Deut 1
6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, "You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them."
It's time to move? perhaps time to look to new things? a year or so back i started a small business, teaching music and selling guitars. took a break from that for quite a while liaoz.
maybe its time to restart in small ways? so.....
i've start a yahoogroup, inspired by my midnite chat with David at the dam haha....so i'm inviting anyone, who's interested in teaching music and any instrument (as well as those who want to learn) to drop me an email and i'll add u to the yahoogroup. the website is also under redevelopment. Do pass around the message =) who knows how far this could go? maybe one day enough for me to quit my job and start on another path?
if you wondering, for now, i profit nothing from this. but i hope others can profit from this in some way, either by becoming a student, or becoming an instructor.
so...haha...see how lor.. =)
Showing posts with label Advice for the soul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advice for the soul. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
broken hunter
Matthew 23:37
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
Jeremiah 23:3-4
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
i can't think of what to blog...i cannot stand the thought that His children have drifted from His embrace. yet i remember that God loves you, more than i ever will. Yet i constrain myself....but the WORD says that the "Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died"
Matthew 18:12-14
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
That none should be lost, but that all come (& stay) in the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
I have hung up my bow, i have kept my boots. i have stayed in my cabin. perhaps its time....one-by-one...just like before....till all are safe, in the Father's embrace.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
Jeremiah 23:3-4
"I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
i can't think of what to blog...i cannot stand the thought that His children have drifted from His embrace. yet i remember that God loves you, more than i ever will. Yet i constrain myself....but the WORD says that the "Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died"
Matthew 18:12-14
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
That none should be lost, but that all come (& stay) in the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
I have hung up my bow, i have kept my boots. i have stayed in my cabin. perhaps its time....one-by-one...just like before....till all are safe, in the Father's embrace.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Working at work like Jesus
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2 by Os Hillman
Thursday, January 08 2009
"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of
James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And
they took offense at him (Mark 6:3).
In 2005, a movie entitled The Passion was released that chronicled the last twenty-four hours of Jesus' life. During a flashback scene, Jesus was seen in his carpentry shop making a table with his mother standing by playfully observing. It was a very beautiful scene that reminds us that Jesus was a carpenter for most of his adult life. In fact, Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in the eyes of the people because that is the history they knew of this young working class man from Nazareth.
Consider that in the New Testament of Jesus' 132 public appearances, 122 were in the marketplace. Of 52 parables Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context. Of 40 miracles in the book of Acts, 39 were in the marketplace. Jesus spent his adult life as a carpenter until age 30 before he went into a preaching ministry in the workplace. And, 54% of Jesus' reported teaching ministry arose out of issues posed by others in the scope of daily life experience. Saint Bonaventure said, "His doing nothing 'wonderful' (his first 30-years) was in itself a kind of wonder."
Work, in its different forms, is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible -more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise, and singing combined. God created work and He is a worker. "My father is always at his work to this very day, and I too, am working" (John
5:17).
So, the next time you are tempted to minimize your daily work as anything less than a holy calling, remember that Jesus was a workplace minister as a carpenter in his community. He has called you and I to reflect His glory in our work.
---------------------
I think too often I don't think rightly about the work that I do from Monday to Friday. I need to realise and remember that God put me here for 9 hours X 5 days per week for a purpose!
I thank God that He has given me many opportunities in the workplace and I pray that 2009 would be the year that I really can bless my "mission ground"!
There are so many opportunities everyday to keep being a living testimony to His goodness and I pray that my eyes be open to the chances, but also that I may be in favour with God and man to show that Godly values bring God's favour and fragrance into the
marketplace!
Thursday, January 08 2009
"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of
James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And
they took offense at him (Mark 6:3).
In 2005, a movie entitled The Passion was released that chronicled the last twenty-four hours of Jesus' life. During a flashback scene, Jesus was seen in his carpentry shop making a table with his mother standing by playfully observing. It was a very beautiful scene that reminds us that Jesus was a carpenter for most of his adult life. In fact, Jesus was more qualified to be a carpenter than the Son of God in the eyes of the people because that is the history they knew of this young working class man from Nazareth.
Consider that in the New Testament of Jesus' 132 public appearances, 122 were in the marketplace. Of 52 parables Jesus told, 45 had a workplace context. Of 40 miracles in the book of Acts, 39 were in the marketplace. Jesus spent his adult life as a carpenter until age 30 before he went into a preaching ministry in the workplace. And, 54% of Jesus' reported teaching ministry arose out of issues posed by others in the scope of daily life experience. Saint Bonaventure said, "His doing nothing 'wonderful' (his first 30-years) was in itself a kind of wonder."
Work, in its different forms, is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible -more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise, and singing combined. God created work and He is a worker. "My father is always at his work to this very day, and I too, am working" (John
5:17).
So, the next time you are tempted to minimize your daily work as anything less than a holy calling, remember that Jesus was a workplace minister as a carpenter in his community. He has called you and I to reflect His glory in our work.
---------------------
I think too often I don't think rightly about the work that I do from Monday to Friday. I need to realise and remember that God put me here for 9 hours X 5 days per week for a purpose!
I thank God that He has given me many opportunities in the workplace and I pray that 2009 would be the year that I really can bless my "mission ground"!
There are so many opportunities everyday to keep being a living testimony to His goodness and I pray that my eyes be open to the chances, but also that I may be in favour with God and man to show that Godly values bring God's favour and fragrance into the
marketplace!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Are you LOST?
Lostness....people get lost all the time...in a new country, in an unfamiliar town...in a new school building...new office....
sometimes we get lost in our thoughts too....lost day dreaming....
Other times we lose our grip on our thoughts and emotions and our hearts...sometimes they start to run-off on their own.
Thoughts have a life of their own....you can't suppress a thought by thinking "I'm not goin to think about it"....cos when you say that...you are actually thinking about it....
other times we try to rationalise our thoughts....we reason and debate with ourselves.....but so hard to tell which way the internal debate will swing....
just like eating wrong food gives us a stomache ache....wrong thoughts can poison our minds....the only difference is that you can shut your mouth and not eat the junk, but it is rather difficult to shut your eyes and ears to the thoughts from outside...it could be the devil, it could be the TV or your friends...talking around you....it just seeps in....
The verse below gives an idea what we can do:
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
so we need to guard our hearts....how?
Phil 4 says:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
so you see 3 things really:
1) No need to be anxious, TRUST God.
2) Guard your heart - what you see and hear
3) Replace your thoughts with the good stuff.
cheers =)
sometimes we get lost in our thoughts too....lost day dreaming....
Other times we lose our grip on our thoughts and emotions and our hearts...sometimes they start to run-off on their own.
Thoughts have a life of their own....you can't suppress a thought by thinking "I'm not goin to think about it"....cos when you say that...you are actually thinking about it....
other times we try to rationalise our thoughts....we reason and debate with ourselves.....but so hard to tell which way the internal debate will swing....
just like eating wrong food gives us a stomache ache....wrong thoughts can poison our minds....the only difference is that you can shut your mouth and not eat the junk, but it is rather difficult to shut your eyes and ears to the thoughts from outside...it could be the devil, it could be the TV or your friends...talking around you....it just seeps in....
The verse below gives an idea what we can do:
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
so we need to guard our hearts....how?
Phil 4 says:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
so you see 3 things really:
1) No need to be anxious, TRUST God.
2) Guard your heart - what you see and hear
3) Replace your thoughts with the good stuff.
cheers =)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Establishing Dreams and Goals by Jim Rohn
Even as the end of the year approaches, its a good time to reflect on what we have done with the year that God has given us =)
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One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams. Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful! And that is what we will discuss here: How to dream dreams and establish goals to get those dreams.
What are your dreams and goals? This isn't what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.
So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.
Let's take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:
Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don't do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet "dream time" this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts.
Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you, will feel great and you will be in the "dream zone." It is only when we get to this point that we experience what our dreams are!
Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don't think of any as too outlandish or foolish - remember, you're dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.
Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.
Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backwards. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.
Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family's life into congruence with what you want it to be.
----------------------
One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams. Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful! And that is what we will discuss here: How to dream dreams and establish goals to get those dreams.
What are your dreams and goals? This isn't what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.
So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.
Let's take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:
Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don't do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet "dream time" this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts.
Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you, will feel great and you will be in the "dream zone." It is only when we get to this point that we experience what our dreams are!
Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don't think of any as too outlandish or foolish - remember, you're dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.
Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.
Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backwards. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.
Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family's life into congruence with what you want it to be.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
December Reflections
Wow! Matz is back from America =) Glad we can spend some time together.
After cambodia, it was CAMP. and i must say that i regret not taking leave for this camp.
Every session I attended, I felt it was great =)
Some great reminders to me personally....
Even as i was worshipping during the monday nite session, as I sat/knelt down, my hands starting touching the floor. And as i touched the floor, it came to me once again:
1) We can bring nothing out of this world materially, once we leave it.
2) We are but the dust of the earth, yet God loves us so much and chooses to use us for HIS kingdom's work.
A reminder to me to focus on the eternal and unseen.
Even as MY HOPE comes around, I hope that the people I am trying to invite will come. Something special will happen this friday.
----------------------
I also want to say a THANK YOU for the people who prayed for me during the last night of camp. honestly, it was very touching and encouraging to me =) love you all =)
Thanks for praying for matz & me, cos as Dan Yan said, at next year's camp, our "status" will be different =)
Even from the time we went to Berakit, that message about God's family has been on my heart. Unity that comes out of our love (not our human love alone, but a reflection of Christ's love for us) is powerful & wonderful.
A lesson to learn about being a welcoming church - genuine people who love each other WILL attract people into our fellowship. the world is full of broken relationships, so let us do what we can to protect the fellowship in church, amen? And it will be the beautiful thing that lifts Jesus high and draws men to HIM!
----------------------
busy busy busy@work...new job, new role, new responsibilities. I thank God again for the opportunity HE has given me in this new place. I hope i can be a light for Christ in this place =)
After cambodia, it was CAMP. and i must say that i regret not taking leave for this camp.
Every session I attended, I felt it was great =)
Some great reminders to me personally....
Even as i was worshipping during the monday nite session, as I sat/knelt down, my hands starting touching the floor. And as i touched the floor, it came to me once again:
1) We can bring nothing out of this world materially, once we leave it.
2) We are but the dust of the earth, yet God loves us so much and chooses to use us for HIS kingdom's work.
A reminder to me to focus on the eternal and unseen.
Even as MY HOPE comes around, I hope that the people I am trying to invite will come. Something special will happen this friday.
----------------------
I also want to say a THANK YOU for the people who prayed for me during the last night of camp. honestly, it was very touching and encouraging to me =) love you all =)
Thanks for praying for matz & me, cos as Dan Yan said, at next year's camp, our "status" will be different =)
Even from the time we went to Berakit, that message about God's family has been on my heart. Unity that comes out of our love (not our human love alone, but a reflection of Christ's love for us) is powerful & wonderful.
A lesson to learn about being a welcoming church - genuine people who love each other WILL attract people into our fellowship. the world is full of broken relationships, so let us do what we can to protect the fellowship in church, amen? And it will be the beautiful thing that lifts Jesus high and draws men to HIM!
----------------------
busy busy busy@work...new job, new role, new responsibilities. I thank God again for the opportunity HE has given me in this new place. I hope i can be a light for Christ in this place =)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Saving the world at work
Happy 1342 days together darling =)
-------------------
some updates....
goin mission trip this saturday till sunday in Bintan. i think its going to be great fun, visiting the villages and orphanages. wah...have to plan the games, logistics not ready...die haha....need to pack to...
---------------------
thank God that yesterday's presentation went well. HR sent out this book summary:
i think it is great to work in a place that wants to actively contribute back to the community! The summary looks good, a bit confusing though. but i really believe in this philosophy. use our work and workplace to change the world!
Last saturday, we had an outreach event with Life Community Services. again, great great.! i think i miss being able to spend so much time doing all these. The slideshow is below.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" - i think as a christian, that's all the more true. All things in HIS time....
-----------------
goin to rotate out soon. i think i started out rather apprehensive, but yeah change is good. learn NOT to be too comfortable in one place. reminds me of my QT a few days back....
Deut 1:5-8"On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying, “The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them."
i hope one day soon again, I hear that again....so for now it is a job rotation. maybe in the future a job change? location change? country change? i look forward to a promised land!
ok....back to work!
-------------------
some updates....
goin mission trip this saturday till sunday in Bintan. i think its going to be great fun, visiting the villages and orphanages. wah...have to plan the games, logistics not ready...die haha....need to pack to...
---------------------
thank God that yesterday's presentation went well. HR sent out this book summary:
Saving the World at Work: What Companies and Individuals Can Do to Go Beyond Making a Profit to Making a Difference
i think it is great to work in a place that wants to actively contribute back to the community! The summary looks good, a bit confusing though. but i really believe in this philosophy. use our work and workplace to change the world!Last saturday, we had an outreach event with Life Community Services. again, great great.! i think i miss being able to spend so much time doing all these. The slideshow is below.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" - i think as a christian, that's all the more true. All things in HIS time....
-----------------
goin to rotate out soon. i think i started out rather apprehensive, but yeah change is good. learn NOT to be too comfortable in one place. reminds me of my QT a few days back....
Deut 1:5-8"On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying, “The LORD our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: ‘You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighboring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them."
i hope one day soon again, I hear that again....so for now it is a job rotation. maybe in the future a job change? location change? country change? i look forward to a promised land!
ok....back to work!
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
He's got the whole world in His hands
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
- Psalm 68:5
Was just sharing this with matz recently and shared it again today in preparing for our personal testimonies for cambodia.
when we come to know Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, we begin to enjoy several things:
1 Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring [a] all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
even in these troubled times, its so good to remember that the Lord remembers us. time and time again the Lord has provided for my family:
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. - Psalm 147:4
and He knows our every need :)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus - Phil 4:19
is God in his holy dwelling.
- Psalm 68:5
Was just sharing this with matz recently and shared it again today in preparing for our personal testimonies for cambodia.
when we come to know Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour, we begin to enjoy several things:
- peace
- protection
- power
- purpose
- provision
1 Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring [a] all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
even in these troubled times, its so good to remember that the Lord remembers us. time and time again the Lord has provided for my family:
- my father's passing away
- asian financial crisis
- mom's company bankrupt
- funding for my Uni studies
- getting a great job after graduation
- funding for my younger sister's education
He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. - Psalm 147:4
and He knows our every need :)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus - Phil 4:19
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
-----------------------
been witnessing quite a bit of relationship/BGR issues around recently....sigh....sometimes i think it is probably one of the most difficult areas of life for any young person and even for adults!
young people want to get attached, can't handle, make mistakes....the older you get, the problems stay the same..(maybe sometimes get worse too....)
i don't think it is so much about choosing the right person, though that it is extremely important...but really it is the principles that we hold on to in life that really steer the course of any relationship..
Reading Psalm 127, you realise that it is not just talking about a literal house or building or city. the word house in hebrew "bayith" refers to "family" as well. you realise that really, unless we are seeking and putting God first, unless we wait upon the Lord, we are going to be in trouble and end up labouring in vain.
i realise too that in relationships, coming into relationships, or changing church or job or ministry...the same principle tends to apply.
often we get dragged down and break-up, quit job or ministry because of the "pull-down" factors e.g. sermon no good, boyfriend no good, chairs too hard...or whatever...and we begin to think that "hey maybe God is calling us somewhere"....well MAYBE only....
often i think the rule applies "stay still untill you are sure God is Calling you somewhere else"...
read the story of Peter's calling to be a disciple of Jesus...Peter just kept on doing his job as a fisherman...Jesus called him while Peter was at work....and not while he was laying on the shores of the sea for a sun tan!
God calls, He calls clear....sometimes we just have to clear our ears of our agenda and sounds?
you think so? hmm.....in any case...wait upon the Lord, save yourself the heartaches that will come in the future, Trust God, and be patient.
said so much...Isaiah listen to youself! =p
Monday, September 15, 2008
Things i learnt recently....
- Choose your battles to fight - 14th sept
- It's about the "being", not the "doing" - 11th sept
- Patience - 11th sept
- "Unless my knowledge of the Bible is producing more love for God and others, it's of no use to God" - Our Daily Journey, 15th Sept 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Indescribable
We sang this at "COLLIDE". Fantastic song! can we sing this in church pls!
Beyond the beauty of a sunset, beyond the realm of imagination....God You are God
--------------------------
Indescribable
by Chris Tomlin
by Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
INCOMPARABLE, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
lilies of the field
Our Plans and God's Plans
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os HillmanTuesday, August 26 2008
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one vocation only to end up doing something completely different? Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course correction. Often the course correction comes through a major crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have considered.
Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented and internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a living as an artist in America during that time. A series of crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife died; then his mother and father also died soon after. He went to Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return trip aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new experiments in electromagnetism. During that important occasion, Morse made the following comment, "If the presence of electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by electricity." In the face of many difficulties and disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later, after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.
Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong confidence, and I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence." Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester, Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]
God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural inclination. Perhaps God has you taking a path that may not lead to His ultimate destination for you. Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os HillmanTuesday, August 26 2008
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21
Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one vocation only to end up doing something completely different? Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our minds what we believe we want to do only to have a course correction. Often the course correction comes through a major crisis that forces us into an area that we would never have considered.
Such was the case for Samuel Morse. Born in 1791, Morse grew up desiring to be an artist, and he eventually became very talented and internationally known. However, it was difficult to make a living as an artist in America during that time. A series of crises further complicated his vocational desire when his wife died; then his mother and father also died soon after. He went to Europe to paint and reflect on his life. On his return trip aboard a ship, he was captivated by discussions at dinner about new experiments in electromagnetism. During that important occasion, Morse made the following comment, "If the presence of electricity can be made visible in any part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence may not be transmitted by electricity." In the face of many difficulties and disappointments, he determinedly perfected a new invention, and, in 1837, applied for a patent that became what we know today as the telegraph. He also created Morse code. It was only later, after many more setbacks and disappointments, that his projects received funding.
Samuel Morse later commented, "The only gleam of hope, and I cannot underrate it, is from confidence in God. When I look upward it calms any apprehension for the future, and I seem to hear a voice saying: 'If I clothe the lilies of the field, shall I not also clothe you?' Here is my strong confidence, and I will wait patiently for the direction of Providence." Morse went on to create several other inventions and can be recognized today as the father of faxes, modems, e-mail, the internet and other electronic communication. ["Glimpses," Issue #99 (Worcester, Pennsylvania: Christian History Institute, 1998).]
God's plans may not always seem to follow our natural inclination. Perhaps God has you taking a path that may not lead to His ultimate destination for you. Trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all you do, and He shall direct your path (see Prov. 3:5-6).
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
If you are having trouble with your bosses...
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
1 Timothy 2:2
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
PM's dating tips :)
'We may not have instant sparks the first time. But you take your time, discover the person for who he or she is, nurture the relationship, and then maybe love may blossom,' said PM Lee. -- PHOTO: ZAOBAO
'We may not have instant sparks the first time. But you take your time, discover the person for who he or she is, nurture the relationship, and then maybe love may blossom,' said PM Lee.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Life and How to Survive It
My friend (sharon) sent me this article. A few lines really stand out, i enjoyed this article. although i must put the disclaimer that i don't agree with everything! but the message is a good one =)
Tell the truth IN LOVE!
one instance: please, always tell the truth (in Love!). He's right about not just blurting it out, but be honest to build up the other person when speaking in love!
Work for Your Passion
And there's value in all work. but don't work for money. don't be "rational" and work cos it will pay the bills!
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men - Proverbs 22:20
Do what you enjoy, and become really good at it. You will end up before people of position, working at the top, not the bottom!
Sometimes we get a bad boss, leader, manager (whatever)...that's the time to learn humility and learn that life doesn't always swing your way! Eat the humble pie and work at your best, and if it is not meant to be, God will open the way for us to move to where He wants us to be!
Be Faithful
I always believe that unless we are faithful and doing the best where we are, we will remain there till we learn that lesson!! So i can't and shouldn't keep complaining about my job for example! just to bow my head and do my best and be a faithful worker where God placed me!
Quoting Rachel: "God put me here, so there must be a reason why I am here"!Don't forget, we are not survivors! NO! we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!
--------------
The author of The Teenage Textbook (1988) - Adrian Tan, was the guest-of-honour at a recent NTU convocation ceremony. This was his speech to the graduating class of 2008.
Life and How to Survive It
I must say thank you to the faculty and staff of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information for inviting me to give your convocation address. It’s a wonderful honour and a privilege for me to speak here for ten minutes without fear of contradiction, defamation or retaliation. I say this as a Singaporean and more so as a husband.
My wife is a wonderful person and perfect in every way except one. She is the editor of a magazine. She corrects people for a living. She has honed her expert skills over a quarter of a century, mostly by practising at home during conversations between her and me.
On the other hand, I am a litigator. Essentially, I spend my day telling people how wrong they are. I make my living being disagreeable.
Nevertheless, there is perfect harmony in our matrimonial home. That is because when an editor and a litigator have an argument, the one who triumphs is always the wife.
And so I want to start by giving one piece of advice to the men: when you’ve already won her heart, you don’t need to win every argument.
Marriage is considered one milestone of life. Some of you may already be married. Some of you may never be married. Some of you will be married. Some of you will enjoy the experience so much, you will be married many, many times. Good for you.
The next big milestone in your life is today: your graduation. The end of education. You’re done learning.
You’ve probably been told the big lie that “Learning is a lifelong process” and that therefore you will continue studying and taking masters’ degrees and doctorates and professorships and so on. You know the sort of people who tell you that? Teachers. Don’t you think there is some measure of conflict of interest? They are in the business of learning, after all. Where would they be without you? They need you to be repeat customers.
The good news is that they’re wrong.
The bad news is that you don’t need further education because your entire life is over. It is gone. That may come as a shock to some of you. You’re in your teens or early twenties. People may tell you that you will live to be 70, 80, 90 years old. That is your life expectancy.
I love that term: life expectancy. We all understand the term to mean the average life span of a group of people. But I’m here to talk about a bigger idea, which is what you expect from your life.
You may be very happy to know that Singapore is currently ranked as the country with the third highest life expectancy. We are behind Andorra and Japan, and tied with San Marino. It seems quite clear why people in those countries, and ours, live so long. We share one thing in common: our football teams are all hopeless. There’s very little danger of any of our citizens having their pulses raised by watching us play in the World Cup. Spectators are more likely to be lulled into a gentle and restful nap.
Singaporeans have a life expectancy of 81.8 years. Singapore men live to an average of 79.21 years, while Singapore women live more than five years longer, probably to take into account the additional time they need to spend in the bathroom.
So here you are, in your twenties, thinking that you’ll have another 40 years to go. Four decades in which to live long and prosper.
Bad news. Read the papers. There are people dropping dead when they’re 50, 40, 30 years old. Or quite possibly just after finishing their convocation. They would be very disappointed that they didn’t meet their life expectancy.
I’m here to tell you this. Forget about your life expectancy.
After all, it’s calculated based on an average. And you never, ever want to expect being average.
Revisit those expectations. You might be looking forward to working, falling in love, marrying, raising a family. You are told that, as graduates, you should expect to find a job paying so much, where your hours are so much, where your responsibilities are so much.
That is what is expected of you. And if you live up to it, it will be an awful waste.
If you expect that, you will be limiting yourself. You will be living your life according to boundaries set by average people. I have nothing against average people. But no one should aspire to be them. And you don’t need years of education by the best minds in Singapore to prepare you to be average.
What you should prepare for is mess. Life’s a mess. You are not entitled to expect anything from it. Life is not fair. Everything does not balance out in the end. Life happens, and you have no control over it. Good and bad things happen to you day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Your degree is a poor armour against fate.
Don’t expect anything. Erase all life expectancies. Just live. Your life is over as of today. At this point in time, you have grown as tall as you will ever be, you are physically the fittest you will ever be in your entire life and you are probably looking the best that you will ever look. This is as good as it gets. It is all downhill from here. Or up. No one knows.
What does this mean for you? It is good that your life is over.
Since your life is over, you are free. Let me tell you the many wonderful things that you can do when you are free.
The most important is this: do not work.
Work is anything that you are compelled to do. By its very nature, it is undesirable.
Work kills. The Japanese have a term “Karoshi”, which means death from overwork. That’s the most dramatic form of how work can kill. But it can also kill you in more subtle ways. If you work, then day by day, bit by bit, your soul is chipped away, disintegrating until there’s nothing left. A rock has been ground into sand and dust.
There’s a common misconception that work is necessary. You will meet people working at miserable jobs. They tell you they are “making a living”. No, they’re not. They’re dying, frittering away their fast-extinguishing lives doing things which are, at best, meaningless and, at worst, harmful.
People will tell you that work ennobles you, that work lends you a certain dignity. Work makes you free. The slogan "Arbeit macht frei" was placed at the entrances to a number of Nazi concentration camps. Utter nonsense.
Do not waste the vast majority of your life doing something you hate so that you can spend the small remainder sliver of your life in modest comfort. You may never reach that end anyway.
Resist the temptation to get a job. Instead, play. Find something you enjoy doing. Do it. Over and over again. You will become good at it for two reasons: you like it, and you do it often. Soon, that will have value in itself.
I like arguing, and I love language. So, I became a litigator. I enjoy it and I would do it for free. If I didn’t do that, I would’ve been in some other type of work that still involved writing fiction – probably a sports journalist.
So what should you do? You will find your own niche. I don’t imagine you will need to look very hard. By this time in your life, you will have a very good idea of what you will want to do. In fact, I’ll go further and say the ideal situation would be that you will not be able to stop yourself pursuing your passions. By this time you should know what your obsessions are. If you enjoy showing off your knowledge and feeling superior, you might become a teacher.
Find that pursuit that will energise you, consume you, become an obsession. Each day, you must rise with a restless enthusiasm. If you don’t, you are working.
Most of you will end up in activities which involve communication. To those of you I have a second message: be wary of the truth. I’m not asking you to speak it, or write it, for there are times when it is dangerous or impossible to do those things. The truth has a great capacity to offend and injure, and you will find that the closer you are to someone, the more care you must take to disguise or even conceal the truth. Often, there is great virtue in being evasive, or equivocating. There is also great skill. Any child can blurt out the truth, without thought to the consequences. It takes great maturity to appreciate the value of silence.
In order to be wary of the truth, you must first know it. That requires great frankness to yourself. Never fool the person in the mirror.
I have told you that your life is over, that you should not work, and that you should avoid telling the truth. I now say this to you: be hated.
It’s not as easy as it sounds. Do you know anyone who hates you? Yet every great figure who has contributed to the human race has been hated, not just by one person, but often by a great many. That hatred is so strong it has caused those great figures to be shunned, abused, murdered and in one famous instance, nailed to a cross.
One does not have to be evil to be hated. In fact, it’s often the case that one is hated precisely because one is trying to do right by one’s own convictions. It is far too easy to be liked, one merely has to be accommodating and hold no strong convictions. Then one will gravitate towards the centre and settle into the average. That cannot be your role. There are a great many bad people in the world, and if you are not offending them, you must be bad yourself. Popularity is a sure sign that you are doing something wrong.
The other side of the coin is this: fall in love.
I didn’t say “be loved”. That requires too much compromise. If one changes one’s looks, personality and values, one can be loved by anyone.
Rather, I exhort you to love another human being. It may seem odd for me to tell you this. You may expect it to happen naturally, without deliberation. That is false. Modern society is anti-love. We’ve taken a microscope to everyone to bring out their flaws and shortcomings. It far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. Rejection requires only one reason. Love requires complete acceptance. It is hard work – the only kind of work that I find palatable.
Loving someone has great benefits. There is admiration, learning, attraction and something which, for the want of a better word, we call happiness. In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.
Loving someone is therefore very important, and it is also important to choose the right person. Despite popular culture, love doesn’t happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.
You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart.
You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you.
Finally, you will find that there is no half-measure when it comes to loving someone. You either don’t, or you do with every cell in your body, completely and utterly, without reservation or apology. It consumes you, and you are reborn, all the better for it.
Don’t work. Avoid telling the truth. Be hated. Love someone.
You’re going to have a busy life. Thank goodness there’s no life expectancy.
Tell the truth IN LOVE!
one instance: please, always tell the truth (in Love!). He's right about not just blurting it out, but be honest to build up the other person when speaking in love!
Work for Your Passion
And there's value in all work. but don't work for money. don't be "rational" and work cos it will pay the bills!
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men - Proverbs 22:20
Do what you enjoy, and become really good at it. You will end up before people of position, working at the top, not the bottom!
Sometimes we get a bad boss, leader, manager (whatever)...that's the time to learn humility and learn that life doesn't always swing your way! Eat the humble pie and work at your best, and if it is not meant to be, God will open the way for us to move to where He wants us to be!
Be Faithful
I always believe that unless we are faithful and doing the best where we are, we will remain there till we learn that lesson!! So i can't and shouldn't keep complaining about my job for example! just to bow my head and do my best and be a faithful worker where God placed me!
Quoting Rachel: "God put me here, so there must be a reason why I am here"!Don't forget, we are not survivors! NO! we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!
--------------
The author of The Teenage Textbook (1988) - Adrian Tan, was the guest-of-honour at a recent NTU convocation ceremony. This was his speech to the graduating class of 2008.
Life and How to Survive It
I must say thank you to the faculty and staff of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information for inviting me to give your convocation address. It’s a wonderful honour and a privilege for me to speak here for ten minutes without fear of contradiction, defamation or retaliation. I say this as a Singaporean and more so as a husband.
My wife is a wonderful person and perfect in every way except one. She is the editor of a magazine. She corrects people for a living. She has honed her expert skills over a quarter of a century, mostly by practising at home during conversations between her and me.
On the other hand, I am a litigator. Essentially, I spend my day telling people how wrong they are. I make my living being disagreeable.
Nevertheless, there is perfect harmony in our matrimonial home. That is because when an editor and a litigator have an argument, the one who triumphs is always the wife.
And so I want to start by giving one piece of advice to the men: when you’ve already won her heart, you don’t need to win every argument.
Marriage is considered one milestone of life. Some of you may already be married. Some of you may never be married. Some of you will be married. Some of you will enjoy the experience so much, you will be married many, many times. Good for you.
The next big milestone in your life is today: your graduation. The end of education. You’re done learning.
You’ve probably been told the big lie that “Learning is a lifelong process” and that therefore you will continue studying and taking masters’ degrees and doctorates and professorships and so on. You know the sort of people who tell you that? Teachers. Don’t you think there is some measure of conflict of interest? They are in the business of learning, after all. Where would they be without you? They need you to be repeat customers.
The good news is that they’re wrong.
The bad news is that you don’t need further education because your entire life is over. It is gone. That may come as a shock to some of you. You’re in your teens or early twenties. People may tell you that you will live to be 70, 80, 90 years old. That is your life expectancy.
I love that term: life expectancy. We all understand the term to mean the average life span of a group of people. But I’m here to talk about a bigger idea, which is what you expect from your life.
You may be very happy to know that Singapore is currently ranked as the country with the third highest life expectancy. We are behind Andorra and Japan, and tied with San Marino. It seems quite clear why people in those countries, and ours, live so long. We share one thing in common: our football teams are all hopeless. There’s very little danger of any of our citizens having their pulses raised by watching us play in the World Cup. Spectators are more likely to be lulled into a gentle and restful nap.
Singaporeans have a life expectancy of 81.8 years. Singapore men live to an average of 79.21 years, while Singapore women live more than five years longer, probably to take into account the additional time they need to spend in the bathroom.
So here you are, in your twenties, thinking that you’ll have another 40 years to go. Four decades in which to live long and prosper.
Bad news. Read the papers. There are people dropping dead when they’re 50, 40, 30 years old. Or quite possibly just after finishing their convocation. They would be very disappointed that they didn’t meet their life expectancy.
I’m here to tell you this. Forget about your life expectancy.
After all, it’s calculated based on an average. And you never, ever want to expect being average.
Revisit those expectations. You might be looking forward to working, falling in love, marrying, raising a family. You are told that, as graduates, you should expect to find a job paying so much, where your hours are so much, where your responsibilities are so much.
That is what is expected of you. And if you live up to it, it will be an awful waste.
If you expect that, you will be limiting yourself. You will be living your life according to boundaries set by average people. I have nothing against average people. But no one should aspire to be them. And you don’t need years of education by the best minds in Singapore to prepare you to be average.
What you should prepare for is mess. Life’s a mess. You are not entitled to expect anything from it. Life is not fair. Everything does not balance out in the end. Life happens, and you have no control over it. Good and bad things happen to you day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Your degree is a poor armour against fate.
Don’t expect anything. Erase all life expectancies. Just live. Your life is over as of today. At this point in time, you have grown as tall as you will ever be, you are physically the fittest you will ever be in your entire life and you are probably looking the best that you will ever look. This is as good as it gets. It is all downhill from here. Or up. No one knows.
What does this mean for you? It is good that your life is over.
Since your life is over, you are free. Let me tell you the many wonderful things that you can do when you are free.
The most important is this: do not work.
Work is anything that you are compelled to do. By its very nature, it is undesirable.
Work kills. The Japanese have a term “Karoshi”, which means death from overwork. That’s the most dramatic form of how work can kill. But it can also kill you in more subtle ways. If you work, then day by day, bit by bit, your soul is chipped away, disintegrating until there’s nothing left. A rock has been ground into sand and dust.
There’s a common misconception that work is necessary. You will meet people working at miserable jobs. They tell you they are “making a living”. No, they’re not. They’re dying, frittering away their fast-extinguishing lives doing things which are, at best, meaningless and, at worst, harmful.
People will tell you that work ennobles you, that work lends you a certain dignity. Work makes you free. The slogan "Arbeit macht frei" was placed at the entrances to a number of Nazi concentration camps. Utter nonsense.
Do not waste the vast majority of your life doing something you hate so that you can spend the small remainder sliver of your life in modest comfort. You may never reach that end anyway.
Resist the temptation to get a job. Instead, play. Find something you enjoy doing. Do it. Over and over again. You will become good at it for two reasons: you like it, and you do it often. Soon, that will have value in itself.
I like arguing, and I love language. So, I became a litigator. I enjoy it and I would do it for free. If I didn’t do that, I would’ve been in some other type of work that still involved writing fiction – probably a sports journalist.
So what should you do? You will find your own niche. I don’t imagine you will need to look very hard. By this time in your life, you will have a very good idea of what you will want to do. In fact, I’ll go further and say the ideal situation would be that you will not be able to stop yourself pursuing your passions. By this time you should know what your obsessions are. If you enjoy showing off your knowledge and feeling superior, you might become a teacher.
Find that pursuit that will energise you, consume you, become an obsession. Each day, you must rise with a restless enthusiasm. If you don’t, you are working.
Most of you will end up in activities which involve communication. To those of you I have a second message: be wary of the truth. I’m not asking you to speak it, or write it, for there are times when it is dangerous or impossible to do those things. The truth has a great capacity to offend and injure, and you will find that the closer you are to someone, the more care you must take to disguise or even conceal the truth. Often, there is great virtue in being evasive, or equivocating. There is also great skill. Any child can blurt out the truth, without thought to the consequences. It takes great maturity to appreciate the value of silence.
In order to be wary of the truth, you must first know it. That requires great frankness to yourself. Never fool the person in the mirror.
I have told you that your life is over, that you should not work, and that you should avoid telling the truth. I now say this to you: be hated.
It’s not as easy as it sounds. Do you know anyone who hates you? Yet every great figure who has contributed to the human race has been hated, not just by one person, but often by a great many. That hatred is so strong it has caused those great figures to be shunned, abused, murdered and in one famous instance, nailed to a cross.
One does not have to be evil to be hated. In fact, it’s often the case that one is hated precisely because one is trying to do right by one’s own convictions. It is far too easy to be liked, one merely has to be accommodating and hold no strong convictions. Then one will gravitate towards the centre and settle into the average. That cannot be your role. There are a great many bad people in the world, and if you are not offending them, you must be bad yourself. Popularity is a sure sign that you are doing something wrong.
The other side of the coin is this: fall in love.
I didn’t say “be loved”. That requires too much compromise. If one changes one’s looks, personality and values, one can be loved by anyone.
Rather, I exhort you to love another human being. It may seem odd for me to tell you this. You may expect it to happen naturally, without deliberation. That is false. Modern society is anti-love. We’ve taken a microscope to everyone to bring out their flaws and shortcomings. It far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. Rejection requires only one reason. Love requires complete acceptance. It is hard work – the only kind of work that I find palatable.
Loving someone has great benefits. There is admiration, learning, attraction and something which, for the want of a better word, we call happiness. In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.
Loving someone is therefore very important, and it is also important to choose the right person. Despite popular culture, love doesn’t happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.
You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart.
You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you.
Finally, you will find that there is no half-measure when it comes to loving someone. You either don’t, or you do with every cell in your body, completely and utterly, without reservation or apology. It consumes you, and you are reborn, all the better for it.
Don’t work. Avoid telling the truth. Be hated. Love someone.
You’re going to have a busy life. Thank goodness there’s no life expectancy.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
wise stewards....
been thinking about doing some long-term investment plans...
few factors you want to consider:
did a quick search and filtered on 3 factors:
so now i add a new investment strategy...i'm going to PRAY!
Deut 8:18 - But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Wealth is from God, and we must remember to honour God with what He has and will bless us with!
so SPH or Starhub? or both? hmm.....
few factors you want to consider:
- what's your time horizon
- how much initial capital do you have
- your risk appetite
- dividend play vs. price-return
did a quick search and filtered on 3 factors:
- total market value/market capitalisation must be greater than S$500 million i.e. that's how much the investing public thinks the company is worth. S$500MM is a medium to large company in Singapore e.g. SIA or Singtel and most of the REITs e.g. CapitaMall
- high dividend yield of more than 5%..that's much better than any bank will pay!
- must be an STI stock. these are a list of the 30 largest and most representative stocks of the Singapore market.
- SIA
- SGX
- Thai Beverage
- Starhub
- NOL
- Singapore Press Holdings
- SPH
- Starhub
- Thai Beverage
so now i add a new investment strategy...i'm going to PRAY!
Deut 8:18 - But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
Wealth is from God, and we must remember to honour God with what He has and will bless us with!
so SPH or Starhub? or both? hmm.....
Friday, July 25, 2008
Love & Life :)
This story tells us something about..... LOVE & LIFE.
My husband is an engineer by profession,
I love him for his steady nature and..
I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.
Two years of courtship and now, five years into marriage,
I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of
me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all
my restlessness. I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it
comes to a relationship and my feelings. I yearn for the romantic
moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.
My husband is my complete opposite; his lack of sensitivity,
and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage
has disheartened me about LOVE.
One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a
divorce.
"Why?" he asked, shocked.
"I am tired. There is no reason for everything in the world!"
I answered.
He kept silent the whole night, seemingly in deep thought.
My feeling of disappointment only increased.
Here was a man who was not able to even express his predicament,
so what else could I expect from him?
And finally he asked me: "What can I do to change your mind?"
Somebody said it right... It's hard to change a person's personality,
and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.
Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question....
If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind."
Let's say; I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff,
and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death.
Will you do it for me?"
He said: "I will give you your answer tomorrow...."
My hopes just sank by listening to his response.
I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of
paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass,
on the dining table near the front door , that goes....
"My dear,
I would not pick that flower for you, but....
please allow me to explain the reasons further....."
This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.
"When you use the computer you always mess up the Software
programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my
fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave
the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to
open the door for you.
You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city. I have to save
my eyes to show you the way.
You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches
every month. I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in
your tummy.
You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by
infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and
stories to cure your boredom.
You always stare! at the computer, and that will do nothing good for
your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can
help to clip your nails and help to remove those annoying white hairs.
So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you
enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand...and tell you the colour
of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face...
Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves
you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die ... "
My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting...
and as I continue on reading... "Now, that you have finished reading
my answer, and if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am
standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk..."
I rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching
tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....!
Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as
he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone...
That's LIFE, and LOVE.
When one is surrounded by love,
the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends
to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and
dullness.
Love shows up in all forms;
even in very small and cheeky forms.
It has never been a model.
It could be the dullest and most boring form ...
Flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear
on the surface of the relationship.
Under all this, the pillar of true love stands...
AND THAT'S LIFE
The happiest people in the world...
are not those who have no problems,
but those who learn to live with things that are
less than perfect.
My husband is an engineer by profession,
I love him for his steady nature and..
I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.
Two years of courtship and now, five years into marriage,
I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of
me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all
my restlessness. I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it
comes to a relationship and my feelings. I yearn for the romantic
moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.
My husband is my complete opposite; his lack of sensitivity,
and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage
has disheartened me about LOVE.
One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a
divorce.
"Why?" he asked, shocked.
"I am tired. There is no reason for everything in the world!"
I answered.
He kept silent the whole night, seemingly in deep thought.
My feeling of disappointment only increased.
Here was a man who was not able to even express his predicament,
so what else could I expect from him?
And finally he asked me: "What can I do to change your mind?"
Somebody said it right... It's hard to change a person's personality,
and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.
Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question....
If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind."
Let's say; I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff,
and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death.
Will you do it for me?"
He said: "I will give you your answer tomorrow...."
My hopes just sank by listening to his response.
I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of
paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass,
on the dining table near the front door , that goes....
"My dear,
I would not pick that flower for you, but....
please allow me to explain the reasons further....."
This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.
"When you use the computer you always mess up the Software
programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my
fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave
the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to
open the door for you.
You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city. I have to save
my eyes to show you the way.
You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches
every month. I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in
your tummy.
You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by
infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and
stories to cure your boredom.
You always stare! at the computer, and that will do nothing good for
your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can
help to clip your nails and help to remove those annoying white hairs.
So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you
enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand...and tell you the colour
of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face...
Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves
you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die ... "
My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting...
and as I continue on reading... "Now, that you have finished reading
my answer, and if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am
standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk..."
I rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching
tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....!
Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as
he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone...
That's LIFE, and LOVE.
When one is surrounded by love,
the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends
to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and
dullness.
Love shows up in all forms;
even in very small and cheeky forms.
It has never been a model.
It could be the dullest and most boring form ...
Flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear
on the surface of the relationship.
Under all this, the pillar of true love stands...
AND THAT'S LIFE
The happiest people in the world...
are not those who have no problems,
but those who learn to live with things that are
less than perfect.
seventh heaven
i've always had this question asked - how do you know if someone's the right one?
i've read lots and lots of books before i actually ever had a girlfriend (ie Matz) so i'll share some theory first.
basically these books talk about being able to connect at several levels of human interaction. you have to be able to connect:
so that's Part 1.
but somehow i think the answer really starts with level 5 first. and i'll tell you where i learnt this - TV!!
long time ago there was this lovely show about a pastor and his HUGE family - Seventh Heaven. great show...so anyway if i remember, one of his son's was getting married and they feared that the future daughter-in-law wasn't really sure if this was the one.
so she asked the pastor - "How do you know if someone's the "ONE?". the pastor looked at her and took off his wedding band. on it, many years ago, they both engraved this on their rings - " You make me a better person".
that i think, is the answer. i remember a pastor saying "Marriage is not about your own happiness, but about helping each other become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ" and in a simpler context - just becoming a better person than the one we were before the relationship.
it changes you (if you let it). you learn to think for 2 and not just yourself all the time. you learn the meaning of sacrifice, for no other reason that your partner's happiness. you learn that letting go of your own personal dreams and ambitions, allows you both the chance to build something even better, together.
that inscription is going on our wedding bands "You make me a better person" =)
i've read lots and lots of books before i actually ever had a girlfriend (ie Matz) so i'll share some theory first.
basically these books talk about being able to connect at several levels of human interaction. you have to be able to connect:
- physically, in the sense of physical attraction to each other
- socially as friends e.g. hobbies and interest and similar social circles
- intellectually e.g. connect on similar topics of discussions
- emotionally, being able to connect on a heart-to-heart level
- spiritually/values - having similar religious views and similar values in life
so that's Part 1.
but somehow i think the answer really starts with level 5 first. and i'll tell you where i learnt this - TV!!
long time ago there was this lovely show about a pastor and his HUGE family - Seventh Heaven. great show...so anyway if i remember, one of his son's was getting married and they feared that the future daughter-in-law wasn't really sure if this was the one.
so she asked the pastor - "How do you know if someone's the "ONE?". the pastor looked at her and took off his wedding band. on it, many years ago, they both engraved this on their rings - " You make me a better person".
that i think, is the answer. i remember a pastor saying "Marriage is not about your own happiness, but about helping each other become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ" and in a simpler context - just becoming a better person than the one we were before the relationship.
it changes you (if you let it). you learn to think for 2 and not just yourself all the time. you learn the meaning of sacrifice, for no other reason that your partner's happiness. you learn that letting go of your own personal dreams and ambitions, allows you both the chance to build something even better, together.
that inscription is going on our wedding bands "You make me a better person" =)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
God's faithfulness
Some of you might know that the past few weeks hasn't been exactly great for me. Been feeling miserable and bored and worst of all, i can't seem to find my bearing. So when things turn out this way, i turned not to God but to retail shopping. Shoes, bags, clothes, etc! And guess what, it's like God wouldn't allow me to find anything good or something. There isn't a single thing to buy. Trust me, i lowered my standards.. a lot!
So anyway. I was feeling really upset and miserable that i am not jetting across the world. As a little girl, that has been my ambition really. To find a job that pays for me to fly around to world.. working (yeah, its mad to some of you. but great to me okkkaayy). And alas! When i finally found a job, it was very stable - in all sense of the word. So stable i am officially stuck in singapore.
So last sunday, i was just asking God. 'God you played me out lor' And i was upset that i was like a trapped butterfly who can't fly out of my glass cylinder. And honestly, i feel trapped. Really trapped. Just let me fly the world!
As i was doing QT last night, through a very simple verse, God showed me something new..
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-32
When we see this verse, we normally see it as God providing our daily needs. But just last night, i felt that affirmation that God knows the desires of my heart (especially the flying one).. and one day it will be met. I will see the beauties of the world with God :) Right now though, i have to focus on Him. To seek his kingdom, to place Him in first priority.
Come, let's fly the world together :)
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