~*+My Journey Before Heaven+*~

God himself blesses those that believe in him abundantly. Not just me, but everyone else around me, everyone who believes. God would use everyone that comes before him so they may know that he is the one and only true God, the truth, the way, the light. My life took its greatest change yet, due in part to God’s grace, but also the people around me that has influenced me during this first year in Christ. These people enlightened me about what being a christian is really all about. These were the people that stuck with me even through the toughest times, knowing that I may not be able to provide them anything in return. To these people I give the most sincerest of thanks for being there for me, with me, beside me. I would also wish to apologise to these same people, knowing full well the amount of sadness, disappointment and hurt I have caused them.

I really have to thank God, who in all ways have blessed my life in all aspects, to all the minor details, but also thank him for putting in my life two brothers with whom I experienced the ups and downs of my life with. My younger brother, not one to involve himself in all the grand stuff, goes through his life helping the people around him, abeit all the minor things that people do not notice. My older brother, a person who goes out of his ways to help me in all the aspects of my life. He was there when I was messing around, he was there when I fell hardest. These two brothers are the people that took the most backlash from me, but endured these wounds and stayed close to me just because I was their brother. I love both of you, Boi Gorr, Jie Ah.

My two parents, my twin tower of protection, the guardians of my life before and after believing in christ. These two people took everything I throw at them, the good, the bad, the ugly. They had to see the worst side of me, and face the continuous disappointment which my procrastinating self and rebellious nature brought them again and again, and still loved me from their hearts. I owe these two a trip to hell, but can’t make it cause I’ll be going to heaven . Love you mom and dad.

Wong Wei Jie. Clumsy, insaneously hilarious in his warped thinking and actions, the warmth of a dove, the drive of a Spartan. The first person that came and talked to me when I went to AGPC for the first time, and now my buddy, accomplice in the weirdest and lamest happenings in church. This guy taught me what being christian is all about. Being yourself the way God created you, and giving everything you have for God. This person prayed for me when I needed it, stood by my side when I was going through a torrent time, vice versa. A true friend that would not shun away just because I look to be in the gloomiest of moods. More importantly, he is one of two people that is not afraid to point out my wrong-doings to me if he sees one. One of the grestest help while I was trying to become christ-like. I love you, Ryan.

Toh Hong Wei. Gifted musician, geek through and through (not like I’m any different from him though ). My first impressions of him was that of a cool, hair sweeping silent winter wolf, a person that was not very open to the people in the church. I was the same as him too, but this guy grew together with me. We went through many common struggles together, and through all these we got to know each other better. This is the flow chart of my greetings to him:

Hi -> Yoh -> Yoh Hong Wei -> Sup -> Yoh Stephen -> Yoh Dude -> Just start a conversation

This chart shows it all. I think. Besides all this, this person helped me in the musical aspect of my life, and when I was struggling to praise God with the music he desires, he seems to always be there to give his comments. More importantly, he took the effort to practise the same song to see what I was going through. Sorry the only things I gave you so far are laughter, a bunch of hang arounds in a few places, and stomachache, bad appetite and vomiting when you came to visit me while I was still in the hospital (You get my drift). Peace and love, Xiao Hong.

Toh Min Min, sister to Stephen, Joy of the world (She doesn’t like people going ‘joy to the world’). My sunshine when I’m down, she seems to have the ability to make people smile, or feel moody just by looking at her. People around her seems more than happy when she’s around, although they can also feel a bit moody too when Cranky Min version 2.4 beta appears. Probably out of everyone else I knew, she was the one person that made me believe in Christ, and when I believed she was the one that taught and showed me Christ. My first trip to AGPC allowed me my first contact with this incredible personality. She was prouncing around church, smiling, talking to everyone, distributing a new leash of life to those around her. Her “hello! I’m Min Min, most people call me Min.” was the simplest of greetings, yet the sweetest, most sincere. She was the person that got me thinking: Is this what God can do for mde? Can I be like that too? Throughout my life I have been on the dark side, seemingly choosing to be a loner. However, deep down within lies a yearning to be able to open up like her, to greet people and bring joy to those I treasure. For me, it was Peter the forgiven, coupled with this perfectly human girl who lived with God in her life that made me reach out my hands to the light. Ask Li Mei Zhang Lao. I paused for about half an hour thinking of this before I told her I am willing to give Christ a shot, a decision I will never regret.  Min taught me how to love, for she was the one who visited me everyday since I was hospitalised, the one person who wasted her brain with me watching 5 coloured aliens bouncing around in the google box. This was a girl that came everyday to annoy me with her prouncing around and “errr I want the mushroom omelette!”, and put a smile on me with her ever changing, warped mathematical fomulaes which tend to perform magic -_-”. Most of all, she made me want to hit her so hard because so was sick and fainted in school, but still came over to the hospital to visit me. She made me explain for half an hour to the nurses that the ” You’ve got a really sweet girlfriend le, so caring.” girl that they were referring to was actually not my girlfriend, but a sister in Christ whom I know for only 2 months, from which I got a reply,” Sure or not? You all relationship fly so fast wan? Haha… kids these days!” She was right to a certain extent. If Min did not know, that night I cried. Never have I thought in a billion years would someone be able to care for another person so much even though they are not close yet. But God put her in my life and showed what his love is all about, and that night I told God that I accept his love, and will spread his love to all those around me. She showed me the love that God has provided for her, and taught me to love. Love you too, Min Mei. Will cook you mushroom omelette someday when I finally figure out how to make it taste good. So far, it only taste like eggs.

‘Dear heavenly Father, these people have been in my life and brought me closer to you. These people have showed me and testified in your name, as I will testify in your name because of them. They are your children, you sheep that listens, that lives by your teaching and bring all the glory back to you. Heavenly father, teach me to love them as you have loved them, and let not my personal things hinder my love for them. Let me be not like the Dead Sea, but for everything I take I give away even more in your name. Blessed are these people who follow in your guidance lord, bless them as you had the descendants of Abraham and Israel. Inspire me to live my life not for myself, but for you and these people. For you have commanded that the greatest of all is love, so shall I love those aroung me to testify that what you say is true. Guide me onwards to claim my right as your son. All this in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.’