For about 1 week i haven't updated my blog. Recently, I am really occupied with my study. But, thank GOD, the worst period was behind me. I have so many things to give thanks to GOD. HE has blessed me through the difficult period of doing my 3 projects. if i look back, it's scary. I can't believe that I have gone through such a terrible thing. God has strengthened me all this while. I had about 7 days when I slept at about 7 am, 9 am or even 11 am. so, night is daytime for me and daytime is nighttime for me. I have turned to become a complete nocturnal creature. (not that I always sleep early the other time, but at least before this worst period, i always sleep before sunrise, around 5 am).

Nevertheless, I am pleased with the results of my projects. This sem i feel like an arts student, not engine student =) im taking 5 arts module, 1 lab module, 1 engine module.But somehow, i enjoy studying arts modules like econs, german, history, etc. Arts module is fun =) i enjoy it more than my chem eng modules. hehe.... maybe i chose the wrong course. being a practical person, I do not pursue what i have passion in. sometimes i think we have to sacrifice our passion for practicality reason in this very practical world.

 

Secondly, I give thanks to GOD for blessing my SEP module mapping. i got all my 11 modules approved =) YEAAAHHH!!! Thank GOD. you have no idea how crucial this approval is to me. if i got 1 module rejected, i might have to delay my graduation by 0.5 or 1 year. But, GOD has answered my prayer and has made my path straight.

Next, i thank GOD for blessing my cousin, Richard, who just got admitted to study in NTU next sem. COOL!! =) Well Done Richard! yeah, we have been praying for this for years and now it comes to reality. previously, my cousin failed to come to study in spore cos he failed the scholarship test 3 years ago. but, i told him not to give up and keep upgrading urself and keep praying. 3 years of hardwork and constant prayers was paid off!!! YEAAHH!!

Through my life experience, I realise that JESUS is my Saviour who cares about my heart's deepest desires. HE takes pleasure in grooming my "insignificant" dream. i say that my personal dream is insignificant, b'cos HE holds a much better dream and future for me, yet HE never abandons or rejects my insignificant dream =)

 

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD =)

 

   

 

Jesus has been put to shame, so we don't have to feel ashamed anymore.
The LORD has been scorned and disdained, so we dont have to be condemned.
Our Saviour has been disappointed, so we dont have to feel disappointed and bitter in hearts.
The Prince of Peace has endured all the sufferings, so we don't have to suffer anymore for our sins.
The Mighty GOD has been hurt by people close to HIM, so we don't have to feel hurt by ppl close to us anymore.
The Good Shepherd has been scarred beyond recognition and tormented with one of the cruelest method of execution in our place for the forgiveness of our sins.

So, let's give thanks to Jesus for HIS Amazing Grace. I once was blind, but now I see.
And, do not bear the cross that we are not supposed to endure cos HE has carried the cross for us. =)

  

God bless u,

andreas

 

Amplitude was just over. The concert ended with a BANG! Thanks to everybody who came, watched and supported us. I really appreciate it =)

 

And I just realise that it may be the end of my choir career as well. SO,  i dont know whether i shd be happy or sad. =)

next year I will go for SEP so, I won't be able to join KR choir anymore. I doubt that ETH Zurich has a choir. maybe got ... =)

my involvement in choir was like "accidental" yet choir has made up one of the best parts of my life. When I just joined a secondary school in spore a couple of months after i first came to spore, i was introduced with many CCAs. and there i was, signing up for a choir audition. and somehow i made it. and that was the start of a wonderful journey. And I thank GOD for that fateful day. I realised that it involved some kind of divine intervention. a BLESSING in DISGUISE!

 

In VJC choir, trained by arguably the best Vocal Instructor and Chorale Conductor in Singapore, Mr. Nelson Kway, I realised that my singing skills has improved over time. i realised that good vocal and singing can be trained one. somebody who cannot sing like me, given proper vocal training, can be a better singer. but of course, any vocal trainings will have some limitations. it will not make one better than natural talented singers around. Thanks Mr. Kway for giving me a high-quality and FREE vocal training =)  it will be VERY EXPENSIVE to get a professional vocal training anywhere. but, i could enjoy that for FREE in VJC choir. By the BEST guy some more =)  

 

I have been in choir for 6 years. and I have experienced alot ups and downs in choir. my best experience and achievement was in the Choir Olympics 2004 in Bremen, Germany with Victoria Junior College under Mr. Nelson Kway. I felt so priviledged to be in VJC choir, arguably one of the best choirs in spore, if not the best =p

i felt so privileged that being an ordinary choir boy, i can take part in the grandest international stage for choir and we won it. we got the CHAMPION title for OPEN MIXED category in the choir olympics. then we got 2nd positions for both MUSICA SACRA and CONTEMPORARY categories.

i remembered that in the MUSICA SACRA category, we were just 0.05 points behind the Russian choir, the defending champion. IT WAS SO CLOSE of getting a DOUBLE CHAMP. but i guess there was some politics involved lah. they cannot allow us to win both titles cos the Russian choir will lose face. and we are ASIAN choir, a newcomer some more, how to suddenly win 2 titles in 1 ocassion? "cannot lah..... u train harder k, and come back again next time" is perhaps the thoughts in the Jurists' heads.

 

The MUSICA SACRA has been the RUSSIA's stronghold for years. it's their tradition. Sacred church music is their culture. It's their lifestyle. THEY ARE BORN WITH THAT GENRE OF MUSIC. How can they lose it?

and they lose to an ASIAN choir from Singapore? That's hard to believe man! ASIAN culture is not akin to Sacred Music, like all those gospel songs u often heard in traditional churches.

Eventually the following CHOIR OLYMPICS 2006 in Xiamen, China. The Victoria Chorale (the CHOIR for VJC choir alumni) took revenge. They beat the Russian choir in the same category. What a shame!  =)  it's like CHINA table tennis players lose to Russian players in Olympics games. Can u imagine that? It's unimaginable yet possible =)

I really admire Mr. Nelson Kway. HE is such a talented musician with great vision. He can transform mediocre choir into a World Champion.

 

Then the following year after winning the Choir Olympics title, VJC choir clinched the BEST CHOIR title in SYF 2005. That was awesome! =) We savoured the moment when we beat our arch-rival ACJC choir flat (btw they got 4th placing behind Hwa Chong JC and Anderson Choir =) ). hehehe...... WHAT A SWEET VICTORY =)

 

Thanks Xinmin Sec Choir for planting the passion for chorale singing in my heart (i have been loving singing outside choir also)

Thanks Victoria Junior College Choir for giving me opportunity to perform on the World's grandest Chorale stage and WON it.

Thanks Kent Ridge Choir for all the fun moments and performances we have done together. =)

 

So will Amplitude be my last choir performance? Will i sing in choir no more? i don't know......... hopefully not. No matter what, I will treasure all the wonderful memories that I have as a CHOIR SINGER........ and I thank Jesus, my best friend, for making it happen in my life =)

 

The recent TLG Bible Camp was awesome =) as expected.

I missed the 1st nite cos I had german test till 8pm. Then I joined the rest the next morning. The 2nd day, the games session in ECP was fun. Games session is always the best platform for bonding - knowing each other better. The service was awesome as well, the messages from the pastors  were really heart-stirring and life-changing. Many souls re-dedicated their lives for Jesus. The great day culminated to a wild, breaking-free concert and celebration for the Amazing God. I hadn't seen such a great Praise&Worship session for quite some time, when everybody adored God with all their hearts, strengths and souls. No bounds of inferiority, no shackles of timidity. Each one of us simply focused on the Audience of ONE, and gave HIM our very best. COOL! =)  WE WANT MORE! WE WANT MORE! WE WANT MORE! 

Pastor Chris Long never failed to make the crowd go wilder and "crazier" for GOD with his self-composed impromptu Raps. Cool! I love your rappings and lyrics.

Give me a J..J..., you've got ur J...you've got ur J...

One of the many things I learn from the Bible Camp is to avoid the danger of familiarity to an extent that unconsciously I reduce the magnificent image of Jesus, the Amazing God.  

 

Now, i'm in the midst of many choir practices for the upcoming Amplitude concert. I saw an inspiring progress in our recent practices. =) yeah we are gonna outshine the other choirs at UCC. To God be the glory.