love is in the air

This time last year I wrote a post just because it was valentine's day. Nothing different this time around. Although, I'm much less for ideas, and some how, my English has deteriorated. Atrocious! I guess, after hanging out in a country that's so proud of their very own Manglish, one tends to follow after the trend?

Valentine's day. Love is in the air.

Actually not so much for me. It's been a pretty much normal day for me. I was surprised to not see many people walking hand in hand, or with a bouquet of flowers in hand. No love music in the air as I walked the shopping mall to get some items.

I have to say this (please don't kill me!), but I was even surprised that my sister wasn't out on a romantic dinner. (Here's me sore but trying to rationalize things) I guess when one's a little older, commercialized days like Valentine's Day don't faze us. (Yeah right!)

Honestly speaking though, all soreness aside, I don't see why there's any real reason to celebrate. And as Shawn Kong had written in his post, shouldn't love be celebrated on a daily basis?

Most probably, florists, candy and chocolate sellers or anything that comes along in the package of Valentine's day, just wanted to make a little more cash (probably Chinese, since most of them had to give away angpows and now had to make back some money), and hence, some how convinced/conned women in the world, that this day should be something special, and IF they meant anything at all to their significant other, they should get something or some celebration out of the ordinary.

I'm just kidding. Please don't sue me or leave nasty comments in my blog!

Anyhow, here's a picture to somewhat make whoopee of this special day. Happy Valentine's day! Especially to those who are sitting in front of your computers right now reading blogs instead of out on a hot date. ;)

crossroads

What do you do when there seems like a dozen roadblocks, too many options and no clue as to where one should go?

At the cross roads.

Waiting.

Where do I go from here?

discrimination?

This happened last week, but didn't get round to blogging it. So I shall, right now. It isn't so much as a rant, but thought I'd just label it as one. My sister said this is discrimination, and it most probably is. So here's the story:

Last week, I went to look for my mum and sister in Carrefour, Mid Valley, as they had gone in first. I was carrying my brown bag with me, as I had just come from somewhere else, when at the door, I was stopped! And for what reason? If you can guess.

Coming.

Coming.


Wait for it.

They wanted to tie my bag. Yes. With one of those plastic ties. I thought it was really absurd. Before any of you can come up with wise comments, the next guy after me who was carrying a waist pouch was also stopped. The same was done.

Now let me explain why I say discrimination.

The guy after me? His pouch was so small, he could prob sneak in a choc bar with some sweets at most. Even if my bag was much bigger, it's totally ridiculous to put a plastic tie on my bag.
My sister and my mum who were carrying bigger bags than mine, were not tied up. Many other women's bags too.

So why mine and the other guys? Cause we looked young, and we were of male gender?

Ridonkeylous. If Jusco doesn't practice this, nor does Cold Storage, or Giant Supermarket, WHY oh WHY does CARREFOUR have to have this extra security measure?

ANYHOW. Here's a picture.

It best describes my frustration (?).


If u can see the plastic tie between the zip and the big metal bit which holds the strap.

logic

"As far as the propositions of mathematic refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality". - Albert Einstein

We are essentially creatures of logic. We love explanations, we love to find out why something happens, and more importantly, it must be something that's tangible or physical enough for plain sight to see. For an object to move from point A to point B, we MUST see it move. If by the blink of the eye, it disappears at point A and reappears in point B, the first question that comes to mind is probably: How did that happen? If we saw it move with our own eyes, then it wouldn't have been a problem.

It's been a tough season this past few weeks. Besides feeling a little de-motivated for whatever reason, I've just been feeling lethargic. Maybe it was just hard for me to see past the many obstacles I see before me, maybe I just didn't think some one like me, could be successful.

Hmmm.

It's all about faith. Faith ends when doubt begins, and faith begins when doubts end.

There is no logic in faith. Or else, as Ravi Zacharias said in his book, kids will never be able to believe.

i'm back

Hiatus for a while...

now I'm back.

No. Not with a vengeance.
Truly it has been refreshing, to just take time off to gather thoughts and what not. As I continue to observe many things, I have learned lots. Indeed, it pays sometimes to just keep quiet and slip to the back, and watch what's really going on.

No, it's not an emo post.

After leaders retreat, I've gained even more insight on things.

I'd like to end this brief post with just one question:

What makes us who we are?

are who we say we are? (part 2)

How are we supposed to tell the world, we are christians, which basically means followers of Christ, if we don't follow what He says?

Sounds a bit like an emo blog, but it isn't really.

This is not so much of a complaint, more so a rhetorical question.

Do you know, as a christian we are constantly being watched?

Have we ever thought that, what we do, may affect one's decision to come to know God?

I'm not to say, that I'm a perfect shining example, but....

1Cor 10:
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Be careful of your every action.

I'll have to be careful with mine too. I really don't want someone quoting me, in a "Why as a christian he does this?".

are you who you say you are?

A very wordy, repetitive title, but decided to blog quickly about this before I go to bed, just as I was reading something that caught my eye, and it stimulated the brain juices a little.

In the past decade, there have been quite a few people who have been placed in the role of a leader, and one thing often done is, them quoting that God is their running mate (quote from Micheal Kinsley's article in Time).

Micheal Kinsley in his article was basically saying, that these days, it's important for presidential candidates to wear their religion on their sleeve. What he said about, how a government is run, and how one's belief system cannot be separated, is very true. He used the example of Mormonism list of no-nos, which include no alcohol, tea, coffee and such forms of sexual behavior as "passionate kissing" outside wedlock, and how if a candidate has to both hold on to his beliefs and at the same time impose these laws, it would be an issue. It would really be difficult for him to be a good President and a good Mormon.

It is true. We don't have to go as far as being a presidential candidate to have to ask this question. Simply because, the day we start saying we are Christian, we have to act like one. We have to act like followers of Christ, not just people who are following behind, but people imitating Him.

It's bad enough that people think, the bible is just another book on the shelf of a bookstore, it's worse that we don't follow it enough convincingly, and do what we are supposed to do. It makes the case much worse, because not only are people not convinced that the bible is not the word from God, but the book that we are supposed to follow its commands, we don't treasure well enough, and cannot make it a strong enough case for people to see it is truly FROM God.

Are you who you say you are?

disappointment

Yes.

Disappointment. Don't worry, it's not so much of a rant than it is a way of both expressing myself and at the same time, evaluating things.

Sometimes, things just don't work the way we want them too, we get disappointed, and if it's long enough we get jaded. So, is disappointment a good thing or a bad thing? It really can deter some people from doing the right thing. I guess I'm learning even more, that things truly can't go the way we want it to MORE frequently than I think it would.

So am I disappointed? Yes. I am. Am I discouraged? In more than one way, yes.

However, just remember what pastor had to say yesterday about being an overcomer, I'll have to just overcome it. After all, good comes to all who love Him and does His work right?

Time to get back onto the saddle, and start moving forward. No pity party here. Slight frustration, but it does not equate nor justify my avoiding the fact of things and pushing forward.

All I can say is, I fully put my trust in the One that gave me purpose and life.

we are family

No, contrary to what you are thinking, I'm not singing the song.

This week, after lots of thinking, the one thing I've come to realize, with being a christian, is that, I'm really part of a bigger family. Sometimes, it's hard to see that. Sometimes, we treat each other just as friends, or just another person on the street.

Truth be told, is that, it isn't really true.

I believe, a christian can be so unlikeable to the point of risking strangulation, but still when in need, will be helped by fellow brothers or sisters (of course, they have to know that this person is in trouble). Why? Some might say, it's because they are all christians and they should do good, or purely because of namesake that they ARE christians. I used to want to believe that there is a greater bond than that. Now, I know for sure, it is purely for the reason that, we are of the same family, the same Father.

How DID I come to this conclusion?

When I was younger, more stubborn, more irritating, a rebel, I remember of people who stood by me and guided me, even when I refused guidance. Really. I was quite the stubborn donkey.
Now, it's my turn to lead and chance getting kicked by the donkey.

Are we sometimes to proud to be in a family who will help and guide us along the way? For a lot of us, rather be in our own circle, and remain in that private circle.