Days Of Future Past

Full Lunar Eclipse after 1.5hrs. Shutter speed of 4s with aperture opened to 7.4 

posted by HanQiang @ 2:39 am 0 comments

Picture taken with fully auto mode 

posted by HanQiang @ 2:36 am 0 comments

15mins after the start of the Lunar Eclipse 

posted by HanQiang @ 2:35 am 0 comments

Back to back they faced each other;
Drew their swords and shot each other;
The deaf policemen heard the noise;
And went to jail those two dead boys;
If you believe this tale is tall;
Ask the blind man, he saw it all.

posted by HanQiang @ 1:47 pm 0 comments

23rd Sept – 29th Sept 2004. Home. Oakmont, Pennsylvania

This time the feeling’s different.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 118:1.

Pennsylvania. It’s a hilly state filled with forests, rivers, and creeks. Matthew and Jessica picked me up upon my arrival and I rode with them, headed for my new home. Pastor Mark and his “Sunshine” were away visiting different churches, although they were expecting me. Friday and Saturday…Alone…Listless…In an otherwise empty room. No internet still (as of 1st Oct)… No, they are not complaints. I could not, even if I had wanted to. They were merely thoughts from within. Who wouldn’t have? Not that I’ve not been away alone before. I took the opportunity and walked around town, set in the suburbs. 20 minutes! That is all one ever needs to see the town of Oakmont, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Riverside Community Church and SEAPC is 5 minutes’ walk from the apartment where I live. Behind the church is Allegheny River where the Gepperts go fishing. Well they go fishing anywhere that has water and fish anyway. The bank, post office, supermarket, bakeries, and even diners are all within a 20 minutes radius. CTV is 45 minutes’ drive away. About the distance from Jurong to Changi. Creeks and woods fill the area, and the abundant wildlife roams about freely. OH, and the cars…they are WICKED! Lincolns, GMCs, Chryslers (Crossfires), Corvettes, Jeep Wranglers, giant 4x4s (I even saw a Monster Truck on the road!!!), Pontiacs, Mitsubishi GTOs, Toyota Supras, Mustangs (one of the most common on the road)…WHeeeeeW! Ha, just by watching those cars, especially the Mustangs, makes me salivate and gives me a good cardiovascular workout…hahaha! NAH, just kidding! I’m crazy, but not THAT crazeeee…

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10.

Thank God for Pastor Mark and his family. They take very good care of me and of my every need. They are indeed a great blessing. If you have enjoyed his company in church, living with him is far more enjoyable than you can imagine. It’s hilarious when he and sister Ellie started giving each other little mischievous jibes while we were all sitting on the same couch just talking. They do it all the time. He loves re-telling all his childhood stories; he does this all the time. Both He and sister Ellie give Godly advice, and he especially loves doing this whenever I ride with him. I’m learning a lot from him, and I thank God for the Gepperts. God is faithful. God blesses His servants in order that they will be a blessing to others, and living with Mr. Geppert, you really can feel God’s presence with him. This is truly an encouragement for all brothers and sisters in Christ. Press on in God, remain faithful, serve with joy and be a testimony for God so that others too will be blessed.

Bought a cheap pair of basketball shoes. Shopping’s hard to come by living in the suburbs, and I’m surprised at the lack of variety for the Nike shoes range…I mean, Nike-America, and Levi’s-America…aren’t they synonymous? Well, not that I’ve seen any Levis on sale yet too…Ha! Surprise, surprise. Having no problems with the kind of meals available here (absolutely love the salads), and daily breakfast on my way to work at King’s – Tea, Bacon, Eggs and Toast…Trying to learn the roads around and out of town, and to work (will buy my maps if I do get my own ride)…Waiting for the leaves to change colour during autumn before I take some nice pictures…It’s a jungle out there – literally. Having over 70 channels of cable TV (~bleah, mostly news)… Chilly feet despite hiding under the blanket at night…Coping well with “The Geppert Diet” in their attempts at beefing me up (though it’s not really working yet. HA~!)…Still waiting for a vehicle, and to see if I will move to another apartment…Wonderful, warm and friendly people at CTVN who are more than willing to entertain my endless questions and attempts at learning despite them knowing that I just might take over their jobs anytime (nah…just kidding!).

There are plans to drive down to New York (6hrs’ drive) to meet up with James (depending if James calls me), or even fly up to Texas to pay him a short visit…Go fishing and hunting with Matt sometime…depending on work schedule…and also to drive a truck up to Guatemala, donate it, and fly back. But I’d love to go snowboarding again…WHEEEE! *SPLAT*

Was on my way to work at 7am in the car with Pastor Mark on a cold and misty Tuesday morning when…deer! A family of 5 just grazing next to the road somewhere in the neighbourhood. They were so near, you could throw stones at them, or dare each other to creep up and touch their noses…Haha!

After 9 months of praying, waiting upon and trusting the Lord, the lights had finally changed. Now that isn’t too long is it? God is good, and I’m really thankful.

posted by HanQiang @ 1:48 am 0 comments

1st Oct – 3rd Oct 2004. CTVN. Signal Hill, Pennsylvania.

A trained engineer, turned communicator, and now a technical guy...ha! Talk about identity crisis…God help me…I’m a master of non…

First week at work. Started on Monday, 27th Sept, and on Thursday, it was the Telethon campaign for CTVN. Each campaign lasts for 2 weeks. 3 times a year, CTVN stages a fund raising campaign for the station as well as its Missions affiliations. Cornerstone Television Network is a non-profit Christian broadcast network, and donors provide all of its funds. The orphans we’re raising funds for really is heartbreaking, especially when one sees their faces on TV. The missionaries visited them and stayed with them. Some adopted them. All those children were so happy when someone actually truly cares for them. They feel loved, and their faces show it.

Thursday, 30th Sept, first day of Telethon. Did you know that large pieces of brown paper splattered with paint looks awfully real on television as boulders? Awfully real, and awful on set, but nice on TV. Haha! Sawed down 2 telephone poles with a chain saw to prop as pier poles on a dock. The poles made 12 logs, which have rotted partially and were full of bugs, termites and centipedes. Everything was recycled, handmade or improvised. That’s budget and non-profit television for you. Learned about lightings, remote (out of station) commercial shoots, and had a studio shoot. Asked so many questions, that I amazed myself at my own ignorance…ha! Learned at lot too (obviously after all the questions).

Telethon is LIVE, and so, as an intern, I was thrown into the deep end…Anyway, I was scheduled to be one of the 7 cameramen running 4 cameras. NO past experience of any technical practice of any sorts, I was scheduled for cameras 3 and 4; a pedestal camera and a handheld one. Thank God everything went smoothly, and I did a pretty decent job. It was very fast paces and despite having a floor and programmed schedule to follow, many impromptu decisions were made. There were blips, but no major mess-ups though, and the entire crew’s hard work was appreciated. Well, this was only the first day of Telethon. There are 8 more days to go…

Now for those who know much about television and are great technical specialists, I truly respect that. So, forgive me if I sound just a little overwhelmed by things happening here in an actual TV station. I know…those were not much, but hey, my background is only engineering, and Media & Communication Management…I don’t know no nothing about all the techniques that goes into turning, adjusting and tuning all those knobs and buttons and even those electric powered illuminating gizmos we call lights. The training I’m having may yet be enough for me to be a good cameraman, or a proficient soundman, or a good editor, or a good producer…Or even enough to start and run a network. Which is why…”God help me”. I’m only able to be here learning because it was Him who changed the lights from red to green. That’s more than enough for me…

I’m not bragging. I’m just not afraid to say that despite our faults, our Father sustains and provides us with more than what we need to follow Jesus. Our confidence should always be in Him, even though we waiver in our faith so VERY often (speaking more for myself…ha). Well, true to His word, He is faithful…“…I am with you always… (Matt 28:20)”. I’m so thankful for those green lights. I’m also thankful and deeply encouraged by Ji-Reh (multiply liao mar…hee) and every single one of my friends…you know who you are…

For many who have not cultivated a relationship with God, I believe it is true enough that the term “Thank God” is just an exclamatory filling for expressions of disgust. Let us all be truly thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness.

posted by HanQiang @ 1:37 am 0 comments

30th Sept 2004. CTVN. Signal Hill, Pennsylvania.

Internship at CTVN. The aim is to learn everything about television, know enough not to be conned by the experts, and to complement my TV experience with my foundations on Media and Communication Management. In other words, “Lookout Ron, I’ve got my eyes on your seat.” HAHA!! Nah…I’m kidding... Ron Hembree is CTVN’s President, and nope, his seat for myself isn’t the plan. Heh! Anyway, Ron was really nice. He extended his grace and welcome by introducing me to the entire crew, top management, guests and even the talents alike just before our LIVE telecast. He brought me up on stage together with the wife of the founder of CTVN, Norma Bixler, and my mentor, Steve Johnson, who is in top management. Well, they thanked me for coming, which was a pleasant surprise, as I should be thanking them for having me. Then Ron and Norma led the entire station in prayer, for me. Wow. Such warm and gracious people. I thank God for the open doors and for people He has called to serve and be a blessing to others. I was indeed blessed by them.

Now, not all Christians are such nice people. But, all of THESE nice people ARE Christians. That is a very valuable lesson to learn for all of us. Afterall, weren’t we called by Jesus to be the salt and light of the earth?

Carl is this huge guy, and a Vietnam war veteran. He was shot in the chest, had watched his best friend blow up and die from a landmine in his face, and had his right leg blown by a landmine as well. He’s fine now, loves the Lord and does not walk with a limp. And I thought this only happens in movies. Anyway, the first thought in my mind when I first was introduced to him was, “WHOA, NELLY!” Yeah, this guy is HUGE. But here’s the twist. Ha, I bet you all are already expecting a twist huh? Carl struck me as having one of the more tender hearts a big, burly guy could have. He’s always warm, and funny (though he does make real sense only sometimes…ha), and sincere. Offered to send me home whenever I do not have a ride (all I had to do was ask), and brought me out to eat (just once…but hey, it was nice enough), of all things, Chinese. Haha! I truly appreciate this gesture, but nope, the Chinese buffet we had wasn’t really Chinese food we have in Singapore. How about that! The studio crew of Carl, Andy, Mike, Vinnie and Brad…They’ve all been the most warm and gracious people to me. I’m having a good time in their company. In fact, almost everyone that I’ve met (about 30 already…out of about 50, I guess…), only 1 seems a little aloof. He’s not as warm, but reason is that he came over from Hollywood, and he’s a director. A born again follower of Christ, he decided to serve the Lord in this ministry. So, naturally he’s brought along his work ethics and all his Hollywood experience...and BLAH BLAH BLAH~. All that ‘get what he wants and when he wants it’ attitude. But off the set, he’s just as nice. They are all genuinely gracious people.

Everybody in CTVN either has heard of, or knew Pastor Mark personally, and I’m not exaggerating. Tim Burgan (communicated with him to secure my internship), CTVN’s Vice President, was one of Pastor Mark’s first people to have had travelled with on Mission trips to China. They made illegal videos of underground churches in China, brought them back to CTVN, and broadcast them over the channel. Pastor Mark pays me through SEAPC, an allowance. So…technically he’s my boss. Ha! By this, I have the privilege of some slack, as I’m not treated on the same level as an employee of CTVN. Heee!

Norma’s vision was to have worldwide Christian TV, and by God’s grace, her late husband founded, and was able to set up the whole network over the years from a satellite dish on top of a trailer. They have never had an Asian, or even a foreign talent as an intern before, and now, here I am, learning and hoping to bring the experience back to Southeast Asia. Hmmm…interesting. There’s a possibility of having that vision being slowly fulfilled. It’s not my desire to be in the technical side of TV. I see myself as the link. If God opens the doors to Christian broadcast in Asia, I see myself as one who plans, strategises, and helps in collaboration with anyone who has the resources to start a network. Maybe be like Ron Hembree, but only outside America. Otherwise, I can work as an International Correspondent to SEAPC with strong links to CTVN.

Those are plans, yet I still have no idea what the specifics are, or if God has an entire different direction for me. I’m just focused now on learning to the best of my ability, and continue to wait upon the Lord. Very much like what had just passed 9 months ago. I want to return. However, Psalms 118:1, Eph 2:10, Ecc 3:1 is helping with my focus. Thank God for His word.

posted by HanQiang @ 1:35 am 0 comments