 3 over, left 6 more weeks to go before end of BMT...
Next week gonna be very hell week, cos of field camp... Last 2 days had IFC, was already hell enough le...
Really need to depend on God even more during the hell week... Need His grace and also strength and love... I can sense that during the hell week i will get even more emotional...
Right now is a 2 days break before going through hell for 6 days and 5 nights... Gonna get myself prepared for it mentally, physically and spiritually...
For the past 3 weeks, I have been struggling with different things such as pull up, and the si bei jia liat SOC obstacles... Although I got support from my section/bunk mates, at times I still felt very discouraged, especially when they already told me my mistakes and I still couldn't overcome it.. At times I felt that I am really a fool in certain ways... Haiz....
Come to think of it, right now I learn to appreciate a lot more things outside, even to my coy line area, the bunks that we sleep at night...
Okay la I gotta stop here for now... Need to go out later for buy stuff and meet friends... All the best for those who will be going through hell in weeks to come...
Victor Lim
Tuesday, August 04, 20099:10 AM
Heartbroken...Felt so hearbroken this morning… I really couldn’t concentrate on my work today…
Right now I just wanna wait till night time comes and after going back home from work, I will just change my attire, and straight away take a bus down to Bukit Timah and walk up the Bukit Timah Hill to the top, and just cry out to Him, seeking Him and asking Him… I just don’t wanna say so much here because it’s supposed to be work time in office, but as I sit down in front of the computer screen, with the scenery view towards the city from the office (26th level of JTC Summit), and sun shining towards me (45 degrees to my left), all the more I really couldn’t concentrate and just don’t feel like doing anything (but this one cannot be escaped especially when my bosses are around).
Right now just wanna pray that God will pull me through this day in office, and won’t get any shooting or scolding from anyone in office…………………… In His most precious name I pray… Amen…
Labels: God
Victor Lim
Saturday, January 10, 200911:03 AM
FYP2 Over and some thoughtsFinally....
So fast, just a second, and everything's over...
No more burden for FYP2...
Just 2 more weeks of lesson and that's it..
I wonder how and what will my life be after I graduate from Republic Polytechnic..
Sometimes, lots of thoughts just gush through my mind...
Sometimes, I just don't know how to express it in words...
Sometimes, I just don't know why I feel so emo after watching certain shows or movies..
After watching Little Nonya's final episode, I feel so emo that I couldn't concentrate on doing anything (especially FYP), and the whole night, all I have done was just think until I fall asleep.. Reason being is not for the war and killing part, but it's the part whereby they talk about their family trees, their ancestors, grandparents, etc, which makes me really ............................. and when I think back of the times that I spent with my grandparents when my family visited them, all these has became a past... Haiz...
Another one is Red Cliff 2 which I watched yesterday. No doubt the show is really nice and deserve a 4 or 5 star rating, but yet again, don't know why when I watch all the war show/movies, I just feel very emo.. I keep thinking and thinking and thinking, thinking of a lot of things and at times always feel like asking some questions... I just don't know why, when it comes to watching movies, I will tend to be very emotional and I do feel scared, joy of laughter, sad, and tend to laugh or cry (especially cry) more easily.. I can say that so far till now, all the movies by Jack Neo never fail to make me cry before, or at least, feel so touched that tears just drop down my cheeks..
Few days back, when I happened to view photos of Hong Kong night scenery shots, it really brings me a kind of feeling that is indescrible.. It just add more colours and vibrant into my life, and I just feel so disgusted when I look at all the night scenery photos of Singapore... It's like throwing my face down when I look at all the Singapore ones..
And not to mention, the public transport service level that is being brought to their fellow commuters.. Singapore ones is just like a piece of junk and shit when compared to Hong Kong ones.. and in a few years time when I start to work, I will make plans of buying a car and probably rely lesser on the 'very unreliable' SBS Transit and SMRT bus and train services. (especially bus). The thing that I cannot tolerate the most is when commuters CANNOT BOARD THE LAST BUS of the day/night for a particular service (especially SMRT Bus Service 190). This service (190) has gone from good (old SBS and TIBS days) to bad and worst (when SMRT took over TIBS) and right now it's HOPELESS until it has becoming 1 of the bus services that I most DESPISE of... =.="
Another 2 SMRT Bus service that I am most DESIPSE of is Service 169 and 902... No doubt it's a point-to-point service from Woodlands Regional Int to Republic Polytechnic in the morning, everytime when I take Service 903 (another much better alternative route). Service 902 is because of what I called the "Hello Kitty" queue. Service 169 is because of the irritating SMRT staff (especially Tay Chin Tian) who "hug" the front door when the bus (Service 169 ones) is ALMOST full (not totally full), and don't allow anymore people to squeeze in through..
One fine day and night I shall do stunts to Service 169 before I graduate, and one fine night I shall do another stunt (more severe and serious this time) on Service 190 at 1 of the 2 most sensitive bus stop (i.e. opposite Far East Plaza bus stop, outside Thong Teck Building), and I will make sure the last bus driver and SMRT management die until 10 times jia liak, even to the extent of calling the police down by the driver.. And I will make sure SMRT kena fine 10 times jia liak like a few million dollars also and hopefully allow SBS Transit to control back Service 190 and improve their fleets..
Wondering if next Thursday should I go for the Student Forum II about Transport Issues since I complete my CE points long time ago.. But if I go, I may or will shoot/feedback them until quite jia liak also... Singapore is indeed a first class city with THIRD class public transportation..
Some more thoughts in my mind...
My Year 2009 resolution and goals.. When am I going to finish thinking and writing it, and making sure that I achieve it..
Lots of commitments coming along the way too... I really need to better manage my time...
In terms of my expenses wise, I also gotta better manage it...
Priorities: Tithes, Arise and Build 2008 (building funds), planning of having chalet for my 21st Birthday..
But firstly, I must find a job, at least to substain my income till the day of my NS Enlistment...
In terms of a lot of areas, I really need to improve it, and I will never be satisfied of who I am and what I am right, because I believe in doing and achieving things from glory to glory..
Okay that's all for now... Have other stuffs going on and indeed I am quite a busy man... =D
Cya guys around... Take care and God bless! ^_^
Labels: buses, church, God, night scenery photos, others, school, thoughts, work
Victor Lim
Saturday, January 03, 200910:39 PM
Lost?Felt quite lost while onboard Service 190 (TIB838H) bus back home from New Bridge Rd Bus Terminal.. Lost not as in physically lost, but spiritually lost...
Thinking back of the 1st few days of the brand new year 2009, I really enjoyed myself too much that I really forgot the presence of God in my life, and by going on like this for the rest of the year, first thing I will do is to backslide away from God, second thing is I will lost all my sense of vision and dreams and goals and everything in my life, which I DON'T WISH TO HAPPEN!!!
Well... Just before I walked back home, I was at my house bus stop, sitting down there with mp3, and I just keep staring at the pavement area and asking God to bring me back to the right path that He wants me to go to, and not to be lost.
Sometimes, I just don't have much words to express how I feel especially when I am emo (and maybe sad/upset also?).. This year I really want to lead a happy and positive life, just like what I have tagged Cyril yesterday in his blog about what Dr Kim have mentioned during the service which she came last year.. "Be a HAPPY man". Sometimes, I just feel like telling God, that how I ever wish that I can be a HAPPY man every SINGLE day of my life, as much as I can... But year after year, there will sure bound to have a certain period of time whereby we just feel very emo and at times I just feel like crying (which I really did last year).
Let tonight be a peaceful one for me, as I begin to reflect and think back of everything that I have done and not done, and allow God to speak to me, be it through tonight's sleeping or the next day when I am going to take the 1st Service 966 long journey bus ride as I go early to church for serving (as usual 7:30am for ushers). I really need a good rest/sleep these few days especially tonight and tomorrow night as this coming Monday is the submission date for our final FYP.
Victor Lim
Wednesday, December 31, 200810:10 AM
Bye 2008!As I am waiting for my FYP teammates in school library, I start to think and reflect back the things that I did and etc etc...
Indeed it's a fruitful yet challenging year for me because I faced lots of tough times, times where I feel like giving up, times where I had to suffer a lot..
Reflecting back on my school life, it's a very fruitful journey for me not just in Year 2008, but the whole of 3 years of RP life as it is coming to a end for me before I enter my next phase of my life.... which is N.S..
How I wish I can rewind myself to 3 years back and experience it again and again, but yea, once it has past, means it has past, and will never come back again... What I can do is just to treasure all my poly friends and spend more time with them especially to my closer ones..
Reflecting back on my life as a bus enthusiast, this year it has been a challenging one for me, especially after our 1st bus enthusiasts cell group is formed with some of the Christian bus enthusiasts. Conflicts and misunderstandings happening everywhere, from SGforums to MSN to face-to-face, all I have seen before (but thank God I don't have any conflicts with them, and I don't wish that to happen to me). Flame wars can be seen every month especially in SGforums and some of the bus enthusiasts starting to gang up together and deal with some other particular bus enthusiasts that they hate it to the core... All these things I have seen it all..
On the positive side, I have also helped in the organizing committee in organizing activities for the fellow bus enthusiasts to come and enjoy and at the same time, to foster stronger bondings among one another and to get to interact with more bus enthusiasts that they don't know. Things that I have helped out are activities such Amazing Race and the farewell tour for the various very old buses that are going to scrap in a few months' time. It's not easy to organize and make the activities a success..
Reflecting back on my Christian walk of life, I also faced lots of ups and downs, especially at the point of time when I told my parents that I have decided to be a Christian and to go for church service every Sunday morning and I just cried and cried at that night after I got scolded and threatened upside down...
But on the positive side, God has blessed me with lots of things, and I love my cell group (E447) so much because they really take care of me well, being the 2nd youngest (IIRC) member in my cell group.. In my spiritual walk, at times (I think is most of the time??) I negliect God so much that at times I don't treat Him seriously...
In Year 2009, I hope that things really start to change for the better, in all areas of my life...
In a few days' time, I am going to finish setting all my goals and resolution for Year 2009, and I really pray and hope that whatever new challenges that I am going to face it, I will overcome it with FAITH and not FEAR.... =)
Before ending this post, I wanna wish everyone here a Happy New Year 2009 and all the best in your future goals and dreams and every part in your life!! ^_^
Labels: BECG, bus enthusiasts, church, God, school, thoughts
Victor Lim
Saturday, December 20, 200810:17 PM
To End Off This Year (2008) Well?Just attended CG meeting, and my CGL talked about ending this year well.. Just last Monday, we had our Sundown chillout at Temasek Poly, then today + tomorrow + this coming Wednesday and Thursday got christmas services also and also thanksgiving for next week CG meeting..
Moreover, this coming week my FYP team is going to chiong all the way liao.. (Deadline for submission is 5th Jan 2009), and I promised Raymond's friends (Brian, Bing Xun, etc...) about DOTA outing this coming week (most likely is either Thursday afternoon or Friday then I can make it), plus lots of other stuffs to do...
Last time, I used to complain that I got nothing to do and my life is so sianz full of boredom... Now? It's 180 degrees/opposite way round, i.e., a lot of things to do and my life is full of challenges, thrilling journey, excitment, a lot a lot more to describe it..
Reflecting on my spiritual life, I find that I have not done well in many areas, and at times I find that I have screwed myself up especially during serving in Usher Ministry.. Maybe I should have a seperate post about Thanksgiving also because speaking of which, I got quite a number of people who I really wanna thank them for, even for those who were not in my CG..
At times, I feel so discouraged and disheartened because of certain things that happened to me directly and indirectly, and I feel so disappointed about certain areas in my life, especially on the spiritual level..
This year has been a exciting yet challenging one for me.. Having to deal with lots of stuffs and problems is not an easy job.. I believe that this is what God wants me to go through all these tough times and eventually to mould me into a better person, but at times, I keep disappointing God, I negliect my everything with God, and I treat things too lightly especially when it's God's work..
As time goes by, I get more (and perhaps higher level also?) responsibilities, in CG and in Usher Ministry, and at times, I just get too drained out especially in Usher Ministry.. Every Sunday morning (except on the week that I am not on duty), I gotta take Service 966 1st bus early in the morning and transfer to 2 more buses and reach Expo by 7:30am, then after that help out in preparation before service starts, and when service starts, that's when I feel stressed the most (whenever I am doing acute point and/or taking care of a zone, especially the zone one). When I see the congregation Praising and Worshipping God, I don't usually get to do so too whenever I am doing the zone part.. (Okay la... Maybe during later part of worship still got some time..) Usually it's quite okay for me because I have been getting used to this style, but at times when I felt very down on the particular week (like 1-2 weeks back), I would just broke down and cry out to God.. (when I say "cry" in this post over here, I literally mean crying and weeping with tears..)
Haiz... These few days, I just have too much thoughts that every single night, I can't sleep well and early.. Nowadays if you notice, 2-3am I may still be online (and not in Idle mode for those who have MSN Plus installed on your Windows Live Messenger) and perhaps either blogging away or stonning away or facebook here and there and etc etc...
Okay I think I shall stop here for now... Next day still got Usher duty.. Need to wake up super early... Nite guys..
Victor Lim
Thursday, December 18, 200812:09 AM
More and more busy!!Ahh... How I wish I can just migrate to Hong Kong to enjoy life and escape from all troubles and all the busy and hectic stuffs which make me ___________...
But... this is not the way... At least not the God's way....
Just went for bus enthusiasts cell meeting at Wilcent's house.. We watched 1 of the video for the My Hope Singapore campaign, about a ex-convict whose now is a pastor in his church.. I was so touched especially the part whereby he couldn't get to see his grandma/mum (I forgot who's the right one liao) for 1 last time before she passed away while he is still in prison, and the one in which he remembered his school times whereby his teacher said this to him "God loves you, Jesus loves you and I love you too". Immediately tears just went down my cheeks..
Right now, Sundown event has just finished successful and smoothly last Monday, and right now, more things coming ahead, in my CG, ministry, school, and all the outings that are coming ahead.. God, I really need more of Your everything, especially in the area of strength, because too many things just happening around, and at times, I may just feel very drained out and weak..
At times, especially during my quiet time or while I am in a long journey bus ride along expressway, I ponder and ask God, why am I going through all these things? But I believe that God does that because He has a purpose for me in every single thing that happens.. In times when I feel very down because of certain things that happened to me, God gave me this verse from Psalms 23:4-5 to really encourage me in my Christian walk...
Now I just really wanna finish this year fast, steady and good, and to start off a new year with a new year and resolution... A new year, a new beginning...
Just a photo to end off this blog post... With thanks to those NS Medical checkup people (the one who gave me injection to my right hand) to suck out 2 tubes containing my BLOOD! See how screwed these people can be?!? Before next Tuesday I will go to polyclinic if this persist on... 1 more thing!! For my left hand which is used for blood pressure test, thanks to that my last finger got a numb feeling until NOW!!~ Thank you CMPB for the "GREAT" (internal) injuries/hurts that were done for me!!! Well done.. (2x) **sarcastic**
Victor Lim
Monday, December 15, 200811:54 AM
Touched..Yesterday morning, while I was on 2nd Service 966 bus early in the morning on my way for morning service, and reflecting on the week that I have went through, indeed it's pretty busy and shag for me.. As I was reflecting back, I thought of the days that I neglect God so much that I did not spend my daily quiet time with Him, and being able to come back to Him once again, I felt so touched by His presense, and couldn't resist my emotions in a very public place (i.e. bus).. That one still nvm..
As I served in my zone (Charlie Terrace 03), I kept feeling so rushing and stress during Praise and the beginning part of Worship until I thought that I couldn't just concentrate Worshipping Him, and finally when my zone is about to be done settling on the number of empty seats, I just stand on 1 side along the pathway and just worship Him, and as I do so, this time I just couldn't resist my emotions any further, and I just broke down before Him.. As the worship was coming to a end before the preaching and etc, I just feel that the time that I spend with Him is too short, and really felt like worshipping Him even more...
As for the preaching/sermon part, the message also really describes the situation that I am facing right now, i.e., the bus farewell tour.. (more focus into the committee section). Later in the afternoon, I met Alan first after our service (since we from same church service but different cell only) and then we went to meet up with the rest of the bus farewell tour committee at Buangkok area... It was a very fruitful one down there, where the seniors gave chance to the organizer, each one of us who were present there, pointed out the mistakes and problems that is being done, and then came out with suggestions to the mistakes and problems so that mistakes will not repeat itself next time when we have such bus farewell tour again..
After that went to Jurong Point to meet up with my parents and brother (as my sister was still having her Xtreme Challenge (a kind of amazing race but doing all sorts of Xtreme sports), and for myself I managed to get my new year t-shirts from there.. After walking around the new extention, I still prefer the t-shirts from Spade, and 1 shot I bought 2 t-shirts, 1 with the attractive sliver thingy, and another with the cross.. Super nice... Their staffs (all youngsters) were all super friendly and they provide very great service to me! I even get the Spade membership card for free (as the total amount for the 2 t-shirt were $50 and above). Either during the chinese new year or new year end then I will start wearing it le...
After that have dinner first before taking train (as my parents wanted me to take train with them) back home, and guess what? The train that I took is the one without the seats in the middle section of every carriage.. (Carriage 059-060) Let the photos do the talking..
The carriage that we were in at Boon Lay MRT Station..
No sitting at the middle of the carriage..
No seats resulting people sitting in the middle of the 2 carriages..!! I was kind enough not to STOMP it.. xD
No seats! Please stand!!
Still sitting at the middle of the 2 carriages!!!
STOMP!!! Haha... (in the end I never STOMP). As what other STOMPers posted in STOMP website about people sitting at the floor.. Here you go!!
Yea.. Sit somemore!! (Later they also transferred to North South line train at Jurong East MRT Station)
Enjoy!~ ^_^
Labels: bus enthusiasts, God, photos, thoughts
Victor Lim
Thursday, December 11, 200811:05 PM
Thoughts once again..I'm about to sleep (because I need to wake up very early for NS checkup tml morning) but I sense that God wants me to write up a blog post about certain things that are happening around for the negative parts..
1st of all, I wanna thank God for the open heart of 2 of my friends, Terence and Fang Sheng, for being able to give the organizer of last Saturday's Nissan Diesel U31RCN (bus) farewell tour a 2nd (and last?) chance.. For those who went there last week (bus enthusiasts), especially the committee members (including myself), we would know how screwed up the tour was. I won't explain much because most of the story has been explained in Fang Sheng's and Terence's blog (links on the left).. I can see how other committee members and even advisors (except Terence and Fang Sheng AFAIK) express not only their unhappiness but also their unforgiveness attitude towards the organizer..
This really makes me remind of my fellow bus enthusiasts within this unique interest group here.. Although the flaming's activity in the forum has somewhat decrease a bit, but still I wonder when will be the time where this kind of flaming activities which is caused by misunderstandings or conflicts end.. Probably by the time I go up to heaven to see my heavenly Father (aka Daddy God) face to face, all these things will be still happening around? Well, only my Daddy God knows..
Seeing all these bad things happening around really makes me feel so heartpain, especially when it's within the interest/hobby group whereby all the more we should be more friendly, caring, showing our care and concern, learning how to forgive one another... Speaking of which, God spoke to me these 2 verses, Galatians 5:22-23. I shall put these 2 verses in The Message version:
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
I especially highlighted the main points that I wish to say out here in red.. I wonder how many of my fellow bus enthusiast friends have these kind of characteristics in them... Okay... Shall not say anything much... Must make you all think (bus enthusiasts) also... I need to sleep because tomorrow will be a long + rushing day for me.. God bless everyone and take care, all my friends and readers.. Nitez everyone!
Labels: bus enthusiasts, God, thoughts
Victor Lim
Sunday, August 24, 200811:46 PM
Touched.... Blessed... This whole week so great!Yeah! For this whole week, I went to the morning prayer meeting every single weekday... The feeling is super great, although we started as early as 7am every morning.. So happy that for this 1 week, I got to know more friends within our (Meiyan) sub-zone, and for the next sub-zone camp, I really (3x) wish to get to know even more people and interact with them ;-)
This whole week, I felt so blessed too... Blessed by everything that God has provided me..
Financial blessing for new guitar for me (as a beginner, my friends said that $200 is enough... Lolx..).
God has also surprised me with bus cameos (not only just saw but RIDE too). One afternoon when I wanted to wait for Service 171, a Dennis Lance (with Volgren bodyworks which there are only 2 of them in entire SMRT bus fleets, and their permerant route are all Service 851) came. TIB1017D for those bus enthusiasts reading my blog... (swapped with TIB820H on that day which went over to Service 851). There was also one late morning when a Volvo B10M Mk 4 (DM3500 bodywork) did Service 124, and I saw it while I was on Service 700, so I alighted at SMU and boarded it...
God has also enlarged my capacity as well... Just within this month, I was being called to be 1 of the welfare I/Cs in my church ministry (usher). I also gain more ideas for the past few weeks for my CG blog (E447) and it's more or less done, just that my CGL got suggestions which I can improve on, which is good, because even as the blog I/C for my CG, I have to admit that I do commit mistakes at times too. Even in my bus enthusiast CG, I am also called to be the leader to lead the West group. But for now, thank God that currently, Ben (our zone leader who oversees both East and West group currently) would be sitting by my side to guide me...
It's not easy to lead a group... And I really want to visualize that my West group is a very active CG, that we would be serious in our spiritual life, and lively + casual when it comes to CG casual/relax activities every month which I don't want to have anything related to bus for it, with a reason behind it..
This morning, was the graduation service for the graduates from SOT (School of Theology aka bible school), and when Dr Abraham prayed for our pastor Dr Kong Hee, it touched my heart a lot too to the extent of tears coming out when we sang "Although Thousand Collapse" during worship... Seeing all the SOT graduates, really makes me feel very motivated to join... When my 2 years of NS finish, I really want to go for it..
Well... Shall stop here for now... Got other things to do... Haha.. What a busy man I am.... =.="\
Meiyan's subzone Brothers and Sisters who went for the morning prayer meeting on the last day of 2nd week.. (Eeee.... I should post in that shot that way... Argh.. Haha!)
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ALTHOUGH THOUSAND COLLAPSES - CITY HARVEST CHURCH
MERCIES THAT RISE WITH THE NEW MORN
SET ME APART AS A NEW BORN
EACH MOMENT I LIVE
BY FAITH I BELIEVE
WITH YOU I'M NEVER ALONE
DARKNESS MAY COME, TRIALS SEEM SO LONG
YOU ARE THE LIGHT I DEPEND ON
THROUGH VALLEYS AND STORMS
YOUR WORD KEEPS ME STRONG
MY SHELTER, REFUGE AND SONG
I TRUST IN YOU
EVERYDAY I LIVE I KNOW YOU ARE MY GOD
I LIFT MY FACE AND LOOK TO YOU MY LORD
EVEN WHEN THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE
AND A THOUSAND FALL
I WILL STAND WITH YOU
MY JESUS TAKE MY ALL
Victor Lim
Sunday, August 10, 20087:47 PM
Festival of Praise 2008Hey all! Long time no update... These few days I have been busying with my own stuff, mainly school and church stuff, and with things going on especially for weekends which packed my day..
Last Friday to Sunday (1st - 3rd August 2008), I went for FOP (Festival of Praise) with my bus enthusiast and my E447 cell group friends.. This year, we have Reuben Morgan from Hillsong Australia and Parachute Band from New Zealand who led us for praise & worship, and Pastor Mark Conner from CityLife Church who led us for sermon..
First night of FOP 2008, I went with 2 of my bus enthusiast friends (Reuben and XY) and 2 of my E447 cell group friends (Quanhan and Ben). KP was invited by his friend, Ming Wei, for the 1st night of FOP 2008.. Everything was great there, especially the sermon part which really impact my heart a lot. The sermon is about building a strong spiritual atmosphere and there are 4 ingredients that are important for creating an atmosphere of power and growth which consist of "Peace", "Encouragement", "Comfort" and "Fear of the Lord". Won't elaborate it here ba, probably in my spiritual blog I will talk more about it.. After the whole service finished, XY went home while Reuben and myself went to Plaza Singapura for late night dinner cum supper inside MacDonald.. Took SBS1936U (crossover from Service 506) of Niteowl 3N back home after that.. Super chiongster like Singapore version of Tokyo Drift..
Second night of FOP 2008, I went with 3 of my bus enthusiast friends (Reuben, Wilcent and Isaac) and some of my E447 cell group friends after cell group meeting.. Inside there, Wilcent sat right beside my E447 cell group leader (Quanhan), and he was quite shocked at first when he saw my cell group leader using laptop during sermon to take down sermon notes.. Lolx.. Sermon was about growing old or growing up.. Also won't elaborate much down here... After the whole service finished, I went with my bus enthusiast friends to the MacDonald at Plaza Singapura for late night dinner cum supper again.. After that rush out to the bus stop at Dohby Ghaut MRT Station there to wait for our night buses back home.. Praise the LORD!! The main entrance door wasn't lock unlike the previous night when Reuben and myself had to walk a big round via Carrefour there to the bus stop, hence after that, we stop rushing and take our time to walk to the bus stop and waited.. Wilcent took Niteowl 4N (At after 1am when his bus came and I have finished bathing at home liao..), Reuben and myself took Niteowl 3N (SBS2607M, Service 506 crossover also but this time never chiong as there were a lot of cars along the way), and Isaac went to the bus stop further down towards MacDonald's house and took the 2nd last Service 65 bus back home (which is around 12:25am, lucky him that the last bus from Harbourfront bus interchange is 12am).
Third day of FOP 2008, instead of joining my friends for the whole service, I was serving in Zone A2 along the North Sector instead.. Helped Reuben and Wilcent to book seats for them also, and I supposed that they can see how stressed and worried I am at the point of time of serving (usher), especially after offering and sermon, during the praise and worship after that, when I was already broke down but I managed to resist my tears until I reached back home and doing my quiet time before I slept.. Felt so discouraged and shag especially when the gates inside towards the stage area were opened and I saw a lot of youngster who were very on fire with the LORD when it comes to praise.. (More about that can be found on my spiritual blog..) Btw, the sermon was about "Living in the Light of Eternity" which I will also elaborate more in my spiritual blog as well.. Went home after service immediately because next day I still got lesson, and really I wanna thank God for the SMB1H (bus enthusiasts you should know what is this bus) on Service 190 when I transferred to it from Service 14, which managed to cheer my mood up at least by a bit..
I remembered that I 1st stepped into church atmosphere during last year's FOP (Year 2007) when Raymond (1 of my E447 cell group friends) invited and brought me over, and I accepted Christ in 1 month++ after that in September 2007.. Hence I was so looking forward to this year's FOP and for once, my burning passion for the LORD became stronger and stronger.. (Except the third day when I was serving in my allocated zone). It's from this point of time last year that I experienced my turning point of life to a better one.. I realised that my life really changed a lot from the point of time when I accepted Christ as my LORD and saviour... Till now, I never regret my decision to believe in Christianity despite the numerous setbacks and difficulties that I have faced. In fact, it is through all these setbacks and difficulties that increase my faith level over time..
I will stop blogging here for now, and I will blog about the rest of it (such as national day and etc etc probably after a few days when my semester break starts..) God bless everyone! Take care!
2 more days to my 3 weeks (only) semester break...
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Night 1: Myself, Reuben, XY
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Night 2: Isaac, Reuben, Wilcent, myself
Night 2: Reuben, Isaac, Wilcent, myself
Night 2: Reuben, myself, Isaac, Wilcent
Night 2: Reuben, Isaac, Wilcent, myself
Night 2: Reuben, myself, Wilcent, Isaac
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
- Hebrews 13:1 (NLT)
Labels: bus enthusiasts, church, FOP, God, photos
Victor Lim
Wednesday, July 09, 200810:21 AM
Psalm 23:4If anyone of you asked whether I am living by which verse (or similiar questions like that) right now, I would say that it's Psalm 23:4... Let me share with you this verse over here..
"Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. "
- Psalm 23:4 (New Life Version)
I have put it up in this NLV version, which is easier to understand it.. What I mean by "the valley of the shadow of death", to put into our modern context, is about all our tough times in our life, all the obstacles, difficulties or troubles that we faced in our life.
Speaking of which, God reminded me about all of us here living in a broken world..
"We live in a broken world which has never been healthier, wealthier or bizarrely, free of conflict, but some 500 kilometers south of here they die of want, ... It's not only intellectually absurd, but also morally repulsive."
-Bob geldof
This quote really describes this world very well.. Especially the one about "free of conflicts".
And this reminded me back of my friends, especially bus enthusiast friends.. Every night when i view through sgforums, a very well known bus forum in Singapore, I see bus enthusiasts "shooting" one another, sometimes in a very unpleasant way.. It kinda makes me feel very heartbroken, that it really defeats the purpose of having this forum. Although I am not 1 of the moderators in this forum, but what I wish to say is that a forums is a place that is meant for friendly discussion, and sharing of knowledge to other bus enthusiasts or any other forumers. This is especially for the newcomers of this forum. They may not know whether they have offended other bus enthusiasts in any way, and unwillingly, they are the ones who are been "shoot off" by the more senior bus enthusiasts.
What I personally feel is that they should not deserve this kind of treatment here, and they should be given equal opportunity to learn from their mistakes, even it's a repetitive one, because some bus enthusiasts just need more time to change themselves. We have to be patient at times, and to be able to tolerate all these things..
Okay, coming back to Psalm 23:4, all these unpleasant things that we are currently facing/going through in our own life, we shouldn't be afraid of it. Especially for Christians here, we know that God sees through all the things in every single one of us here, and God is with us all the time, hence we can just pray (and speak) to God for help, and God would be there for us.. This is when the "walking stick" in this verse came in, whereby the "walking stick" is the aid which God gives to us, and comfort us in a special way..
Sometimes over here, you just feel that the more you afraid of a particular things that you are going through in your life, the more you will feel that things are getting worst, and feeling even more afraid in a sense..
For me, as some of you here may have known about it, that my grandma is still hospitalised in NUH, and last week, my parents told me that "for now, we just wait for the time to end" in chinese. Upon hearing it, instead of being very depressed and keep worrying and crying, I had decided to tell God about it, and cast out all my worries and burdens to God, and let God decides everything for me... No point crying over it just because it has/going to happen..
All these things that happened in my life, God knows about it, and for me, God wants me to go through it, and to be able to overcome it. Thank God for allowing me to go through and testify my faith and trust, and once the crisis is over, that I would grow spiritually stronger in Christ..
Hmmm... I hope this entry here will inspires and encourages all of you here, especially those who are going through tough times right now, and hope it really impact your life a lot...
Cheers to all and God bless.. ^_^
Labels: bus enthusiasts, God, thoughts
Victor Lim
Saturday, June 21, 20089:34 AM
Walking Through the Valleys of Life"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
- Psalms 23:4 (NKJV)
This verse describes my situation and even for friends around me too...
Lately, things have been happening around, and so much so that it happens to our loved ones..
Last Wednesday, I went down to NUH in the morning to visit my grandma who is still being hospitalized... Thank God that she's currently in the normal ward (as in not in ICU or SICU etc..), and at least I got to see her smile, but 1 bad thing about her is that it seems to us (my mum, relatives, and myself) that she suffered a great loss in terms of her memory... It just seem so bad that after 30 seconds, she can asked for our names again.. But then... also saw her crying halfway when she speaks about certain stuffs to my mum and relative, which I don't understand what they are talking about one another because I am super weak in dialect (Hokkien in this case). Before we left the ward while they were still talking among one another, I quietly pray for my grandma's recovery..
Throughout the morning in NUH, I keep constantly remind myself that I shouldn't be worrying and having fears. Instead I choose to believe by faith that God can touch my grandma in a special way, and all these, I shall cast all my burdens and worries to Him for whom He will take care of her.. And I sense my heart, that God wants me not to think too much regarding this situation, and continue to pray during my QT. (quiet time)
Yesterday night, I accompanied 1 of my friends down to Chinatown for dinner and after that went to SGH to visit his dad, who is currently in the final stage of the treatment for blood cancer in the ICU ward.. Both me and my friends sat at a corner somewhere to have a heart-to-heart talk, and after that, went back to the ICU ward to look at his dad again and pray together with him before we left SGH..
Friends, what I going to bring this message is that anything can happen to us, even when we are the believers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Doesn't mean that if we are Christians, means that everything will be a smooth sailing one for us. To the non-believers here, this also applies to you, in fact all of us here will be affected.. In life, sometimes we should told ourselves not to worry too much over a certain things or matters, even if something bad happened to our loved ones, our trust level should not drop. Continue to believe that they will recover, and this really tells us 1 thing, i.e., life is just too fragile for every single one of us here, and we really need to cherish whatever things we have here and treasured the moment with our loved ones.. With that, I shall end off this post of mine here and busy my own stuff... Take care everyone and may God bless you in a special way.. ^_^
Victor Lim