Accountability

I think accountability is a very powerful thing.

For myself, even though there's an extra layer of responsibility and obligation involved (which isn't really the point), there's an attached sense of ownership and empowerment in it too.

That when I tell a close friend that I'm gonna accomplish this by this time, I feel in myself a constructive and positive sense of urgency to get it done. Not that I'm doing it to please him but I'm doing it to uphold my core value of integrity.

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Somehow or rather after the entire Korea experience, I return home, not feeling the emotional / spiritual high's, but with greater ownership and expectation of what I can do with my life.

Like I'm more willing to surrender, sacrifice and to be stretched for God. To experience His faithfulness and to be living the abundant life which He intended me to live.

As I planned my school timetable, I know it's scarier as compared to last sem's but I feel assured and certain that it's not all about my studies, but about God.

Not negligence or ignorance, but surrender and submission unto Him.

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And I don't know why I have this feeling like something GREAT is gonna happen....

The Night Scene of Korea (this cafe has internet access, that's why)

Hey folks...right now in Korea.

The rest of the group went earlier to visit some fish market. I decided not to join them because I desperately needed to catch up on my rest.

After 1.5 hours of nap, I woke up refreshed and energised. At first, I decided to just explore the vicinity. I walked and walked, pass a police station at a cross-junction (just in case I got lost). Then suddenly, the adrenalin to be more adventurous kicked in.

I braced myself and tried to take the Korean subway.

I roughly got an idea of how their track and station system worked from their map layout. Next, I asked a local how to get to certain stations with shopping malls and all that, so she roughly explained to me in English (which was definitely a remakable effort).

Got out of the station and walked down the street, checking out their nightlife. From what I enquired from the other locals, shopping locations close at 10pm. So what's left right now are mostly convenience stores. And they have soooo many of them.

Okay...I gotta go. Cya all in Singapore soon!

Current station: Kyungsung University
Destination station: Centum City
Track/Line: Jangsan (green line)

Back from Varsity Camp...

The one very 'trademark' thing about our varsity camps is the time where people will sit around with guitars and play and sing along side one another.

And that's one of the very things which I look forward to, for each varsity camp. (not to say that the other activities are inferior, or what...)

It's been around 1 year plus since the day I started learning the guitar.

The days of:

• getting the chord fingerings right
• trying to play songs which I really love
• figuring out the rhythm (strumming patterns)
• seating and awing at how other people play sooooo well

This time round, I got to awe at how people like Pastor John or Marcus run their fingers down the fretboard.

As for myself, it's always a learning journey. And ever since I made it a point/goal/ambition to play well in that instrument, I never fail to recognise people I can learn from and absorb some tips and techniques from them.

Whenever I see someone with superior playing skills, it gives me the drive to improve and to better myself. Not to make myself look good, but to enhance my ability to express myself through music as well as to be able to pass down skills to people who want to learn as well.

I never knew I could teach people the guitar...

I'm seeing that the will to stretch your playing abilities and the conviction to learn beyond what you already know is paying off. In the coming months, I expect to see myself roughing out with the scales for soloing, in Jazz and Blues, and more dextrous finger techniques.

Just do your best, and God will handle the rest

So many times I worry. I speculate and formulate the various possible scenarios and respective consequences attached.

My mind tries to 'foresee' whatever that may happen if I do this or do that.

Whether its my service/ministry for God, studies, family, church, relationships, there's just so much we can do.

The rest I'll have to leave it to God.

I remember many months back when I was still attending my guitar lessons at church. After the morning lessons, the students headed out for lunch. And many of them are adults.

Full of wisdom and insight.

At my table was Uncle Albert who is probably in his 50's. A husband and a father with lots of experience in life.

In the midst of the strings of sentences and phrases exchanged, this came out (something like), "What should I do about the important decisions in life?"

His answer?

Do whatever you can do. Whatever you cannot do, let God handle it.

You can't control:

• whether a particular person gives you acceptance or rejects you
• what your employers think of you
• whether some folks will return to church or not
• what other people do with their lives

But all that we can't control, God can.

So, let's leave those to Him.