the sermon today was on the christian disciplines. in summary: word, prayer, worship, service, fellowship, evangelism. i figure i've got most of that going in one form or other, except the last one. fellowship isn't particularly strong, but i'm working on that this year.
an old dilemma reared it's head again during the sermon though. the pastor was talking about the importance of discipline, carrying our cross, beating our bodies etc etc. it's easy to be captured by inspiring speakers, and push ourselves to higher standards, only to fall away shortly thereafter. it's all very well for paul to talk about working day and night so as not to burden others, but i'm not really motivated enough to do that.
i've been doing abit of a bible study on work issues, and it seems that many of the NT commandments telling us to work hard are given in the context of lazy people who depend on the church for handouts. does that mean that as long as i have enough money for myself, i'm working hard enough? what about doing all things as for the Lord? the gung-ho implications of that particular verse seems to leave no room for rest, no room for leisure, no room for hobbies. yet that is a formula for burnout. plus you might become extremely boring to hang out with.
i was convinced that my main goal this year was to learn how to rest properly. to truly rest, and not merely while away my time on frivolous pursuits, and through resting properly to give myself fully to things which i commit myself to, instead of merely turning up and serving in a perfunctory manner. i've actually been getting into the word abit more, and praying abit more, and enjoying them both more than i have in awhile. but simultaneously, my motivation and desire to study has plummeted. school deadlines mean little to me now, and tests hold little anxiety for me. there's very little which i'm actually putting effort into at the moment, which doesn't seem quite right to me... is this right?
on an unrelated note, i noticed that Jesus gave us the Spirit of Truth. Yet just because something is true doesn't mean that it is Truth. the way that some other people phrase this difference is by distinguishing physical and spiritual realities. when i was younger, and to a certain extent even now, i quested for what was true believing that it would set me free. what i didn't understand was that the Truth is not something perceived by the eyes or understood by the mind...
work!
Mar 20, 2009
incompetent people piss me off SO badly...
how can you leave random commas in the middle of sentences? capitalise random letters in the middle of your sentence? did you even read through what you wrote after you wrote it? sare you not aware that abbreviations are inappropriate for a formal report? why is it that even though the lecturer has uploaded brilliant examples of formal reports, you are unable to follow the slightest bit, or even to look at them? why is it that when i hand you a printed copy of the report with errors circled in pencil, you still fail to amend them in the later draft? why is it that when i do up the formatting of the report nicely for you, you feel compelled to revert to an earlier copy of the draft to make your own amendments, happily leaving out everything i included? why do you then later complain that you have no time to format the report nicely? why is it that you use one title for the report on the cover sheet, and another title in the letter of transmittal?
i want to take my name off the report, that's how bad it is. i also don't want to ever see them again. unfortunately, neither of the above is an option.
how can you leave random commas in the middle of sentences? capitalise random letters in the middle of your sentence? did you even read through what you wrote after you wrote it? sare you not aware that abbreviations are inappropriate for a formal report? why is it that even though the lecturer has uploaded brilliant examples of formal reports, you are unable to follow the slightest bit, or even to look at them? why is it that when i hand you a printed copy of the report with errors circled in pencil, you still fail to amend them in the later draft? why is it that when i do up the formatting of the report nicely for you, you feel compelled to revert to an earlier copy of the draft to make your own amendments, happily leaving out everything i included? why do you then later complain that you have no time to format the report nicely? why is it that you use one title for the report on the cover sheet, and another title in the letter of transmittal?
i want to take my name off the report, that's how bad it is. i also don't want to ever see them again. unfortunately, neither of the above is an option.
Mar 16, 2009
this blog is not frequently updated. many times i thought of things i might include here, but other things seemed to take priority. it seems pointless at times. what is my motivation for writing?
recently, i have been coming to the conclusion that many of the commandments given in the Bible are not imperatives per se, but more like warnings against acting to the contrary. when we were instructed to do everything as for the Lord, i strongly doubt that it literally meant everything, but more as a warning against treating our responsibilities lightly. after all, some things of necessity take precedence over others.
similarly, i have become very wary of attempting to draw biblical principles from single verses. the limitations of human communication are such that it is rare for a principle to be completely described in a single sitting. the example mentioned above will adequately illustrate this point as well. it seems to me that the safest thing we can draw from the Bible are general principles, each supported by a plethora of examples. This holds true, unless specifically inspired by the Holy Spirit otherwise.
if you have yet to notice, i have finished reading a story about two English majors (from England, no less!), whose relationship was defined by obscure words and quotations. it has affected my writing style. :D
recently, i have been coming to the conclusion that many of the commandments given in the Bible are not imperatives per se, but more like warnings against acting to the contrary. when we were instructed to do everything as for the Lord, i strongly doubt that it literally meant everything, but more as a warning against treating our responsibilities lightly. after all, some things of necessity take precedence over others.
similarly, i have become very wary of attempting to draw biblical principles from single verses. the limitations of human communication are such that it is rare for a principle to be completely described in a single sitting. the example mentioned above will adequately illustrate this point as well. it seems to me that the safest thing we can draw from the Bible are general principles, each supported by a plethora of examples. This holds true, unless specifically inspired by the Holy Spirit otherwise.
if you have yet to notice, i have finished reading a story about two English majors (from England, no less!), whose relationship was defined by obscure words and quotations. it has affected my writing style. :D
Mar 6, 2009
Habits...
There's a quote that I'm looking for, which I'm certain came from C.S. Lewis, but I cannot find it online.
It goes something like, "If only children realise that their entire adult life will consist of nothing but the habits they have learned, they would be more careful of what they do." That's the gist of it anyway, although I'm sure the original was phrased better.
The closest thing I've found online so far is this:
The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half. ~Feodor Dostoevski
It goes something like, "If only children realise that their entire adult life will consist of nothing but the habits they have learned, they would be more careful of what they do." That's the gist of it anyway, although I'm sure the original was phrased better.
The closest thing I've found online so far is this:
The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half. ~Feodor Dostoevski
Feb 19, 2009
Lord,
please help me to remember that regardless of how anointed and appointed a man may be, it is still You alone who brings deliverance and healing.
I believe You're my Healer
Heb 7:25 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
I believe You are all I need
Amen.
please help me to remember that regardless of how anointed and appointed a man may be, it is still You alone who brings deliverance and healing.
I believe You're my Healer
Heb 7:25 "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
I believe You are all I need
Amen.
Feb 17, 2009
A thin line...
I was watching this interesting video about procrastination...
and it got me thinking. the poor guy delays doing his work because there are so many other useful things he could be doing. cleaning his desk, buying his groceries, eating meals etc. on the other hand, a lazy guy, instead of doing work, lies back on his bed and watches the clouds go by. :)
when you put it that way, procrastination doesn't really seem like such a bad thing yeah?
and it got me thinking. the poor guy delays doing his work because there are so many other useful things he could be doing. cleaning his desk, buying his groceries, eating meals etc. on the other hand, a lazy guy, instead of doing work, lies back on his bed and watches the clouds go by. :)
when you put it that way, procrastination doesn't really seem like such a bad thing yeah?
Feb 15, 2009
i have possibly been blessed with the easiest tuition job ever.
two hours a week. two kids, $20 per hour each, for a total of $80 per two-hour session. the kids are in sec3, which means no major exam to work towards this year. they're both in express stream, and are probably smart enough to do well on their own. in fact, they're in the top express class in their school, and the only reason they want tuition is because they feel that they're lagging behind in class abit.
it feels weird and somehow wrong that i can get that kind of money for so little effort. but i guess i should be thankful.
oh, and Pasta de Waraku serves some pretty good pasta.
two hours a week. two kids, $20 per hour each, for a total of $80 per two-hour session. the kids are in sec3, which means no major exam to work towards this year. they're both in express stream, and are probably smart enough to do well on their own. in fact, they're in the top express class in their school, and the only reason they want tuition is because they feel that they're lagging behind in class abit.
it feels weird and somehow wrong that i can get that kind of money for so little effort. but i guess i should be thankful.
oh, and Pasta de Waraku serves some pretty good pasta.
Feb 5, 2009
Feb 4, 2009
stupid bureaucrats...
i have been trying for over a week to borrow something from a school department, which would cost several hundred dollars to rent externally.
although the guy i spoke to initially was really nice and helpful, after he spoke with his superior, he came back and told me, "I don't think we'll be able to lend you the boards, because we may not have enough for our own use."
I asked him when he would know for certain, and he told me that his colleague would get back to me the next morning. I spent an anxious morning waiting, eventually calling the department in the late afternoon, only to find that not only was my contact on leave the entire week, but no one present knew anything about my request. wonderful.
so the next day, i personally went down to the department, intending to make abit of a commotion, and discover from a friendly admin person that my contact was due back in the office after lunch. okay... someone gave me wrong information.
so i go back again in the afternoon, and i find my contact back from lunch, and looking quite unhappy to see me. he is surprised that his colleague hasn't gotten back to me, ad tells me that he has no idea when his colleague will be around, and that he thinks she's on leave.
but the friendly admin person corrects him, and informs me that the colleague in question will return shortly. he asks me if i would like to call them back later, but i cannot wait, and so i request to wait in the department.
his colleague arrived shortly, and i spoke to her. this is what she said, in an apprehensive manner. "I don't think we can lend you the stuff, because our students might need to use it. Sometimes they last-minute need to use..."
sigh. reading between the lines and from her body language, she doesn't dare to lend me the stuff, for fear that she might get into trouble for it. but a friend of mine from the department assure me that there's usually alot of spares sitting around. and that if i had asked anyone else the department i probably would have gotten it.
so we're out about $400. it's too late to go back and request again, because i need it by the weekend.
it is so typically Singaporean! kia-see, basically. sigh... and that poor guy is just learning all these bad habits from that colleague. i feel like sending him an email to appeal to him not to be like that next time...
although the guy i spoke to initially was really nice and helpful, after he spoke with his superior, he came back and told me, "I don't think we'll be able to lend you the boards, because we may not have enough for our own use."
I asked him when he would know for certain, and he told me that his colleague would get back to me the next morning. I spent an anxious morning waiting, eventually calling the department in the late afternoon, only to find that not only was my contact on leave the entire week, but no one present knew anything about my request. wonderful.
so the next day, i personally went down to the department, intending to make abit of a commotion, and discover from a friendly admin person that my contact was due back in the office after lunch. okay... someone gave me wrong information.
so i go back again in the afternoon, and i find my contact back from lunch, and looking quite unhappy to see me. he is surprised that his colleague hasn't gotten back to me, ad tells me that he has no idea when his colleague will be around, and that he thinks she's on leave.
but the friendly admin person corrects him, and informs me that the colleague in question will return shortly. he asks me if i would like to call them back later, but i cannot wait, and so i request to wait in the department.
his colleague arrived shortly, and i spoke to her. this is what she said, in an apprehensive manner. "I don't think we can lend you the stuff, because our students might need to use it. Sometimes they last-minute need to use..."
sigh. reading between the lines and from her body language, she doesn't dare to lend me the stuff, for fear that she might get into trouble for it. but a friend of mine from the department assure me that there's usually alot of spares sitting around. and that if i had asked anyone else the department i probably would have gotten it.
so we're out about $400. it's too late to go back and request again, because i need it by the weekend.
it is so typically Singaporean! kia-see, basically. sigh... and that poor guy is just learning all these bad habits from that colleague. i feel like sending him an email to appeal to him not to be like that next time...
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