International Baptist Choir

This week is really musical! As usual, we're gonna wake up at 8.00 a.m this morning and prepare to go to church at Cheras. Something unusual is... I'm waken up by a door knock, not my handphone alarm (first time not waking up neither by alarm nor naturally in Semenyih). Audri woke up and saw my handphone in the living room, so he knew I'm without alarm, and he knocked my door. I forgot that I left my handphone outside my room yesterday night, lucky that Audri woke me up or else I'm gone today.

We prepared ourselves and walked to the bus picking spot at 9.00 a.m. We waited for the bus for 10 minutes. Kai Seng is not joining us today cause he's back in hometown (Johor), too bad. Get into the bus and without hesitation plug in my earphone and snore (it takes 40 mintues to reach Kajang KTM).

Waiting for the bus:

Today Uncle Tome's gonna pick us to Cheras Baptist Church *Yes! no KTM for this week*. We waited at a mamak shop "Fatty Boy" near the KTM until Uncle Tome arrived at 10 a.m. We brought Damy with us today, who knows there're another 2 visitors from Austrailia in Uncle Tome's car. Nevermind, it's great meeting different people though.

Waiting fot Uncle Tome at Fatty Boy while having some drinks:




And watching Sunday morning cartoon (Spongebob), reminds me about Louis:


8 people in the car:

Red is the dominating colour in CBC today, the International Baptist Choir from Singapore is leading worship and also doing some songs (Their uniforms are red). While I flip through the handout that they gave, I found that they're singing "We Fall Down", Oh man! That's my favourite worship song. I played it on the keyboard almost every Sunday when I'm still in Nilai.

Youth from Singapore leading worship:


Never forget the keyboardist as well:

It's something special as there's no sermon today. IBC gonna lead worship and the whole choir will take the whole morning. They even has a Dean of Music from a bible college to be their pianist. Although quite old... but he's incredible. Aw... I hope I play like him.

Finally here comes the choir:

Song of Songs chapter 3, I'm still trying to understand who this "young woman" is but somehow it's related to King Solomon. There's a captivating verse that says "Look, it is Solomon's carriage, with sixty of Isreal's mightiest men surrounding it. They are all skilled swordsmen and experienced warriors. Each one wears a sword on his thigh, ready to defend the king against an attack during the night." Indeed, if we are gonna defend something that is important to us, we need to have skills. Same goes to glorifying the name of God, we have to equip ourselves with rightful attitudes and good heart. Believing in God is the mightiest sword we can wield, and obeying His teachings will build the greatest skills in us. Dear heavenly father, students in Nilai are facing their final exams this week, and after that, their going back to their respective hometown. LORD, I pray that You'll be with them along the exam and give them journey mercy, bless them with a happy holiday with their family. Amen.

Performing again

Last week, I was spending most of my time playing badminton. This week, it's all about music! Wallstreet Club organized a picnic which supposed to be held outdoor, near the fountain of Nottingham University, it's a nice place at night actually. How unfortunate, it rained heavily that night, so it shifted to SA building first floor. Somehow, it's a big dissapoinment, but everything still go on well.

Cheen Wei is in the organizing committee, so he was finding for performers. Yupz, he approached me and Hinn, although he told us few weeks ago, but we were too busy with the projects and assignments. So, it happened as a last minute preparation for me. I'm the first one who performed that day. I did free keyboard playing just to make the atmosphere better while people is enjoying their dinner, just like those pianist in the 5 stars restaurants do, but I'm not as good as them la~ There goes my first performance in Nottingham University.

These are the songs that I played:

I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

River Flows In You - Yiruma

Sa Rang He Yo - JJ

Wo Men De Ai 我们的爱 - F.I.R

I'm so worried that I'll bored the whole place up because I'm just doing plain piano music without any vocal. Besides, they can just play any songs on the PA system, it should be better than some weird guy playing in front when all the people are eating. Luckily I have some supporters, the girls at the front sang along for the song "Sa Rang He Yo" . I knew it's a girl captivating song, haha.

Then, Hinn and Audri played some songs too. Hinn on the guitar and Audri doing vocal. They did 4 songs (She Will Be Loved, I'm Yours, Now and Forever and one more forgot liao). Well, I think our performances will be pretty good if the sound system is better. Can't complain much about that anyway. As usual, at the end of the event, people will keep on coming and say, well-played, good job, thank you etc eventhough you're ruin the whole thing, but so far I think I did OK.

Oh ya, one of the unexpected thing was, I received a call from Kitt just after my performance. He was watching from the entrance all the while, haha (he didn't pay entrance fee). I mentioned I'll be performing that night and can't play badminton, but who knows he came and watch. Thanks for supporting, Kitt. He's quite amazed by my playing, that's what he said...

Wednesday, we had a rush practice for Food Bazaar the next day. Eric Khoo (my classmate) wanted to form a band and perform on that day. He decided two simple songs to play, which are How to Save a Life - The Fray and The Scientist - Coldplay. Both songs really required a certain standard of keyboardist/pianist to play *ui nah*. Our band (band name so called Air Motor) consists of a vocal from Pakistan (coz can't find a vocal in short time, so anyone will do), Hinn on guitar, Audri on bass, Eric on drum and Adam on Eve! (I mean... keyboard).

Eric's drum set:

After practicing for 1 hour and 30 minutes, we gonna rush for bible study. Hinn was leading, keybaord by me and guitar by Audri. Actually we didn't have time to practice the worship songs at house, but with our experience, the whole thing is still nice (I hope so...). We played Every Move I Made, I Could Sing Of Your Love and How Great Is Our God. Uncle Rodney was sharing again, there're 19 people who attended the bible study, nice improvement! Glad that Uncle Tome and Francis joined us again and Darrel as well for the first time.

Thursday, after class, spent some time in com lab to do some assignment, then we're ready to rock the night! This time, it's different from the picnic. It's kinda big and there're so many students participating. The Food Bazaar is organized by the Pharmacy students with the theme of cancer awareness, that's why we're playing How To Save A Life, and that's why our of so many performances, we were the last to perform...

Discussing about the performance:

I think there're more than 7 groups of performance on that day. Most of them are music performance (including us). Since we're the last to perform, I was relaxing and hunting around for food. There's a lot of food prepared: castard, curry kok, bubble tea, Taiwan chicken chop, nasi lemak, Kajang sate, Domino pizza, Big Apple donut etc. As a performer, I get a free entry, but have to purchase coupons for the food (and they're quite expensive). For me it's nevermind, I don't really have much chance eating outside food.

Biting Kajang Sate:

Finally, the event is gonna end, and it's our time to perform! Everything went well except there's a problem on the guitar cable. When Hinn moved a bit, there'll be a distortion sound. So while Audri is fixing it (in the middle of the song), I just drag it with some piano solo~ luckily Eric managed to came in a the right time again after the guitar's fixed, and everything resume. Good job everyone!

It's really been a tiring week, a lot of assignments and busy because of performances. However, it's a very very very great week for me, I love it. Besides that, after the Food Bazaar ends, I was playing around while helping the Pharmacy students to return the tables back to certain classrooms. When I got back to the hall, I found a group of choir doing christmas caroling, wow. It's the first time I see a caroling team singing live. They also promoted their fellowship in Nottingham University that is held on Friday night, one of them took my contact. I guess I'll give it a try today. Maybe God is working on this.

Today I'm reading Song of Songs chapter 1. Yupz, I finished Ecclesiastes yesterday. Hmm... The heading says "This is Solomon's song of songs, more wonderful than any other." The whole chapter is about a conversation between a young woman and young man who love each other. I still don't get it so far, but I suppose the points will show as I read further. Lord, I pray that you will continue leading those who just graduated from KTT. I pray that you use them for your glory and let them found a group of chirstian friends wherever they go. It's wonderful how you prepare all of us in Nilai, and finally when time comes, you send us all over to expand your kingdom. Same goes to Matt, Tze and Shaun who will graduate soon. LORD, I pray that you bless their future, direct them to their rightoues path. For my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter where we are and what we are doing in the future, stay close to our God, and one day He will put us together again! Amen.

2nd Project

This is really a crazy week, I played badminton from Monday til Friday. I didn't even do this in Nilai. Monday was just as usual, went to play because of Badminton Club. Then Tuesday, I invited Kitt to bible study, and he asked me to join him for badminton and we'll talk. It's quite nervous because I know no one from his gang. Wednesday after bible study, Kitt invited me for another badminton session again... at night..., that's my first time playing in Sports Complex until it closes down. Thursday was Badminton club again. It's staff time to play on Friday evening, then I joined Ali ^_^, I invited Kitt also. After playing, I "lepak" at Kitt's house, helping him to check his friend's essay (of course I didn't helped much, you know my english...). It's so so so fun to play every weekday, but quite tiring. Luckily I bought a new shoe, or else I gonna injured my feet badly with the old one.

My New Balance badminton shoe! (RM99)

So, the new project is about designing an air motor, where with a constant pneumatic supply given, the end shaft have to be able to rotate around 600 r.p.m. This time it's going to be a group project, and I'm under Dr Jacob again! Our group have to come out with a nice design and all the engineering calculations as well as drawings which due on 12th December. Next semester, we're going to manufacture it and run a test. Aw... this uni is really driving me crazy, I just finished the clutch design and hoping for some time to relax, who knows ...

Well, last week we came out with our group's task allocation, where I'm in calcualation and design phase with Jack Ng. Heard that he's a brilliant guy, gonna lay most of my hope on him for this project. Although we had a few group meetings til now, we haven't decide on a final design yet (meetings never bring conclusion, that's so true).

On Friday, a few of us went to the workshop to have a look at some samples and discussed with the lab assistant. Overall we have to come out with a sketch first. Supossingly me and Jack gonna do it, but I gonna rush my Solid Lab report, so he did the sketh alone that night... so sorry about that. Me and Jack meet up on Saturday to do the calculation since we're gonna submit it next Wednesday. I found that it's so much easier to communicate in small group, we came out with a design and started to work on the calculation.

Here comes the problem, where can we get any formula out of nothing? At first we tried to use all the basics of physics theory to dig out whatever that's related. Then suddenly, my bulb shines. I remembered in diploma I did something similiar, spent a very HARD TIME diging my memory. I tried to derive the formula, but I forgot most of the details (shows that how lazy I am in diploma). Jack was so hoping that I can remember, or else we're gonna stuck there forever.

Before the climax, let me tell you something. I have a habbit of writting every important or non-important things in a notebook, no matter what subject, example questions, rough sketches, jokes, or lame poems, or even drawing pokemon when the class is too boring. I hate to do stuffs on test pad cause I tend to lost unattached pieces of papers, and it looks messy. This was since Form 5 I think, and all my notebooks are green colour. ^_^

I was also tyring hard to figure the derivation on my notebook, then I have a thinking of turning the front pages of my notebook, hoping I wrote some clues. Cause normally when 1 notebook finish, I'll just throw it and buy a new one, and I had that class for so long ago. Finally, I found the formulae, and also the derivations! Then I remembered I was practicing it on my notebook because Mr Ravi (my previous lecturer in Nilai) gonna have a test on that topic for us. Thanks God!

Then with some reference of the seniors work, me and Jack managed to calculate the important data, and generate the suitable tables and graphs. Jack told me that "Wah, in such a short time you can generate so many numbers, awesome." The way he says it is so funny. However, we dragged until 5 something evening, proceeding slow. Jack was suppose to go back home and have a family dinner (or stuff like that), until his dad and mom keep on calling him to get back as soon as possible. Aiyo... feel so sorry cause always get him into trouble =.=

Next Tuesday me, Hinn and Audri are going to perform for Wallstreets Club picnic night, I really have no idea what song to play, but I'm definitely sure that I won't sing! Maybe doing some Yiruma and my own songs, I hope that I don't mess up my first performance in Nottingham. But I seriously think I gonna dissapoint the crowd, I don't have much variation of playing keyboard. Then Wednesday, Hinn's gonna worship lead for bible study, me and Audri on the keyboard and guitar. Recieved an sms from Eric about performing two simple songs for Cancer Awareness Night, not sure whether we can do it or not cause we are lacking of one vocalist. It's gonna be a hard week, got group project to do, Management assignment and Vibration Case Study.

Searching my song books for songs:

In Ecclesiastes 8:1, "How wonderful to be wise, to be able to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its hardness." Wise does not mean that we need to know everything on Earth, being wise is simply easy. We just need to know how to differentiate good from bad. Wise people do the good deeds, and only fools plan wicked acts. Maybe you'll think it's kinda stupid to do something and not being rewarded, but spiritually we are. Spiritual rewards are far more better than anything that can be given to us on Earth. Hinn is sick for 2 days (because of too much ice-cream), although he's quite ok now, I'll just pray for his health. Audri is gonna have a lot of labs next week, pray that God will take him through the hard time. Uncle Tome is flying back to Malaysia tonight! God, protect him please! The new American family arrived last week, I just knew Darrel, the father with a wife and 2 kids. I pray that God will use them so that they can make a different in this land! Amen.

1st time Song Lead

After returning from Mid Valley last Sunday, Audri told me that Kai Seng asked me to song lead in the coming bible study. The worst case is, Sarah hasn't change the broken guitar string, so no guitar for that Wednesday. So I gonna play keyboard and also... sing. I was so reluctant to do it, I already planned to tell Audri to take my part, but he said he's doing game/ice-breaking on that day... Oh my. God... You're not kidding right? I never done such thing before.

This Tuesday, I was stuck in the engineering lab for the whole afternoon. My tutor wanted to show us the machines in our labs, so he brought my tutorial group around (since we are all direct entry). Then I'm free at 4p.m something, I walked pass the lecturer's office on the way back, and it reminds me of my project tutorial Dr Jacob. I saw him reading a book "Power of the blood of Jesus" last project meeting, so I knew he's a christian. So I walked in his office and invited him to our bible study on the next day. Well, it's not what I usually will do, and I have no idea how I did it. Somehow, he promised to show up *My first success invitation to the bible study, YES!*

Then later I reached home, and I gave a 2nd try. I sms Kitt to join as well, it was about 4.30p.m, and he replied he never been to something like that before, but the last sentence from him was shocking, "Come join me to play badminton at 5p.m, then we'll talk about it." Wow! I was practicing worship song for bible study, and with superior speed I changed and grab my badminton gear. When I reached Sports Complex, he was playing with his gang (Oh no... the feeling come again, all strangers). However, I did play with them (although I'm scared coz they're quite pro) and I won. Get to talked to Kitt about the bible study after that but he doesn't seems like going. I'm just thinking, such a nice people like him... haiz... how come ah? Nevermind la...

Then the day comes, I finished my class around 5.40p.m on Wednesday. I went back home, pratice once, then prayed. Yupz! I'm gonna song lead for my very very very first time soon! I carry my wife, I mean Eve... I mean Yamaha PSR 450 and met Kai Seng at his house. We went for dinner at the uni cafeteria together and open up the room for our bible study. Then we set up the place.

Practice in the room again before anyone arrive. This is my song list:

• Blessed Be Your Name
• We Fall Down
• Above All

I'm having a hard time to memorize the lyrics. Luckily the song "We Fall Down" and "Above All" is already in my mind, and I'm not refering to any chords like I did before, I gonna have maximum contact with the members! (but of course I'll still look at the keyboard more...) Thinking of the support that Kai Seng and Shaun gave me in facebook wall, I'll just have to do it nicely!

Surprisingly my project tutor was the 1st one to show up, quite emberassed to let him see the room is so empty (Malaysian are always like that). So after playing a game prepared by Audri, we had a lot of shouting and screaming.

Then it's my time! Oh man... I couldn't get my first pitch correct coz of the shouting and laughing just now. However, I guess I'm correct by choosing the famous songs. Colin is right, I'm just there to facilitate, and the Holy Sprirt will take care of the others. Although I didn't get most of the lyrics correct for "Blessed be Your Name", luckily they're voice overpowered mine, haha. After the praise, it comes to the worships (haha, now I can relax more)! "We Fall Down" is such an easy song, it works so good to quiet down our hearts and build up the emotion to our LORD above. Then comes the main dish, I think "Above All" is a very meaningful and powerful song, the lyrics is descriptive and with impact! I modified some chords as well, to add in better feelings. Overall it turned out very nice (I think...).

I once shared with Tze about Passion 08 Concert that I attended, it was so overwhelming, although I'm just one of the 5000+ students that attended it (I stood just in front of the bassist ), I can feel the God is working in us, Gos is moving our hearts. It's so wonderful that so many of us have a united heart towards Him. Tze told me I had reach a higher level of worship, and I felt something similiar again, I have none of the feeling that I suppose to have, I fear not, I'm not nervous, I'm not shy, I'm not scared. I just do what it for God.

Uncle Rodney was sharing about evangelism that night. The important 6 Cs of how to share our faith with non-believers.

• Couragously
• Cliqueless
• Confidently
• Caringly
• Consistently
• Constantly

This made me think about Kitt, did I invited him in a wrong way? After the bible study ended, I recieved a call... from Kitt! The first thing he asked was "Hey Adam! How's your prayer meeting stuffs?" I was glad to know that he's concern about it, but actually he wants to ask me our for another badminton session, and IMMEDIATELY. Wow... it's my first time to play badminton in Sports Complex after 9p.m.

Me and Kitt arrived at Sports Complex around 9.40p.m, the world is so small, I met some of my classmates, Beng Keat, Chris and Willy are playing there. They're quite good, have a nice game with them *I won most! Yipee* Then we went out for supper together, too bad Kitt didn't join for that. Now God is really giving me what I wanted, now I know more people in my class! After I reached home, I chat with Isaac (my housemate who is a non-beliver), we share with each other about our own religion. Although I was a Buddhist, but I really know nothing much, but thanks for that night I learn more, same to Isaac too, knowing more about Christ.

In Ecclesiastes 5, it is written in verse 4, "So when you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools". Dear God father in heaven, thanks for all the things that You've done to me, it's from You that I found peace and love, from you I seek light and hope. I pray that You would bring others to worship You, just like Kitt and Isaac, their nice people. Uncle Tome will be coming back to Malaysia next week, I pray that you pour your mercy on his returning journey. As I'm having my group project now, LORD I pray that You bless me wisdom and team spirit to overcome this hardship. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

MAPCU Volleyball Competition 2008

It's the first MAPCU (Malaysian Association of Private College and University) competition after I joined Nottingham, and we Nottingham are the host for this MAPCU Volleybal competition! The organizer is our sports manager of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus - Ali Kader! As usual, I recieved a call from Ali which he asked me whether I'm free on Saturday morning to help, and why not? I'm so excited to be an "active student" again.

I woke up at 7:00 a.m, which is unusual for a Saturday. Ali reminded me to wear cap since it'll be freaking hot on the court. Get set around 7.30a.m and ready to walk to Sports Complex. By the way, I didn't realize that the feeling of walking the path to uni in the morning is so refreshing.

It took me 3 songs time to walk to Sports Complex (I'm having my walkman phone wiht me while walking there), and you know what? I'm the earliest who arrive, and it's expected... as always. So I walked around and take some snaps, and I sense Ali in my radar range at 7.55a.m. He was surprise that no one is there yet to start the preparation (so am I...). We qucikly set up a simple registration counter. UCSI was the earliest team to arrive (8a.m sharp) and they get a chance to explore our Sports Complex while me and Ali handling some stuffs.

Almost reach Sports Complex, the Volleyball courts are empty, so I expected something:


A sneak shot inside the empty office, waiting for someone to open it up:


Yes! Ali came, and we quickly set up the registration counter:


The first team to arrive, UCSI, and slowly, the others:

Basically my job starts with helping the participants college/uni to register their players and accepty payment (too bad it doesn't goes to my wallet). The participating parties are:

1. Nottingham University
2. UCSI
3. HELP UC
4. Taylor College
5. APIIT
6. IMU and
7. Nilai University College!

Basically every college/uni send out 1 team each for male and female category except HELP uni college, they sent 2 for each category. So the people who are suppose to help around show up and we're getting a grip on it (one of them is Alex). Referees arrive, registration and verification of participants complete, and LET THE GAME BEGINS!

My tag for the day *Syok*:

All the IDs from the participants for verification purpose:

When everything is under control, the team managers play badminton in the hall:

Nottingham female VS Nilai UC female -.- support who?

I get a chance to talk with my ex-college team, just exchanging information *Glad that some still recognize me*. They asked me how's life here, and I asked what had change there. Nilai UC really changed, especially the canteen, I have to get a chance and go back to have a look. Then a minute later I'm busy distributing drinks for the teams, REVIVE isotonic drink is our main sponsor, but I enjoyed the other sponsor's drink TWISTER more.

All about strategy:

Nilai team!

Had my morning updating the scores at the main booth, then I took lunch with Ali and Edwin (Nilai UC staff) at Nottingham cafeteria around 2p.m, then we went back for semi-finals. It seems like there're lack of man power, I became one of the score keeper for female's matches. By witnessing the competition, I started to feel that volleyball is actually quite fun. It requires a lot of teamwork and communication among teammates which I poorly can do it. Well, I just play it once during my life in Nilai with the female team, I was so bored working in the President Hall and I joined the girls coz that's the only game played during my working period that day.

Score keeper's view:

It started to rain around 4:00p.m, where I'm still the score keeper. The girls really don't mind to play in the rain (as expected). The rain somehow stimulated the fighting spirit of the players, even I as a score keeper also get a bit "excited" (about the game).

Gonna keep the score board coz raining:

Female team continue semi-final match even it's raining:

The competition ended at 5p.m something, the rain stoped after the semi-final, so final is quite OK except the wet ground. All the players are so into the games, glad that they enjoyed the event. The winning team is:

Male Champion: Nilai UC
Male 1st Runner Up: Help UC Team A
Male 2nd Runner Up: UCSI
Female Champion: Help UC Team B
Female 1st Runner Up: Nilai UC
Female 2nd Runner Up: UCSI

Trophy and medals:

Nilai UC Team:

Congratulation to the winners, all the games are good! I took some pictures for the winning team after sorting out the medals. Then everyone went off. Of course, I have to stay back to clean the mess. So we collect all the score sheets into the office, keep the PA system, and place the chairs back to where they belong. Finally, I'm off around 7p.m. Fuh~ what a tiring day.

Group photo:

Later, Brandon called me to do Solid Mechanics 2 Lab Report together. So we decided to had dinner at Semenyih first. Coincidently, I met Nilai UC Team at the restaurant, they were having dinner too, what a small world. Then I managed to sweep some stocks from The Store before going back home.

I'm so happy that I have the chance to participate in the organizing committee to run the competition, hope that there's more to come (I still prefer we send team to other colleges instead of being the host).

Gonna finish Proverbs today, in Proverbs 31:9, "Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice." Helping others is very important, recently I learn that through helping people, we helped ourselves as well. Maybe sometimes we thought that it's just worthless or strange to do something, but God actually send us to someone in need. Others might be praying for angels to come and help them, and you (Yes! YOU!) never know that you're playing such an important role (Experienced it personally). I pray that Teng will be able to finish his lab report that he had drag for so long (I'm also doing lab report now). Uncle Tome will be flying back from Austrailia next week, I pray for his journey mery too. Heard that Nilai Sunday Worship is going to lead the Youth Service of First Baptist Church this coming Sunday, hope it'll be a success. Audri's puppy (the name is Sunday) back home in KK was stolen, pray that it'll be back soon. He was so moody and sad for that incident. Amen.