Surprise...the long hair has finally had a trim! To usher in the new school year, I’ve decided to go with a classic look - I can definitely say that I’m feeling fresher with this new look now. Back-to-school ready? Check! ✅

Now that school has started once more, I’ve had to set aside a little less time for things like my poetry, songwriting, and other rekindled passions. This school year, I enter Fourths, or Year 10 - the fourth year of secondary school here in the UK. This term marks the start of my journey into the IGCSE course, which I’ll be examined in at the end of my next academic year. In total, I’m now studying 9 subjects: English, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Art, Drama, French, Latin and Ancient Greek. Yep, you read that right, I’m taking 3 languages as electives for my IGCSEs! 🤩

Now that the first week of school has passed, I’ve been able to do a few interesting things to kick off everything. The most notable one so far is that I have decided to audition for the Junior and Senior Production. Since I’m in Fourths, this year I can choose to audition for both the Junior and Senior Production. The Junior Production is an original play titled ‘Burn’, and for the Senior, it’s none other than the classic ‘Pride and Prejudice’! So far, I’ve auditioned for the Senior Production, and my audition for the Junior Production is this week - wish me luck! ✨

But honestly, that’s not all I’m excited about. Although these next two years will be incredibly busy now that we’re working towards our IGCSEs, I have a feeling that all of the academic and co-curricular parts of my school life now will prove to be invigorating and full of exciting opportunities. Here’s to a new academic year! 🙌🏻

Looking forward,
O. Mukhtar O. Mukhlis
#theomarmukhtar
#BackToRealLifeSchool

p/s: Who’s your favourite character from ‘Pride and Prejudice’?

You Can Trust the Father

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”” (Mark‬ ‭4:35-41‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

If God has given you a personal rhema word, then it should settle your heart, no matter what storms come between now until the fulfillment of His word.

Jesus could sleep through the great wind storm because He had complete faith in the Father’s word.

“Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.” (John‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Jesus never did anything unless He first saw His Father doing it. He was guided through visions from the Father.

“How can you tell me to sleep through this storm?? It looks so bad. I guess God’s word to me cannot be true. I must have heard wrongly or misinterpreted it.”

If that is what you are thinking, calm down first.

Did you realize how easy it was for God to turn the great storm into a great calm?

Jesus only spoke a word, probably “shalom” in Hebrew, and the life-threatening situation turned around as if it never existed.

No attack from the enemy or from wicked ones can ever destroy you when your faith is in God’s word.

During the wind storm, the disciples had fear, and no faith.

If only they had faith in the rhema word which was “Let’s go over to the other side,” they could have declared shalom to the great storm and seen it turn into a great calm.

If there is a stormy situation in your life and you feel afraid, remember the rhema words that have been declared over you, and begin to agree with them.

“who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

Feed on Jesus’ love for you because the way Jesus showed His love in the four gospels reveals how Abba God is like. Jesus is the perfect image of the Father.

Jesus healed all who came to Him, and provided food for the hungry. He helped those who were the outcasts of society, and offered them love, forgiveness, a heavenly calling, and total redemption.

“He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.” (1 John‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭WEB‬‬)

This is how Abba God is like because Jesus only did what the Father showed Him to do. Our God is love. We have such a good heavenly Father. When we trust Him, we shall not lack any good thing!

In the 37 recorded miracles worked by Jesus Christ, we can see the Father’s heart of love and Grace towards us. In “Messiah’s Miracles”, as you examine the miracles in the four gospels, your faith will be rekindled to receive miraculous breakthroughs in your own life: https://bit.ly/messiahs-miracles

It looks like a resort doesn’t it?
BUT IT’S NOT!! This is Heartbeat@Bedok!

Back in the past, this used to be an empty plot of green. Amenities like libraries, polyclinics were strewn in different locations and it was inconvenient to go from one place to the other.

So thank goodness for this area’s glow up! From gyms to a swimming complex and community clubs, everything is now under one roof. I have fond memories of hitting up the library with my friends and then going for a quick round of table tennis since it was just an escalator away. I’ve since moved from this area, but revisiting it rekindled dear memories of my short time here. To me, a community isn’t just the group of people living around me. It’s my second family, with whom I share and foster common interests in 💛

This is my story, and I want to hear yours! Share your story at go.gov.sg/OurCommunitySG (link in The People's Association] bio) or post it on your account and tag @PAFrenz together with #OurCommUNITYSG in your caption. Whether its your aspirations for the community or the memories you share, I’m all ears! 👂

PS. There’s a giveaway of $20 food vouchers to be won! Come support social causes within the F&B industry together with PA!

這樣的2020年，我們寫了一首這樣的歌——〈敬啟者 Dear Humans〉。

給所有活著、並期待或害怕末日來臨的人們。人們鑄下大錯、人們後悔、人們領悟、人們乞求著被世界原諒。但何不從現在開始？好好愛著那些該愛的，好好珍惜地球上的每一個生命、每一方土地。

這封信，給末日來臨時逃離地球的人類們。我們是當初曾與你們相伴，卻被獨自留下的寵物，是狗、是貓、是烏龜、是一株盆栽。

這次，請換你們聽聽我們說。

In a time like 2020, this is the song we wrote —— “Dear Humans”.

To all the living humans who expect or are afraid of the coming of apocalypse: People made big mistakes. People regretted making them. People admitted the wrongs. Now, people are begging to be forgiven by the world. But why not start making amends right away? Love those who deserve to be loved. Cherish every form of life and every inch of land.

This letter is written to the humans who left the Earth when the apocalypse came. We are the pets that accompanied you in the past, but then you left us here alone. We are dogs, cats, turtles and potted plants.

And now, please listen to what we have to say.

——————

2020 大象體操跨界計劃｜
【莎士比亞的妹妹們的劇團 王嘉明作品《物種大樂團》】
▶︎時間：2020.10.23-10.25
▶︎地點：台北國家戲劇院 National Theater
▶︎購票：https://bit.ly/2YPsC4j

——————

〈敬啟者 Dear Humans〉

放棄了的 進化了的
The abandoned, the evolved
你是不是仍然相信著當時的選擇
Do you still believe in the choice you made?

後來的 大象早就 學會遺忘
Before long elephants learned to forget
流浪的 北極熊也 在天上飛翔
Nomadic polar bears now soar in the sky
突然 一艘船 從天而降
A vessel dropped from the clouds all at once
狼狽的 沈重步伐
Plodding, trudging
你是否 就是早已離開的人啊
Are you the one who’s already left?

宇宙中 完美的家 你說那是無聊的謊
“The ideal home in the universe” You call this a tedious lie
眼前的 這片海洋 卻恢復原來的模樣
The ocean before our eyes has renewed, revived
為什麼 人類 渴望遠方
Why do humans thirst for the distance
卻 無法守護 腳下土壤
But fail to protect the soil under their stride?
你問我 該怎麼做 才能被原諒
You asked me what to do
To receive forgiveness

曾相信的 曾心愛的
Once believed, once beloved
現在的我仍然相信著當時的選擇
I still believe in the choice I made

我從來 沒有離開也不想要遺忘
I never left, I don’t forget
一輩子 都在這裡等待 著你回來
Waiting for your return with all my life
好想 告訴你 不用害怕
To tell you that don’t be afraid
放下所有的 後悔悲傷
Lay down all the regrets and sorrow
只要你 願意擁抱我們曾受過的傷
As long as you embrace our woes

偶然的 巧合 已開始流轉
Circumstantial, Coincidental, Circulation
那 隨機的 安排也不斷在變換
Random orders, tireless changes
淘汰的 願望 又回來了嗎
Is the eliminated hope rekindled?
曾 緊緊擁抱的 和深深愛過的
Once caressed, once cherished
未來的 還在 遙遠的未來
The future is still in the far-fetched future
而 過去的已經消失在過去了
Yet the past has vanished in the past

——————

【音樂製作 Music Production】

製作 Producer：大象體操 Elephant Gym
作詞 Lyrics：張凱婷 KT Chang、張凱翔 Tell Chang
作曲 Composer：張凱婷 KT Chang
編曲 Arrangement：大象體操 Elephant Gym
電吉他 Electric Guitar：張凱翔 Tell Chang
鍵盤 Keyboard：張凱翔 Tell Chang
電貝斯 Electric Bass：張凱婷 KT Chang
鼓 Drums：涂嘉欽 Chia-Chin Tu
錄音工程師 Recording Engineer：陳瑩哲 Ying-Che Chen @小白馬音樂工作室 White Pony Music Studio
混音工程師 Mixing Engineer : 邱建鈞 J-Jyun Ciou @玩痛音樂工作室 Playtone Studio
母帶後期處理工程師 Mastering Engineer : 陳陸泰 A-Tai
母帶後期處理錄音室 Mastering Studio : 原艾母帶工程錄音室 Mugwort Mastering

——————

【MV製作 Music Video Production】

監製 Executive Producer：伊晉褕 Eric Yi
導演 Director：許睿庭 RAY
攝影師 Director of Photography：萬又銘 ONE
攝影助理 Camera Assistants：張岳群 Henry Chang
燈光師 Gaffer：萬又銘 ONE
燈光助理 Best Boys：曾鈺展 Yu Zhan Cent、楊鈺銘 Yu Ming Yang、陳宇颿 Yu Fan Chen
美術指導 Production Designer：潘幸均 PAN
小精靈 Elf：馮會元 Hui Yuan Feng
演員 Cast：艾迪 Addy、吳為 Wei Wu、Ray Han、蹦蹦 Bong Bong
後期製作 Post production：萬事屋影像制作 Onezpro Studio
剪接 Editor：朱威 Wei Chu
調光 Color Grading：周采葳 Cai Wei Zhou
合成 FX Artist：江偉 Will Chiang
器材協力 Equipment Support：乒乓影像器材 Ping Pong Film Studio、仙人掌影業器材 Cactus Studio
歌詞翻譯 Lyrics Translation：覃天愛 Tien-Ai Chin
特別感謝 Special Thanks：眉角映像 MEGA Pictures、TheBayStudio、嚴敏 Mia Min Yen

Day 4 : Watch how ‪#‎MIXLoveContract‬ couple Jessie and Ching Siong rekindled with each other in an ice skating session yesterday.