The Nigel Chua Blog

my dad's trying to 'apek-lise' me!

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:07:00 +0000

Argh! I think me dad's really trying to make me an apek
I mean, I know I'm married but...but still!!
He made me wear one of his polo tees recently
Coupled with my work pants and slippers
I look the exact replica of a wannabe apek!
Argh...this is so embarrassing...

Frustrations

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Argh....!! It's so frustrating... I really hate it when people imposes their values upon me, and pushing me in a direction where I have to answer people for their own (mis)interpretations of information. It's really so annoying. I don't think I really need to bear responsibility for what someone else's feel, think or interpret a certain message, for the thought is their own, the feeling is their own, the interpretation is their own. Especially when I am quite sure that the message that was crafted was created in the most neutral, non-malicious, perhaps humorous and self-depreciating manner too, I believe. Yet, now individuals come to me and ask me to take responsibility of not being sensitive to the needs of some certain individuals who are hurt by the neutral speech was taken quite well by at least 85% of the crowd. Now what should I do? Sigh. Perhaps, I should do a little PR, service recovery and do what I can. Still...I believe individuals should take responsibility for their own thoughts, feelings, actions and responses. It is one's own, isn't it? It doesn't matter what the world throws at you, but it's how you respond to it. Hmm, now come to think about it, perhaps I can handle this better, perhaps I can do better then, than to simply react like this. Mmm. A little service recovery and PR shouldn't harm, but should encourage and edify people a little. Yet, I still believe people should take charge of their own feelings, thoughts and actions.

Whew! It's been some crazy rush in August 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Whoa! Just giving this post the title kinda says something about the month of august doesnt it? For all who doesnt know, for the last five months, your friend here *me* has been juggling between working halfday, attending bible school in City Harvest Bible Teaching Centre and planning and organising and liaising his wedding event along with his lovely fiancee (now wife =p), his parents, her parents, our great coordinators Gershon and Eliza, as well as mobilising many many of our friends who were graciously willing to help us make all our dreams come to pass. We will also release a "Thank You" post later, to thank each and everyone who had contributed in some ways or another a la 'different efforts, equal sacrifice' for our wedding.

Well, we had had the wedding just last saturday (will post on it later too), and graduated from bible school on the sunday after. Thank God for great cell group members who had supported us on our wedding day by attending and helping us with and on our wedding day instead of running busy with SOT graduates. Next step: Water Baptism come 29th August.

What can we say? August 2009 is indeed filled with many events, but we realised it aint the big stuff that makes everything worthwhile, its what and who we experience in between, that is the most important. Louise and I were just talking, and we were speaking about being so thankful for friends who are so gracious, so loving, and so supportive - people we've known all our lives; some whom we've known for a short while, but loves us nonetheless; friends who are willing to fly distances to come to show support to us, we love you so much too.

'i thought you're indian'

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:48:00 +0000

interestingly, someone called me an indian
just a couple of weeks ago
and I took a good look at myself in the mirror
and wondered 'do i?'
hahahaha
its a good laugh to me
which part of me look indian man?
But its ok
I forgive the sister. :)

(Picture courtesy of Google Images)

'why the confidence?'

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:40:00 +0000

its not really confidence
or even if it is
it is not a knowing of myself
it's more of a (re)assurance I have
that I know that I know that I know
that my God is good
that He loves me, cares for me
that He sent His son to save me
and now that I'm free,
that I'm on His side
if God's for me then who can be against me?
Lord, remember me always.

getting better now - back to work

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:40:00 +0000

now that i'm getting slightly better
as mentioned in my previous post
it's time to get back to all my
backlogged work that's been accumulating
for my darling benefit
wha ha ha ha
let's see, counting on my hand
1) preaching test wednesday
2) exam on SOTM and FFM1 AND FFM2
3) Assignment (thank God i finished it)
I think of all, next week will probably be the heaviest week ever
Mmm. Let's pray hard hard.
Guys in the mission field, we're praying for you
Shine for Jesus amen?

sick

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:07:00 +0000

i have been sick for the past four days
and it has been so miserable
home bound and limited ADLs
coughing and sputtering
and even unable to go to bible school and work
la miserable
now i'm feeling slightly better
and realised that there's so much work backlogged
so much so much so much!
and irritatingly, i cant sit up long enough to do them
i think it's limited activity tolerance
probably deconditioning, due to prolonged bedrest
and the medication was not very nice
especially having to chew the antacids
yes, well, they could have been worse, but still
and i got a jab
on me butt.
the doctor was nice and smooth in injecting
what a feint he used!
well, i think i'm in the final throes of the sickness
should be okay enough to go to school and work on the morrow
like finally.
can't afford the time to miss too much.
=)

Wedding Suit

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Finally got my wedding suit
Been hunting for somethign suitable for ages!
Gone to Massimo Dutti, Zara, Top Shop (nothing)
G2000 (didn't like the cutting and design)
Been going high and low and everywhere
In orchard, bugis, raffles place
Man, i tell you, it was hectic
And today was likewise another one of those days
And we ran up and down
We were in orchard for a whopping eight hours!
Can you imagine - 8 straight hours of shopping
Searching, discussing, looking, trying, testing
But finally, we got a suit for myself
Looking fine, old chap. =)

"Nobody LIKE you"

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:04:00 +0000

I was suddenly reminded
Of a funny incident
One of my friend's gay friend
Was asking her idea what to buy
For his boyfriend
And my friend saw a nice card
Decent, nice graphic art
And most of all,
A nice statement/slogan, saying

"You're unique - no one like you."

And he bursted out into a balk
Saying with a loud wailing voice

"You want him to break up with me ah?
Here it says no one LIKE him!!!"

I think he thought that that statement meant
No one likes his boyfriend...
I just bursted out laughing
Now where did that thought come from?

waking up with a splitting headache aint fun

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:55:00 +0000

precisely the point
i woke up this morning
with a splitting headache
painful, i tell you.
perhaps, its because of the many many nights
of crunching keyboard keys
or the constant reading and working
or simply...lack of sleep.
Ha ha ha.
Life goes on. =p

re-organisation

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:38:00 +0000

i'm having such a huge burden
cos i was looking back at my blog entries
and i think i need to organise better
the categories that i tend to use
to give my blog a little more order
oh well.

YES GOD!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Just last weekend I managed to squeeze time to watch this show called ‘Yes Man,’ starring Jim Carrey. How many of you had watched it? In the show, Jim Carrey was always saying no to everything, and everyone, always having excuses. By some sheer chance, he attended a “YES MAN” seminar, and there was a moment when the speaker knocked him on the head with the microphone, and told him, “You say no to life, and that’s why you’re not living. Everytime an opportunity presents itself, you will say…YES!” The show went on to show how his life changed after he adopted a YES MAN approach to life.

As I was watching the show, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. He asked me, “Nigel, do you know how many people say no to Me every single day? There is more who says “No God, no time. Busy. Cant. And those who says yes, half drops out halfway. They don’t know Me. You want to know Me more, want to know how to grow your faith – become like Jim Carrey in the show. It’s really about it’s really about obedience, that no matter what circumstance that you’re in, you’d trust in Me.” Do you know what God just said? He said that He’s looking for a “YES GOD” person!”

Let us pray. Father, use me today to speak Your word in season, and may it glorify You and bring us up to the next faith level. Amen.

Today I will be sharing a message on faith, and it’s called: “YES GOD!” Tell your friends beside you, you’ll be blessed by the message.

Faith grows from strength to strength with every YES GOD moment.

Let’s look into the life of Abraham, in the chapter of Genesis. How many of us know that Abraham is “the father of faith?” Did you know that Abraham was a super YES GOD man? Abraham lived in a time of no bibles, no cell groups nor cell group leaders, no megachurches and great music bands, yet he is THE father of faith.

Turn with me to Genesis chapter twelve, verses one to three
[give them time, 3 seconds, then ask if they have reached there yet].

Here, God spoke to Abraham, saying, (read out).
“Get out of your country, From your family,
From your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you
And make your name great And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you and Curse those who curse you
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Basically God said, leave Singapore, leave your parents, go drive a car or something, just leave and I’ll show you where to go as we go along. And how did Abraham respond? Immediately, read out aloud for me, verse 4, starting now.
‘So Abraham departed as the Lord had spoken to him.’ (v4)

See friends, this was Abraham’s first ‘YES GOD’ moment in the bible. By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place he would receive as an inheritance, not knowing where he was going. This requires some basic faith, SIMPLE FAITH, trusting in the Lord for his future.

Let’s go to his second ‘YES GOD’ moment. Turn with me to Genesis chapter seventeen, verses ten to eleven. Here God instructed Abraham to circumcise every male in his family. Abraham told God, “Lord, circumcise? Ok, guys, lets all cut NOW.” Don’t believe me? Turn with me to verse twenty-three to twenty-four.

“Abraham circumcised all the male, himself included that very same day…”

Who knows that circumcision, slicing flesh from an intimate area is painful, and it’d take more than basic faith to go through it? Abraham’s faith had grown from simple faith, to SURRENDER FAITH.

One last verse. Turn with me to Genesis chapter twenty-two, verse two. God sought to test Abraham, asking him to burn his son Isaac as an offering in Moriah.

Abraham said… “YES GOD”.

God tested Abraham, asking him to sacrifice Isaac by burning him. What did he do? He woke up early to prepare to obey the Lord, no questions asked. All parents love their children, even more than themselves. What more, for Abraham, who had waited patiently and with love for Isaac for twenty-five years? Yet, he said YES GOD, you can have my son. How many of us know that God wants us to keep growing our faith to the next level? We can see that Abraham’s faith level progressed from SIMPLE FAITH, to SURRENDER FAITH, to SACRIFICIAL FAITH! See friends, our faith level WILL grow from one ‘YES GOD’ moment to the next one ‘YES GOD’ moment to the next ‘YES GOD’ moment.

Faith is our response to God. When He calls us, and we respond, that is a YES GOD moment. Every time we say YES to GOD, our faith grows a little more, from glory to glory, strength to strength, faith to faith.

How many of us want to be like Abraham in his faith? Let us pray.

Father we want to thank you Lord, for loving us, for guiding us, for providing for us. Like Abraham, Lord, we want to be YES-GOD people. We want our faith, our response to You, to grow from faith to faith, strength to strength. We commit our lives into Your hands Lord; to say YES GOD quickly, no matter what the circumstances, when you speak to us. Jesus, keep speaking to us and instructing us, we pray, and all of YES-GOD people say AMEN!

For our faith to grow from basic to more to much faith, Let’s make a decision to be a YES-GOD person today, amen?

The sermon is over and fellowship has just begun!

Megan Fox is a Man!!!??

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:39:00 +0000

I have no words to say.
I had been busy laughing my head off
As many of my guy friends had been balking
About the recent discovery of Megan Fox being a man
They were so upset
I don't think that they'd EVER recover.
=p
Ha ha ha, but seriously, for a man,
Megan Fox is one hot woMAN.
Even my sister was saying that she had the most perfect body.
Imagine that.

Here's an exerp taken from an online news source (click here)

“I look like Alan Alda in drag. I’m a tranny. I’m a man.”

Read more here: http://weeklyworldnews.com/celebs/4783/megan-fox-is-a-man/

And guys, stop balking already. Maybe she will finally go for her (or has she gone) for the finalisation surgeries, to ensure she has the full suit of female anatomy?

Then she'd be fully female. =)

Loving the imperfect me

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:21:00 +0000

I think, sometimes its very hard for people to understand me. I feel, sometimes people think I'm all just airy fairy smooth talking. I know I'm not perfect, never once I claimed I was. However, no matter how hard I bashed myself, there's no one in the world, that has seen through me, my mistakes, and still loved me for who I am. That, I have found in several people. One, is God. Okay, He's more spirit than person, but He's still a person. Then comes Louise, and our parents. Looking back, I have so many shortcomings and blunders that I sometimes feel I have nowhere to put my face and hide, for fear of dying from embarassment. However, people like God, Louise, even having seen through me, still loves me. I really thank God for all these good things in my life, I really do. So this is what love is, truly. Its seeing beauty in imperfection.

dead man aint feel no pain

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:20:00 +0000

today as I was reading the bible in the train, from outram park towards pioneer (a stretch of 30 minute's journey), there suddenly appeared a man, middle aged, balding, with much tummy protusion who stood in front of me. He glanced at me, at the bible in my hand, and at me again. Then he took out a phone and spoke into it, mouthing a lot of expletives, of which they were primarly racial discriminatory in nature, as well as many colorful languages. Interestingly, he was leaning towards me and facing me squarely as he was talking. Even my friend beside me was thinking that this man was scolding me or something. Anyway, the barrage went on for quite some time, (he repeated himself many times, said that he has a chief investigation officer that confirms that a certain race is CMI, saying that people are black skinned because they never showered), and even though there was a seat behind him, which he turned behind and saw, yet he didn't sit there. There were no one standing around, there was really a lot of standing space, yet he stood very near in front of me, stooped a little as if talking to me. And I was praying and thinking if I should nicely share some information with him.. And what's worse. The person on my left got up and left the train. And he sat beside me, and he turned to me whilst on the phone! Mmm. I'm quite sure I'm not of the race he was talking about. But his actions was quite blatant and obvious. I wonder. But as I was praying, I suddenly recalled, how a dead man doesn't respond to anything. Interesting. But his language (or the lack of it) was certainly entertaining though.

nigel chua

Recycled air

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:13:00 +0000

(Picture taken from www.sz-wholesale.com)

You know
I've been using masks everyday at work for now
In the midst of getting protected from H1N1 virus
As well as stopping the transmission
To others should I myself have it
But there's one thing that I cannot ever get used to
Is to breathe on recycled air
Or having to burp into the mask
And STILL using the mask.
Bleh. =p

SOT's ending in 45 days!

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:51:00 +0000

SOT's ending soon...and I'm having bittersweet feelings towards it. In a way, I'm looking forward to graduating...yet, in another fashion, i'm not keen to as well as it's a place where I experience God very very frequently and strongly, where i get my spiritual food and love. But then again, I need to leave, to allow others to come in, and it'd be time for me to move to other places. Still, its bittersweet.

Nigel Chua

Elite dream partially fulfilled

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:49:00 +0000

Just the other day, as i sat down, pondering about my dreams and goals, i realised one of them had been partially fulfilled. It is regarding experiencing the life of CHC Security Elite. I've always been dreaming of it - how it will feel, what will i experience, how interesting it'd be. Never would i have imagined that it'd be so fast before God gave me a glimpse of a life as an elite.

It was in City Harvest's Bible Training Centre (CHBTC) where i am still attending the School of Theology (SOT), and where we usually have overseas speakers such as Pastor Phil Pringle, Pastor Mike Connell, and the like; and we usually place select security people to accompany them (we call them Principles). I had the privilege of accompanying people like Pastor Kong, Pastor Tan and Pastor Mike Connell, to escort them to and from the pulpit and meeting some of their basic needs. It was truly a privilege, to stand in the same lift as them, conversing with them and seeing up close, first hand, how they live their lives. I am not talking about worshipping leaders, for I serve the Lord my God with all my heart, but i am not naive too, about the leaders He had elected and placed over our lives, and the honor that is due to them.

It is and has been an interesting journey. I am looking forward still to experiencing life with Christ, in this ministry.

Nigel Chua

First official security position in CHC

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Yay!

Finally i have had a go at having a security position during the service for 26th June, 2009! I was given the 59er position...but i reached quite late due to miscalculations on my wedding suit preparation, so I arrived massively late. =(

Thank God the guys were very nurturing and forgiving, and led me to my spot, and assigned a mentor to guide me as I went along! It feels different, although it's a quieter position as a 59-er, but still, i learnt a few things of attitude from my mentor.

Looking forward to serving the Lord and His people still.

Nigel Chua

Deal or no deal?

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:12:00 +0000

As you all know
i'm going for SOT next month
that's like 9 days time
and we went for our first HDB appt
last friday
and the seller was asking me
if he could rent the place
just for a couple of months
until july
as the place he's shifting into
he cant get it till july
and i was like thanking God
until i found out that....
my in-laws are REALLY not keen for it
man oh man
and there i was asking God
what to do...to take the deal
means that i dont have to worry
about finances till july
and thats a good thing!
But it seems like that's not the case
for in the kingdom hierarchy
the seller has lower priority
than Louise's family
so...so....so...
yup, Big Guy, i'm so gonna rely on you.

V for Vendetta

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:29:00 +0000

I managed to catch this show again, with Louise just the other night, before we slept. I didnt know that this show was being aired, and i found out just 30 minutes before its airtime. This show, i must admit, was one of the most powerful triggers to myself, to coming out of my own stupor and feigned ignorance of all time. It has helped shaped me for who i am today, and who i strive to be.

Good stuff.

cant climb stairs

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:48:00 +0000

Oh man....i still cant climb the stairs
up stairs nor down stairs
i've limited mobility!
man
got to go for more of that class
think it'd give me some shape
...wait. Round IS a shape. =)

Letter of acceptance into School of Theology

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:38:00 +0000

Dear all

as i shared with you before
i will be attending bible school this year
from april to august 14
yup
it's a big change and jump
in my spiritual life into my physical world
it made more things more solid
i feel a difference in my life
even as i'm preparing for classes
i thank God, for Louise
who is so supportive
encouraging me to go
and picking up more work
as to ensure we're okay financially
and Gershon to help us too
i really thank God for moving in my life
i'm excited...trembling.
this is not a fear tremble...
it's in acticipation of something great
God, i'm coming.

Real Men Drink Diet Cola

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:32:00 +0000

Tax Auditors Joke

noreply@blogger.com (Nigel Chua) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:21:00 +0000