E-mail Temporary Change

Dear all,

My primary e-mail address, madfolly92@hotmail.com, is unable to let me reply or read my inbox for sometime already. So I would appreciate all who read this to e-mail me at my secondary e-mail address, pungxiang@yahoo.com.sg.

With thanks,
Chang Xiang

My Blog Lives

I am finally updating my blog. All of you must be wondering what I have been up to. Well too many things have happened so I would gladly share with you when you ask me.

I WAS PACKING MY ROOM A FEW DAYS AGO AND i CAME ACROSS SOME LETTERS AND POSTCARDS PPL GAVE ME. Some write positive things such as "So stay cute and happy forever" while others say "Happy birthday as*hole!". Now ppl bring each other day from time to time. Even the best fo pals do that too. Having been a student leader, I have learnt to cope with it and the prejudice I face because of who I am. Many ppl judge me to be a si*sy and give me names and laugh at many decisions I make for the fun of it. I am not saying I have never made a wrong decision but how should one react to such a judgmental world?

I have realized that it is important to seek only the acceptance of God in many things we do and be happy with the gifts we are given. For example, lets say you go for a party. You have never drank alcohol your whole life before, but just because you want to fit in you join your friends in this bad habit. Or you know as a Christian not to swear, but because you wanna be cool with your friends you join them too. however there can be adverse consequences like a broken relationship with God. When we start to immerse ourselves in such habits that are temporal, we will find our sense of security skipping from one thing to another never to God. I have experienced trying to fit in so badly, but God thought me to put my security in Him and nothing else. When I place my security in God he reassures me of my significance in the plan He for me and spur me on to live life according to His will through the loving relationship we have. Bottom line this scary world is so much less intimidating when I have such a firm shoulder to lean against for rest and comfort:)

So thank God!

Anyways, I have finally decided to aim for the Law and Management at Temasek Poly. It has a COP of 13 points. So pray that I can get at least 15 ponits to get into the course for my o-levels (because I can minus 2 points from my CCA as I got A1). You can start by praying for my Chines O-levels on the 26th of May- coming Monday. Also, I have been promoted to a Warrant Officer in BB. Yeah! Anyways to end my post here are top 10 singles I have been listening to:

1) Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
2) No Air by Jordin Sparks ft Chris Brown
3) 4 Minutes by Madonna ft Justin Timberlake
4) Low by Flo Rida ft. T.Pain
5) With You by Chris Brown
6) Bye Bye by Mariah Carrey
7) Don't Stop the Music by Rihanna
8) Mercy by Duffy
9) No One by Alicia Keys
10) Apologize by Timbaland ft OneRepublic

New Year

Hey everyone. Its 2008! Ok its a bit late to cheer about tat but I only found time to blog now! Anyways let me give you guys a brief look into some things happening in my life and then I will end off sharing how they have brought me closer to the Lord.

Well, I am looking to serve more in service since I am Sec 4 this year and may not be an acolyte next year. So any suggestions please tag. I ask Javier and he suggested me to sing in service but its been a long time since I sang with confidence since my voice broke. The last time I sang confidently was probably when I was in the choir. Anyways, if God calls me why not? I will think more about how I can serve and I am sure SNP will help me because its one of their objectives to help youths who want to serve God. Ok so suggest away everyone.

Also, now a bout school. I am Sec 4 as you guys know. Wow, an important year. I really have to study so please pray for me. So to be more focus I am stepping down soon. In BB, Sir Yew Yi is going to help me look out for a successor so I no longer need to think about it. All I have to do is some organization, work and be ready to help train the newbie before I can be free from my NCO duties. Anyways, I am going to be a Staff Sergent soon. So happy! I am aiming to be more physically build this year, so I am going to train for a large-scale nation wide BB Adventure Competition as my last contribution. Finally, I am working to get the most prestigious BB Award in BB-the Founders Award. I just need good testimonies, a smooth interview and hope that what I have done is enough. Please pray for me that I will excel in all these aspects.

In NE, I am stepping down in April. Bye ex co-we are spiting. I just have to do my part till then- organising events, executing them, leading ect. So pray for me that I will be a sharper leader and also do well. Now about Church, I am enjoying it! The fellowship is great. There is a new cell group this year for the guys only. So cool! I hope it helps pull us closer because sometimes when I talk to them, although we are friends it as if we have nothing in common to continue the conversation-resulting in a awkward silence. I am looking forward to bible studies with Romans. Finally!!!! After all the postponing, it is finally happening!

Ok, so what I have learnt about God through all these is that He is merciful and has blessed me greatly. I know I do not show it all the time, but He did taught me how to lead mostly by example. He gave me lots of chances to perform in BB and let me meet the right people like Peng Siang who shared the Gospel with me or my Officers that were so willing to groom me; especially Sir Tim. And he shows me His mercy each day as I see Christians in my class grow and when we encourage each other you just can tell......... I can say so much about His blessings and mercy but I will just conclude with this. God can just not care and let us die and go to hell and all. So, each time I see God's blessing and Him working around me and as I grow I am just so joyous so you guys must experience for yourselves ok?

Mission Trip Post 3

This my testimony which I am sharing to the Thais on my mission trip with the help of a translator. It is all about the Vividness of God's Love in My Life and I hope this will encourage all of you to spur on in your walk with the Lord.

Before I started to write this testimony, I prayed to God to help me remember all the times I was touched by His love. God’s love is vast and I am sure of you agree. He sent His son to die for us and not just that he will always forgive us our mistakes not because he is obligated, but out of love. I am going to share about how living by faith appreciating and responding to this undying and great love changed my life.

I came to know God last year from an event at a church in Singapore, Bedok Lutheran Church. When I first heard the gospel, I was fearful because the death portion freaked me out and the person sharing to me who is also on this trip, Peng Siang, seemed persistent. I was afraid of any thing relating to the Christian Faith, as I did not want to get myself in trouble with my parents who despised the faith. However seeing how the love of God is shown universally in all the Christians I met in Church and my CCA; I realised there is really something making this group of people different form the rest. So, I converted and made the decision to follow His will for me. Hence after attending cell group for half-a-year, I got baptised, living each day before that seeing the joy God’s love brought to my life and others, the greatness of His love like how he made us accept and love those that are difficult and even how His love came through like when he promised that He will always help His people which never fails.

Ask anyone, and they will tell you I have changed since my conversion. I still have a long way but I know with God’s love I will be able to an encouragement to others and live by faith. In fact, it is this love that makes me stand here to share you my testimony and this is a priceless possession I will always have to face the future storms life bring. I know all of you have felt His love in your lives too and my advise is to hold on tight and get ready for the ride of your life! Life is like a roller coaster with ups and downs by as long and you hod on to God’s love you will always have that Joy to live on, so simply

love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

Deuteronomy 30:20a

Thank you for your time and I pray that God’s love guards your actions always.

Mission Trip Post 2

Here is more information on the mission trip I am going for. Below is the Cover of Support Letters I have sent to my supporters; which will give you guys more insights on the trip. This Letter was written by the team leaders and addressed to all recipients of my Team's Support Letters.

Please feel free to approach me if you want to support me financially or simply just pray for the Team and myself that we will achieve all our objectives, be living testimonies to the Thais, spread God's love to all the non-believers and grow in our walk with the Lord.

11 November 2007

Dear XXX,


It brings me great joy to inform you that a team of 12 youths will be going to Thailand for a mission trip this coming December. We are departing from Singapore on 1st Dec and returning on 14th Dec (2 weeks).

It is very exciting to share about the work that God has prepared for us to do. During the first week of the trip, we will go in 2 teams. The first team will be going to a village in Ubon. This is the village where we had been conducting English camps in various secondary schools for the past few years. English camps are where we teach the students simple English through creative lessons and interactive games. At the end of the lessons, we would join them in a time of celebration where we will perform dances, Thai pop and Christian songs and thought-provoking skits to bring the message of the gospel across. We will also be sharing testimonies about how we had experienced the love of God in our lives. The second team will be going to a new village called Mudtahan (situated close to the Laos-Thai border). We thank God that He gives us opportunities to minister not only to the churches and schools in the area but even the youth prison as well! We will be conducting similar programs with them as those we do in English Camps.

During the second week, we will be going to the Capital City, Bangkok. Besides the schools and prison we will be visiting, we also planned for a Christian youth gathering in Ladprao church. This is where we encouraged church youths in the district and theological college students to gather for a time of worship, teaching and praying. We will also be visiting a church Bedok Lutheran Church had built in Sikhiu to help out with the church in an evangelistic event and equip the people for Sunday school ministry.

Our objectives are to encourage our youths to engage themselves in the mission field, and to cultivate godly attitudes and behaviours through the experiences from this trip. We also seek to bring God’s love to the young people in Thailand through the programs and the lessons we have prepare and encourage the Thai Christians to continue to be faithful in their walk and service to God.

We have begun our preparations and would like you to pray for us as we rehearse for our performances and prepare our English lessons. Pray that the Lord will keep us healthy until the end of the trip. Pray also for Rosanna who is the liaison, that there will not be too many changes to the plans we have made. Most importantly pray that all of us will grow deeper in love with God as we serve in Thailand.

We give thanks and glory to God for how the work has advanced in Thailand. We are grateful to be called to do even more. Do support and join us in doing God’s work through praying and supporting us financially. Each member is required to raise S$450 and will be responsible for their airfare. The amount that is raised will be strictly for accommodation, food, transport within Thailand and any other expenses incurred during our 14 days in Thailand. If you are sending a cheque, please make payable to BEDOK LUTHERAN CHURCH and indicate at the back of the cheque "Thailand Youth Mission Trip 07".

Your partnership in the work is greatly appreciated.


Romans Wong & Ang Peng Siang
Team Leaders
Youth Thailand Mission Trip 2007

Mission Trip Posts 1

Reasons I am going for the trip:

I will be going for this year’s Thailand Youth Mission Trip to experience serving God in a foreign land for the first time. Thank God for the opportunity!

I hope to share God’s love to the people there through conversing, teaching, songs and my testimony. I also hope to have a clearer understanding of mission trips and the calling of a missionary. Most importantly, I seek to grow deeper in my relationship with God through this trip.

I am very excited to share God’s love to the people in Thailand. Despite possible difficulties, I know that the Lord will guide me through and mould me to be a faithful servant. I pray that in difficult situations, I will not lose my patience and complain but remain teachable. I also pray to be less self-centered and be more proactive during this trip. With God’s help, I seek to be a useful instrument for Him and a living testimony to the Thai people rather than being a burden for the team.

Pray that the Lord will lead us in making the right decisions throughout the trip that we may glorify Him. Pray for teamwork, efficiency and spiritual growth in all of us that we take back the valuable lessons from this trip to be stronger in our walk with Christ. Pray for the leaders of the teams as they oversee the programs of the mission trip and lead the team. Pray especially that the Thais will have open hearts so that God’s love can touch them and hopefully many will be saved in Thailand.

I would really appreciate it if you guys could pray for me and the team. Peace of the Lord be with you all and God bless!

Reflection Letter October 2007

This month, well I have been doing a lot of soul searching. I mean with all the impactful speeches like the one on conscience who I not. I am glad God taught me to do so. I finally realised why I am such a negative person because a part me is not satisfied with God. Although I was going to church and spending time with God consistently, I a part of me was a bitter person. This started way before I was a Christian. I was never felt like part for any gang I was hanging out with. Because people in there outshine in many ways. They are good in sports, instruments, music, have a greats sense of humour, great with computer games ect. Well, I am not. When I became a Christian, I learn things like God gave us our gifts and talents according to His grace and its His best plan for us. However, well each day I live in envy of others. I mean in school I do not have a serious attitude problem I am just different. I am never the spotlight and I just feel sad at times. I am known only to be helping the teachers being a good leader but so many people can do that too. I just feel my qualities do to make people go wow. Before Sec2, I could really sing and that made feel like I had something special others can say wow but now well I suck and the praises just disappear. I felt that I had become very ordinary. I love singing, but I stopped it as a recreation after my voice broke and well all my bitterness, jealousy and unhappiness affected how my relationship with God. My self-consciousness led me not to sing during services and CG meetings. I did not point out mistakes of fellow brothers-in-Christ after sometime in school because I wanted to fit in. The truth is I am starting to follow the culture in school because I want an edge over others so badly that I am not being a living testimony there.
After reflecting, I just feel so guilty because although God has given my talents that I can use to serve Him, I shadow them to try to become someone He did not path me out to be.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
-Ephesians 4:1-

By being so bitter and shadowing the talents God gave me I realised I am further from God and His calling form me. For one, I am not set apart or a living testimony anymore. I am definitely rejecting what God has given me because I am striving at other areas that the world values not God. After much thought, have a talent with things like presentation, photography, planning, budgeting, mentoring , teaching ect is not so bad and I am sure I can use it to glorify God someday. After all, it has got me leadership roles in the School, BB and NE.

From this whole episode I learn to trust God that His plans are the best and that fighting it is no use. I also learn that if a person ever turns bitter, it is hard for God to work through them just like in my case I just totally pushed God out any business to do with my social life. I pray that I will always seek comfort in God and not dwell in self-pity. I have been so focused on the world’ impression of me that at times, God’s word could not come across well. I am sure if I had not been so bitter there would at least be a verse from all my QTs and CGs to help me through this. It is scary that God is actually waiting to come in to help but we shut the door without even facing the fact that we it. My relationship with God has grown through this soul searching and I learn to better put my trust in Him than in the world; because do not want to live a life of unhappiness blaming God.

Reflection Letter September 2007

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
-Matthew 6:34-

I am very sure many are familiar with this verse. This month I have returned to being a worrywart. I have once told myself as many leaders of SNP like Ben have told me not to worry and stress. I think I often make myself tense I think too much into things and get too paranoid. Also, I am sure because I am not planning my time well and spending time to feel stressed and worried instead of trusting God and completing all my tasks.

I learnt in Sunday school that I it is God’s plan in an hour we can learn a lot. That is if we trust in Him. This means that in a given time to study we should do our best and it will be all up to God’s plan how we will do in our exams. Of course this applies to everyone. This helped me to relax more and trust more in the Lord. I know that I have to work extra hard to do well in my exams but I will give it my all so I will not let God down. I mean I can glorify God in this area so why not?

I have so far been able to spend time with the Lord each day but I hope during the examination period I will still cling on to this important support in my life.

This month also taught me that sometimes when we disobey God there is no turning back. In Discovery Series, I learnt about Sex and its beauty. When one willingly loses his virginity to someone he does not love loosely, he is forfeiting true love forever. This means even if he repents, he will never have his first time back anymore. This is so much like disobeying God now and going to hell after death where repentance is futile. The sermon on the last Sunday of this month did talk about this and through the illustration of Lazarus the beggar and the rich man. It does not matter what your status is, but you do not follow the ways of your God then you will burn in hell for ETERNITY, just like the rich man, I am sure I do not want to be in the wrong side of God. Which is why I have to constantly trust in his promises and obey his commandments.

Lastly, seeing as how many have left SNP this year from Timothy to Nathelie, I hope that they will still walk right with the Lord and wherever they are, they are still followers of the Lord.
Please pray for them and for me as my exams are already here. Just like what I learnt in bible study with Peng, Love and Harmony in a Christian fellowship is so great and encouraging. Thanks be to God!

Reflection Letter August 2007

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
-Hebrews 13:16-

This past month is smooth sailing as compared to others. I have lesser stressful situations and I have better time management. Well, with lesser frustrating situations, I felt that I should not have pray for so much stuff. That is obviously wrong and thank God that last month I learnt about the importance of prayer from Basic Christian Living lesson and Quiet Time (QT); thus I knew what was I should do. We should pray always.

“Pray continually.”
-1 Thessalonian 5:17-

I still remember the verse. So cool! I am usually complacent about it and so I am so happy. Thank God. I need to put in more effort in doing so as I tend to forget verses as I have learnt. I get the gist of the verse but I simply do not know where it is located in the bible. The above verse is from one of my QT sessions. The word sacrifice in the verse holds much meaning. It is the main gist of the verse and two examples of sacrifice for God are doing good and sharing with others.

I have personally sacrificed time in my life to study and spend time with God daily. I even thought of ways to enrich these experiences by having spent Sundays now reflecting on how I have applied the lessons learn during QT of the week. I have also taken time out to write out things I want to pray for throughout the day and in the night I pray for them before I sleep. In the past, I will just remember what I want to pray for and pray for those items in QT and before I sleep. I still pray during QT, but after in the night when I pray for items in the list; I realised that I have more things to pray for when I list out items to pray for. This is because when listing, I have discovered more possibilities of things to pray for. It seems even in a somewhat smooth sailing month I still have a lot of stuff to depend and thank God for. I mean who prays without thanking God.

Also, of course I did not forget to apply doing good in my life as the verse suggests. Even when your month seems to be great, there are still other people who need help and need God. I have helped Leon, a Christian in my class, by always reminding him to Christ-like always. He has a tendency to ignore things around him and just burst out if he is mad. This makes going out with him during his mood swing embarrassing. Thus, I explain things to Him as a friend and as a Christian and I am currently pointing signs of his mistake to him. So this is a way I have shown love to a fellow child of God in my life and done good in my life.

The last part of the verse talks about share with others. Share with others what? Obviously our purpose as Christians-that is to share about the Gospel. Did you actually ever observe the different personalities on just a single bus ride? It is amazing how God teaches one with things and situations in his daily lifestyle. A boring or what may be an insignificant way of life like taking a bus may actually be a great time to reflect about God and dwell in thoughts about God and His word. I mean instead of daydreaming, it is actually a great time to strengthen one’s relationship with the Lord. Amazing but true. When I reflect about how to make my life more Christ-like I observe that people on my bus ride daily are often far from it. For example, there was this woman who kept scolding the bus driver vulgarities in dialect at the bus driver on one of my bus rides. How wrong is that? To some eating on the bus is fine, but it is actually illegal. I saw students eating on the bus although they were not allowed to and could be fined. Just looking at how impulsive, disorganised and God needing those people are I felt than more importance about spreading the Gospel in my life. I need to put in more zeal to get friends to come for events not for the fun of it but most importantly, to eventually spread the Gospel to them. I am currently trying to spread to my friend pf 5 years, Jack Yang. He seems a little distant but I will try my best. So pray for him and for me that I may be able to sacrifice trust and obey God always.

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
-Ecclesiastes 12:13-

My Blog-Lives

Hey! This has been a long time since I have last updated my blog. I know how dead the atmosphere is so on this day of reivival....I have decided to declare that I have a new laptop! Whoo...hooo! Anyways, some of u may know the brand and all but I just do not feel like disclosing it here. PS: My friend Yi Cheng and Priscilla, i mean Christopher, helped me make this decision. Thank God, Chris never visits my blog much. Why do u ppl not tag me! YC the last time u tagged was like last year.

Anyways, my post is not some brainless one where I gossip or complain about life. Well life is unfair, deal with it, I actually taught that to my Juniors. Can u guys believe how I have become more erm wats the word.......oh yes, its MATURE! So happy. I mean deep in my heart I always knew this fact but I just did not embrace it cos complaining is so much more fun. (Oh cos now I dun think like tat) ok I have to get right on the topic. My post is to share with the readers that have faithfully flooded messages in my tagboard about how deep in the ground my blog is being buried. In case u dun noe Ranald, Peng's blogging days are not over. He just has a new link. Opps....I have not relink him. Ok let me relink him then u all of u can check it out if u have not-which I doubt so but oh well.

Tonight I went to Peng's chalet at downtown east. Oh no, I have tuition and I have to sleep soon. Ok here is the whole incident in brief. I was in fear of something. I ask Amy and Peng about it. They ask me what I know about the incident. I told them a what a leader told me. They wanted to know if I read about this and check it out in the bible. Now here comes the important part.

Others are not God. Your sense of assurance should come from God's word and not from wat ppl say. I still fear probably cos i have not really check the matter with God's word. Sounds confusing rite? In other words, I just have to constantly check my doubts with God's word and gain my information and assurance from there. I am not saying that u cannot look for the leaders ect for advice but just check against the bible to all references and knowldge aquired. PS: Remember Peng's lesson u noe the cult leader wan.

Ok I will have to go now, but I will make it a point to update regularlt from now on and I will also elaborate on this post again. To all Christians, this is one of the thougths that keeps me going each day to love God and destest sin: the thought that the end times are near and that we will not know when the Sun of God is returining. Where is your stand on ur eternal resisdence and where does ur heart lie?