Technically, this was written 4 days ago when i had a severely malfunctioning laptop and no internet, but i haven't found a chance to post it till now...
Obeying God’s commands, or obeying social norms. When you proudly declare that you have never murdered anyone at all in your lifetime, is that because you fear God, or because you fear the potential repercussions?
That’s an extreme example, so bring it a little closer home. Right next to where it says “Thou shalt not murder”, is a similarly well-known line “Thou shalt not lie”. Yet somehow, we see the two as a world apart in terms of “severity” and “gravity”. Why?
What brought this argument to mind was that discussion on how ladies choose to dress. Someone was talking about bikinis. How the amount of materiel used to make a bikini is significantly less than the amount that goes into normal underwear. How the amount of skin being covered dwindles to an insignificant amount. How the styles and designs, or lack thereof, leave extremely little to the imagination. How is it an offence for a lady to walk around in underwear in Orchard Road, yet be perfectly acceptable to wear even less at the beach.
The truth is, of course, that men need to learn to stop staring. If a man wants to look twice, he will find something to look at, unless the ladies are dressed in burqas and veils. But that’s entirely besides the point. How can one person have two different opinions of right and wrong based on circumstances? It’s like saying it’s ok to lie sometimes, and ok to kill sometimes. And it belies the truth, that as Christians we no longer hold on to the gold standard we once had. The truth is that often, our values are based on what is socially acceptable within our own networks. Because our networks are so often mainly Christian, so our standards are somewhat higher than some other people. But because we come into contact with others, as we must, those standards melt like snowmen in the sun.
It is a tragedy.
Jan 30, 2007
Jan 24, 2007
Black//White
It’s past midnight, but I can’t sleep. Have an ansolutely full day tomorrow… schedule packed full fropm 9am to 9pm, and I need my sleep, but I can’t. thinking too much.
Thinking hard about an absolutely long talk I had on Sunday with a few friends. Talking about two issues, mainly. How ladies dress nowsadays, and clubbing. Asking about what Christianity had to say on these two things, and the general principles involved. About where the standards lay in these two areas. And we couldn’t seem to agree on a standard, which seriously worries me…
The simple view is: there is no standard. There is nothing explicit mentioned in the bible. Take the issue of ladies dressing for example. we are instructed not to be a stumbling block to others, but that verse has been used to justify so many unreasonable things that it is hard to apply that verse now. The second one that I just thought of is that a ladies beauty should not be in ornaments and perfume, but in good character and a godly spirit. But again, there is no clear cut standard.
One argument I heard is that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world. One extreme example would be the mormons, who are instantly recognizable by the way they dress. But no non-christian would dare approach them, and few Christians would either, such is their reputation. If we begin to impose rules and standards on people, is that where we are headed? Besides, Jesus admonished the Pharisees, who tithed on mint and cumin and dill, but ignored grace and mercy, when both should not be neglected. Rules are not the be all and end all of things, yet we should not rely on the law.
Yet without the law, we have slipped up. How are we set apart from the world, if in every respect we look and worse, act just like them. As the song by Steven Curtis Chapman puts it, what about the change? What about the difference? What about the life that’s showing I’m undergoing the change?? It is all to common to hear nowadays that people believe in our God, but they don’t see anything different about becoming a Christian.
So, pondering these things tonight, some things came to me and I must write them down before I forget.
Someone mentioned to me today that beyond all of our theological arguments of where the standards lie, deep within our hearts we know that there are certain standards to be followed. As people, we are all too good as using logic to justify our actions, twisting words for our benefit, while suppressing the voice of truth. A friend once told me that the more he found himself trying to justify an action, the more likely it was that the action was wrong. A thought that came to me some days ago was that we as people tend to make our decisions first and then tailor our arguments to support our decision. The verse which comes to mind goes something like, be ye doers of the word also, and not just hearers only, thereby deceiving yourselves.
We must learn to be honest with ourselves, and listen to that still small voice within us, the voice of truth that tells us a different story from what the world argues. For if we are truly born again, then the Spirit of God resides within us, and we can depend on the Spirit to guide us. As it says in Scripture, as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Jesus himself said that we, his sheep, know his voice and follow him. Let us take the advice of Mary, mother of Jesus to heart. "Whatever he says to you, do it."
Thinking hard about an absolutely long talk I had on Sunday with a few friends. Talking about two issues, mainly. How ladies dress nowsadays, and clubbing. Asking about what Christianity had to say on these two things, and the general principles involved. About where the standards lay in these two areas. And we couldn’t seem to agree on a standard, which seriously worries me…
The simple view is: there is no standard. There is nothing explicit mentioned in the bible. Take the issue of ladies dressing for example. we are instructed not to be a stumbling block to others, but that verse has been used to justify so many unreasonable things that it is hard to apply that verse now. The second one that I just thought of is that a ladies beauty should not be in ornaments and perfume, but in good character and a godly spirit. But again, there is no clear cut standard.
One argument I heard is that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world. One extreme example would be the mormons, who are instantly recognizable by the way they dress. But no non-christian would dare approach them, and few Christians would either, such is their reputation. If we begin to impose rules and standards on people, is that where we are headed? Besides, Jesus admonished the Pharisees, who tithed on mint and cumin and dill, but ignored grace and mercy, when both should not be neglected. Rules are not the be all and end all of things, yet we should not rely on the law.
Yet without the law, we have slipped up. How are we set apart from the world, if in every respect we look and worse, act just like them. As the song by Steven Curtis Chapman puts it, what about the change? What about the difference? What about the life that’s showing I’m undergoing the change?? It is all to common to hear nowadays that people believe in our God, but they don’t see anything different about becoming a Christian.
So, pondering these things tonight, some things came to me and I must write them down before I forget.
Someone mentioned to me today that beyond all of our theological arguments of where the standards lie, deep within our hearts we know that there are certain standards to be followed. As people, we are all too good as using logic to justify our actions, twisting words for our benefit, while suppressing the voice of truth. A friend once told me that the more he found himself trying to justify an action, the more likely it was that the action was wrong. A thought that came to me some days ago was that we as people tend to make our decisions first and then tailor our arguments to support our decision. The verse which comes to mind goes something like, be ye doers of the word also, and not just hearers only, thereby deceiving yourselves.
We must learn to be honest with ourselves, and listen to that still small voice within us, the voice of truth that tells us a different story from what the world argues. For if we are truly born again, then the Spirit of God resides within us, and we can depend on the Spirit to guide us. As it says in Scripture, as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Jesus himself said that we, his sheep, know his voice and follow him. Let us take the advice of Mary, mother of Jesus to heart. "Whatever he says to you, do it."
Jan 20, 2007
oh what a dreadful day
how foolish i was to think that that day would be great. in my naivete i neglected to consider the repercussions. thankfully i have a girlfriend who is experienced in such matters to advise me.
general principle: the day after a spiritual high tends to be absolutely terrible. revenge attacks, if you will. won't elaborate much, but the 'highlight' of the day was dropping my laptop. it's spoilt now, and is in for servicing indefinitely, which just about cripples my work life. sigh...
but what i really want to thank God for is for friends who will remain oblivious to the storm clouds over your head and the "Go Away" written plainly all over your face, and hang around and chat happily to you until you actually feel better.
another observation from wise gf - if a person is being exceptionally unreasonable and refuses to accept plain logic, it could be a spiritual stronghold? hmm...
general principle: the day after a spiritual high tends to be absolutely terrible. revenge attacks, if you will. won't elaborate much, but the 'highlight' of the day was dropping my laptop. it's spoilt now, and is in for servicing indefinitely, which just about cripples my work life. sigh...
but what i really want to thank God for is for friends who will remain oblivious to the storm clouds over your head and the "Go Away" written plainly all over your face, and hang around and chat happily to you until you actually feel better.
another observation from wise gf - if a person is being exceptionally unreasonable and refuses to accept plain logic, it could be a spiritual stronghold? hmm...
Jan 17, 2007
Beholding God's Glory
A concept introduced to me some time ago by a lady called Sarah Yang was "Beholding God's Glory". Don't really understand it, but it involves meeting God not through the Word, nor through worship, nor through prayer in words or tongue, but a kind of sitting and resting and... beholding. Just looking and seeing God's glory. She would put a worship CD on, and just sit and behold, and I tried that today.
So I was lying on my back, on my bed, gazing at the ceiling. I was wide awake, but lying down, because it seemed that God was up there somewhere, and a picture came into my mind - i saw the night sky, and the stars winking in the darkness, and I saw a tube made of some translucent, clear material, stretching away from me up and up into the Heavens, and a thought came to mind. The exact phrasing eludes me now, but... "Now that I'm fasting, I have a clear, direct, unimpeded line to Heaven." and then this. "Ask whatever you want."
So I spoke what I wanted. It seemed important to speak it aloud somehow. Three things I wanted. To know the will of God, to do the will of God, and to be empowered and anointed for the doing. and then, after a few more minutes... nothing. And I wondered whether I had said something wrong, or whether I had missed something somehow, whether I'd been distracted. And I pondered that for awhile, and then i decided that, you know, perhaps that was what God wanted to say for today, and that I would find out more tomorrow. Eagerly waiting tomorrow.
I write this here as testimony, and a reminder of what I am promised.
So I was lying on my back, on my bed, gazing at the ceiling. I was wide awake, but lying down, because it seemed that God was up there somewhere, and a picture came into my mind - i saw the night sky, and the stars winking in the darkness, and I saw a tube made of some translucent, clear material, stretching away from me up and up into the Heavens, and a thought came to mind. The exact phrasing eludes me now, but... "Now that I'm fasting, I have a clear, direct, unimpeded line to Heaven." and then this. "Ask whatever you want."
So I spoke what I wanted. It seemed important to speak it aloud somehow. Three things I wanted. To know the will of God, to do the will of God, and to be empowered and anointed for the doing. and then, after a few more minutes... nothing. And I wondered whether I had said something wrong, or whether I had missed something somehow, whether I'd been distracted. And I pondered that for awhile, and then i decided that, you know, perhaps that was what God wanted to say for today, and that I would find out more tomorrow. Eagerly waiting tomorrow.
I write this here as testimony, and a reminder of what I am promised.
Jan 11, 2007
that'll be six dollars, sir. here's your change
funny thing happened yesterday while i was watching a play at the esplanade.
me: i'll have the apple juice please
bartender: that'll be six dollars, sir
*i hand over a fifty dollar bill(
*she rummages about in the till and extracts my change*
bartender: that'll be six dollars, sir. here's your change.
*she hands me six dollars*
me: er... i gave you fifty dollars.
*i show her how much change she gave me*
bartender: ... oh, sorry sir.
*takes back the change, rummages in the till again, and hands me $46*
me: er...
*hands a two dollar note back*
kinda reminds me of that riddle i heard in J1 about the 3 guys having to pay a $30 bill at a restaurant. =). i hope i didn't traumatize the bartender for life.
me: i'll have the apple juice please
bartender: that'll be six dollars, sir
*i hand over a fifty dollar bill(
*she rummages about in the till and extracts my change*
bartender: that'll be six dollars, sir. here's your change.
*she hands me six dollars*
me: er... i gave you fifty dollars.
*i show her how much change she gave me*
bartender: ... oh, sorry sir.
*takes back the change, rummages in the till again, and hands me $46*
me: er...
*hands a two dollar note back*
kinda reminds me of that riddle i heard in J1 about the 3 guys having to pay a $30 bill at a restaurant. =). i hope i didn't traumatize the bartender for life.
Jan 9, 2007
Harry Potter IQ Test
been awhile since i did this badly for a test... dangzit. obviously reading it thrice is entirely insufficient. nooo.....
Jan 5, 2007
I Come From The Spion Kop
listening to: Poor Scouser Tommy, via the official Liverpool FC website. pretty funky lyrics for a football cheer. think the local schools have alot to learn when it comes to cheers. =)
was waiting at the bus stop today. saw a guy behind me, from a local secondary school. pretty sure he was in lower sec... still in shorts, he was. he was smoking, which shocked me personally, and his conversation was sprinkled liberally with hokkien.
after i got up on the bus, i was thinking to myself... you know, these are the kind of people i am expected to reach out to when i become a teacher... or, now as i type and think... even now, if i come across them.
i've always had abit more passion for the quiet ones, because that is who i was/am. i believe that i could have achieved and learnt so much more, and become so much more, had someone challenged me when i was younger. not challenge, as in confrontation, but challenge, as in to hone, as iron sharpens iron. to bring me out of my comfort zone, to find the limits of my talents and abilities. army finally did that for me, but it should have been done so much earlier, and school is one place where it could have been done.
but what can i do with the destructive ones? the ones with a dim view of authority, who take pride in rebelliousness, who insist on standing out in every negative way possible? i was thinking about this on my bus ride...
it's an attention-seeking thing, i'm sure, though i have no experience and authority to back me up. challenging authority, mocking the values of the day are the easiest ways to gain notoriety and a certain kind of respect, and my gut feel is that these actions stem out of a lack of self-worth and identity. so i guess a solution would simply be to engage them as people. consult their opinions on things - try and get reasoned opinions out of them if they spout anti-authority rhetoric at you. learn about their lives, relationships and interests as if it were something tremendously important to you, and not just as if it were important, but because it is important.
i categorise people whom i meet and see, and i interact with them accordingly. and the way i act with different groups of people is painfully obviously different to me, and it ashames me, because it seems like such a judgemental thing to do. how do i break out of this?
was waiting at the bus stop today. saw a guy behind me, from a local secondary school. pretty sure he was in lower sec... still in shorts, he was. he was smoking, which shocked me personally, and his conversation was sprinkled liberally with hokkien.
after i got up on the bus, i was thinking to myself... you know, these are the kind of people i am expected to reach out to when i become a teacher... or, now as i type and think... even now, if i come across them.
i've always had abit more passion for the quiet ones, because that is who i was/am. i believe that i could have achieved and learnt so much more, and become so much more, had someone challenged me when i was younger. not challenge, as in confrontation, but challenge, as in to hone, as iron sharpens iron. to bring me out of my comfort zone, to find the limits of my talents and abilities. army finally did that for me, but it should have been done so much earlier, and school is one place where it could have been done.
but what can i do with the destructive ones? the ones with a dim view of authority, who take pride in rebelliousness, who insist on standing out in every negative way possible? i was thinking about this on my bus ride...
it's an attention-seeking thing, i'm sure, though i have no experience and authority to back me up. challenging authority, mocking the values of the day are the easiest ways to gain notoriety and a certain kind of respect, and my gut feel is that these actions stem out of a lack of self-worth and identity. so i guess a solution would simply be to engage them as people. consult their opinions on things - try and get reasoned opinions out of them if they spout anti-authority rhetoric at you. learn about their lives, relationships and interests as if it were something tremendously important to you, and not just as if it were important, but because it is important.
i categorise people whom i meet and see, and i interact with them accordingly. and the way i act with different groups of people is painfully obviously different to me, and it ashames me, because it seems like such a judgemental thing to do. how do i break out of this?
Jan 1, 2007
Happy New Year
happy new year.
didnt sleep a wink last night, but just crashed out the entire afternoon.
watched chronicles of narnia again (in bits), and i really enjoyed the bits i watched, especially how the relationship between the two brothers develops throughout the story, and the character development in general. there were some bits i felt were not particularly well-acted, but it was quite good overall.
looking at the allegorical view of it, there was one part which i was very familiar with, but that i never really thought about? the whole bit about 'he'll be coming and going, he's not a tame lion, you know'. and i suppose it's something to do with the whole omnipresence vs manifest presence that i've heard about, but what i really wonder is, what's the significance of Aslan not being around? Do we then not have guidance in those times, and rely on our own sense of judgement? After all, in the novels it seem that Aslan only appears in times of great trials - what happens in the times of relative peace?
and it's a question that has much relevance in our lives... i mean, we often hear the lament that it's only in our troubled times that we turn to God, but C.S. Lewis seems to be writing that it's only in our troubled times that He draws near to us.
played soccer in the social hall for over two hours. blistered feet. really miss soccer.
visited the Botanic gardens in the morning. walked my feet off. saw 'ang moh' ducks sitting in a tree, and a host of Lesser Whistling Ducks as well. saw a terribly grumpy looking heron (think it's a grey heron?) who had been sitting immobile, and all hunched over on a branch the entire morning. Saw stork-billed kingfisher, which is the yellow-headed one, as well as the comical white-breastd waterhen with the funny red bum which bobs up and down as it walks. spent two hours there, strolling, and was absolutely shattered by the end of it. home, and rest.
my days are filling up much faster than i want them to, and school hasn't even started yet. the holidays were far too full, and i'm feeling distinctly put off-balance by the stuff which still needs to be done. i want one full day at home to do some of this stuff, but i don't think it's happening.
didnt sleep a wink last night, but just crashed out the entire afternoon.
watched chronicles of narnia again (in bits), and i really enjoyed the bits i watched, especially how the relationship between the two brothers develops throughout the story, and the character development in general. there were some bits i felt were not particularly well-acted, but it was quite good overall.
looking at the allegorical view of it, there was one part which i was very familiar with, but that i never really thought about? the whole bit about 'he'll be coming and going, he's not a tame lion, you know'. and i suppose it's something to do with the whole omnipresence vs manifest presence that i've heard about, but what i really wonder is, what's the significance of Aslan not being around? Do we then not have guidance in those times, and rely on our own sense of judgement? After all, in the novels it seem that Aslan only appears in times of great trials - what happens in the times of relative peace?
and it's a question that has much relevance in our lives... i mean, we often hear the lament that it's only in our troubled times that we turn to God, but C.S. Lewis seems to be writing that it's only in our troubled times that He draws near to us.
played soccer in the social hall for over two hours. blistered feet. really miss soccer.
visited the Botanic gardens in the morning. walked my feet off. saw 'ang moh' ducks sitting in a tree, and a host of Lesser Whistling Ducks as well. saw a terribly grumpy looking heron (think it's a grey heron?) who had been sitting immobile, and all hunched over on a branch the entire morning. Saw stork-billed kingfisher, which is the yellow-headed one, as well as the comical white-breastd waterhen with the funny red bum which bobs up and down as it walks. spent two hours there, strolling, and was absolutely shattered by the end of it. home, and rest.
my days are filling up much faster than i want them to, and school hasn't even started yet. the holidays were far too full, and i'm feeling distinctly put off-balance by the stuff which still needs to be done. i want one full day at home to do some of this stuff, but i don't think it's happening.
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