Something damn interesting i witnessed juz now... Please do have the patience to read this.
In the course of doing a sound and music business, resource n redundancy is important. You'll need to have access to all the brands n type of equipment (or at least their contacts lar) and have, at best 2-3 suppliers to a certain type of equipment to prevent embarrassing moments, since d market in Malaysia is abit, erm, monopolized by some unscrupulous people who can 'main-main' with you when you desperately need stock. A substansial sound company can have up to 8-10 different suppliers (by suppliers i mean with an open account)
So juz now, my dad sent me n my mom to get some stuff from a big-time veteran (one of those not so unethical ones) supplier in Klang. We used the car, since we were only getting connectors n a small smoke machine. since d stock had 2 be taken from the store upstairs, we waited abit. And checked out some new products that just arrived at the showroom. Like good old Hokkien buisnesspeople, they were staunch Buddist people. Proof of it lies in a HUGE shrine at the back of the showroom with incense smoking 24/7.
That shop was as packed as usual with customers coming to sent their spoilt goods (mostly caused by idiotic handling) for repair or for a warantee claim, customers collecting their repaired goods, interested customers coming to grab some stuffs, n juz some plain window shoppers looking for the best bargain. One of them is from a surau, coming to pick up an amplifier tat had some warantee problems (he bought cheap stuff, in all honesty, which isn't realible). So the salesman on duty plugged in a CD player to test the guy's amp in front of the guy to show him that the amp is repaired. I saw him plugging it in, since, i was about 4 feet away from those two guys, just bored and nothing to do. He loaded a CD-R, which was lying on top of a stack of similiar looking CD-Rs, which in my millions of times going there in the course of my life, knew what they were - Test CDs containing a compilation of nice-sounding songs, seperated by genre per CD, so that they can test the sound quality of whatever PA system that is plugged in.
I turned around and walked away, knowing that these salesman would play whatever that CD contains REALLY LOUD. I wanted to protect my ears from bleeding. And that salesguy punched play. I turned around in shock at the song that was being played back.
The song was Break Free. Played in public by a non-christian supplier, in front of many Malay and Chinese customers, through an amplifier meant for a SURAU. At rock concert levels. For 2 full minutes.
Cool, eh? This shows that God's word is being broadcasted even further and wider than we can ever imagine due to the popularity and universal appeal of music. The best part is, even if those guys (by those guys i mean overly-sensitive Malays) didn't like it, they cannot do anything about it. Why?
Because the song didn't contain the ever-so-sensitive words Jesus, Christ or Allah. And that's the thing, you can't prosecute a person for playing back something religiously sensitive even IN THEIR FACE, if, it doesn't contain any words that are deemed religiously specific. Have a Christian song without those three words broadcasted all you want, and as long if you have a public music broadcast license, they can't put a hand on you - especially songs like God is Good, Break Free, etc, etc, etc...
So, having any ideas, people???
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hieeeeeeeee to everybody!!!!!!!!!!!
Well each of us have a season of the bad and good times.
Never give up on yourself!!!
Same as how God never gives up on you!!!
I know it's hard standing strong at times when the strong wind blows at different directions, but hold fast to your faith in God and in what you believe in!!
Let's hold hands and help each other when one person falls, at least we have the other person to pick us up.
Keep trusting in God!
We can run this marathon and win the prize for God!
Well each of us have a season of the bad and good times.
Never give up on yourself!!!
Same as how God never gives up on you!!!
I know it's hard standing strong at times when the strong wind blows at different directions, but hold fast to your faith in God and in what you believe in!!
Let's hold hands and help each other when one person falls, at least we have the other person to pick us up.
Keep trusting in God!
We can run this marathon and win the prize for God!
People..
hey guys, guys. we'll alwiz keep in touch no matter wat okay. i noe its hard, n i miss all of u too. it's not like i'm not coming back. i promise i'll come back, den can hav reu again. if u all r wondering whn my holidays r here's d link to my academic calender: http://www.np.edu.sg/aa/Pages/calendar.aspx so continue to keep in touch n keep each other in ur prayers. and to sy, mike n alfredo: alwiz rmb (u noe wat i mean).. =) so, yah. i will treasure everyones frenship for life. so, till we meet again.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Everything by Lifehouse
Find me here
And speak to me
I want to feel You
I need to hear You
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the life
To my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything
And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this
(Ahh Yeahhh)
You calm the storms
And You give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You steal my heart
And You take my breath away
Would You take me in
Would You take me deeper, now
And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this
And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this
Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want
You're all I need
Everything, everything...
When how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would you tell me how could it be
Any better than this
Oh And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better any better than this
And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this....
Friday, April 17, 2009
It's here~ ^^
aaaaaand of course i saved the best for the official JS blog (giving face 2 stone 4 his hard work)
hmm i guess u guys have already seen the black & white version on facebook (aah, tim spoilt d surprise, LOL)
but oh well, here it is.. *teng teng teng teng*
another piece of work, dis time inspired by mike.. Mike: i didnt 4get!! lol..
hmm i guess u guys have already seen the black & white version on facebook (aah, tim spoilt d surprise, LOL)
but oh well, here it is.. *teng teng teng teng*
another piece of work, dis time inspired by mike.. Mike: i didnt 4get!! lol..
i kinda messed up a few parts along the way..
and if u guys r wondering whr sibu n rosh is..
sibu's d island (duh) n rosheen is.. well.. the darkest part of the picture. xD
other than dat i guess it's quite obvious who's who..
sooo...
hope you guys like it, have fun & remember to think back about those times in JS once in a while..
and if u guys r wondering whr sibu n rosh is..
sibu's d island (duh) n rosheen is.. well.. the darkest part of the picture. xD
other than dat i guess it's quite obvious who's who..
sooo...
hope you guys like it, have fun & remember to think back about those times in JS once in a while..
the long sessions.. the late afternoon eager-ness to play captainball.. the one who wakes you up every morning.. that rainy evening where we had to walk to the canteen with that plastic sheet & the river was flooded.. and that awesome journey that we shared TOGETHER..
Long live JS 2009~!
Smile
Guess who is who...
Brings a smile to my face.
Edit: Credits to Han Yun for drawing this (it's quite obvious, isn't it?). Apparently, there's a coloured version coming up. I, honestly, have lost touch with everything happening in this Christmunity. Please do me a favour by keeping me updated, please, as i'm not on facebook. I don't have the time to managed another account. I've got a company to run. 2 email inboxes and 2 blogs is the limit i can handle.
-------
Jun Arn leaving tomorrow. Have a safe trip man. Good luck and God bless. REMEMBER US!!!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Blessed Easter :)
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
And need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!
Written by Maya Angelou.
God's love is the ultimate and final love.
Blessed Easter my dearest brothers and sisters. :)
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
And need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!
Written by Maya Angelou.
God's love is the ultimate and final love.
Blessed Easter my dearest brothers and sisters. :)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
If some of you even read my blog, you will know that i strained my back.
Anyway please do pray for me
It will take a while for it to fully get heal.
And i need to take a good care of my back.
Need to strengthen it by maybe exercise or drinking milk!
Ah ha!!
Please pray that i will be fully heal and that it won't cause me any problem in the future.
Thanks people!
Anyway please do pray for me
It will take a while for it to fully get heal.
And i need to take a good care of my back.
Need to strengthen it by maybe exercise or drinking milk!
Ah ha!!
Please pray that i will be fully heal and that it won't cause me any problem in the future.
Thanks people!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Nehemiah
Wanted this to be in time for the Holy week but anyways... It's extremely long, so if no time, don't read this (yet)! Ming Han has an important notice below. Read that first.
My (rather inconsistent) morning devotion has a program of the same old one chapter a day thingy, alternating with a NT book (remember that incompleted assignment anyone?) with a random book from the old testament, preferably a prophet/historical book to challenge meself. So after finishing Ecclesiastes and 2 Thessalonians, I landed in Nehemiah, which i thought rhymes with Zechariah, as such should be a great continuation of the challenge and 'torture' i had back in JS - just one step harder.
And did Nehemiah speak to me indeed. Hope this sharing blesses you guys. (The reading was done in somewhere around MYPC, FYI)
I'm no bible scholar, as you all would have known by now, and such, you can read up the story yourself. Instead, i will give out the thing that hit me and what i can challenge us with.
Chapter 1
Many of us is in trouble and some even shame caused by people, our own faults and many other factors when we arrived in JS. Me, for example, was near suicide and had doubts about God. One of my problems in mixing with you all was a case that happened in August which unfortunately can't be shared over a public website. Our reaction was to pray and give God one last chance (for me, at least). We were willing to sit down and weep. And this was exactly what Nehemiah did. The result? God spoke. In individual ways to us as individuals. Like how He used you guys to speak to me.
Chapter 2
verses 10: Since we are now restored, healed, and equipped to start serving in God's Kingdom once more, Satan will get disturbed. So do keep caution on what the father of all lies has in store. He will hit us hard, as some of us are already hit by him. Do remember that God's on our side.
Inspecting the walls: Our temple, or what i would like to describe as heart, might be healed. We are filled with overflowing joy and peace, but sometimes the rest of our city, or life, is still in disarray as what v.12-15 tells us. Some of us it might be our line of defense - any intruder can enter and wreck havoc. So we must inspect it and rebuild the parts that are broken - despite mockery (v.19). Some of us it might be self-esteem. Some of us might be the ability to resist certain tempations, for example pornography or BGR. Some of us it might be anger or pride. This must be fixed, or Satan has a foothold in our lives - and can make it 7 times as bad (remember Jesus words).
Sometimes this appiles to us in our local Christmunity or TRAC youth. Something that hit me as i was typing this.
Chapter 3
As each person rebuilt the wall placed in front of their own house, we should remember to strengthen the community around us, in unity, so that Satan is kept outside. Unity, obedience to God-ordained leaders is important, or we cannot be intergrated and complete the wall of defense against the troubles and corruption of the world. Likewise, we must remember is our lives must be in intergrity (remember our course on Spritual Warfare) so that no holds is available for Satan to invade our lives. All holes must be plugged.
Chapter 4 and 6:1-14
Remember to constantly be on guard against Satan's schemes! Do pray for strength (6:9) from God to handle whatever Satan throws at us. Make sure we do not fail in anyway as stipulated by '7 steps to freedom'.
Chapter 5
We must never lose the fear of the Lord in our lives. If not, corruption and lust will set in. A lot of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, many of them leaders are now living in a lifestyle that is in a mockery to God's name. We must not follow so, or we will be judged someday - severely. A serious issue to take note of.
Chapter 6:15ono and Chapter 7
Perserverence and Patience pays. If we sow in pain, we will reap in joy. Remember that - always.
Also, do remember that the leaders who are here and that came before us did put up the rules and regulations for a purpose. Which reminds me of a book all of us Methodist people HATE... :-p
On a serious note, orderly work is important.
Chapter 8
Remember to give thanks to God no matter the circumstances. It is important as even us being alive is a miracle.
Chapter 9
Remember to confess and repent sincerely whenever we fall. We are human - let's face it.
Chapter 10
UNITY~!!!!
Chapter 11
verse 2, in context of verse 1. Read it for yourself. Note the words.
Chapter 12
Remember to base whatever we do in Christ. It's not only about us giving our all. Even in rebuilding our lives when it falls apart.
Chapter 13
STAY PURE!!!! Do not conform to the patterns of the world, and let it corrupt us. And in all things, do not find for the praise and regconition - let God do the rewarding.
-------
This is what i feel personally (hey, it really applies to me, ok!). Hope it blesses you guys. Amen. Sorry for being 'preachy'. That's how i 'torture' myself.
Tim
My (rather inconsistent) morning devotion has a program of the same old one chapter a day thingy, alternating with a NT book (remember that incompleted assignment anyone?) with a random book from the old testament, preferably a prophet/historical book to challenge meself. So after finishing Ecclesiastes and 2 Thessalonians, I landed in Nehemiah, which i thought rhymes with Zechariah, as such should be a great continuation of the challenge and 'torture' i had back in JS - just one step harder.
And did Nehemiah speak to me indeed. Hope this sharing blesses you guys. (The reading was done in somewhere around MYPC, FYI)
I'm no bible scholar, as you all would have known by now, and such, you can read up the story yourself. Instead, i will give out the thing that hit me and what i can challenge us with.
Chapter 1
Many of us is in trouble and some even shame caused by people, our own faults and many other factors when we arrived in JS. Me, for example, was near suicide and had doubts about God. One of my problems in mixing with you all was a case that happened in August which unfortunately can't be shared over a public website. Our reaction was to pray and give God one last chance (for me, at least). We were willing to sit down and weep. And this was exactly what Nehemiah did. The result? God spoke. In individual ways to us as individuals. Like how He used you guys to speak to me.
Chapter 2
verses 10: Since we are now restored, healed, and equipped to start serving in God's Kingdom once more, Satan will get disturbed. So do keep caution on what the father of all lies has in store. He will hit us hard, as some of us are already hit by him. Do remember that God's on our side.
Inspecting the walls: Our temple, or what i would like to describe as heart, might be healed. We are filled with overflowing joy and peace, but sometimes the rest of our city, or life, is still in disarray as what v.12-15 tells us. Some of us it might be our line of defense - any intruder can enter and wreck havoc. So we must inspect it and rebuild the parts that are broken - despite mockery (v.19). Some of us it might be self-esteem. Some of us might be the ability to resist certain tempations, for example pornography or BGR. Some of us it might be anger or pride. This must be fixed, or Satan has a foothold in our lives - and can make it 7 times as bad (remember Jesus words).
Sometimes this appiles to us in our local Christmunity or TRAC youth. Something that hit me as i was typing this.
Chapter 3
As each person rebuilt the wall placed in front of their own house, we should remember to strengthen the community around us, in unity, so that Satan is kept outside. Unity, obedience to God-ordained leaders is important, or we cannot be intergrated and complete the wall of defense against the troubles and corruption of the world. Likewise, we must remember is our lives must be in intergrity (remember our course on Spritual Warfare) so that no holds is available for Satan to invade our lives. All holes must be plugged.
Chapter 4 and 6:1-14
Remember to constantly be on guard against Satan's schemes! Do pray for strength (6:9) from God to handle whatever Satan throws at us. Make sure we do not fail in anyway as stipulated by '7 steps to freedom'.
Chapter 5
We must never lose the fear of the Lord in our lives. If not, corruption and lust will set in. A lot of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, many of them leaders are now living in a lifestyle that is in a mockery to God's name. We must not follow so, or we will be judged someday - severely. A serious issue to take note of.
Chapter 6:15ono and Chapter 7
Perserverence and Patience pays. If we sow in pain, we will reap in joy. Remember that - always.
Also, do remember that the leaders who are here and that came before us did put up the rules and regulations for a purpose. Which reminds me of a book all of us Methodist people HATE... :-p
On a serious note, orderly work is important.
Chapter 8
Remember to give thanks to God no matter the circumstances. It is important as even us being alive is a miracle.
Chapter 9
Remember to confess and repent sincerely whenever we fall. We are human - let's face it.
Chapter 10
UNITY~!!!!
Chapter 11
verse 2, in context of verse 1. Read it for yourself. Note the words.
Chapter 12
Remember to base whatever we do in Christ. It's not only about us giving our all. Even in rebuilding our lives when it falls apart.
Chapter 13
STAY PURE!!!! Do not conform to the patterns of the world, and let it corrupt us. And in all things, do not find for the praise and regconition - let God do the rewarding.
-------
This is what i feel personally (hey, it really applies to me, ok!). Hope it blesses you guys. Amen. Sorry for being 'preachy'. That's how i 'torture' myself.
Tim
Prayer request
By the time you read this, I'll most probably be on Hong Kong soil. Nevertheless, please pray that God will grant me and my dad journey mercies on our way to Hong Kong and whilst we're there. Please pray too that God will give me the right words to speak, as part of the interview is in Cantonese. How much, I have no idea. Pray too that God will grant us protection and journey mercies on our way back.
Will be back on Maundy Thursday (if you haven't noticed, it's Holy Week, people) and will start posting when I've pried myself off Caesar 4 :).
Will be back on Maundy Thursday (if you haven't noticed, it's Holy Week, people) and will start posting when I've pried myself off Caesar 4 :).
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
News (about me lar...)
i'm seriously dead tired now...
let me give all of you an update to what i've been up to.
i'm now officially working full time in my dad's company. pay cheque's coming end of the month, if my dad's financial situation allow. my studies are put on hold due to financial and staffing problems. Since my dad's health is rapidly failing (as in he can't work as hard as last time, and always sick), i'll be taking over the reins of the company, Major Seven Music, very soon - probably end of next year or so, depending on the situation. As it is, i'm already starting to take charge of some of the workload my dad used to handle. it's not a easy task, as my experience is limited and it's quite a big responsibility (thankfully my brother, micheal lewis, is joining me in July) to be a breadwinner for the extended family of 5 which has a lorry, a van, 2 cars and 3 (one for the store of equipment and one for grandmom) houses plus a study loan to maintain rental/installment. i'm trying my best to get a driving license in by the end of May/June to make it a little easier. And also so that i can be more free to serve in the youth and also visitation of friends (school and you guys lar)
Business is unstable but thankfully income is coming in to pay up the bills and the debt caused by the 11k+ investment we made recently. One of my top goals is to reduce the overheads of the company from the staggering 7k+ a month (it's normal for a sound company this size) to a more managable 4-5k or so. An impossible task, but by God's grace, i can suceed. Studies wise, i'm honestly not sure what course i take come this december, but sound engineering and some bible course is one option. However, if funds do not allow, then i'll not further my studies - not good.
Grace Sentul's MYF is getting on to be pretty vibrant. The young dudes there (most of the older guys have gone overseas to study, or just have moved on from the church) are astounding me with their unity and desire to see the group grow. I really get fired up everytime i see them - so much so i start shaking inside. The only thing is their pretty inexperienced - so it's up to me, sheng yong (who, honestly, looks like he's buried in college duties to me) and my MYF president (some of you know him), Andrew Wong. We are now very small (take Faith, Cheras to be identical in size for those who went there), but revival can break out, with God's will. I can only pray hard, and serve whatever i can as a Missions Coordinator (Sheng Yong's Fellowship Coordinator).
Personally, i see God at work in my life. Like just just now in the service, i see that God has been talking to me since i entered Grace Sentul about 5 years back. He's also challenging me to things i have never dreamt of doing even 2 months back - like being a intercessor in the youth. Also, i'm finding it hard to keep a regular disipline due of the busyness i'm being buried in. Also, i'm really finding the temptation to return to what i was before JS like a ton of bricks. Past addictions (yes, i'm naming it past) is haunting me. I'm trying to meet up with Austin to continue my counselling sessions so that i can really BREAK FREE from what has happened last August (some of you already know what happened, others in JS, i don't mind telling). It's not that i can't break free or anything, but i need additional help to be free, earlier. In fact, i can tell you that God used August 2008 to get my attention, and, that was just one of the reasons why He did that.
So, for those who have been having difficulty in their walk on the real world, you are not alone and do not despair. If He managed to touch you in anyway in JS, it's clear that He has a plan for you and all you have to do is do your best and leave the results to God. I'm not sure on what bible to give you guys, except to echo Jesus' words on 'come to Me and I will give you rest'. May you find rest in God and stay strong. Also, do uphold each other in prayer and stay in touch. Lets make sure we continue to be a community of believers who will be a blessing to each other, so that we, as individuals and as a group, can bless our neighbours and society. God is moving, only that we don't realize it. And we need to realize it.
A fast, impromtu but sincere note from,
Timothy
Edit: I really miss you guys!!! for those that are now in KL, can we all meet up someday???
let me give all of you an update to what i've been up to.
i'm now officially working full time in my dad's company. pay cheque's coming end of the month, if my dad's financial situation allow. my studies are put on hold due to financial and staffing problems. Since my dad's health is rapidly failing (as in he can't work as hard as last time, and always sick), i'll be taking over the reins of the company, Major Seven Music, very soon - probably end of next year or so, depending on the situation. As it is, i'm already starting to take charge of some of the workload my dad used to handle. it's not a easy task, as my experience is limited and it's quite a big responsibility (thankfully my brother, micheal lewis, is joining me in July) to be a breadwinner for the extended family of 5 which has a lorry, a van, 2 cars and 3 (one for the store of equipment and one for grandmom) houses plus a study loan to maintain rental/installment. i'm trying my best to get a driving license in by the end of May/June to make it a little easier. And also so that i can be more free to serve in the youth and also visitation of friends (school and you guys lar)
Business is unstable but thankfully income is coming in to pay up the bills and the debt caused by the 11k+ investment we made recently. One of my top goals is to reduce the overheads of the company from the staggering 7k+ a month (it's normal for a sound company this size) to a more managable 4-5k or so. An impossible task, but by God's grace, i can suceed. Studies wise, i'm honestly not sure what course i take come this december, but sound engineering and some bible course is one option. However, if funds do not allow, then i'll not further my studies - not good.
Grace Sentul's MYF is getting on to be pretty vibrant. The young dudes there (most of the older guys have gone overseas to study, or just have moved on from the church) are astounding me with their unity and desire to see the group grow. I really get fired up everytime i see them - so much so i start shaking inside. The only thing is their pretty inexperienced - so it's up to me, sheng yong (who, honestly, looks like he's buried in college duties to me) and my MYF president (some of you know him), Andrew Wong. We are now very small (take Faith, Cheras to be identical in size for those who went there), but revival can break out, with God's will. I can only pray hard, and serve whatever i can as a Missions Coordinator (Sheng Yong's Fellowship Coordinator).
Personally, i see God at work in my life. Like just just now in the service, i see that God has been talking to me since i entered Grace Sentul about 5 years back. He's also challenging me to things i have never dreamt of doing even 2 months back - like being a intercessor in the youth. Also, i'm finding it hard to keep a regular disipline due of the busyness i'm being buried in. Also, i'm really finding the temptation to return to what i was before JS like a ton of bricks. Past addictions (yes, i'm naming it past) is haunting me. I'm trying to meet up with Austin to continue my counselling sessions so that i can really BREAK FREE from what has happened last August (some of you already know what happened, others in JS, i don't mind telling). It's not that i can't break free or anything, but i need additional help to be free, earlier. In fact, i can tell you that God used August 2008 to get my attention, and, that was just one of the reasons why He did that.
So, for those who have been having difficulty in their walk on the real world, you are not alone and do not despair. If He managed to touch you in anyway in JS, it's clear that He has a plan for you and all you have to do is do your best and leave the results to God. I'm not sure on what bible to give you guys, except to echo Jesus' words on 'come to Me and I will give you rest'. May you find rest in God and stay strong. Also, do uphold each other in prayer and stay in touch. Lets make sure we continue to be a community of believers who will be a blessing to each other, so that we, as individuals and as a group, can bless our neighbours and society. God is moving, only that we don't realize it. And we need to realize it.
A fast, impromtu but sincere note from,
Timothy
Edit: I really miss you guys!!! for those that are now in KL, can we all meet up someday???
Saturday, April 4, 2009
i had youth earlier, and we were watching this paul washer video by paul washer. i feel like i’ve like, seriously gone astray since JS. but not only after JS but even during. the questions like AM I A REAL CHRISTIAN? its more than doing good deeds, its about lifestyle and all. and, i know that i’ve fallen so short. but, i duno. mixture of guilt and confusing at the moment.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Little Things
Hey all! :)
Just wanna share a funny snapshot with you guys. Something I saw during class today. It made me smile to myself, thinking of all the wonderful and comical moments we had together.
It's amazing how the little things you see everyday remind you of our JS memories, and what those little things mean to us.
(Not only the funny jokes of course :D)
Have a fun weekend and I love you guys! :)
Just wanna share a funny snapshot with you guys. Something I saw during class today. It made me smile to myself, thinking of all the wonderful and comical moments we had together.
It's amazing how the little things you see everyday remind you of our JS memories, and what those little things mean to us.
(Not only the funny jokes of course :D)
Have a fun weekend and I love you guys! :)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Running on empty
***NOTE: If you don't have enough time or inclination to read whatever I've written here, please don't. Jun Arn has an important notice in the post immediately preceding (chronologically) / after (positionally) this one. Read that one first if you have no time. Thanks.***
Every action we do on Earth requires energy, regardless of whether it is a monkey climbing up a tree, a plant synthesizing a glucose molecule, a human thinking of a joke to crack or a car moving up a slope. And everything which does work has a reservoir of energy. The monkey and human derives its energy from glucose in the blood, then from glycogen in its liver, and then from its fat deposits. The plant gets its energy from the sun while a car has its gas tank.
Throughout JS, I found that this kept thought kept on coming back to me: Running on empty. The first time I encountered this thought was when a group of eight of us crammed into an Unser Uncle Herbert had borrowed and made our way to EMC, PJ.
The Unser didn’t have a full tank; it was probably only one-quarter full. So after travelling for a while, the gauge started going down real fast. This was hardly surprising: Unsers are known for being gas guzzlers. Then, of course, it hit “E” and then after that, the low petrol light came on.
I didn’t know exactly when or where it was when the tank light lit up, but I thought that Uncle Herbert would have realized it. Later, however, he asked me when or where did it light up, and asked me how much farther could the car travel with the light on. To be honest, I had no idea. I come from a family which tops up its petrol tank when the needle reaches the quarter mark, and thus I have only seen the low petrol light on once or twice in my life. This was probably the first time I was in a car with the light on for such a long period of time.
Nevertheless, we were in an unenviable position. We had no idea as to where the next petrol station was, we were low on gas, and we had a deadline to meet. Uncle Herbert joked that maybe for us, we would have to multiply petrol to graduate from JS.
But I digress.
Somehow, the Unser made it to Rawang with the low petrol light on from, if I remember correctly, at the nearest, Slim River. Throughout the trip with the light on, we were hoping that we would have enough petrol, not only so that we would arrive on time, but also so that we could avoid the embarrassment of calling on the Peronda PLUS for some petrol.
Somehow we did. Or maybe we didn’t, but Someone else decided that we did. So somehow, we had enough fuel for the journey…enough to reach Rawang, and go pretty deep into Rawang before refueling at a petrol station.
After that, we stopped by for tea at Uncle Herbert’s house, and there I had my first contact with his family…at least in my living memory. For some, they had met and remembered Uncle Herbert’s family; I believe it’s obvious who. For others, it was their first time as well. So after tea, and a bit of rest, plus time to stretch our legs, we went down to Kelana Jaya and I got the closest I have been to my house in days.
One can say I was pretty pampered during JS; I got to go home during the first weekend, and during the second one, I was closer to home than most people. Sure, Mike probably was even closer, but then again, he didn’t actually get to set foot in his house.
I wasn’t left with another running on empty situation until we went to Penang. After the good lunch we had at the food court, the Penang Trinity group rushed to, where else, Penang Trinity. After going for their MYF meeting, and then having a barbeque, I was left pretty run down. I wasn’t starving, even though I didn’t eat much during the barbeque, but I was just plain tired. Somehow, I found the strength to walk and eat around Gurney Drive, even though, very frankly speaking, I was dead tired.
However, walking and eating was not the end of it. There was also the strength to stay awake until much later at night then I had originally planned, and as such, I only got 5 hours of sleep rather than the 6 I should have.
The next day, Michael wanted to wake me up at the usual time, meaning half past six in the morning. However, I could hear Sheng Yong telling him to let me sleep. I didn’t manage to get any sleep after that, no matter how hard I tried, but the “damage” had already been done; I had had less than enough sleep, probably somewhere around four to four and a half hours sleep.
Immediately after breakfast, and whatever time I had for cleaning up, we all went for service. Surprisingly, even after so little sleep, I managed to stay up during both sermons. Running on empty again? I would have to say yes.
Normally, if I’m dead tired, six hours of sleep won’t cut it; I need seven or eight. I normally prefer to get six hours of sleep; during school term, I used to get by on five, but I had naps in the afternoon. If I don’t sleep in the afternoon, I would be tired by eleven. But if I’m dead tired, and I don’t get enough sleep, I normally find myself sleeping during the pastoral prayer and struggling to stay awake during the sermons.
So when I managed to stay awake all the time, I found it absolutely amazing.
But that wasn’t the last of it. During mission week, on Thursday, I decided to hang my clothes instead of eating lunch first. By the time I had finished doing that, I didn’t have enough time to eat lunch, so I went to St. George’s on an empty stomach. However, I didn’t feel hungry, which was surprising, because whenever I fast, I would nonetheless feel hungry at some point.
I had one more experience, but that was not during JS per se, so it wouldn’t really fit here. On top of that, it was in…errmm…err...Pangkor, so the files (and my lips, figuratively and literally) are sealed. Maybe some other time…
Running on empty…hmm….were we really drawing on the last of our resources, or were we drawing on someone else’s resources? Were we scraping the bottom of the barrel, or was our barrel being refilled by someone else? Were we squeezing the last drop of wine from the cup, or was someone shoving an overflowing one into our hands when we wanted it most?
My brother came back from driving school one day, saying that the “E” sign on the petrol meter did not mean “empty”. He said that his driving instructor told him that it meant enough. Most cars, when the petrol gauge hits “E”, have enough fuel to take them another forty kilometers or so. So maybe we weren’t running on empty.
We had enough.
But then again, why do we think we’re running on empty, when we have enough? It’s because the gauge is pointing at the bottom of the range. It’s because our bodies tell us enough is enough, and it is time to take a rest. We see it as the end of the line. However, it is not, because while our senses tell us it is, there is still a little bit more in us which we don’t know was there.
We tap into it when we need it most, and we get it whenever we need it, especially when it is to do His work.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (KJV)
His grace is sufficient; not excessive, not abundant, but sufficient. Moreover, His strength is made perfect in weakness. We know Him most when we are down, we feel Him most when we truly reach out to Him, when all our hope is truly in Him. And, sadly, we are only in that kind of mood when we are dead tired or down for the count, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially or spiritually.
So the next time you’re dead tired, feeling like you want to crash, that you’re running on empty or don’t have enough rest, whether you’re expanding His kingdom or doing whatever activity He has called you to in the secular world, remember:
The One who can give strength in measures more than we can ask or imagine is with us.
Amen.
Happy April Fool’s Day.
Every action we do on Earth requires energy, regardless of whether it is a monkey climbing up a tree, a plant synthesizing a glucose molecule, a human thinking of a joke to crack or a car moving up a slope. And everything which does work has a reservoir of energy. The monkey and human derives its energy from glucose in the blood, then from glycogen in its liver, and then from its fat deposits. The plant gets its energy from the sun while a car has its gas tank.
Throughout JS, I found that this kept thought kept on coming back to me: Running on empty. The first time I encountered this thought was when a group of eight of us crammed into an Unser Uncle Herbert had borrowed and made our way to EMC, PJ.
The Unser didn’t have a full tank; it was probably only one-quarter full. So after travelling for a while, the gauge started going down real fast. This was hardly surprising: Unsers are known for being gas guzzlers. Then, of course, it hit “E” and then after that, the low petrol light came on.
I didn’t know exactly when or where it was when the tank light lit up, but I thought that Uncle Herbert would have realized it. Later, however, he asked me when or where did it light up, and asked me how much farther could the car travel with the light on. To be honest, I had no idea. I come from a family which tops up its petrol tank when the needle reaches the quarter mark, and thus I have only seen the low petrol light on once or twice in my life. This was probably the first time I was in a car with the light on for such a long period of time.
Nevertheless, we were in an unenviable position. We had no idea as to where the next petrol station was, we were low on gas, and we had a deadline to meet. Uncle Herbert joked that maybe for us, we would have to multiply petrol to graduate from JS.
But I digress.
Somehow, the Unser made it to Rawang with the low petrol light on from, if I remember correctly, at the nearest, Slim River. Throughout the trip with the light on, we were hoping that we would have enough petrol, not only so that we would arrive on time, but also so that we could avoid the embarrassment of calling on the Peronda PLUS for some petrol.
Somehow we did. Or maybe we didn’t, but Someone else decided that we did. So somehow, we had enough fuel for the journey…enough to reach Rawang, and go pretty deep into Rawang before refueling at a petrol station.
After that, we stopped by for tea at Uncle Herbert’s house, and there I had my first contact with his family…at least in my living memory. For some, they had met and remembered Uncle Herbert’s family; I believe it’s obvious who. For others, it was their first time as well. So after tea, and a bit of rest, plus time to stretch our legs, we went down to Kelana Jaya and I got the closest I have been to my house in days.
One can say I was pretty pampered during JS; I got to go home during the first weekend, and during the second one, I was closer to home than most people. Sure, Mike probably was even closer, but then again, he didn’t actually get to set foot in his house.
I wasn’t left with another running on empty situation until we went to Penang. After the good lunch we had at the food court, the Penang Trinity group rushed to, where else, Penang Trinity. After going for their MYF meeting, and then having a barbeque, I was left pretty run down. I wasn’t starving, even though I didn’t eat much during the barbeque, but I was just plain tired. Somehow, I found the strength to walk and eat around Gurney Drive, even though, very frankly speaking, I was dead tired.
However, walking and eating was not the end of it. There was also the strength to stay awake until much later at night then I had originally planned, and as such, I only got 5 hours of sleep rather than the 6 I should have.
The next day, Michael wanted to wake me up at the usual time, meaning half past six in the morning. However, I could hear Sheng Yong telling him to let me sleep. I didn’t manage to get any sleep after that, no matter how hard I tried, but the “damage” had already been done; I had had less than enough sleep, probably somewhere around four to four and a half hours sleep.
Immediately after breakfast, and whatever time I had for cleaning up, we all went for service. Surprisingly, even after so little sleep, I managed to stay up during both sermons. Running on empty again? I would have to say yes.
Normally, if I’m dead tired, six hours of sleep won’t cut it; I need seven or eight. I normally prefer to get six hours of sleep; during school term, I used to get by on five, but I had naps in the afternoon. If I don’t sleep in the afternoon, I would be tired by eleven. But if I’m dead tired, and I don’t get enough sleep, I normally find myself sleeping during the pastoral prayer and struggling to stay awake during the sermons.
So when I managed to stay awake all the time, I found it absolutely amazing.
But that wasn’t the last of it. During mission week, on Thursday, I decided to hang my clothes instead of eating lunch first. By the time I had finished doing that, I didn’t have enough time to eat lunch, so I went to St. George’s on an empty stomach. However, I didn’t feel hungry, which was surprising, because whenever I fast, I would nonetheless feel hungry at some point.
I had one more experience, but that was not during JS per se, so it wouldn’t really fit here. On top of that, it was in…errmm…err...Pangkor, so the files (and my lips, figuratively and literally) are sealed. Maybe some other time…
Running on empty…hmm….were we really drawing on the last of our resources, or were we drawing on someone else’s resources? Were we scraping the bottom of the barrel, or was our barrel being refilled by someone else? Were we squeezing the last drop of wine from the cup, or was someone shoving an overflowing one into our hands when we wanted it most?
My brother came back from driving school one day, saying that the “E” sign on the petrol meter did not mean “empty”. He said that his driving instructor told him that it meant enough. Most cars, when the petrol gauge hits “E”, have enough fuel to take them another forty kilometers or so. So maybe we weren’t running on empty.
We had enough.
But then again, why do we think we’re running on empty, when we have enough? It’s because the gauge is pointing at the bottom of the range. It’s because our bodies tell us enough is enough, and it is time to take a rest. We see it as the end of the line. However, it is not, because while our senses tell us it is, there is still a little bit more in us which we don’t know was there.
We tap into it when we need it most, and we get it whenever we need it, especially when it is to do His work.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (KJV)
His grace is sufficient; not excessive, not abundant, but sufficient. Moreover, His strength is made perfect in weakness. We know Him most when we are down, we feel Him most when we truly reach out to Him, when all our hope is truly in Him. And, sadly, we are only in that kind of mood when we are dead tired or down for the count, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially or spiritually.
So the next time you’re dead tired, feeling like you want to crash, that you’re running on empty or don’t have enough rest, whether you’re expanding His kingdom or doing whatever activity He has called you to in the secular world, remember:
The One who can give strength in measures more than we can ask or imagine is with us.
Amen.
Happy April Fool’s Day.
News about me..
Hey guys (n girls). I've got news that I'm offered a place at the Ngee Ann polytechnic in Singapore. So I'm going to Singapore this Thursday for registration and orientation and will be back only next Thursday (1 week). The course is starting on 20th April. Please pray for me that I would be able to adjust to the environment and that God would prepare me to go there. By the way, if i have the time I might take a trip down to KL before I leave Malaysia for studies. I'll tell you KL people if I'm going down. Thanks for your prayers.
p/s
This is NOT an April fool joke as it is April Fool's day already. It's serious stuff. =)
p/s
This is NOT an April fool joke as it is April Fool's day already. It's serious stuff. =)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Prayer requests
Please pray for our friends who are in NS now.
The 2 melissa's, chuan sheng, tze phei and if i have left out any.
Pray that God's protection will be upon them even as they are place in different camps.
They will be used to make a difference in the lives of the non christians and the people they will come across.
No health problems, I am sure all of you know that anything can happen right?
They will have an enjoyable moment during their time there.
Do keep these people in your daily prayers!
Let's start praying from today!!!
The 2 melissa's, chuan sheng, tze phei and if i have left out any.
Pray that God's protection will be upon them even as they are place in different camps.
They will be used to make a difference in the lives of the non christians and the people they will come across.
No health problems, I am sure all of you know that anything can happen right?
They will have an enjoyable moment during their time there.
Do keep these people in your daily prayers!
Let's start praying from today!!!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Hey Guys! (and Gals)
How's stuff been? It's your noisy talker here again.
It's juz a friendly spam on this blog, in case you were wondering why.
Ok.
First, i hope you guys have been keeping regular quiet time and morning devotion. I didn't see most of you in MYPC, but i hope that the joy left from JS is still vibrant. Keep on tapping into God's strength, ya! Don't ever forget who's Boss and the things you learnt in JS. I know some of you guys are having severe withdrawal symptoms. Trust me, i am too. But i think we should start focusing on God, which is the point of JS, really. And not let this distract us.
Secondly, i hope we still stay in touch with each other. It's a next to impossible task i know, but at least keep contacts (and tabs for accountability) with those you are closest with, physically (in terms of how far from each other are you) and your closeness in terms of friendship. Do msn, email and spam each other. Also, remember that it's an opportunity to minister to each other. A side note: SPAM THIS BLOG and direct others who do not know/not visiting to this blog. I do not want this blog to be a 2-3 man/woman show.
Next, i do hope that the fire in us is impacting our local youth or whereever we are. Since God impact us, i think we should impact each other. Like what our dearest Uncle H said again and again, Conversational Mnisitry!!! Even by adding a lil noise helps, really.
Lastly and most importantly for those who are now back studying, especially outstation:
I know it's tough, but continue to keep your faith in God. Challenges and trials will hit us more hardly than ever before, but let us not lose sight of the race He has set before us. Remember about Laminin and how God literally holds us together. We will give us the strength to carry through, so DO NOT LOSE HEART. And also, do not disobey His word in anyway(BGR, especially, coz we can get really desperate in this stage of life).
That's all from me. Do spam me whenever you can. I'm quite lonely too, you know.
-splat-
It's juz a friendly spam on this blog, in case you were wondering why.
Ok.
First, i hope you guys have been keeping regular quiet time and morning devotion. I didn't see most of you in MYPC, but i hope that the joy left from JS is still vibrant. Keep on tapping into God's strength, ya! Don't ever forget who's Boss and the things you learnt in JS. I know some of you guys are having severe withdrawal symptoms. Trust me, i am too. But i think we should start focusing on God, which is the point of JS, really. And not let this distract us.
Secondly, i hope we still stay in touch with each other. It's a next to impossible task i know, but at least keep contacts (and tabs for accountability) with those you are closest with, physically (in terms of how far from each other are you) and your closeness in terms of friendship. Do msn, email and spam each other. Also, remember that it's an opportunity to minister to each other. A side note: SPAM THIS BLOG and direct others who do not know/not visiting to this blog. I do not want this blog to be a 2-3 man/woman show.
Next, i do hope that the fire in us is impacting our local youth or whereever we are. Since God impact us, i think we should impact each other. Like what our dearest Uncle H said again and again, Conversational Mnisitry!!! Even by adding a lil noise helps, really.
Lastly and most importantly for those who are now back studying, especially outstation:
I know it's tough, but continue to keep your faith in God. Challenges and trials will hit us more hardly than ever before, but let us not lose sight of the race He has set before us. Remember about Laminin and how God literally holds us together. We will give us the strength to carry through, so DO NOT LOSE HEART. And also, do not disobey His word in anyway(BGR, especially, coz we can get really desperate in this stage of life).
That's all from me. Do spam me whenever you can. I'm quite lonely too, you know.
-splat-
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Community service announcement.
This post is directed at anyone who reads it personally and at everyone who reads it in general.
And now, time for the community service announcement. But first…
I have many demands on my time.
From reading papers, other books and the Bible, to doing housework, to handling university applications, and very soon, attending interviews, to playing computer games, like Sudden Attack.
You know, I have to spend a considerable time playing Sudden Attack as the more I play, the more points I get, which enables me to get the weapons I need to play better. I grew rather fond of sniper rifles, until I actually used one of them. I then found that it was almost impossible to hit anything as there are no crosshairs, and with the scope on, I’m limited to a perspective of a few degrees. Shotguns are what I like to use, but they don’t work well at long range, so maybe I‘ll just stick to assault rifles. One of these days I‘ll try out a machine gun, but with such ridiculously high recoil, I’ll probably flop at it.
And by taking time off to write this community service announcement, I’m ensuring that I’ll end up with an M-16 for the next week or so in my battles.
Ok, so I’m joking. But I digress.
After Form 5, most people would say that the natural progression in the education system in Malaysia would be Form 6. When I say natural, I mean that it is by default. Most people who finish Form 5 don’t do Form 6. They go into college to do a variety of programs, such as Foundation Years for various universities, matriculation programs for Australia, such as SAM and AUSMAT, or Pre-U programs for North America, such as ICPU and ADTP or more recently, International Baccalaureate.
A large number of people also do A-Levels, which gives them a large choice of programs once they finish their pre-U program. Some also go straight into Diploma programs, or Certificate programs. (For those of you who did accounts and want to do ACCA, you’re lucky. I have to sit for another test if I want to get my LCCI certification). Others go straight into full time work. A lucky few will get into local matriculation, but when local matriculation doesn’t come one’s way, most people would rather go into private education rather than go into Form 6. Why? Well, for good reason…
Here are the top 10 reasons why you shouldn’t do Form 6. Yes people, you read that correctly, it is why you shouldn’t.
Number 10: Even Sixth Formers have to wear uniforms.
Some schools may have their Sixth Formers wear a uniform different form the rest of the students; for ladies, this is universal, while for the men, some schools allow you to continue wearing whatever you were wearing at the end of Form 5. As for prefects and librarians, that is up to the individual schools. As Sixth Formers would most probably be wearing a uniform different from the rest of the school, they are more easily recognized by the rest of the school. Teachers treat them as adults, to a certain degree, while the rest of the student body knows who they are dealing with.
If you have no problem with this, then it is okay. Personally, I have no problem with wearing uniforms, but then again, that is only my opinion. If you are the free and expressive type and wish to wear whatever you want whenever you want, Form 6 is not the place not to go. As an institution under the purview of the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, it also means everything else on your body must also be in order. Hair, shoes, socks, earrings, bangles, unity bands, ear studs, nose rings, moustache, beard, goatee, nails, etc. all have to be within the limits set by the Ministry. After 11 years of being told how to dress, do you need another one and a half?
Number 9: More often than not, you will be unable to use your handphone, or any other electronic gadget more sophisticated than a calculator.
As I stated earlier, all schools offering Form 6 fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education, which gave an order barring all students from having hand phones. While the implementation of this order is on a school by school basis, there is a good chance you will be deprived of your handphone during school hours. Of course, if you have been bringing your phone to school all this while, then the only difference between going to college and going to Form 6 would mean that you would not have to constantly look over your shoulder to ensure that there are no teachers nearby whenever you use your hand phone.
While the ministry said no handphones at all, some schools do allow their Sixth Formers to bring their handphones to school. As far as I know, Taman SEA allows its Sixth Formers to bring, and keep their phones on themselves during school hours.
This also means that unlike going to college, you would not have peace of mind if you decide to bring laptops, MP3 players, PDAs or cameras to class. Makes life very troublesome for the gadget inclined, doesn’t it?
The most troublesome part about all this is not being able to contact others, or use your gadgets, when you need to or want to. But then you know all this already…
Number 8: Most people are limited by their schools to taking four subjects, rather than five.
There are two caveats to this problem. The first is some schools still do offer five subjects for STPM. The second is that if you want to drop a subject or two, then this is not a problem at all; this is in fact an advantage of doing Form 6.
For most, this is not a problem. However, if you want a wider range of studies, Form 6 is not the place to go to. International Baccalaureate ensures that students take subjects from both the science and social science stream, while A-Levels still allows you to take four science subjects. Taking all the sciences would enable you to widen your knowledge of physics if you like biology, or biology if you like physics, so you won’t end up like a frog under a coconut shell.
The greatest disadvantage of not taking all the science subjects is apparent after STPM; some universities want all the science subjects, or you might find that what you’re studying in your first year is what some people have already done at Form 6.
Though most programs narrow down your choices of programs at university, at least you get to take multiple subjects, whereas in Form 6, you only get to take a few.
Number 7: Your studying conditions will probably be pretty similar to the ones you had while you were in Form 5.
Remember the days when the sun is bearing down on you, the classroom feels like it is cooking and you want to sleep? Or that table which you used to sit at which has enough graffiti to cover the perimeter wall of your school? Or the splatter of water that would come in when it rains? Well, at least you’re used to it, because if you’re going back to do Form 6, you would get another chance to endure it all over again.
Sure, most colleges have a temperature that can rival a freezer, but at least there are ways you can overcome that. (If you have trouble remembering how, let me know :D)As far as I know, there is no way one can cool oneself down when the temperature in the classroom approaches that of an oven, or a way one can dehumidify an open space when the humidity of the surrounding area goes sky high.
The only exception to this rule would be when you shift from one school to another school to do Form 6, in which case you have absolutely no idea what the conditions will be like. But then again, the conditions between schools for Sixth Form classes are pretty similar. And they are pretty similar to that of the Form 5 classes. So unless your school, or the school you will be going to, has a separate block for Sixth Formers with a different set of conditions, your studying conditions will be similar to that of those in Form 5.
Number 6: You will be expected to participate, run and lead in extra-curricular activities in a manner similar to when you were in Form 5.
As I wrote earlier, Form 6 falls under the purview of the Ministry of Education. As such, your extra-curricular achievement will still be calculated as it was in Form 5. You know the details, but I’ll just put them here so you don’t have to dig them up yourself.
You are supposed to join one uniformed body, at least one game club and at least one society. The points taken from these activities are averaged out and any bonus points you collect are added to form your overall grade. And as a Sixth Former, you would be expected to help out in the running of the society or whatever else you join, especially if the school you choose to do Form 6 in is the same school in which you did Form 5 in.
Even if the school you do your Form 6 in is a different one compared to the one in which you did your SPM in, you would still be expected to take up leadership positions, especially in uniformed bodies with good connections to your former alma mater, or in clubs or societies which prefer Sixth Formers as their leaders, or clubs or societies which have no other leaders.
Just for your info, extra-curricular achievement for local government universities is taken from four years: Form 4, Form 5 and Lower and Upper Six. So slacking is not good for your extra-curricular activities marks.
Number 5: The teachers will still treat you like kids.
As you are still in school, wear uniforms and the like, you still get to be treated, or are treated (depending on how you look at it) as a kid. So there’s no going out of school early, no coming into school late and no walking out of class when there are no teachers in class. On top of that, you get to line up every day for assembly, receive report cards at the end of every term (which your parents still have to sign) and get demerit if you refuse to follow school rules.
On the extra-curricular front, activities run by any society you choose to lead are subject to approval by the teacher adviser. This does not mean that if you go to a college, this would not occur, but that in a school, your activities are still limited by the whims, fancies and idiosyncrasies of your teacher advisor.
Academic wise, Form 6 is not a good way to develop independence. Teachers will still chase you for your work, rather than considering you an adult and mature enough to send in your own work on time. This is not to say it is a bad thing, but just that you would have somewhat poorer study habits compared to your peers who went to college if you aren’t the type who hands in your homework day in and day out.
But wait, didn’t I say that teachers treat Sixth Formers like adults earlier? Well, in certain ways, you’re treated like an adult, but not in every way. What I wrote above are the exceptions to the rule.
So let’s say that you don’t mind wearing a uniform, you know all the tricks when it comes to bringing and using handphones during school hours, you want fewer subjects, you don’t mind baking in the hot sun, being treated like a kid, and you ignore all your extra-curricular activities. What comes next is stuff no Sixth Former can run away from…
Number 4: A subject of questionable usefulness, Pengajian Am, is there to cause you to study more stuff which you might not want to know.
Pengajian Am, more commonly known as PA among Sixth Formers here has two papers; Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 has 60 multiple choice questions, where 15 test your ability to think, qualitatively and quantitatively, while the remaining 45 test your citizenship knowledge. Normally the questions are citizenship first, with the thinking skills ones later. If you don’t know what citizenship is all about, it is basically the second half of the history syllabus for SPM.
Just that the book you have to read for it is about as thick as your Chemistry reference book.
There are numerous policies, laws, positions, procedures, bodies, commissions, councils, courts, jurisdictions and powers to remember. You get the idea…
Paper 2 is was once known as Kertas Am, until one fine day the ministry thought we were not patriotic enough and introduced Paper 1. Nevertheless, it has 2 essays, which are relatively easy to score decently in, provided one doesn’t go off topic. This is followed by two comprehension passages, which are basically about as hard to screw up as the essays.
What normally kills students off and is the bane of many a Sixth Former is Section D and Section E.
Section D involves translating an entire passage into a graph within the time constraints. We are supposed to take at most 30 minutes to do this. I normally take forty five minutes to an hour to do this, and took the former during STPM proper. The exercise is time-consuming and is not always worth the time put in; a good graph will net you 12 to 14 marks, with most flawless graphs falling here. Few people get between 11 ½ to 4 ½ because most mistakes normally cause you to get less than 4 ½ marks. And missing out a word, whether omitting it on the graph or failing to read it in the passage can cost one dearly.
Section E involves translating a table, graph, bar chart, pie chart, flow chart or fish bone diagram into a passage. Normally, this part doesn’t cost most people their marks, except when the instructions are read wrongly, or when another word is omitted from one’s answer, then the same situation occurs; a “fatally flawed” essay is worth only 2 or 3 marks.
Personally I have no problems with Paper 1 of PA; but then that’s just me. As for Paper 2, it was Sections D and E which I worried about, and which you should worry about too. Last year, weird stuff came out for both sections. The graph I did also had a mistake in the information. I still got an “A”, somehow (must be God’s grace), but is it worth spending so much time on a subject of worth only to local government universities? I don’t think so…
Number 3: With the exception of certain science papers with practical papers, your entire grade is based on your performance in one exam.
Form 6 starts in mid-May. Officially, that is. It used to start in March after the SPM results come out, but due to National Service, the intake was pushed back to May. Some schools start early (some schools in Sibu…DANIEL!!) which gives them sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus before they sit for STPM.
Nevertheless, the typical Sixth Former will spend about one and a half years studying, and at the end of all that studying, his or her entire grade will be based on two papers he or she will sit in November or December in the year he or she is in Upper Six. For PA, your entire grade will be based on five hours of exams, all taken within two weeks, while for most social science papers, your entire grade will be based on six hours of exams, all taken within two weeks as well.
Science papers with practical components are a little bit easier. Twenty percent will be based on you course work, of which you will normally get nineteen or twenty points out of twenty, while the remaining eighty percent is based off four and a quarter hours of exams, all taken within two weeks.
Basically, one and a half years of study are crammed into four, five or six hours of exams. And how you perform during the exam determines your grade. If you flop, there are no second chances.
Even A-Levels is not so merciless. There are two exams, AS and A2, for Cambridge A-Levels, while Edexcel has up to three. Most other courses have a very big proportion of their marks devoted to coursework.
Number 2: STPM is notorious for having a heavier syllabus compared to most other Pre-U programs, and is said to be the equivalent of most first year degree programs.
Some Pre-U programs narrow down the student’s further choice of study pretty dramatically. This is especially true for Foundation years and Diplomas, but has the added advantage of first, you will not study anything you do not need to know and secondly, you will spend less time studying what you do need to know. However, you go deep into what you do need to know, as you have fewer subjects to study.
Other Pre-U programs force you to study subjects which you do not need to know; SAM and IB being two of them. The only catch is, you don’t go so deep. As for A-Levels, you probably don’t go as deep as STPM, which makes it easier to score in, even though you have to think more while taking A-Levels than you do when taking STPM.
STPM combines the worst of both sets of programs. You learn a lot of stuff, much of it which you will only need to use once in your lifetime. Of course, you learn a lot of stuff you will eventually use, but in the meantime, you’ve got to cram your head with a lot of stuff which you won’t use ever again in your life.
Number 1: There is no graph when determining the grades for STPM. Grades are rarely inflated, and when they do, they often deflate after that.
Every year the MEC (Malaysians Examination Council, or Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia) releases a report on the performance of the candidates the year before. I haven’t looked at the report for the arts stream before, but I have for the science stream. In the report, the answers for most objective papers and for the mathematics papers are included. On top of that, a general description on the performance of the candidates for each question is also included.
However, at the start of every report there is a description of the general performance of the candidates in the subject itself, and included as well is the percentage of people who get every grade.
I’ll just be frank; there is no such thing as a normal graph when it comes to grading for STPM students. When it comes to PA, the normal graph maybe used; however, there are a high percentage of people who fail PA, so the graph doesn’t really fall towards the end. For bio, the graph is more smoothed out. For chemistry, the graph is less smoothed out; chemistry is notoriously hard to score in. The mathematics graph, looks nothing like a normal graph. There are a high number of people with “A”s, even higher than those with “A-“s, and there is another peak towards the middle. However, the highest peak comes at the end; about 15-25% of the candidates fail to get a subsidiary pass every year.
The best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) part is that the percentages change every year. Sure, the percentages for SPM change as well, but most of the time, they only go up. As for STPM, they go all over the place. Most of the time, they hold steady, but sometimes, they go up, others, they go down. The variations in the percentages are pretty alarming; one year, 3% had “A”s in chemistry, the year before, 2%.
For certain subjects, like computer science, there have been years where less than 1% of all candidates got “A”s. On the other hand, subjects like PA normally have an “A” rate of about 6%, with bio around 7%.
The variation in “A” rate between years and subjects is proof enough that the MEC doesn’t use a normal distribution graph when it comes to grading students.
If you’re doing Form 6 to get into a local government university, I suggest you consider the following:
Matrikulasi students have an easier time getting the grades they need to get into universities. They have lighter syllabi, easier exams and are assessed continuously rather than their entire grade being based off one exam. They are also guaranteed a place in local universities.
Matrikulasi students also have an easier time getting the points they need from their extracurricular activities. As there is only one college per state, anyone who represents their college represents the state, and gets a whole ton of points while they’re at it.
You’ll also have to compete with the Diploma students who leave the local universities, who have similar benefits with the Matrikulasi students.
If you go overseas or private, PA is normally not regarded as a Principle subject, which means that you’ll normally only have three Principles. This is a disadvantage when you compare yourself with students who did A-Levels; they normally have 4 Principles.
If you still want to do Form 6, you are probably a combination of two kinds of people:
The very poor.
Or the very foolish.
The biggest reason, by far, as to why people do Form 6, is that they do not have enough money to go private. It doesn’t cost much more than the rest of secondary education, and allows one to get into a local public university. However, consider the following:
If you have the money and are academically inclined, why on earth are you doing (or wish to do) Form 6? Go join Tze Phei when she enters Taylor’s. Private education will be easier, more convenient and more worth your time.
If you are poor and smart, go join Sarah Alfred in MCKL. As most (if not all) JS alumni are Methodists, you’ll be able to get a discount there, and I believe they’ll do the best they can do to ensure you get a scholarship to further your studies.
***Writer's note: As I feared, some people might read the above comment as saying that people who go to MCKL are poor. Let me state it here for clarity: Not all people who go to MCKL are poor, and Sarah Alfred, in particular, is far from it. The comment is directed at people who do not have the money to continue their education overseas, not at people who go to MCKL in general. I would also like to state that some people who do go to MCKL are materially blessed. So please DO NOT infer more than you see.***
If you are poor and not that academically inclined, then I would strongly discourage you from doing Form 6. Private education would be cheaper, easier and, as long as it’s your passion (or calling) it would be well worth your time. Sure, you might not have the money to go private, but I’ll have to warn you: Form 6 has a way of sucking the life out of people like no other program can. If you wish to or know it is God’s calling for you, then maybe you could try out STM…nevertheless…
If you are rich and not that academically inclined, then don’t be a fool. Don’t try Form 6. It’d be a waste of your time. You might as well pay for an easier program.
There is a need to include another caveat here: no program is a sure pass. Regardless of what you choose to do, you need to study, whether it be A-Levels, SAM, AUSMAT, ICPU, ADTP, MUFY, CAT, Diploma, Certificate, or, even after such extensive and comprehensive dissuasion, Form 6.
However, I can assure you that Form 6 will be the toughest of the lot. So maybe you should consider while you still have the time…
Just one last thing: Whatever decision you make, or course you take, let us all know that we may be able to continue praying for you.
God bless.
And now, time for the community service announcement. But first…
I have many demands on my time.
From reading papers, other books and the Bible, to doing housework, to handling university applications, and very soon, attending interviews, to playing computer games, like Sudden Attack.
You know, I have to spend a considerable time playing Sudden Attack as the more I play, the more points I get, which enables me to get the weapons I need to play better. I grew rather fond of sniper rifles, until I actually used one of them. I then found that it was almost impossible to hit anything as there are no crosshairs, and with the scope on, I’m limited to a perspective of a few degrees. Shotguns are what I like to use, but they don’t work well at long range, so maybe I‘ll just stick to assault rifles. One of these days I‘ll try out a machine gun, but with such ridiculously high recoil, I’ll probably flop at it.
And by taking time off to write this community service announcement, I’m ensuring that I’ll end up with an M-16 for the next week or so in my battles.
Ok, so I’m joking. But I digress.
After Form 5, most people would say that the natural progression in the education system in Malaysia would be Form 6. When I say natural, I mean that it is by default. Most people who finish Form 5 don’t do Form 6. They go into college to do a variety of programs, such as Foundation Years for various universities, matriculation programs for Australia, such as SAM and AUSMAT, or Pre-U programs for North America, such as ICPU and ADTP or more recently, International Baccalaureate.
A large number of people also do A-Levels, which gives them a large choice of programs once they finish their pre-U program. Some also go straight into Diploma programs, or Certificate programs. (For those of you who did accounts and want to do ACCA, you’re lucky. I have to sit for another test if I want to get my LCCI certification). Others go straight into full time work. A lucky few will get into local matriculation, but when local matriculation doesn’t come one’s way, most people would rather go into private education rather than go into Form 6. Why? Well, for good reason…
Here are the top 10 reasons why you shouldn’t do Form 6. Yes people, you read that correctly, it is why you shouldn’t.
Number 10: Even Sixth Formers have to wear uniforms.
Some schools may have their Sixth Formers wear a uniform different form the rest of the students; for ladies, this is universal, while for the men, some schools allow you to continue wearing whatever you were wearing at the end of Form 5. As for prefects and librarians, that is up to the individual schools. As Sixth Formers would most probably be wearing a uniform different from the rest of the school, they are more easily recognized by the rest of the school. Teachers treat them as adults, to a certain degree, while the rest of the student body knows who they are dealing with.
If you have no problem with this, then it is okay. Personally, I have no problem with wearing uniforms, but then again, that is only my opinion. If you are the free and expressive type and wish to wear whatever you want whenever you want, Form 6 is not the place not to go. As an institution under the purview of the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, it also means everything else on your body must also be in order. Hair, shoes, socks, earrings, bangles, unity bands, ear studs, nose rings, moustache, beard, goatee, nails, etc. all have to be within the limits set by the Ministry. After 11 years of being told how to dress, do you need another one and a half?
Number 9: More often than not, you will be unable to use your handphone, or any other electronic gadget more sophisticated than a calculator.
As I stated earlier, all schools offering Form 6 fall under the purview of the Ministry of Education, which gave an order barring all students from having hand phones. While the implementation of this order is on a school by school basis, there is a good chance you will be deprived of your handphone during school hours. Of course, if you have been bringing your phone to school all this while, then the only difference between going to college and going to Form 6 would mean that you would not have to constantly look over your shoulder to ensure that there are no teachers nearby whenever you use your hand phone.
While the ministry said no handphones at all, some schools do allow their Sixth Formers to bring their handphones to school. As far as I know, Taman SEA allows its Sixth Formers to bring, and keep their phones on themselves during school hours.
This also means that unlike going to college, you would not have peace of mind if you decide to bring laptops, MP3 players, PDAs or cameras to class. Makes life very troublesome for the gadget inclined, doesn’t it?
The most troublesome part about all this is not being able to contact others, or use your gadgets, when you need to or want to. But then you know all this already…
Number 8: Most people are limited by their schools to taking four subjects, rather than five.
There are two caveats to this problem. The first is some schools still do offer five subjects for STPM. The second is that if you want to drop a subject or two, then this is not a problem at all; this is in fact an advantage of doing Form 6.
For most, this is not a problem. However, if you want a wider range of studies, Form 6 is not the place to go to. International Baccalaureate ensures that students take subjects from both the science and social science stream, while A-Levels still allows you to take four science subjects. Taking all the sciences would enable you to widen your knowledge of physics if you like biology, or biology if you like physics, so you won’t end up like a frog under a coconut shell.
The greatest disadvantage of not taking all the science subjects is apparent after STPM; some universities want all the science subjects, or you might find that what you’re studying in your first year is what some people have already done at Form 6.
Though most programs narrow down your choices of programs at university, at least you get to take multiple subjects, whereas in Form 6, you only get to take a few.
Number 7: Your studying conditions will probably be pretty similar to the ones you had while you were in Form 5.
Remember the days when the sun is bearing down on you, the classroom feels like it is cooking and you want to sleep? Or that table which you used to sit at which has enough graffiti to cover the perimeter wall of your school? Or the splatter of water that would come in when it rains? Well, at least you’re used to it, because if you’re going back to do Form 6, you would get another chance to endure it all over again.
Sure, most colleges have a temperature that can rival a freezer, but at least there are ways you can overcome that. (If you have trouble remembering how, let me know :D)As far as I know, there is no way one can cool oneself down when the temperature in the classroom approaches that of an oven, or a way one can dehumidify an open space when the humidity of the surrounding area goes sky high.
The only exception to this rule would be when you shift from one school to another school to do Form 6, in which case you have absolutely no idea what the conditions will be like. But then again, the conditions between schools for Sixth Form classes are pretty similar. And they are pretty similar to that of the Form 5 classes. So unless your school, or the school you will be going to, has a separate block for Sixth Formers with a different set of conditions, your studying conditions will be similar to that of those in Form 5.
Number 6: You will be expected to participate, run and lead in extra-curricular activities in a manner similar to when you were in Form 5.
As I wrote earlier, Form 6 falls under the purview of the Ministry of Education. As such, your extra-curricular achievement will still be calculated as it was in Form 5. You know the details, but I’ll just put them here so you don’t have to dig them up yourself.
You are supposed to join one uniformed body, at least one game club and at least one society. The points taken from these activities are averaged out and any bonus points you collect are added to form your overall grade. And as a Sixth Former, you would be expected to help out in the running of the society or whatever else you join, especially if the school you choose to do Form 6 in is the same school in which you did Form 5 in.
Even if the school you do your Form 6 in is a different one compared to the one in which you did your SPM in, you would still be expected to take up leadership positions, especially in uniformed bodies with good connections to your former alma mater, or in clubs or societies which prefer Sixth Formers as their leaders, or clubs or societies which have no other leaders.
Just for your info, extra-curricular achievement for local government universities is taken from four years: Form 4, Form 5 and Lower and Upper Six. So slacking is not good for your extra-curricular activities marks.
Number 5: The teachers will still treat you like kids.
As you are still in school, wear uniforms and the like, you still get to be treated, or are treated (depending on how you look at it) as a kid. So there’s no going out of school early, no coming into school late and no walking out of class when there are no teachers in class. On top of that, you get to line up every day for assembly, receive report cards at the end of every term (which your parents still have to sign) and get demerit if you refuse to follow school rules.
On the extra-curricular front, activities run by any society you choose to lead are subject to approval by the teacher adviser. This does not mean that if you go to a college, this would not occur, but that in a school, your activities are still limited by the whims, fancies and idiosyncrasies of your teacher advisor.
Academic wise, Form 6 is not a good way to develop independence. Teachers will still chase you for your work, rather than considering you an adult and mature enough to send in your own work on time. This is not to say it is a bad thing, but just that you would have somewhat poorer study habits compared to your peers who went to college if you aren’t the type who hands in your homework day in and day out.
But wait, didn’t I say that teachers treat Sixth Formers like adults earlier? Well, in certain ways, you’re treated like an adult, but not in every way. What I wrote above are the exceptions to the rule.
So let’s say that you don’t mind wearing a uniform, you know all the tricks when it comes to bringing and using handphones during school hours, you want fewer subjects, you don’t mind baking in the hot sun, being treated like a kid, and you ignore all your extra-curricular activities. What comes next is stuff no Sixth Former can run away from…
Number 4: A subject of questionable usefulness, Pengajian Am, is there to cause you to study more stuff which you might not want to know.
Pengajian Am, more commonly known as PA among Sixth Formers here has two papers; Paper 1 and Paper 2. Paper 1 has 60 multiple choice questions, where 15 test your ability to think, qualitatively and quantitatively, while the remaining 45 test your citizenship knowledge. Normally the questions are citizenship first, with the thinking skills ones later. If you don’t know what citizenship is all about, it is basically the second half of the history syllabus for SPM.
Just that the book you have to read for it is about as thick as your Chemistry reference book.
There are numerous policies, laws, positions, procedures, bodies, commissions, councils, courts, jurisdictions and powers to remember. You get the idea…
Paper 2 is was once known as Kertas Am, until one fine day the ministry thought we were not patriotic enough and introduced Paper 1. Nevertheless, it has 2 essays, which are relatively easy to score decently in, provided one doesn’t go off topic. This is followed by two comprehension passages, which are basically about as hard to screw up as the essays.
What normally kills students off and is the bane of many a Sixth Former is Section D and Section E.
Section D involves translating an entire passage into a graph within the time constraints. We are supposed to take at most 30 minutes to do this. I normally take forty five minutes to an hour to do this, and took the former during STPM proper. The exercise is time-consuming and is not always worth the time put in; a good graph will net you 12 to 14 marks, with most flawless graphs falling here. Few people get between 11 ½ to 4 ½ because most mistakes normally cause you to get less than 4 ½ marks. And missing out a word, whether omitting it on the graph or failing to read it in the passage can cost one dearly.
Section E involves translating a table, graph, bar chart, pie chart, flow chart or fish bone diagram into a passage. Normally, this part doesn’t cost most people their marks, except when the instructions are read wrongly, or when another word is omitted from one’s answer, then the same situation occurs; a “fatally flawed” essay is worth only 2 or 3 marks.
Personally I have no problems with Paper 1 of PA; but then that’s just me. As for Paper 2, it was Sections D and E which I worried about, and which you should worry about too. Last year, weird stuff came out for both sections. The graph I did also had a mistake in the information. I still got an “A”, somehow (must be God’s grace), but is it worth spending so much time on a subject of worth only to local government universities? I don’t think so…
Number 3: With the exception of certain science papers with practical papers, your entire grade is based on your performance in one exam.
Form 6 starts in mid-May. Officially, that is. It used to start in March after the SPM results come out, but due to National Service, the intake was pushed back to May. Some schools start early (some schools in Sibu…DANIEL!!) which gives them sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus before they sit for STPM.
Nevertheless, the typical Sixth Former will spend about one and a half years studying, and at the end of all that studying, his or her entire grade will be based on two papers he or she will sit in November or December in the year he or she is in Upper Six. For PA, your entire grade will be based on five hours of exams, all taken within two weeks, while for most social science papers, your entire grade will be based on six hours of exams, all taken within two weeks as well.
Science papers with practical components are a little bit easier. Twenty percent will be based on you course work, of which you will normally get nineteen or twenty points out of twenty, while the remaining eighty percent is based off four and a quarter hours of exams, all taken within two weeks.
Basically, one and a half years of study are crammed into four, five or six hours of exams. And how you perform during the exam determines your grade. If you flop, there are no second chances.
Even A-Levels is not so merciless. There are two exams, AS and A2, for Cambridge A-Levels, while Edexcel has up to three. Most other courses have a very big proportion of their marks devoted to coursework.
Number 2: STPM is notorious for having a heavier syllabus compared to most other Pre-U programs, and is said to be the equivalent of most first year degree programs.
Some Pre-U programs narrow down the student’s further choice of study pretty dramatically. This is especially true for Foundation years and Diplomas, but has the added advantage of first, you will not study anything you do not need to know and secondly, you will spend less time studying what you do need to know. However, you go deep into what you do need to know, as you have fewer subjects to study.
Other Pre-U programs force you to study subjects which you do not need to know; SAM and IB being two of them. The only catch is, you don’t go so deep. As for A-Levels, you probably don’t go as deep as STPM, which makes it easier to score in, even though you have to think more while taking A-Levels than you do when taking STPM.
STPM combines the worst of both sets of programs. You learn a lot of stuff, much of it which you will only need to use once in your lifetime. Of course, you learn a lot of stuff you will eventually use, but in the meantime, you’ve got to cram your head with a lot of stuff which you won’t use ever again in your life.
Number 1: There is no graph when determining the grades for STPM. Grades are rarely inflated, and when they do, they often deflate after that.
Every year the MEC (Malaysians Examination Council, or Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia) releases a report on the performance of the candidates the year before. I haven’t looked at the report for the arts stream before, but I have for the science stream. In the report, the answers for most objective papers and for the mathematics papers are included. On top of that, a general description on the performance of the candidates for each question is also included.
However, at the start of every report there is a description of the general performance of the candidates in the subject itself, and included as well is the percentage of people who get every grade.
I’ll just be frank; there is no such thing as a normal graph when it comes to grading for STPM students. When it comes to PA, the normal graph maybe used; however, there are a high percentage of people who fail PA, so the graph doesn’t really fall towards the end. For bio, the graph is more smoothed out. For chemistry, the graph is less smoothed out; chemistry is notoriously hard to score in. The mathematics graph, looks nothing like a normal graph. There are a high number of people with “A”s, even higher than those with “A-“s, and there is another peak towards the middle. However, the highest peak comes at the end; about 15-25% of the candidates fail to get a subsidiary pass every year.
The best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) part is that the percentages change every year. Sure, the percentages for SPM change as well, but most of the time, they only go up. As for STPM, they go all over the place. Most of the time, they hold steady, but sometimes, they go up, others, they go down. The variations in the percentages are pretty alarming; one year, 3% had “A”s in chemistry, the year before, 2%.
For certain subjects, like computer science, there have been years where less than 1% of all candidates got “A”s. On the other hand, subjects like PA normally have an “A” rate of about 6%, with bio around 7%.
The variation in “A” rate between years and subjects is proof enough that the MEC doesn’t use a normal distribution graph when it comes to grading students.
If you’re doing Form 6 to get into a local government university, I suggest you consider the following:
Matrikulasi students have an easier time getting the grades they need to get into universities. They have lighter syllabi, easier exams and are assessed continuously rather than their entire grade being based off one exam. They are also guaranteed a place in local universities.
Matrikulasi students also have an easier time getting the points they need from their extracurricular activities. As there is only one college per state, anyone who represents their college represents the state, and gets a whole ton of points while they’re at it.
You’ll also have to compete with the Diploma students who leave the local universities, who have similar benefits with the Matrikulasi students.
If you go overseas or private, PA is normally not regarded as a Principle subject, which means that you’ll normally only have three Principles. This is a disadvantage when you compare yourself with students who did A-Levels; they normally have 4 Principles.
If you still want to do Form 6, you are probably a combination of two kinds of people:
The very poor.
Or the very foolish.
The biggest reason, by far, as to why people do Form 6, is that they do not have enough money to go private. It doesn’t cost much more than the rest of secondary education, and allows one to get into a local public university. However, consider the following:
If you have the money and are academically inclined, why on earth are you doing (or wish to do) Form 6? Go join Tze Phei when she enters Taylor’s. Private education will be easier, more convenient and more worth your time.
If you are poor and smart, go join Sarah Alfred in MCKL. As most (if not all) JS alumni are Methodists, you’ll be able to get a discount there, and I believe they’ll do the best they can do to ensure you get a scholarship to further your studies.
***Writer's note: As I feared, some people might read the above comment as saying that people who go to MCKL are poor. Let me state it here for clarity: Not all people who go to MCKL are poor, and Sarah Alfred, in particular, is far from it. The comment is directed at people who do not have the money to continue their education overseas, not at people who go to MCKL in general. I would also like to state that some people who do go to MCKL are materially blessed. So please DO NOT infer more than you see.***
If you are poor and not that academically inclined, then I would strongly discourage you from doing Form 6. Private education would be cheaper, easier and, as long as it’s your passion (or calling) it would be well worth your time. Sure, you might not have the money to go private, but I’ll have to warn you: Form 6 has a way of sucking the life out of people like no other program can. If you wish to or know it is God’s calling for you, then maybe you could try out STM…nevertheless…
If you are rich and not that academically inclined, then don’t be a fool. Don’t try Form 6. It’d be a waste of your time. You might as well pay for an easier program.
There is a need to include another caveat here: no program is a sure pass. Regardless of what you choose to do, you need to study, whether it be A-Levels, SAM, AUSMAT, ICPU, ADTP, MUFY, CAT, Diploma, Certificate, or, even after such extensive and comprehensive dissuasion, Form 6.
However, I can assure you that Form 6 will be the toughest of the lot. So maybe you should consider while you still have the time…
Just one last thing: Whatever decision you make, or course you take, let us all know that we may be able to continue praying for you.
God bless.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What i took back from JS.
A little something, since i'm finding it hard to write about my experiences in JS. I guess you guys have to meet me in person to know about it in more detail, including what's the tragedy about.
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I came to JS, a disillusioned young boy.
Broken from being taken advantage of,
hurt by people and sins which i never took to care about;
I was close to giving up on God,
close to letting my life slip through my own hands, into hell.
But God was gracious,
he gave me hope on the day before YLDP 2008;
He made me challenge Him to show Himself within a small community of 11 X 2, plus 3.
In those extremely short 6 weeks,
It was there that God answered all my questions,
It was there that El Shaddai showed me His unfailing love;
It was Yhwh Rapha that healed me from my sickness, perversion, and infirmities;
It was there that He showed me that He is the God of Love,
It was there that i found my very own feet again.
Even though 6 months had barely passed from that tragedy,
The Lord of Miracles made me come out much stronger, instead of falling away;
It was His amazing grace and love that he protected me from the path of Satan's destruction,
It was His blessed assurance that made me find this group of friends;
It was His awesome power that love and concern just flowed through SUFES campsite like a ton of bricks.
And here i stand, stronger than before;
The passion of Christ burning strongly in my heart,
Joy overflowing, Peace abundant;
Conviction back, and unwavering - despite the circumstances.
And because of that,
I will forever give the glory to God, all the days of my life.
"This is my story, this is my song"
Such is the testimony of Timothy Ignatius Lewis, JS 2009.
(FYI, that's my middle name - not included in the IC)
-------
And now facing my bed in my room, just on top my hot-wired Hifi:
The little chocolate mirror with the handmade cross hanging in the centre. Just to remind myself about JS and who should be centre of my life, always.
I hope this encourages you guys.
Tim
-------
I came to JS, a disillusioned young boy.
Broken from being taken advantage of,
hurt by people and sins which i never took to care about;
I was close to giving up on God,
close to letting my life slip through my own hands, into hell.
But God was gracious,
he gave me hope on the day before YLDP 2008;
He made me challenge Him to show Himself within a small community of 11 X 2, plus 3.
In those extremely short 6 weeks,
It was there that God answered all my questions,
It was there that El Shaddai showed me His unfailing love;
It was Yhwh Rapha that healed me from my sickness, perversion, and infirmities;
It was there that He showed me that He is the God of Love,
It was there that i found my very own feet again.
Even though 6 months had barely passed from that tragedy,
The Lord of Miracles made me come out much stronger, instead of falling away;
It was His amazing grace and love that he protected me from the path of Satan's destruction,
It was His blessed assurance that made me find this group of friends;
It was His awesome power that love and concern just flowed through SUFES campsite like a ton of bricks.
And here i stand, stronger than before;
The passion of Christ burning strongly in my heart,
Joy overflowing, Peace abundant;
Conviction back, and unwavering - despite the circumstances.
And because of that,
I will forever give the glory to God, all the days of my life.
"This is my story, this is my song"
Such is the testimony of Timothy Ignatius Lewis, JS 2009.
(FYI, that's my middle name - not included in the IC)
-------
And now facing my bed in my room, just on top my hot-wired Hifi:
The little chocolate mirror with the handmade cross hanging in the centre. Just to remind myself about JS and who should be centre of my life, always.
I hope this encourages you guys.
Tim
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Just dropping by to say HI to everyone!!!!!!!
To some of you like Sarah Y, Sheng Yong and Michael who are already in college, just wanna say All the best for college life!!!!!!!!
Continue to shine for God in whatever you do.
For those who decide to do form 6, study hard!!!!
Do your best and may your college life be a wonderful and unforgettable one!!!
God bless and take care.
With love,
Praise Yong
To some of you like Sarah Y, Sheng Yong and Michael who are already in college, just wanna say All the best for college life!!!!!!!!
Continue to shine for God in whatever you do.
For those who decide to do form 6, study hard!!!!
Do your best and may your college life be a wonderful and unforgettable one!!!
God bless and take care.
With love,
Praise Yong
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Next reunion..
Hey fellow JS mates. I wonder when and where would our next reunion be held. Hope it will be soon. Can't wait to see you guys again. Always keep in touch.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
SPM results
Please don't ask me anymore ok? I'm tired of replying your messages. - Stone.
I got all A1 (7) except 4 B4's which is BM, Moral and BC. I got D7 for BK. That's all.
I got all A1 (7) except 4 B4's which is BM, Moral and BC. I got D7 for BK. That's all.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Check this out!!!
Just to relieve some pre-SPM result anxiety & stress... Or for those who have just been devastated by STPM results. Hope you guys have a good laugh. Sorry for the low quality/badly taken pictures!
Uncle Herbie in Taiping juz b4 going back (with ACQ, Austin, Me, Sheng Yong, Sibu, Melissa C, David n Jun Arn)...
"I'm as tired as a zombie"
"Will i look good if i acted as Jesus in a movie?"
Obviously, he just had something which had Melamine. Trouble is, what?
Or maybe this explains it... Milo and Oreo's on special offer.
lol. Don't tell Uncle H. about this.
One last shot. Found this in the toilet at a rest stop on the way back to KL.
Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha....
From the lens of my W800i:
-tim
Uncle Herbie in Taiping juz b4 going back (with ACQ, Austin, Me, Sheng Yong, Sibu, Melissa C, David n Jun Arn)...
"I'm as tired as a zombie"
"Will i look good if i acted as Jesus in a movie?"
Obviously, he just had something which had Melamine. Trouble is, what?
Or maybe this explains it... Milo and Oreo's on special offer.
lol. Don't tell Uncle H. about this.
One last shot. Found this in the toilet at a rest stop on the way back to KL.
Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha....
From the lens of my W800i:
-tim
To my friends out there who will be getting their results soon:
All the best and May God be with you all!
May God direct and lead you into the right path.
No matter what the result is, continue to trust in the Lord
Because He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us!
I know it's hard even in this time, but in all things GIVE THANKS!
Gambateh! Peace out =)
All the best and May God be with you all!
May God direct and lead you into the right path.
No matter what the result is, continue to trust in the Lord
Because He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us!
I know it's hard even in this time, but in all things GIVE THANKS!
Gambateh! Peace out =)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
What will YOU do?
When the place seems a little messy,
What will you do?
When your youth is a little short-handed in their activities,
What will you do?
When someone is desperately reaching out, searching for someone to open-up to,
What will you do?
When someone needs affirmation and encouragement, or is just in need of companionship,
What will you do?
When the society around you is becoming increasingly morally deficient,
What will you do?
When you see rubbish thrown all over the place in your local taman,
What will you do?
When enviromental issues are critical,
What will you do?
When you hear the song "People need the Lord",
What will you do?
When you see corrupt practices going on around you,
What will you do?
When you are tempted to fall and sin due to peer pressure,
What will you do?
When you see the world becoming twisted, corrupt, evil and perverted,
What will you do?
When you see people lost in bondage of sin and idolatry,
What will you do?
Cause,
It's not about ourselves,
It's not about becoming heroes and heroines;
Rather,
It's about who we are,
And,
It's about how we can be a little beacon for the Lord's glory.
Just a little, just a step;
Just being practical,
Just a friendly reminder;
Just fulfilling Christmunity.
-timothy
-------
Just a random something I came out with after watching yesterday's news. See, even news can be inspiring. heheh.
What will you do?
When your youth is a little short-handed in their activities,
What will you do?
When someone is desperately reaching out, searching for someone to open-up to,
What will you do?
When someone needs affirmation and encouragement, or is just in need of companionship,
What will you do?
When the society around you is becoming increasingly morally deficient,
What will you do?
When you see rubbish thrown all over the place in your local taman,
What will you do?
When enviromental issues are critical,
What will you do?
When you hear the song "People need the Lord",
What will you do?
When you see corrupt practices going on around you,
What will you do?
When you are tempted to fall and sin due to peer pressure,
What will you do?
When you see the world becoming twisted, corrupt, evil and perverted,
What will you do?
When you see people lost in bondage of sin and idolatry,
What will you do?
Cause,
It's not about ourselves,
It's not about becoming heroes and heroines;
Rather,
It's about who we are,
And,
It's about how we can be a little beacon for the Lord's glory.
Just a little, just a step;
Just being practical,
Just a friendly reminder;
Just fulfilling Christmunity.
-timothy
-------
Just a random something I came out with after watching yesterday's news. See, even news can be inspiring. heheh.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Local Youth Prayer Gathering
LYPG is basically a gathering where youth gather together to pray. In Alor Star, it was 1st held at FGC and will be held every fortnightly. This 13th March it will be held at our church, WMC Alor Star, 4.15 p.m. to 515 p.m. Please come if you can!!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
God's Plan
If anything bad happens to you, do not despair. Here is a verse for all of you, courtesy of Sarah Yong. She shared this verse at church.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29 : 11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29 : 11
Prayer Conference
Whoever is going to prayer conference, can you all tell me? Thanks. I'm going. I hope to see you guys there. Shalom.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Praise is feeling nutty
I seriously miss the jokes we had in JS!
One of it only some of you know, provided somebody spread it out!
Ha ha!!!
One of it is the 'nut' joke!
Someone please repeat it to me the next time you meet me ok?
I feel like laughing all over again.
One of it only some of you know, provided somebody spread it out!
Ha ha!!!
One of it is the 'nut' joke!
Someone please repeat it to me the next time you meet me ok?
I feel like laughing all over again.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
tomato's adventures back in KL
me back. and having difficulty in readjusting.
plus, no internet access (rather, internet access on a new com that opens messenger and blogger)
T.T
help. spam me via sms plz.
-timothy
p/s: i'm doing this at work, so....
plus, no internet access (rather, internet access on a new com that opens messenger and blogger)
T.T
help. spam me via sms plz.
-timothy
p/s: i'm doing this at work, so....
Re-entry sucks..
Hey people. Help me. Re-entry is torturing for me. I think i'll need a few months. It's like living in a dream. I really miss all of you guys. Hope that we would be able to meet again soon. Oh ya. Come to Penang when you guys are free. I will be here to welcome all of you. Cheers!! Till we meet again. God bless you all.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sweet Memories
My JS cupboard.All of these reminds me of JS...
The 2 books are my diary and Bible... Diary reminds me of what occurred in JS, the Bible reminds me that I grew closer to God during JS, and also its the same Bible as Han Yun's.
The stone on my diary ( blue ) is my nickname, Stone!!! The two bands I broke are given by Sarah Yong ( sorry ).
The ping pong ball signifies Captain Ball.
The pick on the right and the drumsticks reminds me of the jamming times with all of you.
The orange present is given my the guy's mentors ( its a cup ).
The brush is to remind me that i first handwash my clothes at JS.
The file behind is what I learned at JS.
The tracts on the left is given for evangelistic purposes.
The chocolate mirror is given my Aunty Choy Quin.
The Rubik Cube I bought at Gurney Plaza reminds me of Melissa Joy. She likes my cube.
The burger reminds me of Michael. He likes Ramli burger.
The comb, well, I comb my hair a lot till all of you make fun of me.
The black card is given by Winnie.
The US dollar bill given by Reverend Ong has the inscription "In God We Trust".
The yellow paper is our mass event "Break Free" flier, giant version.
Behind is the map of taiping.
That's all for my cupboard.
The words on the card reads:
The Truth Shall Set You Free
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8 : 1
One of Uncle Herbert's many talents
If you do stumble upon this and are from Setiawan, kindly *refrain* from telling Chuan Sheng. Nevertheless, when the following set of lyrics is sung to the tune of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", you get a pretty interesting...erm...err...song.
Chuan Sheng the red-nosed human
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other humans
Used to laugh and call him names
Chuan Sheng the red-nosed human
You'll go down in history
Now one heaty Taiping night
Hwa Wei came to say
Chuan Sheng with your nose so bright
Won't you shine the dark inside
Then all the humans loved him
As they laughed it out with glee
Chuan Sheng the red-nosed human
You'll go down in JS history
Lyrics : Uncle Herbert
Chuan Sheng the red-nosed human
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other humans
Used to laugh and call him names
Chuan Sheng the red-nosed human
You'll go down in history
Now one heaty Taiping night
Hwa Wei came to say
Chuan Sheng with your nose so bright
Won't you shine the dark inside
Then all the humans loved him
As they laughed it out with glee
Chuan Sheng the red-nosed human
You'll go down in JS history
Lyrics : Uncle Herbert
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Indecision
Stone here...
SU is organising a Kedah SU camp at Tapah, 16 - 19 March. TRAC Prayer Conference is on 20 - 22.
I'm planning to attend both. Kedah SU because I want to be a leader there. Praer Conference because I want to meet you guys, to experience a prayer conference and to learn ow to pray and experience God. I'm planning to drive there too.
So please pray for me to come to the best decision whether to go both or one only, and whether to drive or not.
Thank You all. Missing everybody.
SU is organising a Kedah SU camp at Tapah, 16 - 19 March. TRAC Prayer Conference is on 20 - 22.
I'm planning to attend both. Kedah SU because I want to be a leader there. Praer Conference because I want to meet you guys, to experience a prayer conference and to learn ow to pray and experience God. I'm planning to drive there too.
So please pray for me to come to the best decision whether to go both or one only, and whether to drive or not.
Thank You all. Missing everybody.
Stone is back
Sorry guys for the slow update. I'll try my best.
I'm missing JS already. Sob T_T.
At JS I found out that my music skills is not that bad. Sweat =.=
Sorry ar. I'm lazy right now.
I miss you guys!!!
I'm missing JS already. Sob T_T.
At JS I found out that my music skills is not that bad. Sweat =.=
Sorry ar. I'm lazy right now.
I miss you guys!!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Words of encouragement
Life has its ups and downs, sometimes it is like a stormy day, sometimes shining, but a rainbow only appears after there is rain and sun shine!!!
So be strong, and take courage, do not fear or be dismayed.
So be strong, and take courage, do not fear or be dismayed.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hi Everyone
This blog is for Jeremiah School 2009 students and mentors!!! For those involved please leave a comment so that you may contribute to this blog.
This blog is for you to write anything you wish, such as what interesting events happen in your life or any discoveries from your Quiet Time etc.
Welcome.
This blog is for you to write anything you wish, such as what interesting events happen in your life or any discoveries from your Quiet Time etc.
Welcome.
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