God Gives Me The Shivers

Let's take a break from the "Kopitiam Documentary" for a bit.

Caught up with a great GREAT friend today. As we were talking about life, ministry, how we're growing in God, being challenged and stretched AND amazed by Him.. you know these are the kinds of conversations where the Holy Spirit was right there, pushing His face into our faces going, "Yeah! C'mon... stir it up!!!"

God gives me the shivers....
It's NOT mere emotion, neither is it only mental persuasion.
It's an overwhelming, uncontrollable, restlessness in your spirit that spills into your emotions..

From that, it spills over into your mind to break your human-bound-mentality.
Times like these, my body goes into like a shaking/shivering mode.. NOT convulsing, mind you.. haha ;)

but.. if I could put it that... it is as if my body [almost] cannot contain what God is feeding into my spirit.

whew...
yeah!
God gives me the shivers...

Are we open enough to Him, or close enough to Him... that just a whisper from the Holy Spirit sends a shiver down our spine...

The Backer-Uppers

**I heed your commands & requests**
Apologies. Won't present you my looooong list of valid excuses/reasons.
Let's just move on with life, eh? :)

Sooo.... back to my story.
Crucially supporting the 3 instigators were the 3 "backer-uppers" as I call them. These were the ones who weren't officially working under Youth Church at the office. But they sure were around us A LOT.
What dedication.

So ladies & gentlemen, young dudes and dudettes..
I present to you:



Backer-Upper #1 - JEANNETTE GOON
Ingenius strategy.
Come work at church office, in the Finance Department.
Close enough to keep tabs on us. Far enough to have space for her special assignments that needed to be kept secret from me (the victim).
Was on break from A-Levels. Genius on every level imaginable.. oooh!
Except when it comes to geographical orientation. That one a bit sesat.
Then again, don't know whether real or not. Could be another guise! ;)




Backer-Upper #2 - JOSHUA YONG
Incredible planning.
Broke his hand during a futsal game one Sunday. What lengths they have gone thru!
Under pretense of "needing to recover", he came to help out a lot. Did much brilliant work on his trusty laptop. But again, not being under my constant supervision as The Instigators were, he was one of their other intelligent helpers. Part-time help at the office, Full-time subordinate to Kwisty, Stephie & HeanJi (part of Darren's chinese name).




Backer-Upper #3 - HO SEK TENG
Invincible Strength.
I think his expression from this quick snapshot (from which the photographer nearly lost his balance from the sheer power of his facial pose) says enough.
Not only does he have Brain & Brawn.. He's got brains on his brawn!
This is the man who keeps the team safe... He protects them and shelters them. What a rock... Fooh!

The Instigators

Instigator #1 - Kristy Tan
Entered the "crime" scene irregularly from Jan-June 2006. Became contracted fixture from July-Dec 2006.
Background info - Completed SPM in 2005, Entered College Pre-U Program in 2007. I know.. What happened to 2006? THAT's a big clue.
Motive - Not being under a strict study plan in 2006 probably left her very active mind wandering. In effort to appease her capable mind, creative ways emerged to pass much time on her hands.



Instigator #2 - Stephanie Tham
Entered the scene in question from Aug 2006. Was pretty much consistently stuck in the picture until Dec 2006.
Background info - In A-levels from 2005-2006 (ending July). Enough said.
Motive - Brain development possibly overheated in the midst of final exams. Prospective investors had placed much hope on this one.



Instigator #3 - Darren Ong
Entered under a disguise. Possibly the entrant with the best hidden intentions. Would be good candidate for future undercover work.
Background info - Nearing completion of Bachelor's in Music (Contemporary & Arrangement).. or something along those lines. Needed 3 months of industry training/internship to complete his degree, hence the acceptance into our office from Sept-Dec 2006
Motive - As an artiste, always in need of drama and excitement. Add to that equation the possibility of having been overpressured during his final recital performance which he worked doubly hard for... potentially another "fried" case.

THESE ARE OUR PROTAGONISTS..
But they had help..
We shall feature their trusted sidekicks in due time....

-------

Actually leh, haha... :)
Missing you three at the office!!! LOTS! You were a tremendous blessing and not to mention a WHOLE GIGA-TRIGA-TON OF FUN to have around. Thank you for all your hard work and smart work. Am incredibly proud of all you did and are going to do...
Love you lots!!!!!

Why "Kopitiam"?

Some (or less) may be wondering...
"Why the theme kopitiam?"
and...
"WHY Aunty Siew Khim?" (I know... I ask myself the same question!)

As I have 'boldly consented' to the theme for this blog, - thought up by great friends & interns who were at the YC office from Sept-Dec 2006 - to every history, there is a pre-history.
As to every induction; an introduction... haha.. not really. They mean pretty much the same thing..

But annnyway,
Over the course of the next few weeks, I shall try to unravel this so-called 'interesting' story.
Should put up some pics too.
Words can paint a picture.
But a picture can paint a thousand words...
Sooo.... I think I should explore that.
Besides, I'm still learning about how to use the tools on this blogger-thingamagettinjiggywidit-site.

Stay logged on.. Until then ;)

A New Beginning I Thought Would Never Begin

Hello Hello...

Whew.. I thought I'd almost never see the day where I actually own a blog.
Amazing how far technology has come. Hmm... waitaminit..

Amazing how far I have come? HAHA...
There are many reasons I could explore in attributing a SINGLE cause to this miniscule groundbreaking event that has "impacted" the world of blogging. *ppffftttttt.....* ;)

Some possible explanations (that are purely hypothetical):
1. In a burning bush-like experience, I heard the voice of God say "Start a blog Rose. For goodness sake, get with the times."

2. I feel left out? *sniff-sniff-snort* i mean.. EVERYtime people talk about their blogs, and how they're cracking their heads on writing new articles, I don't understand what it's like. So this is part of a total make-over program for me. hmm..

3. I have WAY TOO MUCH free time on my hands.

4. I should do the world a favour by publishing my creative flava. I mean, let's do something selfless for the fledgling world of cyberspace eh?

The truth is...
JOSHUA YONG kept bugging me lah!
haha.. kidding..
But seriously.. since before he left for National Service in March of 2006, he brought up the idea. And I was adamant in NOT ever starting a blog.. Too lazy. ;)

He had all sorts of reasons I should start one. And in return for his skilled persuasiveness, I relented.
Not really for any of the good reasons he cited, it's more because of Josh's "perseverance" that I gave in.. and I mean that in a good way.

So, my dear dear Josh!! :)
I shall try my very best to be a good & well-behaved blogger.
Thank you so so much for setting this up for me.
Just because you are who you are, I'll even forgive you for calling me Aunty Siew Khim.
I can't say the same for the rest who will probably start calling me Aunty Siew Khim. *aiiyoo..* Though you're responsible for spreading this nickname, haih... since I'm your Youth Pastor, I guess I still have to forgive you. Shucks... ;) ;) ;)

Aaanyway...
THERE YOU GO! MY FIRST POST ON MY FIRST BLOG..
Hmm.. this is a year for many firsts for me.. :) :) :)