Just came back from the subdistrict christmas celebration. Was quite a fun event.. I was involved in the skit - acting this guy called Gary, a diligent, well rounded person who knows what he wants in life and goes out to get it.
Realised this role in many ways is different from what I am now.. diligence and discipline, especially in the academic side was never one of my characteristics. Calyn talked to me the other day about this, and I found what she said to me very timely in nature. We should strive to do our best in all areas of our life, not for ourselves, but to glorify God.
A double confirmation that God sent to me these past few days.. first the talk with Calyn, and the skit.
Most people looking at me assume that I'm the studious kind, which is totally untrue (sadly). I'm gonna try doing something that I've never done before in my life - consistent academic work. What will happen, if I put in effort to study right at the start of the semester..? I'm not sure, probably wouldn't be the straight As that I dream about sometimes. But what I know is that it definitely be an improvement over how I'm performing now. =)
Frankly wish I worked harder..
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
Thoughts on JLPT4
日本語能力試験４級の思うこと
先週の日曜日に、わたしは「The japanese school]へ日本語能力試験４級しに行きました。それはちょっと難しけど、おもしろかったです。 いくつかの問題はわからない、でも受かったでしょう。
Saw Walker sensei at the testing ground, was pretty surprised to see her there. I wonder whether she's teaching there too. Didn't greet her though, don't think she remembered me.
Comparatively, the JLPT 4 is both harder than and easier than the NUS japanese test. On one hand, the focus of JLPT 4 is heavily on hiragana, yet, the questions they asked, some of them are out of syllabus for me. The most interesting part was the listening test, where I heard many forms that I sorta knew for the first time (～ことが and ～しまります).
The Japanese School itself was pretty interesting, it's situated very near Changi Prison.. maybe that's why the place itself looks pretty forbidding from the inside. It also seemed that the security was a little too excessive. There's a swimming pool as well as other facilities, but there was no canteen. Do all the kids eat bentos there? -_-
There were people of different age groups taking the test, mainly the twenty somethings like me, although there were younger and older people there too. Is amazing to see so many different people interested in learning japanese.
Ashleigh, Kim Wee and Melissa were also taking the test. Ashleigh said the paper was very easy -_-.. for me I'd say that it was challenging but definitely passable. Melissa was running a fever on that day, hope she's feeling better.
All in all, a memorable experience, although I envy the people who could take the JLPT at Bugis test center instead of the more ulu Changi. JLPT 3 next year? Haha, might give it a shot..
先週の日曜日に、わたしは「The japanese school]へ日本語能力試験４級しに行きました。それはちょっと難しけど、おもしろかったです。 いくつかの問題はわからない、でも受かったでしょう。
Saw Walker sensei at the testing ground, was pretty surprised to see her there. I wonder whether she's teaching there too. Didn't greet her though, don't think she remembered me.
Comparatively, the JLPT 4 is both harder than and easier than the NUS japanese test. On one hand, the focus of JLPT 4 is heavily on hiragana, yet, the questions they asked, some of them are out of syllabus for me. The most interesting part was the listening test, where I heard many forms that I sorta knew for the first time (～ことが and ～しまります).
The Japanese School itself was pretty interesting, it's situated very near Changi Prison.. maybe that's why the place itself looks pretty forbidding from the inside. It also seemed that the security was a little too excessive. There's a swimming pool as well as other facilities, but there was no canteen. Do all the kids eat bentos there? -_-
There were people of different age groups taking the test, mainly the twenty somethings like me, although there were younger and older people there too. Is amazing to see so many different people interested in learning japanese.
Ashleigh, Kim Wee and Melissa were also taking the test. Ashleigh said the paper was very easy -_-.. for me I'd say that it was challenging but definitely passable. Melissa was running a fever on that day, hope she's feeling better.
All in all, a memorable experience, although I envy the people who could take the JLPT at Bugis test center instead of the more ulu Changi. JLPT 3 next year? Haha, might give it a shot..
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Paradigm shift
A new perspective on church, a new perspective on life.
With this change comes new expectations - new expectations from people on me, and more importantly, new expectations on myself. Starting to see the value in many things that I didn't previously.
As a person I (used to be) happy with the way I am. But just like being in love with a person makes you want to be a better man, being in love with God makes me want to be a better person.
Those who have participated in the Standard Charted Marathon would probably understand the following analogy - I've graduated from the kiddy dash of an unstable Christian who requires hand holding, to the person who has signed up for the full marathon.
And really, the feeling is not so much of "Am I doing the right thing" but rather "Why didn't I do so earlier?"
It is going to be challenging, and it is going to be painful, and it is going to require much mental stamina. But like what they say - "Only the mediocre is always at the best."
Gonna evaluate myself against three Key Performance Indicators (KPI). How well I handle myself alone (with nobody looking), how well I handle myself in Church, and how well I handle myself outside of Church. Pretty huge and vague KPIs, but I already have a list of subgoals for each one forming in my mind.
I've lived a good life - I sincerely believe (even as a somewhat pessimist) that God has blessed me in overabundance. Next year will be the year where I will grow myself to be a better steward of His blessings.
Enough talk, let's get cracking.
With this change comes new expectations - new expectations from people on me, and more importantly, new expectations on myself. Starting to see the value in many things that I didn't previously.
As a person I (used to be) happy with the way I am. But just like being in love with a person makes you want to be a better man, being in love with God makes me want to be a better person.
Those who have participated in the Standard Charted Marathon would probably understand the following analogy - I've graduated from the kiddy dash of an unstable Christian who requires hand holding, to the person who has signed up for the full marathon.
And really, the feeling is not so much of "Am I doing the right thing" but rather "Why didn't I do so earlier?"
It is going to be challenging, and it is going to be painful, and it is going to require much mental stamina. But like what they say - "Only the mediocre is always at the best."
Gonna evaluate myself against three Key Performance Indicators (KPI). How well I handle myself alone (with nobody looking), how well I handle myself in Church, and how well I handle myself outside of Church. Pretty huge and vague KPIs, but I already have a list of subgoals for each one forming in my mind.
I've lived a good life - I sincerely believe (even as a somewhat pessimist) that God has blessed me in overabundance. Next year will be the year where I will grow myself to be a better steward of His blessings.
Enough talk, let's get cracking.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Having faith in God's plan
Those of you who've known me for a longer time might have noticed that I'm starting to change in my personality these past few months. Shared before in CG, that normally you have to know me for a long time (months at least) before I even start talking to you on my own initiative, even longer before I would call you (in my mind) a friend.
Realised that this trait of mine has almost disappeared, as evidenced by few days where we are studying together in E1A. Think this is one of the personality traits that I've carried with me from army.. cos in my job as a storeman the tendency is to be friends only to those that earned your trust.. otherwise end up getting "eaten". Physically I had ORDed long ago, yet my mind was still in the army.
No wonder Hanhui, my sower and first shephard kept on saluting me last time, haha.. (Bowen was also doing that for a period of time -_-)
I find it very significant that it is only after that I decided to commit to this community (as compared to the past two years+ where I was unstable) that I'm starting to change for the better. In every aspect of my life, I am starting to have a new perspective.
Realised what having faith in God means, and how much more powerful it is compared to human effort. Struggled like crazy to be more friendly to the people last time, end up very stressed and quiet every time I went for service. Nowadays 拍拍屁股 (pat backside a few times, to use ellson's phrase) and I find myself regarding that person as a friend already.
Coming to know God, and deciding to commit to this community, has really changed my life for the better. (The amazing part is that my walk with God has truly started only a few months back, imagine what can happen in the 50 more years ahead.) Will be a very rough time for me as I start to venture into rediscovered territories in my life, but as the Bible says ".. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.." (Phil 3:13b)
.. If only.. I took the step of faith to commit earlier..
Jiayou all, for your exams.. =)
Realised that this trait of mine has almost disappeared, as evidenced by few days where we are studying together in E1A. Think this is one of the personality traits that I've carried with me from army.. cos in my job as a storeman the tendency is to be friends only to those that earned your trust.. otherwise end up getting "eaten". Physically I had ORDed long ago, yet my mind was still in the army.
No wonder Hanhui, my sower and first shephard kept on saluting me last time, haha.. (Bowen was also doing that for a period of time -_-)
I find it very significant that it is only after that I decided to commit to this community (as compared to the past two years+ where I was unstable) that I'm starting to change for the better. In every aspect of my life, I am starting to have a new perspective.
Realised what having faith in God means, and how much more powerful it is compared to human effort. Struggled like crazy to be more friendly to the people last time, end up very stressed and quiet every time I went for service. Nowadays 拍拍屁股 (pat backside a few times, to use ellson's phrase) and I find myself regarding that person as a friend already.
Coming to know God, and deciding to commit to this community, has really changed my life for the better. (The amazing part is that my walk with God has truly started only a few months back, imagine what can happen in the 50 more years ahead.) Will be a very rough time for me as I start to venture into rediscovered territories in my life, but as the Bible says ".. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.." (Phil 3:13b)
.. If only.. I took the step of faith to commit earlier..
Jiayou all, for your exams.. =)
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
2 testimonies
Wow, I have 2 testimonies to share, the second one more incredible than the first.
I think some of you know that I missed my LSM2101 CA2 which was last week, cos I overslept. It really bugged me a lot that I missed the test, because it was something stupid that never happened to me before. It's just like missing an important job interview - you just make sure that it doesn't happen no matter what.
Woke up on that day feeling very bad. Even though my first impulse was to go take an MC to cover myself, I decided not to, because I felt it wasn't the right thing to do. So in the end, I had to walk around the various prof's blocks, to appeal to take the supplementary test instead.
I feel very grateful to God, as well as Dr Li QT, who allowed me to take the supp test, even though I did not have a valid reason. I'd readily admit that I'm one person who is not diligent academically, and in the process of these past few days
I was mentally bashing myself, but Dr Li's approval was something that cheered me up somewhat.
Also really thankful for the support of people like Shuyi and Calyn, as well as Jitsy and Guan Zhen, who encouraged and prayed for me in this dark (self-inflicted) period.
~ ~
The second testimony is even more miraculous in my eyes. I went for the supplementary LSM2101 test just now.. it was 2 compulsary short answer questions. And the first question set (50% of the CA grade) was out of syllabus! The other seven people taking the test with me were reading the question in stunned silence. (The topic covered, reactive oxygen species/free radicals is a level 4 module o_o).
In other words, the profs who set the paper made it so that those taking the supplementary paper would probably fail it. Cos 10 out of the 20 marks isn't covered in syllabus.
The amazing thing was that I could (roughly) do the qn! As I took out my pen and started scribbling furiously, I was feeling a wave of huge relief. I asked YF just now abt the question (cos she took that level 4 module), and I roughly got some of the main points. So instead of definitely failing the paper, I now have a chance of getting a decent grade for it.
Walked out of the test hall amazed - because if the examiners wanted to set a out of syllabus question, they could have asked anything under the sun, and I would have failed that paper. Instead he set something that I could make a good attempt on!
It's a huge miracle, something that I really did not deserve to get. Think God has showed a lot of grace to me this semester, and today's test is a huge encouragement to me as I prepare for the examinations.
Jiayou everybody, especially those taking NUS exams for the first time =) Feel glad hearing news about some people who have done well in their CAs. Let's work hard, and give glory to God.
I think some of you know that I missed my LSM2101 CA2 which was last week, cos I overslept. It really bugged me a lot that I missed the test, because it was something stupid that never happened to me before. It's just like missing an important job interview - you just make sure that it doesn't happen no matter what.
Woke up on that day feeling very bad. Even though my first impulse was to go take an MC to cover myself, I decided not to, because I felt it wasn't the right thing to do. So in the end, I had to walk around the various prof's blocks, to appeal to take the supplementary test instead.
I feel very grateful to God, as well as Dr Li QT, who allowed me to take the supp test, even though I did not have a valid reason. I'd readily admit that I'm one person who is not diligent academically, and in the process of these past few days
I was mentally bashing myself, but Dr Li's approval was something that cheered me up somewhat.
Also really thankful for the support of people like Shuyi and Calyn, as well as Jitsy and Guan Zhen, who encouraged and prayed for me in this dark (self-inflicted) period.
~ ~
The second testimony is even more miraculous in my eyes. I went for the supplementary LSM2101 test just now.. it was 2 compulsary short answer questions. And the first question set (50% of the CA grade) was out of syllabus! The other seven people taking the test with me were reading the question in stunned silence. (The topic covered, reactive oxygen species/free radicals is a level 4 module o_o).
In other words, the profs who set the paper made it so that those taking the supplementary paper would probably fail it. Cos 10 out of the 20 marks isn't covered in syllabus.
The amazing thing was that I could (roughly) do the qn! As I took out my pen and started scribbling furiously, I was feeling a wave of huge relief. I asked YF just now abt the question (cos she took that level 4 module), and I roughly got some of the main points. So instead of definitely failing the paper, I now have a chance of getting a decent grade for it.
Walked out of the test hall amazed - because if the examiners wanted to set a out of syllabus question, they could have asked anything under the sun, and I would have failed that paper. Instead he set something that I could make a good attempt on!
It's a huge miracle, something that I really did not deserve to get. Think God has showed a lot of grace to me this semester, and today's test is a huge encouragement to me as I prepare for the examinations.
Jiayou everybody, especially those taking NUS exams for the first time =) Feel glad hearing news about some people who have done well in their CAs. Let's work hard, and give glory to God.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
USP is like, so cool.
Man, I wish I elected to take USP. Reading jeet's blog makes me very unhappy that I didn't fight for getting in. Can you imagine, they get to do things like theory of Mathematics.. game theory.. things that I read about a lot in the army. I even read 2 or 3 mathematicians autobiographies.. as well as the physicist Feynman. I hate maths as a subject, but I really find it fascinating on a theory level.
AND MY CRITICAL WRITING MODULE. WHERE ART THOU MR ES2000??? I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 2 SEMS FOR YOU TO APPEAR ON MY MODULES BIDDING PAGE AND YOU REFUSE TO TURN UP. Meanwhile the engineering students, and the USP students are forced to take them. I'd almost pay money to take the module for them instead.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck with a lot of chemicals and enzyme names in preparation for tmr's test. Harlow Mr 5'phosoribosyl pyrophosphate, meet the 700 other enzymes and chemicals inside our body.
But then, when I was in Junior college, I was totally uninterested in USP anyway, so yeah, sort of deserved it. Only when I was in the army then I started getting interested in such stuff.. haix
AND MY CRITICAL WRITING MODULE. WHERE ART THOU MR ES2000??? I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 2 SEMS FOR YOU TO APPEAR ON MY MODULES BIDDING PAGE AND YOU REFUSE TO TURN UP. Meanwhile the engineering students, and the USP students are forced to take them. I'd almost pay money to take the module for them instead.
Meanwhile, I'm stuck with a lot of chemicals and enzyme names in preparation for tmr's test. Harlow Mr 5'phosoribosyl pyrophosphate, meet the 700 other enzymes and chemicals inside our body.
But then, when I was in Junior college, I was totally uninterested in USP anyway, so yeah, sort of deserved it. Only when I was in the army then I started getting interested in such stuff.. haix
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Unplugging the cable modem
This morning, I did something drastic that I've been wanting to do for a while. I unplugged the cable modem and stored the modem in a place suffeciently inconvinient for me to replug it in. With the exams around the corner, as well as a test next week - it's a good move definitely, just that there is a great reluctance within me to do so.
I think most of the people reading this blog would know that I stay online at home until very late. I guess it's partially due to the fact that I live alone that I spend most of my time online talking to people. But it's reached the point where switching on the computer is the first thing I do when I reach home, and frankly I feel it's becoming a very big addiction in my life.
If I ever sit down and write down a list about the things I wish I could change in my life, I'd imagine that that list would contain quite a few things. Putting away the modem will help me tackle several issues, amongst them, the tendency to sleep very late, while doing nothing productive.
It is quite daunting to think about how many things I look forward to changing, but what gives me hope is that this is just the start of my Christian journey. It's like, what, only 2 years..? I still have a solid half a century of my life ahead of me, and little victories over my basic nature gives me satisfaction and hope for the future..
I think most of the people reading this blog would know that I stay online at home until very late. I guess it's partially due to the fact that I live alone that I spend most of my time online talking to people. But it's reached the point where switching on the computer is the first thing I do when I reach home, and frankly I feel it's becoming a very big addiction in my life.
If I ever sit down and write down a list about the things I wish I could change in my life, I'd imagine that that list would contain quite a few things. Putting away the modem will help me tackle several issues, amongst them, the tendency to sleep very late, while doing nothing productive.
It is quite daunting to think about how many things I look forward to changing, but what gives me hope is that this is just the start of my Christian journey. It's like, what, only 2 years..? I still have a solid half a century of my life ahead of me, and little victories over my basic nature gives me satisfaction and hope for the future..
Friday, October 27, 2006
Enduring renewal
Wow, so much has happened in the past few months. Hebrews 11:1 has always amazed me for it's simplicity - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Have struggled painfully with the last part for the past few years, now, the focus has been shifted to the first part of the verse.
And if I were to draw the line between these two periods of time, I'd draw the line, around the past few weeks.
It's been often said that Christianity is more of a lifestyle rather than a religon. The question is, what do I hope for in life? A tough question to consider, especially in light of the questions raised these few weeks by Pastor Jeff, as well as Claramae.
I think the "two track life" syndrome is something prevalent amongst Christians.. for me, that two track life has been that of, shutting myself within church and being myself outside of it. Now, I'm starting the uncertain process of uniting these two tracks of my life together. Volunteered for ushering, think I will start next week. Looking forward to it ^^
As my priorities change, and as I start to think seriously of what I want to do with my life outside of NUS, I realize that it will be a challenging one and a half years ahead. Much like climbing a mountain, and reaching the small summit; the view of the climb ahead is daunting indeed.
Yet, I cherish the view that I have from this small summit =)
And if I were to draw the line between these two periods of time, I'd draw the line, around the past few weeks.
It's been often said that Christianity is more of a lifestyle rather than a religon. The question is, what do I hope for in life? A tough question to consider, especially in light of the questions raised these few weeks by Pastor Jeff, as well as Claramae.
I think the "two track life" syndrome is something prevalent amongst Christians.. for me, that two track life has been that of, shutting myself within church and being myself outside of it. Now, I'm starting the uncertain process of uniting these two tracks of my life together. Volunteered for ushering, think I will start next week. Looking forward to it ^^
As my priorities change, and as I start to think seriously of what I want to do with my life outside of NUS, I realize that it will be a challenging one and a half years ahead. Much like climbing a mountain, and reaching the small summit; the view of the climb ahead is daunting indeed.
Yet, I cherish the view that I have from this small summit =)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Predestination?
Haha, this particular comic is cool on many levels. While I was in the army, I spent a bit of time pondering over this particular question - If every event in my life has happened for a reason, doesn't it mean that I effectively have no free will over how I act?
This army guy I knew replied me in a way similar to Utahraptor's answer. Free will and predestination are mutually compatible.
Two ways to explain that would be
1) Free will is utterly deceptive. That means that even though we think we are acting out of free will, actually we aren't. But it doesn't matter, so there.
2) What one person views as predetermination is actually another person's free will. For example, if I put a normal piece of sweet into a bottle of containing ants, I can know that the ants will be attracted to it, before I even put the candy in. The ants to the candy out of free will, but my actions predestined the ants reaction.
(If you're gonna answer, "But humans are not ants!", a substitution of ants and candy with say, a human and a hundred dollar bill can be made.)
Similarly, as Christian, Psalms 139 is used as to substantiate the point that God has an ultimate plan for us (ie presdestination), even before we were born. Leads to pretty fascinating questions like, "Why does God curse some people to be gay ?", or , "Why does God curse some people to have Down's syndrome?"
I mean, scientists have made flies gay, and Down's syndrome is definiately caused by a duplication of a chromosome. So, I do believe that many afflictions have a certain level of predetermination to it, especially as a life science student.
I think, this answer can only be truly answered, along with many other questions like "Why did
So, as T-rex says, "Now, let's never talk about it again!" I have really much more pressing things to think about anyway. =p
Thursday, June 01, 2006
I've lived through 75 of these 158 things..
I have lived through these things ...
1. Put numbers in the boxes instead of x's (example: 1, 2, 3, 4 ...)
2. Repost as "I have lived through ___ of these 158 things."
[1] I have read a lot of books.
[ ] I have been on some sort of varsity team.
[2] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.
[ ] I have been to Canada.
[ ] I have been to Europe.
[3] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[ ] I have tripped UP the stairs.
[ ] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.
[ ] I have been snowboarding/skiing.
[4] I have played ping pong.
[5] I swam in the ocean. (does wading through the shallow parts count?)
[ ] I have been on a whale watch.
[6] I have seen fireworks.
[7] I have seen a shooting star. (Recently!)
[ ] I have seen a meteor shower.
[8] I have almost drowned. (by my sister =/)
[ ] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.
[9] I have listened to one CD over and over and over again.
[10]I have had stitches.
[ ] I have had frostbite.
[ ] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[11] I have stayed up 'til 2 doing homework/projects.
[12 ] I currently have a job. (Uh, soon =p)
[13 ] I have been ice skating. (But I'm really bad at it)
[14] I have been roller blading. (Ditto)
[ ] I have fallen flat on my face.
[13] I have tripped over my own two feet.
[ ] I have been in a fist fight.
[14 ] I have played video games for more than 3 hours straight.
[15] I have watched the Power Rangers.
[16 ] I attend Church regularly.
[17 ] I have played truth or dare.
[18] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[19] I have already had my 17th birthday. (uhh..)
[20] I've called someone stupid.
[21] I've been in a verbal argument.
[ ] I've cried in school.
[22] I've played basketball on a team. (For AMK CC! But my one and only time haha..
[ ] I've played baseball on a team.
[23] I've played football on a team. (On a casual basis)
[ ] I've played soccer on a team.
[ ] I've done cheerleading on a team.
[ ] I've played softball on a team.
[ ] I've played volleyball on a team.
[ ] I've played tennis on a team.
[ ] I've been on a track or cross country team.
[24 ] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life.
[ ] I've bungee jumped. (but i wish to at least once..)
[25 ] I've climbed a rock wall.
[26 ] I've lost more than 20$.
[27 ] I've called myself an idiot.
[28] I've called someone else an idiot.
[ ] I've cried myself to sleep.
[29] I've had (or have) pets.
[ ] I've owned a Spice girls CD.
[ ] I've owned a Britney Spears CD.
[ ] I've owned an N*Sync CD.
[ ] I've owned a Backstreet Boys CD.
[ ] I've mooned someone.
[30 ] I have sworn at someone of authority before. (Army, but not in their face..)
[ ] I've been in the newspaper.
[ ] I've been on TV.
[ ] I've been to Hawaii.
[31] I've eaten sushi.
[32] I've been on the other side of a waterfall. (small waterfall in m'sia)
[33] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
[ ] I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.
[ ] I've watched all of the Rocky movies.
[ ] I've watched the Stooges.
[ ] I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica.
[34] I've watched Looney Tunes.
[ ] I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.
[35] I've been called a geek.
[36] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade. (NUS. Haix)
[37] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.
[ ] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.
[ ] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours. (my parent's aren't here =( )
[38] I've met a celebrity/music artist. (Liang Jing Ru~~~!)
[39] I've written poetry. (Haikus about coke. In army. Bad ones. Don't ask)
[ ] I've been arrested.
[ ] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.
[ ] I've been tickled till I've cried.
[ ] I've tickled someone else until they cried. (I take revenge!)
[40] I've had/have siblings.
[ ] I've been to a rock concert.
[41] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it.
[42] I've been in a play. (sec sch and in NUS)
[ ] I've been picked last in gym class.
[ ] I've been picked first in gym class.
[ ] I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.
[ ] I've cried in front of my friends.
[43] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages.
[ ] I've played Halo.
[44] I've freaked out over a sports game.
[ ] I've been to Alaska.
[45] I've been to China.
[ ] I've been to Spain.
[ ] I've been to Japan. (I want to go......)
[46] I've had a fight with someone on AIM.
[47] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.
[48] I've had serious conversations on any IM.
[49] I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.
[50] I've been forgiven.
[51] I've screamed at a scary movie. (haha. zombie movies especially)
[ ] I've cried at a chick flick.
[ ] I've watched a lot of action movies.
[ ] I've screamed at the top of my lungs.
[ ] I've been to a rap concert.
[53] I've been to a hip hop concert.
[54] I've lived in more than 2 houses. (If the house in China counts..)
[55] I've driven on the highway/been on the highway.
[56] I've driven more than 40 miles in a day/been in a car that went more than 40 miles in a day.
[ ] I've been in a car accident. (I've seen a car in flames before in China though.)
[ ] I've done drugs.
[57] I've been homesick.
[58] I've thrown up.
[ ] I've puked on someone.
[ ] I've been horseback riding.
[ ] I've filled out more than 10 myspace/LJ surveys.
[ ] I've spoken my mind in public.
[59] I've proved someone wrong.
[60] I've been proven wrong by someone.
[ ] I've broken a leg.
[ ] I've broken an arm/fingers. (wrist? lol)
[61] I've fallen off a swing. (When i was young?)
[ ] I've swung on a swing for more than 30 minutes straight
[ ] I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.
[ ] I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.
[ ] I've lost my backpack.
[62] I've come close to dying. (While swimming when I was young..)
[ ] I've seen someone die.
[63] I've known someone who has died.
[ ] I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point.
[ ] I've done modeling. (clay??)
[64] I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.
[65] I've taken something/someone for granted.
[66] I've realized how good my life is.
[67] I've counted my blessings. (that i have many times..)
[68] I've made fun of a classmate.
[69] I've been asked out by someone and I said no.
[ ] I've slapped someone in the face. (and I plan never to)
[ ] I've been skateboarding.
[ ] I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend. (which i'm thankful for)
[70] I've lied to someone to their face.
[71] I've told a little white lie.
[ ] I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane.
[72 ] I've fainted. (When i had dengue fever)
[ ] I've had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not.
[73] I've pushed someone into a pool.
[74] I've been pushed into a pool.
[75] I've been/am in love.
1. Put numbers in the boxes instead of x's (example: 1, 2, 3, 4 ...)
2. Repost as "I have lived through ___ of these 158 things."
[1] I have read a lot of books.
[ ] I have been on some sort of varsity team.
[2] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.
[ ] I have been to Canada.
[ ] I have been to Europe.
[3] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[ ] I have tripped UP the stairs.
[ ] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.
[ ] I have been snowboarding/skiing.
[4] I have played ping pong.
[5] I swam in the ocean. (does wading through the shallow parts count?)
[ ] I have been on a whale watch.
[6] I have seen fireworks.
[7] I have seen a shooting star. (Recently!)
[ ] I have seen a meteor shower.
[8] I have almost drowned. (by my sister =/)
[ ] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.
[9] I have listened to one CD over and over and over again.
[10]I have had stitches.
[ ] I have had frostbite.
[ ] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[11] I have stayed up 'til 2 doing homework/projects.
[12 ] I currently have a job. (Uh, soon =p)
[13 ] I have been ice skating. (But I'm really bad at it)
[14] I have been roller blading. (Ditto)
[ ] I have fallen flat on my face.
[13] I have tripped over my own two feet.
[ ] I have been in a fist fight.
[14 ] I have played video games for more than 3 hours straight.
[15] I have watched the Power Rangers.
[16 ] I attend Church regularly.
[17 ] I have played truth or dare.
[18] I have already had my 16th birthday.
[19] I have already had my 17th birthday. (uhh..)
[20] I've called someone stupid.
[21] I've been in a verbal argument.
[ ] I've cried in school.
[22] I've played basketball on a team. (For AMK CC! But my one and only time haha..
[ ] I've played baseball on a team.
[23] I've played football on a team. (On a casual basis)
[ ] I've played soccer on a team.
[ ] I've done cheerleading on a team.
[ ] I've played softball on a team.
[ ] I've played volleyball on a team.
[ ] I've played tennis on a team.
[ ] I've been on a track or cross country team.
[24 ] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life.
[ ] I've bungee jumped. (but i wish to at least once..)
[25 ] I've climbed a rock wall.
[26 ] I've lost more than 20$.
[27 ] I've called myself an idiot.
[28] I've called someone else an idiot.
[ ] I've cried myself to sleep.
[29] I've had (or have) pets.
[ ] I've owned a Spice girls CD.
[ ] I've owned a Britney Spears CD.
[ ] I've owned an N*Sync CD.
[ ] I've owned a Backstreet Boys CD.
[ ] I've mooned someone.
[30 ] I have sworn at someone of authority before. (Army, but not in their face..)
[ ] I've been in the newspaper.
[ ] I've been on TV.
[ ] I've been to Hawaii.
[31] I've eaten sushi.
[32] I've been on the other side of a waterfall. (small waterfall in m'sia)
[33] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
[ ] I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.
[ ] I've watched all of the Rocky movies.
[ ] I've watched the Stooges.
[ ] I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica.
[34] I've watched Looney Tunes.
[ ] I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.
[35] I've been called a geek.
[36] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade. (NUS. Haix)
[37] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.
[ ] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.
[ ] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours. (my parent's aren't here =( )
[38] I've met a celebrity/music artist. (Liang Jing Ru~~~!)
[39] I've written poetry. (Haikus about coke. In army. Bad ones. Don't ask)
[ ] I've been arrested.
[ ] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.
[ ] I've been tickled till I've cried.
[ ] I've tickled someone else until they cried. (I take revenge!)
[40] I've had/have siblings.
[ ] I've been to a rock concert.
[41] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it.
[42] I've been in a play. (sec sch and in NUS)
[ ] I've been picked last in gym class.
[ ] I've been picked first in gym class.
[ ] I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.
[ ] I've cried in front of my friends.
[43] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages.
[ ] I've played Halo.
[44] I've freaked out over a sports game.
[ ] I've been to Alaska.
[45] I've been to China.
[ ] I've been to Spain.
[ ] I've been to Japan. (I want to go......)
[46] I've had a fight with someone on AIM.
[47] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.
[48] I've had serious conversations on any IM.
[49] I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.
[50] I've been forgiven.
[51] I've screamed at a scary movie. (haha. zombie movies especially)
[ ] I've cried at a chick flick.
[ ] I've watched a lot of action movies.
[ ] I've screamed at the top of my lungs.
[ ] I've been to a rap concert.
[53] I've been to a hip hop concert.
[54] I've lived in more than 2 houses. (If the house in China counts..)
[55] I've driven on the highway/been on the highway.
[56] I've driven more than 40 miles in a day/been in a car that went more than 40 miles in a day.
[ ] I've been in a car accident. (I've seen a car in flames before in China though.)
[ ] I've done drugs.
[57] I've been homesick.
[58] I've thrown up.
[ ] I've puked on someone.
[ ] I've been horseback riding.
[ ] I've filled out more than 10 myspace/LJ surveys.
[ ] I've spoken my mind in public.
[59] I've proved someone wrong.
[60] I've been proven wrong by someone.
[ ] I've broken a leg.
[ ] I've broken an arm/fingers. (wrist? lol)
[61] I've fallen off a swing. (When i was young?)
[ ] I've swung on a swing for more than 30 minutes straight
[ ] I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.
[ ] I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.
[ ] I've lost my backpack.
[62] I've come close to dying. (While swimming when I was young..)
[ ] I've seen someone die.
[63] I've known someone who has died.
[ ] I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point.
[ ] I've done modeling. (clay??)
[64] I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.
[65] I've taken something/someone for granted.
[66] I've realized how good my life is.
[67] I've counted my blessings. (that i have many times..)
[68] I've made fun of a classmate.
[69] I've been asked out by someone and I said no.
[ ] I've slapped someone in the face. (and I plan never to)
[ ] I've been skateboarding.
[ ] I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend. (which i'm thankful for)
[70] I've lied to someone to their face.
[71] I've told a little white lie.
[ ] I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane.
[72 ] I've fainted. (When i had dengue fever)
[ ] I've had an argument with someone about whether cheerleading is a sport or not.
[73] I've pushed someone into a pool.
[74] I've been pushed into a pool.
[75] I've been/am in love.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Emotions Part 2
Emotional breakdown, again.
Was talking to Marcus yesterday, over lunch. When I was telling him about how nowadays I'm struggling with things like anger management, he said, "Heh, that's part of growing up."
Yeah, indeed.
Lots of things to think about it. A few things I need to act upon now, and a few things that I want to act on soon. As Robbie Williams sings in "Angels"
"When I’m feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love"
Was talking to Marcus yesterday, over lunch. When I was telling him about how nowadays I'm struggling with things like anger management, he said, "Heh, that's part of growing up."
Yeah, indeed.
Lots of things to think about it. A few things I need to act upon now, and a few things that I want to act on soon. As Robbie Williams sings in "Angels"
"When I’m feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love"
The Da Vinci Code
Have been thinking for weeks on what angle I was gonna blog about the Da Vinci Code. You know, the book and movie that has all 100 million+ of us Christians in collective apoplexy. But since theferrett has talked about this topic, I'll link to his blog entries where he gives his thoughts on the book and how the DVC is just a fiction novel.
Hooray for livejournal.
PS: Oh yeah, the comments are worth reading too, generally..
Hooray for livejournal.
PS: Oh yeah, the comments are worth reading too, generally..
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Emotions
I used to be emotionally stable - I didn't feel anything easily. I didn't anger easily, I didn't get sad easily, I didn't get happy easily.. life before Christianity was a peaceful one. I had (and still have) several groups of close friends, I had a good family, I was (and still am) relatively well to do. I didn't have to worry about my grades. Absolutely no worries in my life.
Emotions back then was a all or nothing thing. Either I liked things intensely or couldn't be bothered with it at all. I don't call someone "friend" easily, but once you were a friend, I would value that relationship deeply. Drifting in the sea, without a care in the world, not knowing where I would go, but knowing it would be somewhere good. Not a bad life to live, for a non-believer. Many people strive to be where I was.. and I felt privileged to be in such a state.
Being in church though, has opened the whole Pandora's box of emotions for me. No longer am I emotionally self sufficient. I feel insecure at times, I feel unhappy, I feel lonely at times. I anger much easily now - I'm truly amazed that I have lost my temper several times these few months. I've experienced emotional breakdown, for the first time in my life.
But to counter balance that.. I've experienced many positive emotions. I smile much more. For the first time in my life I know what is the meaning of joy - the joy of seeing people coming to know God, the joy of seeing brothers and sisters mature as a Christian. I feel hope, hope for a better life, both in this world and the next.
The whole range of emotions, in various shades of intensity, has been opened within me. Something that I couldn't imagine happening to me ever in my life. It is a gift from God I value highly.. true it is double edged in nature.. I'm "weaker" now in terms of emotions.. I am no longer base my happiness within myself, but in external changable things.
But now I can say I don't just merely exist, but I live.. I no longer just drift aimlessly, but yearn for something greater in life..
Praise be to God =)
Emotions back then was a all or nothing thing. Either I liked things intensely or couldn't be bothered with it at all. I don't call someone "friend" easily, but once you were a friend, I would value that relationship deeply. Drifting in the sea, without a care in the world, not knowing where I would go, but knowing it would be somewhere good. Not a bad life to live, for a non-believer. Many people strive to be where I was.. and I felt privileged to be in such a state.
Being in church though, has opened the whole Pandora's box of emotions for me. No longer am I emotionally self sufficient. I feel insecure at times, I feel unhappy, I feel lonely at times. I anger much easily now - I'm truly amazed that I have lost my temper several times these few months. I've experienced emotional breakdown, for the first time in my life.
But to counter balance that.. I've experienced many positive emotions. I smile much more. For the first time in my life I know what is the meaning of joy - the joy of seeing people coming to know God, the joy of seeing brothers and sisters mature as a Christian. I feel hope, hope for a better life, both in this world and the next.
The whole range of emotions, in various shades of intensity, has been opened within me. Something that I couldn't imagine happening to me ever in my life. It is a gift from God I value highly.. true it is double edged in nature.. I'm "weaker" now in terms of emotions.. I am no longer base my happiness within myself, but in external changable things.
But now I can say I don't just merely exist, but I live.. I no longer just drift aimlessly, but yearn for something greater in life..
Praise be to God =)
Friday, May 19, 2006
My view on philosophy and Christian apology
Today during the CG meeting held in NUS, Yufen passed around several books about Christian apologetics that YA borrowed from the library.. Haha, the title that caught my eye was Christian Ethics: Options and Issues by Norman Geisler. Think YA deliberately chose that book for me.. haha =p
The people that knew me only recently might be surprised that I was interested in philo only after I entered Army. Still distinctly remember the things me, Karwee, James, Tan and the rest discussed on the MINDEF Forum. At that time I didn't knew what Utilitarinism was, or that dualism was called dualism. I didn't know who Bentham was or that he invented the hedonistic calculus.
It was only after entering university, was I able to attach the names to the things we were talking about. It was awfully fascinating to me that we covered ground that great thinkers had trodded before us.
~ ~
Now that I am a Christian, most of these issues are now resolved for me. Nonetheless I am very interested to finish my so called "philosophical education". God gave humans a enquiring mind, and it's fascinating what philosphers have come up with over the years.
I used to rely heavily on Christian apology as a new believer to "cement" my faith.. but nowadays I really dislike apologetics as a whole. I think knowing the arguments (and how to argue) about Christianity is something necessary, but very ugly. While it serves as a bridge for non-believers to know about God, it is almost totally irrelevant to daily Christian living. You can do well as a Christian, and live a fruitful life, without having to know a single argument for God.
To steal a few lines from Wittgenstein's Tractucus (and to those who read philosophy I apologise for this atrocity) .. "he who understands me finally recognizes them as senseless, when he has climbed out through them, on them, over them. (He must so to speak throw away the ladder, after he has climbed up on it.) He must transcend these propositions, and then he will see the world aright."
Christian apology is the ladder where you climb to know God, but once you've reached there, you can effectively throw the ladder away.. you'll literally see the world anew. The ladder's only purpose now is to help other non-believers to climb up that ladder, so they can see Christianity as it truly is for themselves..
Christianity not a philosophical school of thought.. it is a all emcompassing (holistic) lifestyle..
~ ~
Haix, but I really wish I had a Christian whom I can talk philospophy with.. Don't know anybody who shares the same interest with me..
The people that knew me only recently might be surprised that I was interested in philo only after I entered Army. Still distinctly remember the things me, Karwee, James, Tan and the rest discussed on the MINDEF Forum. At that time I didn't knew what Utilitarinism was, or that dualism was called dualism. I didn't know who Bentham was or that he invented the hedonistic calculus.
It was only after entering university, was I able to attach the names to the things we were talking about. It was awfully fascinating to me that we covered ground that great thinkers had trodded before us.
~ ~
Now that I am a Christian, most of these issues are now resolved for me. Nonetheless I am very interested to finish my so called "philosophical education". God gave humans a enquiring mind, and it's fascinating what philosphers have come up with over the years.
I used to rely heavily on Christian apology as a new believer to "cement" my faith.. but nowadays I really dislike apologetics as a whole. I think knowing the arguments (and how to argue) about Christianity is something necessary, but very ugly. While it serves as a bridge for non-believers to know about God, it is almost totally irrelevant to daily Christian living. You can do well as a Christian, and live a fruitful life, without having to know a single argument for God.
To steal a few lines from Wittgenstein's Tractucus (and to those who read philosophy I apologise for this atrocity) .. "he who understands me finally recognizes them as senseless, when he has climbed out through them, on them, over them. (He must so to speak throw away the ladder, after he has climbed up on it.) He must transcend these propositions, and then he will see the world aright."
Christian apology is the ladder where you climb to know God, but once you've reached there, you can effectively throw the ladder away.. you'll literally see the world anew. The ladder's only purpose now is to help other non-believers to climb up that ladder, so they can see Christianity as it truly is for themselves..
Christianity not a philosophical school of thought.. it is a all emcompassing (holistic) lifestyle..
~ ~
Haix, but I really wish I had a Christian whom I can talk philospophy with.. Don't know anybody who shares the same interest with me..
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Haha, for the past two days I've been working in a secondary school as a facilitator for this bio enrichment workshop conducted for the students. Wouldn't call myself a teacher, although that's what the students called me.. haha
What an eye opening experience it was.. I still can remember the days in secondary school where everything was just about study and play. So I guess it was some kind of retribution of sorts that now it's my turn to handle these kids. Man were they a rowdy bunch.. I had to literally go around and wake up sleeping kids, confiscate things from kids that were fooling around. And to imagine I got one of the better classes - one of the other classes only had 1/8 of the students turn up for the second day.
If you were to put me into this course right now as a secondary school student once again, this workshop would be something that I would look forward to. They were being taught how to grow bacterial cultures on agar plates - stuff that I have just learnt this semester! It's really cool that secondary school and JC kids nowadays have such opportunities to do things that I only get to do in university level.
It seemed to me though ,that my main job as the facilitator was more of riot control then much teaching. I'd suppose it had to do with that these were not Raffles Institution students for example, so probably they were not so inclined to learn something that seemed so irrelevant.
I actually felt for the kids in a way though. Could remember having similar after school excursions to PUB or such things.. those days, I was much more excited over the thought of going to arcade with the rest after the field trip, rather then the field trip itself. Haha..
Man, what wouldn't I give to go back to secondary school or even JC again..
What an eye opening experience it was.. I still can remember the days in secondary school where everything was just about study and play. So I guess it was some kind of retribution of sorts that now it's my turn to handle these kids. Man were they a rowdy bunch.. I had to literally go around and wake up sleeping kids, confiscate things from kids that were fooling around. And to imagine I got one of the better classes - one of the other classes only had 1/8 of the students turn up for the second day.
If you were to put me into this course right now as a secondary school student once again, this workshop would be something that I would look forward to. They were being taught how to grow bacterial cultures on agar plates - stuff that I have just learnt this semester! It's really cool that secondary school and JC kids nowadays have such opportunities to do things that I only get to do in university level.
It seemed to me though ,that my main job as the facilitator was more of riot control then much teaching. I'd suppose it had to do with that these were not Raffles Institution students for example, so probably they were not so inclined to learn something that seemed so irrelevant.
I actually felt for the kids in a way though. Could remember having similar after school excursions to PUB or such things.. those days, I was much more excited over the thought of going to arcade with the rest after the field trip, rather then the field trip itself. Haha..
Man, what wouldn't I give to go back to secondary school or even JC again..
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Elections 2006
Well, it's a few days past the results of the elections.. What can I say? I feel that the results is one of the best possible outcomes for Singapore as a whole.
Why do I say that? Well, it's true that exactly the status quo has been maintained - 2 Opposition SMCs, maybe an NCMP or two. That's true. But the great is that people are starting to become politically conscious. The quality of the Opposition's candidates are improving (look at the WP's chairman man. What a cool woman. haha. JBJ must be glad the WP's fortunes are improving). The Opposition's starting to be more active, for the first time in a while they're contesting more then half the consituencies.
And even more heartening, flickers of political awareness are starting to disseminate through the net. Look at the popularity of Mr Brown's semi-satire Persistent Non Political Podcasts, especially the Bak Chor Mee one.. haha.. And the carrot of HDB upgrading didn't sway the Opposition wards neither, which is heartening. Time the PAP thought of something new man..
And above all this, the most important thing, PM Lee has managed to get a convincing mandate for his first term, which is absolutely essential for Singapore's survival. Many MNCs invest in Singapore because they have faith in the SIngapore brand, which (currently) lives and dies with the wellbeing of the PAP. True, the "Suicide squad" sent to contest the PM's ward got one out of three votes, but 2/3s of the vote isn't bad either, and gives PM Lee more legitimacy instead of being an "walkover" PM.
Chiam and Low held on to their seats too, which is really reassuring.
Singapore's prosperity and survival is inexorably tied to the government, and the government is inexorably tied to the PAP. This has been mentioned even by the PAP themselves. If truly by some freak accident, more than half of the AMK GRC went "Ah, everybody else must be voting for the PM, let's give the WP a sympathy vote", and PM Lee lost his GRC, we would be in chaos overnight. Don't talk about political diversity and checks and balanced - our percieved stability as a invester friendly nation would be destroyed.
This election result is truly the best of both worlds - PM Lee gets a good mandate, and the Opposition aren't totally discouraged.
Haha, not really in writing form today, will whip this post into shape some other day =p
Why do I say that? Well, it's true that exactly the status quo has been maintained - 2 Opposition SMCs, maybe an NCMP or two. That's true. But the great is that people are starting to become politically conscious. The quality of the Opposition's candidates are improving (look at the WP's chairman man. What a cool woman. haha. JBJ must be glad the WP's fortunes are improving). The Opposition's starting to be more active, for the first time in a while they're contesting more then half the consituencies.
And even more heartening, flickers of political awareness are starting to disseminate through the net. Look at the popularity of Mr Brown's semi-satire Persistent Non Political Podcasts, especially the Bak Chor Mee one.. haha.. And the carrot of HDB upgrading didn't sway the Opposition wards neither, which is heartening. Time the PAP thought of something new man..
And above all this, the most important thing, PM Lee has managed to get a convincing mandate for his first term, which is absolutely essential for Singapore's survival. Many MNCs invest in Singapore because they have faith in the SIngapore brand, which (currently) lives and dies with the wellbeing of the PAP. True, the "Suicide squad" sent to contest the PM's ward got one out of three votes, but 2/3s of the vote isn't bad either, and gives PM Lee more legitimacy instead of being an "walkover" PM.
Chiam and Low held on to their seats too, which is really reassuring.
Singapore's prosperity and survival is inexorably tied to the government, and the government is inexorably tied to the PAP. This has been mentioned even by the PAP themselves. If truly by some freak accident, more than half of the AMK GRC went "Ah, everybody else must be voting for the PM, let's give the WP a sympathy vote", and PM Lee lost his GRC, we would be in chaos overnight. Don't talk about political diversity and checks and balanced - our percieved stability as a invester friendly nation would be destroyed.
This election result is truly the best of both worlds - PM Lee gets a good mandate, and the Opposition aren't totally discouraged.
Haha, not really in writing form today, will whip this post into shape some other day =p
Thinking of her..
Was sitting alone in my house, listening to music.. and started singing along to Evan and Gerran..
Crazy for this girl
Chorus:
And I look at her, she looks at me
She got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
As she carries along without a doubt
I wonder if she'll figured out
I'm crazy for this girl..
I'm crazy for this girl..
Haix ... =(
Crazy for this girl
Chorus:
And I look at her, she looks at me
She got me thinking about her constantly
But she don't know how I feel
As she carries along without a doubt
I wonder if she'll figured out
I'm crazy for this girl..
I'm crazy for this girl..
Haix ... =(
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Wow.
I was talking to this sister that's waiting to get into NUS today, and man, is she well read. Me, I have no pretensions that I'm someone who read a lot of books, but I do like to think of myself as someone who has read more than his fair share. So when I heard she liked reading, I asked her what books she read.
She responded, "What kind?"
"Uh, modern day novels?"
She then rattled a list of authors that I've never heard of before, and for the life of me remember.
"Wow. How about something a little older?"
"Oh, you mean like.. " she proceeded to rattle off a second list of authors that I had heard of before, but never ever gotten to reading. Then we started comparing what we read and what we didn't.. and the only thing that I read that she actually didn't, was Les Misérables. Yay -_-
Then we started talking about philosophy, and my interest in it. Even took 3 modules on philo so far. She went "Oh ok.. I read a few philo books myself." And then she proceeded to list them..
You guessed it, practically every single philosopher I've heard of. As in, Plato Nietzche Kirkegaard Betrand Russell Descartes Wittgenstein Mill Hume etc etc etc.. The only notable exception was that she hadn't read Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, but uh, who was I to comment.
Overawed, I started a tentative discussion on Wittgenstein's Tractatus.. and went internally "Yep, she read it and she remembers all right". Not name dropping either. Sheesh.
And mind you, this is not a philo major, she's not even an undergrad. I officially hang my head in shame. I shall not call myself "interested in philo" until I've actually waded through half of the philo books that she read in passing. How does someone read so much without her brain exploding?
* *
Seriously, one notion in my mind that was very quickly disabused, was that Christians are all the same. After today's incident I took a stock count of the brothers and sisters I knew from NUS, we have...
Sporty people, quiet people, noisy people, a self trained computer expert, non self trained computer experts, a history major interested in comparatative religon, Deans list students, marathon and half marathon runners, pool shooters, a few dancers (ballet and modern), a few awesome guitar players, many good guitar players, a footballer who plays for his faculty, a varsity basketballer, one or two ex-school team basketballers, a combined schools team basketballer, a very lousy basketballer (me), a guy who has 11 patents in US (he did a student exchange program in Biovalley), a guy who runs his family business as well as being involved in start ups, , future teachers, a MAS scholar, people that are really good in art and craft, KTV goers, bookworms, a Young PAP party member, several good cooks, chinese speaking, english speaking, bilingual speaking, people who watch anime, people who play the piano, ex (insert high post of some secondary school CCA) etc etc..
* *
And there I was thinking that Army was the ultimate mixing pot. Church is even more astounding.. many different walks of life, one common faith, all rubbing shoulders together. And now I can add "one well read girl" to the list.
I am in some awesome company..
She responded, "What kind?"
"Uh, modern day novels?"
She then rattled a list of authors that I've never heard of before, and for the life of me remember.
"Wow. How about something a little older?"
"Oh, you mean like.. " she proceeded to rattle off a second list of authors that I had heard of before, but never ever gotten to reading. Then we started comparing what we read and what we didn't.. and the only thing that I read that she actually didn't, was Les Misérables. Yay -_-
Then we started talking about philosophy, and my interest in it. Even took 3 modules on philo so far. She went "Oh ok.. I read a few philo books myself." And then she proceeded to list them..
You guessed it, practically every single philosopher I've heard of. As in, Plato Nietzche Kirkegaard Betrand Russell Descartes Wittgenstein Mill Hume etc etc etc.. The only notable exception was that she hadn't read Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, but uh, who was I to comment.
Overawed, I started a tentative discussion on Wittgenstein's Tractatus.. and went internally "Yep, she read it and she remembers all right". Not name dropping either. Sheesh.
And mind you, this is not a philo major, she's not even an undergrad. I officially hang my head in shame. I shall not call myself "interested in philo" until I've actually waded through half of the philo books that she read in passing. How does someone read so much without her brain exploding?
* *
Seriously, one notion in my mind that was very quickly disabused, was that Christians are all the same. After today's incident I took a stock count of the brothers and sisters I knew from NUS, we have...
Sporty people, quiet people, noisy people, a self trained computer expert, non self trained computer experts, a history major interested in comparatative religon, Deans list students, marathon and half marathon runners, pool shooters, a few dancers (ballet and modern), a few awesome guitar players, many good guitar players, a footballer who plays for his faculty, a varsity basketballer, one or two ex-school team basketballers, a combined schools team basketballer, a very lousy basketballer (me), a guy who has 11 patents in US (he did a student exchange program in Biovalley), a guy who runs his family business as well as being involved in start ups, , future teachers, a MAS scholar, people that are really good in art and craft, KTV goers, bookworms, a Young PAP party member, several good cooks, chinese speaking, english speaking, bilingual speaking, people who watch anime, people who play the piano, ex (insert high post of some secondary school CCA) etc etc..
* *
And there I was thinking that Army was the ultimate mixing pot. Church is even more astounding.. many different walks of life, one common faith, all rubbing shoulders together. And now I can add "one well read girl" to the list.
I am in some awesome company..
Dr Chee and his antics
General Elections are around the corner, want to give my 2 cents worth.
In general I do respect people who run as Opposition Party members. You feel that there should be some Oppositional voice in the government to act as a check and balance to the ruling party? I can understand that sentiment - many countries are run that way. You actually care enough to want to step up and run for elections as the Opposition? I sincerely tip my hat to you. Strength of your convictions and all that.
It takes guts to run as Opposition. I'm sure that in at least one point of time in their life, every prospective Opposition party member has carefully weighed the pros and cons of venturing into the political arena, and decided Yes, it matters enough to me. Yet, if you ask me to name one Opposition figure that I dislike, it definitely would be Mr Chee, the current Secretary General of SDP.
But I mean, seriously. Wassup with you, Mr Chee Suan Joon? Ok I understand you were fired from your professorial chair in NUS. I maybe can emphatise with your enmity against the PAP. But why do you insist on continuing all these antics that you do year in year out?
Hunger strike? Mmm... okay. Heckling (former) PM Goh a few years back? Uh, whatever you think of Mr Goh, at the very least give some respect to your own Prime Minister right? And now, once again, xiao-eh Chee writes inflammatry remarks in the SDP party paper and releases illegal podcasts. Once again, SDP as a party is in trouble because of Mr Chee's actions.
If you really want to serve the people of your country as a politician, for crying out loud stop all these nonsense lah! You know the government is gonna go through your newspaper with a fine comb, then don't write anything too rash! If the government makes podcasts illegal, then why do you still insist on releasing them? Machiam like it will cause a mad circulation of your message like that.
Not only you kicked poor Mr Chiam See Tong out of his Party, you're pulling down your party in flames. And, the worse crime of all, in my opinion, is that you're bringing down your other party members with you..
Like what Phua Chu Kang would say.. Use your blian, use your blian, use your blian lah! Being opposition is tough enough, why heap burning coals onto your own head, willfully? The WP and the SDA seem to be getting their act together, and I'm sure they'll get at least a decent amount of votes.
But for the SDP? Seriously, even if I had the vote, I wouldn't vote for you or your party.
In general I do respect people who run as Opposition Party members. You feel that there should be some Oppositional voice in the government to act as a check and balance to the ruling party? I can understand that sentiment - many countries are run that way. You actually care enough to want to step up and run for elections as the Opposition? I sincerely tip my hat to you. Strength of your convictions and all that.
It takes guts to run as Opposition. I'm sure that in at least one point of time in their life, every prospective Opposition party member has carefully weighed the pros and cons of venturing into the political arena, and decided Yes, it matters enough to me. Yet, if you ask me to name one Opposition figure that I dislike, it definitely would be Mr Chee, the current Secretary General of SDP.
But I mean, seriously. Wassup with you, Mr Chee Suan Joon? Ok I understand you were fired from your professorial chair in NUS. I maybe can emphatise with your enmity against the PAP. But why do you insist on continuing all these antics that you do year in year out?
Hunger strike? Mmm... okay. Heckling (former) PM Goh a few years back? Uh, whatever you think of Mr Goh, at the very least give some respect to your own Prime Minister right? And now, once again, xiao-eh Chee writes inflammatry remarks in the SDP party paper and releases illegal podcasts. Once again, SDP as a party is in trouble because of Mr Chee's actions.
If you really want to serve the people of your country as a politician, for crying out loud stop all these nonsense lah! You know the government is gonna go through your newspaper with a fine comb, then don't write anything too rash! If the government makes podcasts illegal, then why do you still insist on releasing them? Machiam like it will cause a mad circulation of your message like that.
Not only you kicked poor Mr Chiam See Tong out of his Party, you're pulling down your party in flames. And, the worse crime of all, in my opinion, is that you're bringing down your other party members with you..
Like what Phua Chu Kang would say.. Use your blian, use your blian, use your blian lah! Being opposition is tough enough, why heap burning coals onto your own head, willfully? The WP and the SDA seem to be getting their act together, and I'm sure they'll get at least a decent amount of votes.
But for the SDP? Seriously, even if I had the vote, I wouldn't vote for you or your party.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Why I believe
Today, during Holy Communion, Claramae shared the passage in John 20:24-29 on Thomas's encounter with Jesus after this resurrection. Think it really spoke to me and reminded me of why I chose Thomas to be my baptismal name.. Thomas is commonly associated with doubt. Doubting Thomas.. haha.. but the reason I chose this name was because he struggled with his doubt, and emerged triumphant.
Walking the roads of faith is something that is not easy for an atheist. For me, all these thoughts and arguments in my mind has made my walk with God a tougher, and drier road. Where others tacitly agree and believe, I had to struggle with doubts and thoughts that spun in my mind. But praise the Lord, I've emerged triumphant from my struggles, and now I believe with all my heart and soul.
To those non-Christians reading this blog.. if we were to debate about the reality of Christ; just like any other debate, the one who wins is the one who goes in more prepared, who speaks better, who knows all the subtle tricks of argumentation (yes, it's true) , and the one who is able to command a greater presence in the discussion. The person who brought me to know Christ was a master at this.. and for the better part of a year I had to rely on these human arguments to prop up my faith.
Talk is one thing though. A person can leave the debating table defeated, but still unconvinced. I could win a debate with a "untrained" free-thinker, but what good does it do if I just focus on the arguments? Christianity is anything but sophistry. The more important thing that Christians can bring to the table, the biggest trump card, is the fact that God changes lives, and for the better. Various schools of moral philosophy, be it utilitarism, moral relativism or whatever you might mention - does not teach you how to live a rich and meaningful life. Christianity does. And that visible change is the thing that really draws people to God. All the arguments for God aren't worth a single penny compared to the power of a transformed life.
And the best part? You don't need to read philosophical tracts to be a Christian. You don't need an IQ of 140 to be a Christian. You don't need a net worth of a million dollars to be a Christian. Philosophy which requires an thinking mind, and induces headaches nonetheless. Christianity only requires that you believe, and you live it out. That's all.
In fact, God's existence is a fact that transcends other facts. I think if scientists say that "Oh, we've got it wrong all this while, actually Pi = 4" or "F actually is 0.9(ma)", or something along that lines.. well, it wouldn't really bother me. But God's existence is a fact that transcends all other facts, because not only it is a intellectual truth, but a emotional truth as well.
Christianity is not just about the visible outward signs - I dare say that church going, attending cell groups and all that is the lesser component of a Christian life. The far greater, and the far most precious part, is that fact the Christ changes lives, for the better.
God really has changed mine, hope you will experience it too one day..
(And despite what I said about philo, I still love philo. Especially moral philo, that's my pet favourite. Find it very interesting..haha. If you're so inclined do talk to me about it)
Walking the roads of faith is something that is not easy for an atheist. For me, all these thoughts and arguments in my mind has made my walk with God a tougher, and drier road. Where others tacitly agree and believe, I had to struggle with doubts and thoughts that spun in my mind. But praise the Lord, I've emerged triumphant from my struggles, and now I believe with all my heart and soul.
To those non-Christians reading this blog.. if we were to debate about the reality of Christ; just like any other debate, the one who wins is the one who goes in more prepared, who speaks better, who knows all the subtle tricks of argumentation (yes, it's true) , and the one who is able to command a greater presence in the discussion. The person who brought me to know Christ was a master at this.. and for the better part of a year I had to rely on these human arguments to prop up my faith.
Talk is one thing though. A person can leave the debating table defeated, but still unconvinced. I could win a debate with a "untrained" free-thinker, but what good does it do if I just focus on the arguments? Christianity is anything but sophistry. The more important thing that Christians can bring to the table, the biggest trump card, is the fact that God changes lives, and for the better. Various schools of moral philosophy, be it utilitarism, moral relativism or whatever you might mention - does not teach you how to live a rich and meaningful life. Christianity does. And that visible change is the thing that really draws people to God. All the arguments for God aren't worth a single penny compared to the power of a transformed life.
And the best part? You don't need to read philosophical tracts to be a Christian. You don't need an IQ of 140 to be a Christian. You don't need a net worth of a million dollars to be a Christian. Philosophy which requires an thinking mind, and induces headaches nonetheless. Christianity only requires that you believe, and you live it out. That's all.
In fact, God's existence is a fact that transcends other facts. I think if scientists say that "Oh, we've got it wrong all this while, actually Pi = 4" or "F actually is 0.9(ma)", or something along that lines.. well, it wouldn't really bother me. But God's existence is a fact that transcends all other facts, because not only it is a intellectual truth, but a emotional truth as well.
Christianity is not just about the visible outward signs - I dare say that church going, attending cell groups and all that is the lesser component of a Christian life. The far greater, and the far most precious part, is that fact the Christ changes lives, for the better.
God really has changed mine, hope you will experience it too one day..
(And despite what I said about philo, I still love philo. Especially moral philo, that's my pet favourite. Find it very interesting..haha. If you're so inclined do talk to me about it)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Just got the results for my Molecular biology CA that counts for 40% of the total grade... Wow. It is a slaughterhouse of dead bodies.. it's like 20% of them got Fs.. then a lot of them are like Cs, Ds and all that. Prof Loh Boh Chuan really showed no mercy man...! o_o
Haha normally would be very depressed and dun want to look further.. cos in such a situation I'd normally amongst the Cs (or Ds).. but I was enthusiastically searching for my matric number.. cos I really love this module a lot. Turns out I got a B+.. a very long time since I got that kind of result for a big test..
And a B+ in a field of Fs, Ds and Cs! Praise the Lord!!
This module's the first module in the Life science curriculum that I fell in love with so far.. Am really grateful that I did well for such a big test!
Need to fall in love with more life science modules next sem man... =)
Haha normally would be very depressed and dun want to look further.. cos in such a situation I'd normally amongst the Cs (or Ds).. but I was enthusiastically searching for my matric number.. cos I really love this module a lot. Turns out I got a B+.. a very long time since I got that kind of result for a big test..
And a B+ in a field of Fs, Ds and Cs! Praise the Lord!!
This module's the first module in the Life science curriculum that I fell in love with so far.. Am really grateful that I did well for such a big test!
Need to fall in love with more life science modules next sem man... =)
Been thinking about what Alan shared in D242 about the Uni district vision.. spoke quite a lot to me.. Today Yufen was sharing to the rest of the care group again about this.. think it is quite relevant to every single one of us.
Like what Matthew 5:13-16 says.. we are the salt and light of this world, and as Christians the onus is on us to become people that can make impact on our immediate sphere of influence. It's very true that after I've recieved Christ that a lot of the drive has gone out of me.. but that's not the way it should be yah?
Christianity is a life style that is supposed to maximise one's potential to the full - this is not just mere rhetoric, but it's a reality. God's love gives us the strength to become something more than we can normally be, to stretch our comfort zones and to live life to the fullest. It's quite sad that the leaders are the ones that are the salt and light, but the rest seem to be lagging behind.
As I was telling Sijia yesterday, can't afford to be slack as a Christian or as a person anymore.. in a few years time when I reach year 4, don't want the newbies who just come in to say "Oh, so that's what a year 4 Christian, a person who's been through the system, looks like."
Like what Jan said, for too long our vision has been only focused on God, the ministry and our immediate friends. It's time to look at the horizons and dream big dreams. The university ministry isn't supposed to produce weak willed flaccid followers - but mature adults, tried and tested, and poised to take on the working world..
It's time to let the past be bygones, and strain forward to what's ahead...
Like what Matthew 5:13-16 says.. we are the salt and light of this world, and as Christians the onus is on us to become people that can make impact on our immediate sphere of influence. It's very true that after I've recieved Christ that a lot of the drive has gone out of me.. but that's not the way it should be yah?
Christianity is a life style that is supposed to maximise one's potential to the full - this is not just mere rhetoric, but it's a reality. God's love gives us the strength to become something more than we can normally be, to stretch our comfort zones and to live life to the fullest. It's quite sad that the leaders are the ones that are the salt and light, but the rest seem to be lagging behind.
As I was telling Sijia yesterday, can't afford to be slack as a Christian or as a person anymore.. in a few years time when I reach year 4, don't want the newbies who just come in to say "Oh, so that's what a year 4 Christian, a person who's been through the system, looks like."
Like what Jan said, for too long our vision has been only focused on God, the ministry and our immediate friends. It's time to look at the horizons and dream big dreams. The university ministry isn't supposed to produce weak willed flaccid followers - but mature adults, tried and tested, and poised to take on the working world..
It's time to let the past be bygones, and strain forward to what's ahead...
Monday, April 10, 2006
Well, this is my new blog.. shifted over from livejournal. Decided to start a new one primarily because the old blog doesn't really reflect the person that I am now. Think God has really changed the way I view things, like what the Bible says - "The old has gone, the new has come".
Used to be much more introspective, and writing a blog was my voice, the part of me that wanted to say things that I had nobody else to talk to about. Things like "Oh, how beautiful sunrise is." or "Oh, something interesting happened to me today." Now, between God, my friends and the brothers and sisters in the Hope NUS community, pretty much of the trivial stuff have been covered. I've become much more outward looking, be it family, friends or strangers, something that I could not have imagined happening to me ever. God changes lives man, hell yeah..
Another reason why I didn't write so much for the good part of a year was because I was still a young Christian. Didn't want to act "holy" in my old blog, especially since all my readers were non-Christians, and to start talking about God would turn them off. (Livejournal has this thing called friend's list which compiles all the updates of the people you've friended. So they pretty much have to read what I write, or remove me from their list.) Wasn't stable as a Christian neither, and was considering leaving at a point of time, so pretty much avoided writing about the whole Christian thing in my blog. And being a Christian that does not write about Christian stuff makes your entries very asinine, which was pretty much what my LJ degenerated into.
Pretty much stopped writing seriously for almost a year now, let's hope I can pick up where I left off. Still fooling around with the settings.. not v used to blogger yet.. haha
Used to be much more introspective, and writing a blog was my voice, the part of me that wanted to say things that I had nobody else to talk to about. Things like "Oh, how beautiful sunrise is." or "Oh, something interesting happened to me today." Now, between God, my friends and the brothers and sisters in the Hope NUS community, pretty much of the trivial stuff have been covered. I've become much more outward looking, be it family, friends or strangers, something that I could not have imagined happening to me ever. God changes lives man, hell yeah..
Another reason why I didn't write so much for the good part of a year was because I was still a young Christian. Didn't want to act "holy" in my old blog, especially since all my readers were non-Christians, and to start talking about God would turn them off. (Livejournal has this thing called friend's list which compiles all the updates of the people you've friended. So they pretty much have to read what I write, or remove me from their list.) Wasn't stable as a Christian neither, and was considering leaving at a point of time, so pretty much avoided writing about the whole Christian thing in my blog. And being a Christian that does not write about Christian stuff makes your entries very asinine, which was pretty much what my LJ degenerated into.
Pretty much stopped writing seriously for almost a year now, let's hope I can pick up where I left off. Still fooling around with the settings.. not v used to blogger yet.. haha
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