don't play, pray.

I really haven't been blogging much since I've entered the army. It's not without reason, of course. I really think that it's good to be journaling my thoughts down somewhere, and perhaps one day, stop and look back on what I've written, what I've gone through, and what I've learnt in my earlier years in life. Anyway, here's a list of reasons why I haven't been blogging much (or at all.)

1. I wasn't sure whether it'd be a good idea to be blogging about army. After all, being an army boy, what else would i blog about?
2. I'm tired on weekends. And I'd really rather go out with my friends than stay at home and blog. Just like how people would rather enjoy their free time after rushing about with their day-to-day activities rather than do reflections (which takes lots of time. and not to mention concentration.)
   
3. I've been playing a lot of PSP on weekends. Especially Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. Love the monster hunter series.
4. I always get distracted when I'm on the computer. My church cell guys probably know what I'm talking about.
5. It's easier to update my photoblog than to update this one. really. much less thinking involved. though it's definitely takes up much more time. Plus, it's more rewarding, because others would rather look at pictures of themselves or their friends than read the random and sometimes incomprehensible thoughts of their friends online. seriously. i don't read friends' blogs very often.
   

That's a long list, if you ask me. But hey, it's been a long time. Why did I decide to blog again, though?

Because I'm leaving for overseas training tomorrow. And because of that, I thought I'd leave a piece of me somewhere before I leave for my last, most arduous part of my OCS training journey.

Much has happened since the last time I blogged while I was in service term. Even then, I didn't really post much. Time flies, really. Time flies. After social night, came pro term. A bit of training for SOC and IPPT, prep for JCC, and then *poof* Lancer. JCC. A while later, *poof* JCC over. *poof* internship/bootcamp and post admin. followed by *poof* urban operations lectures and field camp, and now *poof* preparation for oversea. Damn. The seniors weren't kidding when they said time passes really quickly once you get to pro term. Soon enough, it'll be *poof* COMMISSION LOH. And *poof* commissioning ball. Oh and yay I already got my date for comms ball. Unlike social night, where I only got my classmate to help me fill the space like 3 days before the event itself, I booked someone early this time. 3 months early, i know. But hey. I've got someone to come with me to St Regis on the 23rd of Dec, and that's all that matters.

Anyway, other than updates about my journey in the SAF, I've moved house from Jurong East to Jurong West. As a result, I'm one MRT station closer to SAFTI. The new house actually somehow feels quite homely. Even though it's like only my fourth or fifth day in the house now, I think I'm getting used to this place. Not all the stuff has been unpacked though (mostly my stuff), but when we're done i think we might hold a housewarming. or maybe not. we're only renting this place for a year anyway. then gonna move again.

As for my walk with God... It's been rather stagnant, I guess. But recently I've been learning new lessons from my parents, from church, from Christian DVDs and from other sources. Unfortunately, I don't think I've been learning much from just reading the Bible alone. Both because I haven't been reading it by myself and because I don't read the verses in depth and think about what they imply. I've been listening to quite a few discussions on Scripture and I've come to realise that a lot of what the Bible writes has very implicit meaning. Perhaps I'm a more audio-visual person. Reading the text is... less appealing.

Another barrier to my faith, I realise, has been my love for games. As my mum commented while I was slaying yet another Rathalos, "who is God, P-S-P or J-E-S-U-S?" While I quickly admitted that Jesus is God, I still continued in my conquest of the red wyvern. Heh. But at least I made a few decisions to help me turn round my spiritual life a bit.

ta-da. 'tis the Rathalos.

And now I'm deciding to make a few more commitments, to help my walk become stronger.

1. Set up a prayer list. Prayer is powerful, after all. And as I heard from a preacher in my church, while we can do all we are able to in our human capacity in the physical realm, there are unseen battles that go on in the spiritual realm, battles for our very souls. And there is nothing in our human capacity we can do to help fight those spiritual battles but to pray in the name of Jesus. Moreover, prayer is communion with God, and that will help me draw closer to Him.
   
2. Put up the prayer list somewhere where it is visible.
   
3. Learn to put down the PSP when people are talking to me and only pick it up again when there's absolutely nothing else to do. 'nuff said.
4. Call or SMS my Christian friends more regularly. Accountability is important.

I think I should blog more regularly. After I come back from overseas. =)