Chastened

I've been pondering on the words of 2 of my friends lately, particularly because I believe God was using them to send me a message.

First was a challenge - to ask myself what my focus is now. When we value anything more than God, this unsurrendered area becomes a bait that Satan uses against us. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."

Second was a testimony - that being single allows one to explore who they are, to know and be confident of who they are, something that is more difficult once in a relationship.

The latter hit me, because I've often felt a disconnect between who I am and who I wished I was. I've often felt my direction in life careening like a pinball with 2 levers pushing me in differing directions.

The former.. to be honest I felt like I had been chastened and my reaction wasn't the best.

But today, this passage found me:

Hebrews 12:
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

Consider me chastened. I thank You, Father, for placing these brothers and sisters in Christ around me, that You may use them as messengers when I need You. I will endure, I will listen.

I've often felt that I can barely understand myself, how can I expect anyone else to then? So let me figure that out then, let me find out who I am. And let my life reflect that.

My prayer then, is that it will reflect that I love my Saviour, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice means I am able to lead a victorious life, living life to its fullest.

Rediscovering old loves

Played tennis with my brother, cousin and uncle tonight, ended up playing 4 sets. That's a lot of tennis for me!

Thanks to my brother's return and YH's interest in tennis recently, managed to get in quite a bit of social tennis. Realised I quite missed it, am looking forward to playing more. :)

Business, not sports

Let me tell you a story:

A couple have five children, all who study real hard and always try their best:
- 1st son finishes his poly diploma, parents delighted
- 2nd daughter makes it to local uni, of course delighted, even tho fail to graduate
- 3rd son make it to local uni AND graduates, parents ecstatic
but none made it to Harvard, which to the couple is their dream.

Not likely the next 2 can make it, so they go to the top JC in Singapore and adopt a girl who is scoring straight 'A's, hoping she can make it to Harvard, but when she gets couple of 'B's in J2, couple get antsy and decide she can't get the Harvard place so they disown her. They then adopt another boy, who finally manages to make it to Harvard.

Do the parents feel as proud of the child they adopted for the sole purpose of seeing one of their children go through Harvard, or do they feel prouder of the children who they raised and managed to achieve something? (Oops, meanwhile, what happened to the 4th and 5th children? As long as didn't make it to Harvard, dunno dun care?)

I think you know where I'm going with this. Our table tennis girls gonna win an Olympics silver medal, swimming girl gets 5th in a final and sets Asian record. Do I feel happy for my country, proud even? I'm sorry, but I don't. If anything, I feel sad for the day one of the true Singaporeans wins a medal, it won't be the same cos it won't be the medal that ends years of waiting for Singapore.

We bring them in for the sole purpose of winning a medal, then cut their funding or send them back when they don't perform. Is that what sports is about? Winning, at all costs? Not for me it's not.

I am supposed to consider you Singaporean? Did you come because you fell in love with our island-nation, our culture? Nothing to do with the better chance to participate in the Olympics, nevermind which country you represent? Just cos you ask to carry the flag, sing the anthem during National Day, I'm gonna see you as Singaporean? Nah.

It's not like you happen to come here in your youth and grew to see Singapore as your home. It's a classic transaction, willing buyer willing seller - we needed an athlete capable of winning a medal, you needed a country willing / able to give you the opportunity. Business, not sports.

So, congratulations girls, on winning a medal. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for you, just not more than I am for Phelps winning 8 golds or Nadal winning gold.

I'm sure many will disagree with my opinion, probably one of the strongest I've ever posted. I'm curious to hear the reaction. :)

Eye of the Beholder

It is often said that history is written by the victorious. It seems like a rather sobering realisation, given the way our history textbooks portray their version as fact, rather than emphasise the context and perspective within which that version was written.

Anyway, I've been following the Olympics mostly via the official website maintained by China and ESPN (obviously American). It amuses me that, in the midst of the battle for sporting supremacy, there is another battle to write the sporting history books.

Case in point - portrayal of medal tallies:

China (1st, in terms of gold medals):


USA (1st, in terms of total medals):


Go figure.

Lombok pics!

Finally got the pictures from JD!

Lombok July 2008

Looking back, I'm amazed that I chose to go on this trip, not just to climb a mountain, but to do so with a group I don't know that well. Am glad I did!

Generation gap

A few weeks ago, one of our newer associates, JE, came up with a term that I've never heard before:

Chillaxing

I've never heard that term before. Generation gap in 4 years???

As it turns out though, couple of others have! I've narrowed this generation gap down to Generation X (up to 1979 babies) vs Generation Y (1980 onwards).

Do you know the term?

Flame lighting

Reading the news today, realised it's tough to have NDP when the whole world's talking about yesterday's Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Never occurred to me that the Opening Ceremony would require secrecy, but I realised that it's largely cos everyone wonders who gets to light the Olympic flame and how it gets done. ESPN's take on this year's:

"It ended in spectacular fashion, when China's first Olympic superstar, 1984 gymnastics triple gold medalist Li Ning, was hoisted by wires to the top of the stadium, circled the entire circumference as though he was spacewalking, then used his torch to send a torrent of flame spiraling upward to light the Olympic flame in a huge cauldron overlooking Beijing."

Spectacular meh..? Wanted to show you the youtube clip of the flame lighting in case you missed it, but:


I guess IP rights prevailed pretty quickly. Anyway, needless to say, I don't think an old man spacewalking while suspending by wires really impresses me.

You know what does though? 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which till today remains the best flame lighting ever in my opinion. An archer entrusted with the responsibility of lighting a cauldron up and far away, with at least a billion people watching you? Talk about pressure! Respect, I say!

You judge for yourself:

Party of the year?

Heard on the radio on my way home - "Today we interview the man responsible for the party of the year here in Singapore, the event everyone is waiting for..."

Me (in my head): "what party? Singfest? Beijing Opening ceremony?"
Radio: "...NDP 2008"
Me: "OH. Oops!"

Brother's coming home tomorrow... so excited!! And there's Lizzie's party on Sunday. Looking forward to this weekend!!

Army blessings

I was actually very blessed when I was serving my NS, having a boss who basically let me come and go as I pleased as long as I got the job done (that must have been my first experience with the kind of boss I borderline demand to have nowadays :P)

Now, during this round of reservist, I have once again received God's blessings. Shan't go into details, but suffice to say, I can attend grandauntie's golden anniversary on National Day, can attend Lizzie's bday party Sunday and will see lotsa my brother when he comes back Saturday! Office hours... am really so glad, so delighted.

I know that nothing happens by accident, Lord. I will make good use of this time. :)

Shine

Got my car polished today... look at her all shiny :)

Don't worry little one, I'll be keeping you a while yet