In the Bedroom after the War

March 30, 2009
Life and all its pleasures, fun and purpose
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 2:28 AM

Hey! I hope you had a great week. Or rather, you enjoyed the past 7 or so days you had.
Mine was pretty amazing, i am looking forward to my new week already.

Many times on a Sunday night, i start looking back on the weekend in church and revisit incidents. It has been a fun thing to do, it makes me miss all of you even more. Makes me want to hang out and do life more actively with all of you.
Then when i see you during the new weekend, it's like a fulfillment. Right now, i miss all of you already.

You guys were singing tunes to absolutely nothing on the guitar in the auditorium. You are special because you made something out of nothing. That was pretty much how my childhood was in hogc. We didn't have much equipment you see today, we made do with what we had, we had fun, simple fun and we enjoyed each other.

We were playing this game that we all used to play in primary and early secondary school. It was very fun running about and calling names and stamping on bottles. It was really fun. Tiring fun but very fulfilling fun. What more, Dominic was playing with us. It was so so memorable. In fact, the next day (today), Kenneth Lam came and asked me if we were playing again. Oh man, i didn't start that. I think D30 did but we all had fun. When you guys join in, it went wild.

It was particularly memorable because i made this young boy upset. I don't know if he cried but he was so down. Yeah, i took the bottle and ran away and it really did affected him. My goodness, Yee Siong talked to him, so did some of us. I hope he still loves me and enjoy church. HAHA... I feel like a bully, but i didn't bully. HAHAHA... We need the CCH teachers around more often. It's good Yee Siong is a friend, if not i'm dead. Making a secondary 1 cry is worse than anything i can imagine.

We had alot of fun playing soccer late at night today. It was very funny all those things we did and said. I particularly enjoyed messing around with CEO. He's such an enemy you shouldn't have. Not that he is mine, he is a friend but i enjoy messing around with him. It is quite fun. And REALLY...
I didn't know Roderick was so good at goalkeeping until today. He was gliding all over. Diving and it was crazy. Some of those shots, i didn't think he would save.
We pretty much over celebrated when he saved those shots, but yeah, it was funny when you do such things. Over elaborated goal celebration.

Lastly, Pastor How preached an amazing sermon. It was so so good.
I wasn't there yesterday. Today was fresh and very very good.
It was the highlight of the week It was the top thing.
It underscored what is already a fulfilling weekend.
It did so much.

I really do miss you all already. Talk more in the group forums.
It will be so fun.

Uploading the chalet videos is taking forever. I gave up, it's too long, i've got to move on. Hopefully it gets up on facebook faster or someone else does that.

Check out U2's Magnificent if you have time. On youtube, on top BBC Building. It's a great gig.

Well, in any case, gdnight and have a great monday.
What's on discovery channel now is amazing!
chupacabra!!! check that out

March 23, 2009
passionately in love
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 1:06 AM

it's going to be a long post. a few things.

Firstly, for a typical NSF, there is no such thing as 'March Holidays'. Then thinking again, i am not a typical NSF. Most of my mates reported for camp this week. I was the exception. That made me realize how different life is when i am serving Jesus. I love life, I love my life. Then i was talking to Michael from B40 one night during chalet about how as christians the tendency is that we 'aim' or have in mind an ideal state of comfort that we want to see come to past in our lives. In our ministries, we want no problems, we kinda like it when it's cruising or better, running on it's own. I have to admit, i am a victim of this mentality. As i shared with him some of my thoughts, i begin to realize that christian has never taught us to be comfortable. That thought was the lamest; most senseless thought to think.

The nature of our faith is that it is a faith. Before we even get comfortable, God begins to work on our hearts and leads us forward. It is a progressive faith. It's a relationship, it doesn't stay strong and intact with or without communication and time. It just doesn't stay. The value of the relationship appreciates or depreciates according to effort, etc. So, likewise for our faith.

Last night i figured out a few ways i can hijack the zone's progress and kill it altogether.
One of those is this thinking, i've mentioned. Thinking that it is all good, the fruits are showing good, then we exhale and passiveness hijacks. We've got to progress! Back to Progress 101. One of those things is to critic more.
Let me speak in faith, it will all work out well.

Secondly, alright, this was how i spent my March Holidays.
A couple of videos and pictures. There are lots more that are not sent to me yet, so yeah i'll do it another time.

1) BBQ & Frying Pan
I call this the Art of Fellowship. Even the expression was good. Hahhs.

2) Zone F = Good Influence

Send your kids to zone f, we'll teach them not to do stuff like this.

3) Zone F = Musical
This is just one of those videos. There's so much more pieces we've put together. Check them out soon. Go bug wenqian to send me. Haiyo...

Can't really hear my guitar playing but i promise you in other videos you'll get it.

Hahhs, hang out for cooler videos. The main videos are not up.
We've got the Kitchen Gang, we've got A Remixed Song by Jay Chou and A Song for Yakuza.
Check that out real soon

Lastly, B Zone Forum is so happening. I watched all the chalet videos we filmed. There was one that was very good. A couple of them made a video for Shermaine and it's her birthday now. B Zoners go check out my profile on facebook, it's there.
Go to the Forum and view all those videos. I particularly like the one they went "b zone rocks" and at each word they dive into the pool. It was so gangsta!

I love my life... i love the people involved in my life... i love giving to all these people... i love the friction, it serves us well... i love the connection, it serves us better. i love my zones. i find that i am passionately in love with my zones.
can't stop thinking about them all the time...

tomorrow coldplay (:

March 13, 2009
during a long time ago
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 9:10 AM

pure randomness leads me here.
this morning in camp is pretty good. my 2 buddies didn't report in camp today, i wonder what happened but i have the room all to myself. i fancy seeing them on monday.

i'm an argentina fan and riquelme has opted out of the national team! ks would understand how i feel. this riquelme is an enigma. we never really understood what's happening to him all the time. he's pretty on the ball but he has sunk too many times and maybe he's immune to failure already.

during a long time ago, people like zidane, bergkamp, valeron and riquelme dominated the fields. the closest things to them nowadays are fresh xavi or fabregas. scholes is the only one of that generation still strutting his stuff on the pitch.

there was a time, there were no cristiano ronaldos but old fashioned playmakers like riquelme. i heart them. these were the footballers i grow up watching soccer with. they were the reason i watched soccer!

watching zidane, bergkamp, valeron and riquelme was like the best thing. they were the reason why france was france, holland was holland, spain was spain and argentina was argentina! soccer has evolved, and i don't really like it now. the only 2 teams that still play old fashion are arsenal and barcelona and maybe a few others. definitely not sembawang rangers or woodlands wellington crap.

hahaha i have a deep affection for visionary, old fashioned playmakers. kudos to CR7 and all that breed but they never come close to greatness.

soccer fans can check this site out about riquelme - Flawed Genius

we should all pray for the salvation of soccer through beautiful playmakers like riquelme. what elegance, more graceful than a ballerina.
hahaha i sound like i'm exaggerating... but it's worth it.

March 12, 2009
CHANGE
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 1:28 AM

today i had an amazing dinner with some of the people in b zone. we had a great time. nadine uploaded the pictures on facebook, so b zoners, you can go and take a look. also, b zone chalet is coming up and i hear how excited all of you are, i am very excited about that too. i took leave today for that and i'm looking forward to hanging out with you. we just tied down everything today and it'll be so relaxed and cool.

i'm going to have cg on friday with F22. i'm excited, i just smsed all of them in F22 how excited i am in preaching to them.
I had CG with F21 yesterday and it was really encouraging too. They are so hungry and passionate and i'm so proud of Maeann and Joanne. And not to mention Wayne and Cheryl, always so amazing. Wayne preached for the first time tomorrow. i must ask him about it!

friday i'm going to the man utd cafe with rayna, joanne and amy. it will be so fun (:

i can't believe this. the more i am with these people the more i am in love with what i do.
there is just so much purpose to what i do.

I can't wait for f zone chalet. Jordan planned that. it sounds so fun.

check out some of the pictures of the zone and check out the rest on facebook. you can access them via my profile or b zone group.
anyway if you haven't got on b zone group on facebook, go get on soon. meet your zone mates there. there's really alot of funny things going on. you don't know how exciting your zone mates' lives are until you read what they type.

Hahhs, Jacky is funny isn't he?

That's it. Get on B Zone Facebook Group if you haven't. Check out the photos. Have fun around there.
Make sure you come for Zone Chalet.

Bring $6 this saturday and make sure you come for F Zone Chalet. If not Jordan will tao pork you.
See you real soon.

BF guys, let's change this world bit by bit by changing the little things we do.
I'm missing a couple of ppl in F Zone already. HAHHS...

CHANGE!

March 9, 2009
Following Closely
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 12:01 AM

hey everybody (:
i just got home from dinner with the other leaders and pst josh and georgie kelsey. we had a great time talking to each other. there is so much in common between us and ain't it amazing how God can connect people in different geographical locations together just like that? the world believes in profitable networking but in God it's a spiritual network. we are bonded by similar vision, heart, values and purpose. that is such a cool thing.

today's service impacted me to my core. it was just straight forward and simple but every convicting. you can feel and sense the conviction on pst josh as he preaches throughout the service. that totally moved my heart.
but ain't it so true? following God is one thing and following God closely is another thing.

people follow God generally but zone, let's not follow God afar. Follow Him closely.
Value the things He values. Love the things He loves. Hate the things He hates.
Listen out to His still small voice.

When we follow from afar, when something comes across us, it's easier for us to drop off the race because humanly we feel that God is too far away. It's like you get sick of catching up with the person walking so fast, you do your thing and when something entertaining pops out by the street, you get in and you're lost. it's harder to fall off when you follow Jesus closely.

let's follow Jesus closely. Listen to that still small voice. That's your navigator. That's your compass.
if you feel a little far off, catch up this week before you're too far off which makes it easier to backslide and give up.
track well... run your race well... keep close...
in the army, during route marches, the key is to always keep close to each other. once there's a gap, people being using fall out and give up all together.

Stay close (: when the symptoms show, you got to catch up, not ignore them. stay stay stay very close.
FOLLOW JESUS CLOSELY

See you around!

March 6, 2009
struck by lightning
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 10:08 PM

when i listened to 'Shock of the Lightning' i remembered of that old man in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons' being hit by lightning 7 times. he's proud of it and Oasis must be very proud of their video mtv too. it's been around for long, but i only recently saw it! haha, how outdated but nonetheless i found out about it. check this out... quite some good abstract junk.

yesterday night was fun. it was Justin's birthday and mum, dad and me celebrated the occasion with him. it was very funny, in english, in mandarin and in heart of God. crappy, dad didn't 'dare' do heart of God. boo! haha

anyway i had 2 half days in camp this week. haha... just today, i went for some annual run. apparently, dawn's brother is in the same unit as i am. i just confirmed it. it's not as if i didn't see him around before, i did, just... you know, i thought he was visiting.
so well, today he said i looked familiar in a typical officer tone! hahhs... he's very funny. with that i concluded all officers have a kind of tone to their speaking inside of camp. it's totally different out of camp. hahhs! even my boss is like that.

army lingo doesn't get worse until you meet my regiment sergeant major. his version of 'okay' is really hilarious.
and it goes like - "orrhhnn--nairr". everyone in camp laughs about it excluding me. i laugh about it outside of camp. hahhs!

ohoh, today at the run, i saw warrant kalimuthu again. i will never forget him man... firstly, the name. secondly, he's like a kid. lastly, he snatched the stupid gun of another warrant in a stupid laser quest man. hahahaha my goodness...

hahaha it's just very funny, i get a shock in army. the song is quite cool, really check that out.

i love my life...
great ministry. great people. funny problems. crappy camp. awesome music. facebook. yes facebook! hahahah

okay luh, gtg now... i am really hungry.

oh i just saw a cartoon on cartoon network. quite crap. kampung bola 3. hahaha
cartoon version of shaolin soccer and a very sporean version!

gdnight! see ya later.

March 3, 2009
i need some courage
Ivan 'Vern' Poh from URL @ 12:59 AM

as we all know, coldplay's prosphekt march is really good. well, not so for u2's latest album! eeee, they are evolving too quickly. at least that is what i think. oh and just now, jordan and i were watching mtv worldstage on tv and coldplay was on, it was brilliant.

secondly, have you soccer fans watched arshavin yet? he was brilliant against fulham. well ks will say still draw, but then he's still good. ahahha...liverpool should win manutd this weekend and arsenal should win whoever while aston villa should lose. that's the perfect picture, but haha we don't usually get picture perfect in soccer.

thirdly, MGMT's Kids ain't scary! 2 people said it is but it's just typical culture. hahaha KISS will be satanic if MGMT's Kids is scary! alamak!!!

today i was at tampines then simei then tampines. it's a cool place, not that it was my first time. i wanted to have dinner with fantastic 4 but they had rugby training. so in the end, after i got home and finish my work, i headed to hk cafe near home and met lixing and he hung out at my place until about awhile ago.

tomorrow a large bunch of people are going running in, around church... you may see them if you're there at 8pm.
it's really going to be quite funny. haha heart of God fitness club. yeah let's keep running!!! one day some of you should join them. north ppl can join hardcore jon dan xing and i. hahhs, we REALLY run... Jon is too fast..

alright, everything seems in place. as much as control can help me get things in place, God placed things in place.
it's brilliant, i love life. i love my life.

many people wanna be great. but i think they fall to see that great people are different people. great people do things differently. not 1 dimensional, they kill traditions, they are out of the box and very creative and they dare to do it differently and take up responsibility when it all goes wrong. i love this characteristic about great people. they live life and alter their surroundings with their convictions subtly or in the face of tons of people. they kind of have no fear. their only fear is fear itself.

another thing about great people is that they are flexible. personally, i hate it when ppl tell me it has to be done this thing a certain way. eeee! i rather not do it hahahahah...

flexible and also without walls. a great person is without walls. not in a sense without self control, but i mean exposed. they listen to everyone, everything, they try anything, everything. they're not too sheltered or stuck to their old tricks. they can learn that right thing from the most ungodly people when the most ungodly people do something right. they are open to change, open to different things, different methods. they know nothing is diff under the sun but then they refuse to think that they have arrived. really, everything is the same under the sun, every sermon revolves around the 7 pillars, faith hope and love. but if we think we know it all, then hahahaha we're quite funny. (: great people being great for so long, sometimes fall into this, everything becomes a point of view, a note taken, a way of life. they no longer learn from the 1st person angle. we will never arrive.

in a way also, great people, they are the change agent. everything revolves around them. them being the way they are changes somethings around them. it's beautiful, i want to meet more great people. it's beautiful, something crappy can be beautiful because they do it. they do a crappy thing and it's beautiful.

great people also give. the greatest of all are those who give the most. this is the hardest of all. great people as you know are all mature, mature because they keep giving. great people, they give.

lastly like what Pastor How shared, convictions are everything a great person needs. great people stand. they have convictions and as a result they can do all the above.

we all wanna be great. i wanna be great haha. it's a long way ahead.
we'll never arrive because everything moves along with us as we move. we'll never be the smartest, most spiritual, etc.

oh man, this was supposed to be a nonsensical post.

anyway, check this out!!!
Coldplay WS1