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A day of frowns and jaw-aching smiles

I must infinitely apologise for not updating my blog for the past couple to few weeks, but I intend to update you with a few major stories, summarized and as much to the point as I can.

A couple Sundays ago, I couldn’t be more pissed or more thrilled about my day. It started out crappy…

As you know by now I live on a hill, and the bus stop is at the foot of this hill. I planned to take a bus to Wesley Methodist Church in town, attend the service, and then visit the 2^nd Penang Company who meet in the church grounds. The idea was good, with plenty of time to travel… except I was ANNOYINGLY forgetful that day! I went down to the hill, only to find my Bible missing, so I went back up, picked up my Bible and was about to board onto the bus, only to find my WALLET missing. I left back in the room, so I went up, picked it up and went back down. About to get into another bus after 15mins of waiting, I found my wallet having no change, and my bag of change is… u guessed it… BACK UP THE HILL IN MY ROOM!!!

*&*&*^^%^%^#%$

I was thinking “God, should I still go to church or not? I’m so exhausted and ticked about myself!” Normally I would just give up about going to church, but the little voice in my head comforted me and told me that I should go to church, and this time I will be rewarded when I get there…. Soooo… off to church I went. I was 10 mins late for the service, but I went in anyway, and found myself so comforted in its sanctuary… the Spirit of God was there, and I was hugged with His love… I shed tears of joy for being there.

If it weren’t for the fact that child baptism was acknowledged, I would be a Methodist. The ritual is so much respected and you can literally feel the Lord’s presence accepting every display of faith through doing something in one spirit, one fellowship.

My fellowship after was wonderful… I missed the times in FBC when there would be food and drink and long talks with friends and friends’ parents. People really wanting and actually made time to fellowship with one another. It was round after round of coffee, cake and fried rice. Because I told the lady who offered I was observing lent, she literally picked every piece of meat off a plate of fried rice so that I could eat. Such a wonderful family of God.

Attended 2^nd Penang meeting. Was thinking it was going to be a normal meeting… but lo and behold…

Captain: We have a special day today

Me: …

Captain: Today we’ll be meeting the previous captains of 2^nd Penang, including Mr Paul Jubly, the FOUNDING CAPTAIN!

Mr Paul Jubly and the other Captains gave a talk each, after which it was free fellowship. I had the joyest time riding on their stories, imagining the days of old, rustic… where the BB idea was only a few years old.

I thank God so much for such opportunity to chip off knowledge from these elders of BB, and I have learned one key thing about that day… is that when you make an effort to glorify God in rightful manner, He will reward you with His choices blessings for each and everyone of us.

So guys with bad days, girls with those blue times… I hope you’re encouraged knowing that God will take everything that you do into account, and will teach and reward you accordingly, ten to a thousand fold you will ever expect.

My thoughts while i'm in a bus...

My thoughts while I’m in a bus.

In penang, I’ve been taking a lot of busses, due to the fact that I don’t have a car here. Sure a class mate of mine (James) would give me a ride once in a while, but I still take a lot of busses. But it wasn’t until the time I took the bus from Manjung back to Penang that I started thinking about this… and the funny thing is I’ve been thinking about it EVERYTIME I get on the bus.

My first thoughts were of course of my friends and family. I pray for them everyday according to my version of the rosaries. The first three beads after the cross are for my dad, mom and sis. Then I start praying all around. For Church… I pray that the ministries will prosper. For random things and people I feel the burden to pray for like my friends I made in Doulos, or the little children in Cambodia, or the lost souls in the metropolises. For BB I pray the longest. I pray that this joyous year will not be undermined for simple celebrations, but a true time of thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness, and to be a shining light to others, that those who are lost in the dark may come back to the truth that is through Jesus Christ.

My next thoughts were about my future… pastors don’t get paid well. It’s an underlining fact, no lies about it. Ask a pastor if he gets paid well he’ll either laugh or he’ll say it’s enough, or if he’s really holy, “the Lord provideth”… and why not? I don’t mind low pay, I have rather small desires… heck my handphone had to be given to me that I may change from my legendary thief whooping Nokia 3315. So I just continue to pray that whatever God gives me, and wherever God takes me, I’ll be satisfied and well provided according to His will.

This brings me to my next thought, and this takes a long time for me to calm down from… Is in His will for me to marry and have a family of my own? I start to pray and seek for an answer because I want to know. The verse that always come to me is that if I live in the life the Lord wants me to be, He will give me my hearts desire…

I’ll be honest to you guys, because it is both my weakness and my reason to get married… I do not wish to uphold celibacy. I know in my heart that if I remain single, I can do stupid things, and breaking it is a possibility. Jesus said, the moment you think of your kindred in an unruly and lustful manner, it is LIKE committing adultery already. From this, I confess that I am adulterous.

It’s not that I think of women as mere sex tools to give me pleasure, a trigger for the shot of oblivion. “Pleasure in marriage is the benefit of a responsibility of a lifetime that is marriage.” I FIRMLY believe in marriage, and sex only for the married.

Instead, I rather think of a woman as a beautiful creation of God, more than man… If we think God made a lot of effort on man, look at the woman. He took one of man’s ribs AND mould her with His bare hands! God certainly made a lot of effort ! I can relate to the literal description of Solomon’s Songs, because women, never say how ugly you are or what needs to be fixed, but how beautifully and wonderfully made you are.

I also find the symbolism of God and the Church coming together in marriage to create a new Jerusalem is such a beautiful thing, therefore marriage and sex and kids as beautiful symbols of a new generation that is for God, like Jerusalem.

You may call me a prick, a pervert, a romantist, I don’t care… the one thing I cannot be (i think) is single… YET…

I think of the girls and women of today… so ambitious, high in standards, demanding a life worth living in independence, and how marriage is actually an optional upgrade. Doctors get married due to their success in their lifestyles and careers… sure some or more of them get divorced after, but the point is they had the option to get married in the first place…

Who would marry a young (God Willing) pastor, whose pay in five years of his life would be a secular working girl’s first pay-cheque? Now I did say and will continue to say, that it is enough for me… but it wont be enough for two. My “wife” will have to work till retirement, we will certainly want kids, and I cant support her fully in the midst of the labour, the child-bearing… it pains me to know that.

I want my wife to be happy… and I want my wife to work in whatever she pleases. I don’t want her to work just for the money, but I want her desires holds precedence. I had teachers who taught me in Damansara Utama who’s there just because they have nothing better to do at home, and they like to teach. Husband earns MORE than enough for everyone in the family.  So even if the teacher’s pay is sucky, they don’t care. They like the job. I want to give my wife that kind of security and desire. I want my wife to work just because she wants to work, she has that passion for it. But when she too tired and wants to stop, I want to be ready whenever that she can actually does so… But with a pastor’s pay… I don’t think it’ll be enough.

Next I think of the kids… will they ever have enough on their plates, education, to live like happy children? I know for sure that there will come times that I will wish I had enough to bless my child with the good things he/she wants… but I wont be able to. I have countless friends who want to be doctors, want to save lives. They have sufficient grades for it, only not enough money. In the end they become… accountants, nurses, lawyers… they do alright… but from the very beginning… they just work because they couldn’t afford their dreams. And the KIDS will hate me for that.

God I know you will provide for me… grant me the strength and courage to know that you will provide for my family, if it is Your will for me to have one. Girls, I’m not out of the market, I’m just for certain tastes, and your earthly goals for me would have to be rather little. But this I solemnly swear with God as my Witness and Provider… that if we get married, I will lay my life down for you, and sacrifice whatever’s necessary for your happiness and the kids’ happiness. Because I will love you, and will try to love you as much as God for the Church.

Jesus I lay these as well as my life into Your hands and I pray that the burden in my heart for these thoughts would be relieved as they are or will be fulfilled.

Whatever You will in my life, O Lord, do what You wish… Amen.

Greetings From Penang

Hei guys… finally I post something…. It’s not that there was nothing for me to write about… in fact there was too much to write about to the point that I didn’t have the time or stamina to keep up to the activities themselves, let alone post about em. So, without furtherer due, here goes nothing…

First of all… November and December holidays rocked… it was NCO Retreat, where we spent good time wisely deciding on what to do for 2008… man it’s a full year... I’m freakishly excited… you’ll see when it comes, it’s gonna be a bang.

Guys, my expectations are high, but possible… keep the flame, keep the stamina to pray… for with God, all things are possible.

Moving on was FBC Youth Camp: TRANSFORM US! It was a really cool camp… teaching us not to conform to worldly thinking, but be transformed with renewed minds in-line with God (Romans 12:2)

(for those who doesn’t know until now, First Baptist Church is my actual church… sure I visit FGA very frequently… but my home church and ministry is in FBC… now don’t take it the wrong way… I love FGA… it got me back to Christ, it was my love affair… but it also showed me what FBC is missing out on…which is why I hope to go back there and help)

Oh… in between I was working for BBHQ… publications and stuff like that… so my months were rather busy… until my Monash results came out.

I admit I didn’t do well.. and I admit again that I didn’t do my best… but I must also admit.. as interesting as the subjects maybe… two things:

1. the lecturers suck
2. I had no passion for it

So with that I approached my dad… and finally, I spoke the truth… I said “Dad, if this keeps up, I rather work full time in BB and take part-time courses with FGA’s bible college or something… I’ll be a lot closer to doing what I really want, compared to what I’m going through.”
Dad went berserk and walked off… but when he come back… he looked rather contented with his idea… so he shared. He believes in studying full-time, then working full-time. That way, concentration wont be divided. So, with that he told me that he’ll only enroll me in a Seminary in Penang, where I’ll stay and study for three years… but I have three conditions:

1. No more BB weekly activities
2. No more Church dedications
3. 100% for seminary studies.

Amazingly enough, I agreed. I felt so at peace. I thought sure, it’ll be far, I’ll miss my friends, I’ll miss my heart’s desire, but it’ll be closer to what I want to do, what God wants me to do. Yup, I’m convicted that I’m called to serve God full time, without a moment to spare. With that, I went for the interview on the 19th… signed the dotted line, and now I’m a student of Malaysian Baptist Theological Seminary, Batu Feringghi, Penang.

I know most of you only knew my leaving like earliest like, a week plus ago… that’s because the interview was most important… if I didn’t make the interview, no point me putting all your hopes up until confirm right?

So hence my greetings from Penang… I came up a few days ago (Thursday), orientation starts tomorrow (Monday), and so does my adventure.

To be continued… gotta sleep now.. in the meantime.. God Bless you all.

In the midst of the Raya season...

It’s now almost half past two… Got back from mamak about an hour ago, unfortunately my mom caught me cos she couldn’t sleep and was watching national geographic…. Darn… Anyway, I watched with her a hari raya special… it was about the Haj.

Though tiring and dangerous it may seem, every man and woman under the crescent of Islam must perform this massive, yet personal pilgrimage to get back in-tune with God. All I can say is… ought we Christians have the same diligence to God everyday of our lives? Let’s go through the ritual of Muhammad s.a.w. and see what can we Christians learn.

They start at Mecca: They all start at the beginning of all things.

Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus also said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”  Therefore, in all our things, we must go back to the beginning of it all… that “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, but he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

They run where Haggai ran:  There’s a length of ground where pilgrims quick-paces up and down, just like Haggai did in search of water for her son, Ismail. This is to signify that God provides to those who seek.

Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:12-14) Jesus also said “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”(Matthew 7:7-9). We oughta be mindful that God provides what we need when we need it, according to His will. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

They communicate in Arafat: They would walk 16km to a place where Muhammad receives his callings, and where he gave his last sermon. It was about submission and expectation. There people would receive conviction, mercy, forgiveness, the spirit of God, so powerful, it’s like He is speaking right at you, in the midst of the millions around.

Jesus is so personal that He wants a personal relationship with you, He wants you to love Him as much as He does to you. We ought to seek His voice, His calling, His presence, His love, and everyday, especially in church services. When two or three are gathered in His name, He Himself will come into our presence. The sermon of shared for the day ought to be the words of God Himself.

We ought be convicted and comforted as often as possible. We ought to have expectations that God want YOU, as much as the person next to you. He forgives you no matter how far away you may be…. How wonderful is that?

They head back to cast the demons out: Muslims then head back to cast stones to the pillars that represents the devil and his temptations as an act against Satan’s hold.

Jesus said: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”(Matthew4:10). When temptation comes, when we are asked to compromise our beliefs and convictions, ought we stand for our Lord and say on HIM I shall serve?

They cut their hair, and offer a sacrifice: The Muslims then cut their hair as a public display of devotion. Then they make an offering of sacrifice as Ibrahim did when He received a ram. “Ibrahim receiving the ram from God, is like we receiving a bounty from God.  From our work to our families. From this, we ought to give back a part to God as an offering of thanksgiving” (Devout Muslim)

The Bible said: “But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter” (Jeremiah 11:19) we ought to be thankful for the great sacrifice the Father gave; that is His ONLY SON. And with that, we get baptized, we take communion, we tithe as testimonies of faith, as renewing your covenant with God, and with contributing back to God for the furtherance of His kingdom.

By now you ought be asking “Mark, what they do once or a lil more in their lives we do likewise almost every week, everyday. Exactly… that’s the thing. The key difference is not the ritual or the symbolism behind it. Rather, it’s the spirit that they did this, and the spirit we have when going to church or living a Christian life.

So the next time you go to church, or when you’re living your everyday life:

1. Always be mindful of God.
2. Seek Him everyday for forgiveness, conviction and comfort.
3. Resist temptation. Stay in the light of God, and command the devil to go away.
4. Live a life that would declare that you are the vessel of your testimony and faith to God, so that others may see God in you.

Remember. God wants you to be still and know that He is with you, He will never leave You, nor forsake you. Take sometime to be quiet and hear Him uttering that promise in your ear. Tell Him how much you love Him and pray that He will be your rod and staff to teach you, to keep you near Him as you walk hand in hand to greener pastures.

Tagged

Tagged

Got tagged by Xin Wei...

Seven things to be done before my death.
1. Be a teacher and inspire “eager young minds” (John Nash)
2. Be a pastor in a church
3. Go to

Jerusalem

for pilgrimage
4. Be a missionary, full time or part time
5. Touch lives with the love of Jesus Christ
6. Get married… two to three kids... up to wife mostly
7. Live for God above all else

Seven things I will NOT do even if it kills me.
1. Gamble
2. Smoke
3. Misuse drugs
4. Say I’m not Christian
5. Commit suicide
6. Over-drink
7. Cheat on my wife/girlfriend

Seven things I do when I'm away from the public.
1. Pray
2. Write stuff to share or even preach
3. Read
4. Worship God on my own
5. Indulge in books
6. Do assignments?
7. Walkabout (as in walk to discover new experiences)

Seven fav sentences/quotes. (/expressions)
1. Get there before I do!!!
2. Make haste, at the double!!
3. Holy Helen of

Troy

!!
4. Harrr...
5. Whaliao..
6. Dunno.
7. What are you guys talking about?

Seven favourite songs from all time
1. Underneath the Banner
2. Will Your Anchor Hold
3. Planet Shakers
4. Hillsongs
5. Live Like You Were Dying
6. Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas)
7. Classics and Opera like those of Domingo, Pavarotti, Hayley Westenra, Charlotte Church, etc…

Seven things I'll make you wish you didn't do if you did.
1. Screw up my assignments before I hand them in
2. Anything that goes against God
3. Harm my family and friends
4. Work in an office all day long forever
5. Take any mathematical subjects for an elective
6. Wear a pink shirt
7. Overindulge in anything pleasurable

Seven people to tag.
1. Glorie
2. Becky
3. Hannah/ Heather (Becky’s sister… forgot which name… :-p )
4. Kenny
5. Seki
6. Ian
7. You reading my blog… :-P

Times of great memories… ;-)

Sigh.... recently a few small, but memory-flashback worthy stuff has happened to me.

U see, it's mid-september, and this means a few things:

1. It' been over a year since i last saw my Douloid frens, including the Malaysian ones.
2. My 'bosses' when i was onboard Doulos has finished their term onboard and now back in their hometowns (except for one, who i will definitely talk about later)
3. It's almost the time for my best friend went back and had to go back to Jolly Old England
4. It's almost exactly a month since another fren and i haven't been in talking terms, though i suppose now we're back to our "mute" time like we were before i went aboard Doulos.

All these things are somewhat related because it's occured around now, and they all evolve around a little, old, WONDERFUL home called Doulos.

I believe it was Chris Le Roux, my "Daddy" on Doulos, who said that our group was one of the most closely-knitted groups he has ever taken care of... and now i understand. We actually MISS each other, all our experiences and fellowship together. I miss the work, I miss the fellowship, I miss full-time ministry.

Chris Le Roux was in India helping out a Healing Ministry… He’s now back in South Africa praying and waiting for his next calling. I pray for him frequently, and I hope to see him again and be like him one day… life in the hands of God, allowing Him to do what He pleases without a worry in the world.

Another man I should mention is my Bosun (similar to Sergeant Major on the ship), James Seychelles from Malta. He brought his young family with him and I can say that I have never met a more God centered man and family in my life. He’s back in Malta… now “lengthening his tents and strengthening his poles”… He’s studying again… to be a teacher and a first-aid personnel… he used to be a nurse in the army, but he doesn’t want to go back to the service… doesn’t want to be tied down to a contract… he wants to go back into the mission field… to save lives, one by one… He’s another person I hope to meet again and become like someday… With wife and kids serving God, yet have enough to live comfortably.

In a few days I’ll be sending off my best friend who’s going back to England to continue his studies. Sigh… last time I couldn’t send him off as I was onboard the ship before he left… he’s been back for about a month, and on the days I’m on holiday, the only thing I can do with him now is send him to KLIA… how ironic and heartbreaking is that? Well, praise God for easy communication, so we stay in touch when we can… But I do miss him being here in person. Come back soon.

My other friend… this one… is special to me… in a corner of my heart who I didn’t know was there till I was actually going off… so when I got back I appreciated our friendship a lot more, making us better friends lil by lil… but my bad mouth of saying wrong things at the wrong times (that’s right people… PLURAL… I’m such an idiot) got us back to the quiet stage as we were before I got back from the ship, now harder to meet eye to eye… well it was a while before we talked like that… I suppose I can wait again… but the life sharing we had… i dunno, but to me it makes it a bit harder to stay away or stop talking to each other again. But I’ll be patient. God as my witness I only hope to be friendly again to my friend… but I’ll have to stop using shooting my mouth so much. Bad for health.

Finally I’m growing a bit tired… must take the opportunity to sleep…

Ciao guys, The Lord lifts up His countenance towards you and give u peace… Amen

I suppose it's time...

Had Enrolment and Awards Day today... it was a rather simple service, was so glad that the people that i so admire came...Madam Angie, Dato Liew, Mrs Koh, Elder Ang and Mrs Ang, Mr Eric Tan, Mr Terence Tay, Captains Tan CK and Koh... the crowd was rather small, but the spirits within all of us were big... having great expectiations of this year's humble E&A...

After the Color Party March in, Praise and Worship was led by SSGT Alvin and gang (great job guys). Then came the Commision of New Colors. 10KUL is a rather unique Coy in a sense that for 10 years we've been using the flag as a color. Normally as a new color replaces the old one, the old one get de-commisioned, and the new one take it's place... But since the flag needs to continue to have it's commision as a flag, we had to do something special, whereby the new Color is Commisioned, but it's then placed on the right side of the flag. However, it'll be the last time the flag will be used as a Color... How memorious... I've grown fond of that flag.

After that comes the enrolment service, then a series of presentations including Senior Section's drama presentation "Charcoal Black" (fantastic), Junior Section Silent Drill Team (coool) and Pre Junior sing and dance piece. In between, awards were presented from botttom up... Congratulations to all those who achieved well.

The highlight of the event was of course, the promotions. Heartiest Congratulations to:

CPL to SSGT:
Tommy Chan Ka Weng

LCPL to SGT:
Tai Xin Wei

CPL to SGT:
Debbie, Ian and Makarios

LCPL to CPL:
Galen, Hanley, Ivan, Joseph Wong and Matthias Lu

PTE to LCPL:
Aaron Chong, Aaron Heng, Amanda Wong, Sean Joel,Leonard Lee, Benjamin Yap and Ashley Tan (thanks Xin Wei and Ian, for reminder)

But the most unexpected thing was when suddenly there was this thing on the slides below "Promotions of NCOs". It said: Appointment of new Warrant Officers...

....from Staff-Sergeant to Warrant Officer... MARK TAN!

I was speechless... I was and still am having mixed feelings about my appointment... It feels so surreal... I mean, I'm honored to be given the appointment... but... I'm gonna miss being in Blues... I mean, today was the last day i'll wear blues. After seven years of serving and be served in Blues, it's time for me to hang it, and put on the humble yet honorific whites. What am i going to do with all my uniform parts?

Congratulations to Pui Kuan, Ben Gan and Daniel who got appointed WOs with me as well.

It's so weird:
I don't have to get up early to polish ever again.
I don't get to participate in any competition or presentation
I'll have to attend Officer Council Meeting AND NCO Council Meeting as a fixed detail
I won't be practicing drill so vigorously... Oh God...
People will actually SALUTE me

I hope to be a living example of God's Glory to my Boys and Girls, and I hope to never fail my dearest Officers... Captain Tan, Madam Angie, Madam Mag... so many to name... but to all who know me well... know that I won't let you down, with God as my Helper.

PLA's 80th Annivesary

“Was” and “Am” suppose to work on my presentation tomolo… but I ended up watching a musical dedication to the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China. Though I didn’t know the words, the voices were beautiful; the depiction of parts of history was spectacular. I was tearing by the end of it…

Two depictions really caught my eye:

1. It’s the Communist War in the middle winter, and a platoon is stranded for a while. It’s cold, wet, and gray. But the love they had for each other and their country kept them warm. Everyone past canisters of water to the sick area, and was given to the injured. One time there was an apple being passed around. All everybody did was look at it, saw how delicious it looks, and then passed it down. No one ate it in the end.
   
2. A part of the Three Gorge damn sprung a leak, and a village of 2 million was about to drown. Thankfully it was coming in slow, but within 2 days, the city will be flooded. While people were running away, the army was running IN! They manually made a dike, 200ft long; four feet wide… they worked on it for the whole two days… they were tired, exhausted to the bone, it looked like it’ll take forever. But, the went on… they staked red flags, and officers near and far were shouting unity slogans. The General of the army came in and gave words of encouragement, saying:
   “The people of China rest on our shoulders, we are the definitive point between failure and success… We will not fail our families. We will not fail our people. We will not fail our Great Nation.”
   When they finished, one of the NCOs went up to the speakers and said “If I had to do it all over again, right now, for our country once again, I’ll see you guys in the water”

Can you feel the esprit-de-corps? The sacrifice? The willingness to go beyond life and death just for the future of their “Great Country?” Their goal was just for their country… How much more should we be as Christians, servant to the Almighty God that can make all the armies of the world together look like a small, insignificant platoon? How much more for us who are suppose to lift our heads high, for we serve the Living King, full of splendor and majesty? How much more for us to be of good cheer though in battle against the devil, for the battle’s already won?

Sigh…

Father, I just want to thank you for reminding me that we are capable of great things and wonders. Father even as man alone, serving for a mere cause and not for you, they already move the land to their bidding, for their “everlasting unity of the people.” Father I pray that I can stand up tall, fight the good fight, and have the guts to die for You, just as they did, if not more than the PLA. If they can do so many things for the sheer love for each other, I pray to be able to do ten-fold of what they do, for starters! For with You Lord, nothing is impossible!

Guide us, dear God, to stand up for you. To wave our banners high and proud, for we serve You O Lord, our Great Captain, and we should never be ashamed.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

–Psalm 121 –

KL International Tattoo

Hei guys, just a quick shout-out on something interesting.

Kuala Lumpur State will be hosting an International Tattoo Presentation, consisting of Military Bands of the Commonwealth, and invited Bands such as Jordan, South Korea, USA and the Philippines.

I’m planning to go on the main day. Which is a Saturday evening (September 8) starting from 5pm. The ticket price is RM 5 (upper terrace), and RM 10 (lower terrace). Still figuring which one would I prefer, up-closeness or a good overall view.

Anyways, anyone interested please let me know latest by next week so I can organize the details if we’re a large number going.

Now let me tell you that I don’t think it’ll be anywhere near like Edinburgh Military Tattoo. First of all Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been going on for over 150 years, while this is KL’s first time. But I want to support our hosting, that it might occur annually and improve to even Edinburgh quality. So for those who takes band for more than just a BB activity, do join me in promoting this potential legacy that is Kay-eL.

Here’s the link:

http://maf.mod.gov.my/kltattoo/index.php

God Bless Malaysia.

Got Tagged

Got tagged for the first time. Thanks Eunice… ;)… well here goes. Btw, I owe you guys a whole lot of updates. But, I dun seem to need to blog it since I already shared about em all. Will see lah. Body: 1. 1.Your name plus "ness"? Mark-ness, though I prefer Mark-ism 2. Two feelings at the moment? A lil concerned for some ppl, but just happy for the week that’s gone by. 3. What are you listening to right now? Rain-drops outside my window. Rather therapeutic. 4.Done anything you regret so far this week? Yea… didn’t go to FGA this week. Overslept. :P But at least I joined some friends for breakfast. 5. Describe where you are right now? My room. Rather messy, but in a homey way, not cluttered. 6.The highlight of your week? Sri Sempurna Musical. Great job guys! 7. What are you craving to have right now? An adventurous holiday. 8. Who were the last people you ate with? my family and a pastor from NZ. Wonderful man, yet another testimony of God’s Providence. 9. What are you scared of? Something, but dunno wat 10. Last movie you watched? The Pacifier. 11. Last songs you sang out loud? Assuredly Yours 13. Are you thinking of someone right now? Yea. Just rather concerned for this person. 14. Who is the last person you talked to? Parents. 15. Last thing you downloaded on your computer? Musicnotes Player Program. Rather cool. But gonna delete it off, cos to fully utilize it I gotta pay money. 16. Have you changed much this year? Quite a bit… Changed ambition, thinking things differently now. 19. Hug or kiss? I love hugs, I love the warmth of others. Kiss… perhaps intimately and between family members. Never had the liberty to try it out recently… ;P 20. Last time you cried? Last year. God hit me real hard to wake me up. Never felt so good. 21. Friends? or Lover? Friends, but when I do have a gf/ if I get a wife, she of course has more priority. But I wouldn’t trade my friends for my gf. 22.Who do you wish to talk to right now? Not gonna tell. 23. Who was the last person to text message you? caleb george. I hope to buy his bass guitar to pick up. :D 24. Where was the last place you went to besides where you are? Kajang Satay Stall in Damansara Uptown. Ate only the timun and rice though… Fasting meat for now. 26. Do you speak any other language other than english? Malay. Embarrassingly enough I cant speak a full sentence of any Chinese dialect. Hope to change that. 27. Last thing you watched on TV? The Pacifier. 28.Do you dress for style or comfort? More for comfort, but when need to dress-up, I will. I actually like wearing a suit or costume once in a while. 29. Name someone with the same b-day as you? Makarios Wong, John Harvard, the founder of Harvard University, and Admiral (R) Jeremy Boorda, US Navy. Became admiral through rank and file. Not easy to do that. Imagine lah… From Private to General. 30. Ever had a drunken night in mexico Been drunk, but never in Mexico. When u’re drunk, it doesn’t matter where u are, u’ll be sick to ur stomach the next day. 31. Whats the craziest thing you've done? I don’t think wat I’ve done so far in life’s been crazy, although my friends would say otherwise, so go ask them. 32. Favorite color(s)? Blue, Black, White. 33. What's your favorite cereal character? Cap’n Crunch. Havent had that cereal in a long while. 34. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song? Dunno the name, but it was the theme song for Free Willy. Other than that “don’t stop till you get enough” and “Bad”. 35. Who do you love? God, Family, 10th KL and Friends. Note, no order of preference. 36. Any plans right now? Not really. 37. What are your plans for tonight? Probably get some work done and go to bed early. Oh, will run a laundry to hang tomolo. 38. What are you looking forward to tomorrow? The weekend….:p Got a good feeling about it. Dunno why. 39. Last time you were happy sincerely? I’ve been happy sincerely all around. Cos I’m rather honest about my feelings. 40.Last time you smiled? While chatting with family and Pastor Mike from NZ. 41. Who do you wanna be with right now? A friend in particular. 42. Last book u read? Read a bit of Bible. Need to read today’s Merdeka Devotional. 43. Your ambition? Teacher. I love youth work. Hope to teach Accounting and Kemahiran Hidup. Then (God Willing), I wanna pastor a youth church. 44. Can u drive? Yup 45. Last time you wore a cap? BB cap on Saturday, baseball cap was awhile back while in Teluk Intan. now tag 5 people.. 1. Debbie 2. Ian 3. Ben 4. Enid 5. Glorie