Monday, December 6, 2010

Movies in Holiday

It's holiday! And I've watched 3 movies so far. Haha... Just miss those times. When I was working. I went for a movie minimum twice a month. But since I started life at TTC, I recalled that I only watched 3 movies in 5 months. Wew...
So... this holiday I tried to watch movies, and so far I managed to watch 3 movies. One in the cinema, the rest I watched in my room.
And... all three of them are cartoons! I love cartoons. The world beyond reality... the fantasy... It's all so amazing! Anything can happen in a cartoons :) And one thing I love from cartoons is the songs. So here I will put one song from each movie that I watched.

1.
Rapunzel/Tangled
I don't think I need to explain much, It is undescribable. just watch! It's totally worth it. I had a great laugh! And Rapunzel's hair! It's an amazing treat to my eyes to see such delicate and sophisticated drawing! I must say that it is the best movie that I watched this year. It's a movie that if you ask me to watch again, I will! :D



I See the Light

Rapunzel:
All those days, watching from the windows
All those years, outside looking in
All that time never even knowing,

just how blind I've been
Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see
Standing here
It's oh, so clear, I'm where I'm meant to be
And at last, I see the light,

and it's like the fog has lifted
And at last, I see the light,

and it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright,

and the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything looks different
Now that I see you


Flynn:
All those days, chasing down a daydream
All those years, living in a blur
All that time,

never truly seeing things the way they were
Now she's here, shining in the starlight
Now she's here, suddenly I know
If she's here, it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go

Flynn/Rapunzel:And at last, I see the light
Flynn:And it's like the fog has lifted
Flynn/Rapunzel:And at last, I see the light
Rapunzel:And it's like the sky is new
Flynn/Rapunzel:
And it's warm and real and bright.
And the world has somehow shifted.
All at once, everything is different.
Now that I see you, now that I see you

2.
Anastasia.
It's an ok movie. The only thing that interests me is the life and death of the legendary Rasputin. First time I heard about him was when I was in high school from my history teacher. He is believed to have supernatural power and it keeps him alive eventhough people poison and shoot him (for further info you can click the link).





3. Prince of Egypt
It was so nice to watch the movie after attending the Old Testament class :) The knowledge brought a deeper understanding to the movie. And yup, I think you can guess what song I will put here... When You Believe. Actually the reason why I watch this movie is because our choir were practising it for our musical drama for Christmas. And I got the movie from the choir master.
Ashira! Ashira! Ashira! Ah... can't wait to learn Hebrew! :D




When You Believe

Many night's we've prayed With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song We barely understood,
Now we are not afraid Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long before we knew we could

Miriam (chorus)
There can be miracles When you believe
Though hope is frail It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles You can achieve
When you believe Somehow you will
You will when you believe

Tzipporah
In this time of fear When prayer so often proved in vain
Hope seemed like the summer birds Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here With heart so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I'd say

Miriam and Tzipporah (chorus)
There can be miracles When you believe
All hope is frail Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles You can achieve
When you believe Somehow you will
You will when you believe

Hebrew Children
A-shir-ra la-do-nai ki ga-oh ga-oh
(I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously)
A-shir-ra la-do-nai ki ga-oh ga-oh
(I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously)
Mi-cha-mo-cha ba-elim adonai
(Who is like You, oh Lord, among the celestial)
Mi-ka-mo-cha ne-dar-ba-ko-desh
(Who is like You, majestic in holiness)
Na-chi-tah v'-chas-d'-cha am zu ga-al-ta
(In Your Love, You lead the people You redeemed)
Na-chi-tah v'-chas-d'-cha am zu ga-al-ta
(In Your Love, You lead the people You redeemed)
A-shi-ra, a-shi-ra, A-shi-ra.......
(I will sing, I will sing, I will sing)

Hebrews (Chorus)
There can be miracles When you believe
Though hope is frail Its hard to kill
Who knows what miracles You can achieve
When you believe Somehow you will
Now you will You will when you believe......

Miriam and Tzipporah
You will when you believe

Next... Narnia! Hahaha...

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Review of First Semester @TTC

Subject: Mission and Evangelism (M&E)
Comments: The most creative approach.
-The class is the most fun! It really helps to put it on Monday :)
-We watched movie "Through the Gates of Splendour" which is about the five martyr-missionaries and their family members who continued their works. And we are assigned a movie review.
-Me & a couple of friends went to a mission organization "Youth with a Mission (YWAM) to have an interview, and we prepared a presentation. An inspiring talk with the staff and testimony from a classmate who was with YWAM for a couple of months. She said (roughly), "If you are very serious about mission, don't go to a place where people (missionaries) have been there. Find a place where no missionaries have ever been there."
-Me with the same group went to Cambodia to observe the mission work there! I've been blogging about it.
-The lecturer also invited some guest lecturers who provided us a different perspectives on several topics.
How this class has changed me: This subject has taught me many things, correct my conception on mission and evangelism, and give a good biblical and theological basis on the 'mission trips' that I have (and will) be involved with.
This class also has taught me to be a global Christian, we prayed for countries. I remembered in one class we prayed for Christianity around the world (America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia). It widens my narrow perspective on God's works.


Subject: Old Testament (OT)
Summary: The most complicated class :)
First, the lecturer. I'm a the subject rep and therefore sometimes talk about how to make the class better, how to help those who are having difficulties, how to follow up with feedback from the class.
Second, the class. It's mentally tiring. Very short break and sometimes the class finished long after the bell rings...
Third, the weekly Bible quiz. Yup, how can I forget about it. I remembered at first I was struggling with the quiz until I realize that it is indeed very useful for me.
Fourth, the assignment. The faith-shaking assignment! I won't discuss it here as I do not want to be made responsible of shaking others' faith :p
Fifth, my group had a very cool and creative presentation on our paper! (We made a debate into a drama!)
How this class has changed me:
-This has been a difficult class especially for some of my international friends. I was made aware of it (esp. as a subject rep) and I was encouraged to help.
-This subject helps me to get the deeper truth of New Testament. It is amazing when I re-read the New Testament with the knowledge of the Old Testament in the back of my mind!


Subject: Church History (CH)
Summary: Love the assignment. A creative and useful approach to Church History.
I have talked about CH in my previous blog post. Right now I want to just talk a little bit on the assignment.
Here I quote from the syllabus:
"Choose a person or a group of people (e.g. a Church Council, a particular Christian community) covered in our course. Write him (or her or them) a letter, whose content should include:
a. an explanation of the relevant aspects of your present-day context; and
b. how the things you have learnt about this person speaks to your context."
The tricky part is the assessment criteria where I have to describe my present-day context in a way comprehensible to my recipient. Anyway, I wrote to Saint Benedict of Nursia regarding his Rule.


Subject: New Testament (NT)
Summary: more than just a survey
This class was supposed to be a survey class, but because the lecturer is a person who really likes to read so I think there are so many things that he wants to talk about and the class becomes more than just a survey. I don't mind with a deeper content, of course, as I have taken course on New Testament Survey in other bible school before. I just think about some of my friends who were never really survey the NT before.
I love the exam. It makes me look further and deeper in digging New Testament.
Never knew that Mark was so genius with his way of writing the Gospel (Intercalation? parataxis? wow... I've only heard of chiastic before). Each literary method exposed greater truth or message. Also enjoying my research on how the Feasts contribute to expand God's message in the book of John.
What I learn: Studying NT requires me to study both OT and NT. It just make me never have enough. And that is actually how we should approach the Bible. We will never have enough. No matter how many times you dig it, you can still find 'new truth' when you dig it again. It humbles me. Oh Lord, this child of your still have a long way to go. A way that I will never finish in this life...


Subject: Theology
Summary: Feel guilty for not reading the book :( Hopefully can catch up during holiday.
Comments: I talked about it before in my previous blog post, just a little bit of addition: You will never have enough time for Theology! Sir, the 30-minutes break is too long and the 2-hours lectures is not enough! Hahaha...
What I learned: How to graciously approach and answer people who have the different (to the extent: opposite) view of me. How to be critical and always question what the lecturer has explained :D


Subject: Church Visitation
Summary: Favourite subject
Comments: I love it! It is the subject that is unique to TTC, and it is something that I would bring to a theological school if I were a principal or dean of studies :)
I love how I can go around Singapore, visiting lots of churches from different denomination (something that I didn't and won't be able to do again in Singapore as I am attached to IEC). Enjoying the talk with the pastor about the church ministry. To get different ideas on how people worship (liturgy) and the various ways of ministry.
I love the assignment given to us to reflect. Through the reflection, I got a lot of things that I can bring back to my church or to me personally to be a better servant of God.
And I love the lecturer. Very calm and never show emotion. Very humble woman and she speaks as well as writes wisely (from the comments to all the weekly assigments that I submitted). She would give me question to ponder. She reads My Utmost for His Highest... *How did I know? She sometimes quoted it in her presentation*


Subject: Music Leadership Proficiency
Basically this class teaches me a little bit of music theory and technical things in leading worship.
Some of my classmates don't like this subject bccause it is either:
1. They have already been very good in music, or
2. They don't like the type of music taught, or
3. They do not need it in their ministry, or
4. They don't like the lecturer.
Fortunately for me, I'm none of the four above, so I love this class.
1. I didn't know much about music so I'm willing to learn
2. I love hymns and 'certain extent of' contemporary song
3. I will need it in my future ministry. In my home church, the worship leader must be pastor/full time ministers.
4. She is a person with a strong passion of church music and always emphasize how we have to integrate our Theology to music.
Well... it sounds selfish but... I feel that this particular subject was meant just for me! Hahaha :p

Look forward for 2nd semester!

He was There...

My 1st semester at TTC unofficially finished last Monday (29/11) when I handed in my last paper this semester.
It's been an amazing feeling! A mix between relief and grateful. After I finished editing my last paper, I laid on my bed and cried, as I suddenly reminded how God has been there with me....

When I felt confused and upset because I don't understand what the lecturer said or what the discussion in the class about....
*Have you ever been in a discussion where you roughly don't know what they are talking about and just wanted to ask basic question, but feel afraid because people will look down on you or because your question will just break the flow of discussion? Yup, that's the feeling*

When I had headache trying to understand what I read or to memorize...
*all the terms! Aggh!Sometimes I just gave up reading*

When I was in spiritual dryness for reading all the biblical/theological books just for the sake of fulfilling the requirements.... felt guilty for not being able to stop and ponder about it first...
*It's been like a race... Ready? Get set... go! Reading M&E... M&E finished, go prepare for OT quiz... OT finished, next: NT reading... NT finished? still have CH test... CH finished? Go back to M&E la... and confession: I did not read Theo >.<*

When I was overwhelmed and had lack of sleep, juggling between classes, quiet times, papers, readings, chapels,vespers, community life, mission trips, prayer meetings, youth fellowship, entertainment, hanging out with friends...

HE WAS THERE...
There are times I just ignored Him, cut back my time with Him because I was too 'busy' with all 'other' things... *What a child!*
Yet, HE WAS THERE...
And everytime I turned back to Him for help, for strength, for wisdom, for everything....
HE WAS THERE... *What a Father!*

There were times when I read Bible or the required books, I came to a certain point where I was wowed by God through what I read... this feeling of amazement of what God is and what He has done...
There were times where I shed tears when I found a deep spiritual truth through my readings or my encounters with people...

There were times where the lecturers shared their experiences and they showed me examples in life and ministry... or there were times when what they said touched my heart, encouraged me, or rebuked me to go back to God and to prioritize what really matters in life... I really thank God for them! :)
There were times when I had great chat and laughters with other students as well as worked together and encouraged each other...
And... there were times where God directly inspired and answered me when I was praying! *Best moments!* :)

HE WAS THERE...
In my room... in the class... in the dining hall... in the chapel ... in the cluster... in the library... in the churches... in the buses... in Toho... everywhere!

HE WAS THERE...
Through the Bible... through the books... through the lecturers... through the seniors... through my classmates... through my pastor... through my friends... through every circumstances... through every moments!

He IS also here.... and He definitely WILL be there...
HE IS THE EVER-PRESENT GOD. Amen.