on 2 interesting pieces that I read in gaming magazines...

Why interesting? Well, the first is because it talks about evangelising/proselytising on MMORPGs (?!?), while the second talks about the Da Vinci Code... again .*

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I read the first article in the Feb 2006 issue of Computer Gaming World (CGW). For you non-gaming communities (a.k.a. newbies, or "n00b" in leetspeak), MMORPG is an acronym for  Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Once the term is expanded up, I think it's pretty self-explanatory. yeaps, MMORPG is the place where people spend insane amounts of time, energy and resources to have a "good time together".*** Since so many people spend so much of their existence in virtua-community, some people have taken up to spread their faith in these places.

(Read the article on http://cgw.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3146863 )

Is this a good thing? Personally, of course it's good - spreading the Gospel is always a good thing. I think making use of technology to spread the message and bring the Church to the masses is acceptable and amazing.

Is it being done in an acceptable fashion? Here's where the debate flies all over the place, with people screaming "Foul!". How to reconcile the fact that when you are killing your enemies on-screen in a game, yet be spreading the Message of Love? Or "How dare you intrude on my personal space on the Net?? And tell me stuff which I don't want to hear! I'll smite you with my +5 Staff of Osiris, thou Christian heathen!"****

In the end, all I can say is, if this be the will of God, that nothing on this earth will stop the advent of spreading our faith through this medium. However, if God is not with us in this, we can pour out all the resources into this and it will pass like the wind blowing over the desert.

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The second piece is in Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), Feb 2006 issue. (Read it at http://egm.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3147503&did=2 ) It's about "the Da Vinci Code" video game that's coming out on PS2 and XBox gaming console. Man, I'm just wary of what other merchandising that will come out of this book. A few ideas comes to mind:

1. "Mona Lisa" - portraits, mugs, T-shirts - think the Italians will be enjoying a boom over these.

2. "I  LEONARDO" T-shirts - yea, the "Titanic" diehard fans will be reaping their investments worth over these ...

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*talk about milking the cash cow for all its worth. It's small wonder it's on the bestsellers' list, with all this furor and attention over it.

** For more info on n00b, goto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbie , For more info on MMORPG, goto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mmorpg

*** whether this is good or not as another matter entirely.

**** Purely imagination on my part. I don't know of any game that has a +5 Staff of Osiris. Serious.

The Great Yokai War 妖怪大戦争 (2005)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

hahaha, a fantasy movie on the mythological demons and creatures of Japan. Seems like a school holiday movie produced for the kids. Good combination of puppetry and computer generated images (CGI). For japanese manga and anime otaku.

IMDB entry
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425661/

Japanese website
http://yokai-movie.com/index.html

Super Mario Kill Bill

Super gory clip, with funny NES Mario sound effects. Watch and laugh your head off.

on reflections from that Yancey book

in case you don't know, I'm talking about "Where's God When It Hurts". Just a couple of takeaways.

First is that I rarely thought about suffering and pain in this world. I guess I'm pretty much desensitised that way. To put it in its harshest sense, I've much lost a heart of compassion for the sick and the suffering. I never really know that sending "Get Well" cards can sometimes send the wrong message to the receipient, especially for the terminally diseased and the dying. For that I repent of a cold, stony and insensitive heart.

Second is that though I have not been through major sufferings and pains in my life, the times when I do go through them, I tend to just grit my teeth and bear with them stoically. "Manly what, don't be a wimp and whine." Well, that's often my line or thought when I have pain or suffering. I don't usually go through the "Why me, o Lord? Why this upon me" routine. While I don't usually gripe about why, my response is still not correct. Somehow must learn to rejoice in my sufferings - though I'm really lost at how to rejoice and give thanks for these. Must ask the Lord for wisdom in this...

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"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

 

-Ezekiel 18:30-32 (New International Version)

CG Celebrating March birthdays 2006

Tribute to all the kingfu flicks that asks the student to catch fly with chopstick

for myself and Yenling.

Photos courtesy of Jared, "Gum xia" brother!

Where is God When It Hurts?

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Health, Mind & Body
Author:	Philip Yancey

From the author of "The Jesus I Never Knew". I borrowed a copy from a friend, and it has been lying in a corner of my room for the past 3 weeks. Picked it up yesterday afternoon, and couldn't put it down till I finished reading it just now.

Yancey wrote this book when he was in his mid 20s in the mid 1970s, to search for an answer to that eternal question, "Why would a Good and Loving God allows us to go through pain and suffering?" Years later, with more knowledge and wisdom, he updated and revised the book in 1990 to address the many important issues that have arisen during that time.

It's a fascinating read, as the book truly open my eyes to an oft-neglected area in my life. Why, indeed, do God allow pain and suffering? Is it a good thing? Why must we suffer from pain? How do we cope with our own pain and that of others? What is the value to suffering? Go and read this modern classic to search your own answers to these questions.

Alive - Raico 雷鼓

 

http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/naruto/
(Anime) Naruto: ALIVE (N/A)

4th Ending Song

Artist: Raiko

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
    Everyone makes mistakes at times
    It's not something embarrassing
    Don't waste these scars
    Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
sou shizuka na kuuki suikomi
hiroki sora ni kao age tobikomi
toki ni ame ga futtara hito yasumi
jaa yukusaki wa kaze fuku mama ni
takusan no matotteru koukai
kono kizu o muda ni shicha shounai
ude ni kunshou kizami ikoukai shougai
sou kokkara ga Show Time
    (RAP)
    That's right, breathe in a silent breath
    Look to the vast sky, jump in
    Take a break once in a while when it rains
    Let the wind take the destination
    All the regrets you carry
    Can't let these scars go to waste
    Carve an emblem into your arm, lets go  as long as we love
    That's right,  from here on is the Show Time

ah iroasete kono PORA naka de ikiteru kako no jibun toka
itsumo TSURU nde hi no nai you ni
ibasho mitsukete hiataru you ni
konna kanji de hibi kattou ippo fumidasu beki ganbou
makkou shoubu jibun ni muke issou koko de kono uta hibikasou
    Ah Like the past that lives in this fading polaroid picture 
    Just like the days we hung out
    We searched for a place so we can sit in the sun
    We fought every day like this  The one step you gotta take for your desire
    A real fight for yourself  Let's sing this song forever in this place

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
    Everyone makes mistakes at times
    It's not something embarrassing
    Don't waste these scars
    Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
kyou hajimari o tsugeru asayake yume to genjitsu no hazama de
What's Say kono koe kareru sono hi made
korogari tsudzukeru Another Day
shuppotsu shinkou kamase in o shindou kaitaku michi ippon yeah
yagate toori ni hanasake soshite mirai ni mugete habatake
genjitsu omoku nokkaru ga mezase chouten Like a No Culture
saru ga saru ni shikanarenai Oh
jibun wa jibun ni shikanarenai Yo
asu o ki ni shite shita muku mae ni
kyou no jibun no ki no muku mama ni
saisei kyou wa chou kaisei nanimo nayami nankanaize
    (RAP)
    Morning dawn tells you the beginning  Between the borders of dream and reality
    What's Say until the day my voice dies away
    keep on truckin' Another Day
    All aboard ready to go  Develop a single road yeah
    Soon flowers bloom along the way  And will spread its wing toward the future
    Reality burdens real heavy but go for the top  Like a No Culture
    A monkey can only be a monkey Oh
    One can only be himself Yo
    Before you worry about tomorrow with your head down
    Be what you wanna be today
    Rebirth,  today's a fine day  I've got nothing to worry for

omoku no shikakaru genjitsu ga
ima no boku o semetateteru
kantan ni wa ikanai na
sonna koto kurai chouchi shiteru yo
    Reality leans heavy on me
    And it's torturing me 
    Nothing comes easy
    I know that well enough

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
takusan no koukai o matotte
aji no aru hito ni naru sa
kanashimi mo kaze ni kaete
tsuyoku susunde ikereba ii
    Everyone makes mistakes at times
    It's not something embarrassing
    Don't waste these scars
    Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good
    With all the regrets I've gone through
    I'll be a person with taste
    Even turn sadness into a wind
    Keep on going strong, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
sou shizuka na kuuki suikomi
hiroki sora ni kao age tobikomi
toki ni ame ga futtara hito yasumi
jaa yukusaki wa kaze fuku mama ni
takusan no matotteru koukai
sono kizu o muda ni shicha shounai
ude ni kunshou kizami ikoukai shougai
sou kokkara ga Show Time
    (RAP)
    That's right, breathe in a silent breath
    Look to the vast sky, jump in
    Take a break once in a while when it rains
    Let the wind take the destination
    All the regrets you carry
    Can't let these scars go to waste
    Carve an emblem into your arm, lets go  as long as we love
    That's right,  from here on is the Show Time


Transliterated by Pazuzu <pazuzu@inanemanga.com>

Translated by MoMo <LostAlienOnEarth@aol.com>
http://www.geocities.com/project_doll/

(Taken from http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/naruto/alive.txt)

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Raico OfficialWebsite:

http://www.raico.net/

the five people you meet in heaven

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Religion & Spirituality
Author:	Mitch Albom

My brother got it from his friend to read, after he read "Tuesdays with Morrie". Not a bad read. Helps to start people thinking about the afterlife. No mention of Jesus, so non-threatening, I guess. It's not the full message, but at least it gets people to start thinking. Easy read to, I finished it under 3 hours.

on my therupeutic Wednesday

Went to SKS bookshop at Tan Boon Liat building yesterday afternoon with a couple of friends. One of them wanna get some books, so we just decided to all go down and accompany her to get some.* We met at Tiong Bahru MRT and then saunter down over to Tiong Bahru Market for lunch.

After that, a brisk walk to the bookshop. Even though it's a short 10 minutes' walk, the jokes came out fast and furious amongst the 4 of us**. Guess must work off all the delicious food we had at the market. Soon we reached SKS and plonked ourselves down for a few serious hours of browsing and buying. I always enjoy going to SKS - lotsa books, and good ones at that too. In the end, my friend bought 6 books - 4 for giveaway la, only 2 for herself.  Then we went back to Tiong Bahru Mall for tea, coffee and toast at Yat kun - the franchise is alright la at this branch, still serves reasonable quality coffee.

Due to miscomms, we "lost" one of the friends. So left 3 of us, who went to Ikea. My other friend needed to get some vases, and she says must get from Ikea, cos' got sales. ("Phua, usually 8 bucks one, now 3 bucks only.") Thank God it was not that crowded when we arrived there. After getting the vases, we went for dinner at the cafe on the 2nd storey. I ordered 2 chicken wings, as I still had dinner waiting for me at home. But the chicken wings are "sedap"! Think I everytime eat the meat balls and mini steak, also a bit "sian" liao. Ergo, just wanted something to nibble on. I guess it helps that the wings were piping hot la.

yeaps, a therupeutic tuesday, not only because of books and food, but the company we're with.

 

 

*yea, "vicaroius shopping" - where you shop with your friendsa nd make them buy stuff. Enjoy the satisfaction without paying.

** well, mainly from them, I was just there to provide a dead-pan straight face to their "juvenile", "political incorrect" and "nonsensical" jokes.

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P.S Suddenly realised yesterday is Wednesday, not Tuesday. Too much alliteration.

Thud!

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author:	Terry Pratchett

(Taken from inside leaf jacket)
THUD!

It's a game of Trolls andDwarfs where the player must take both sides to win....

It's the noise a troll club makes when crushing into a dwarf skull, or when a dwarfish axe cleaves a trollish cranium....

It's the unsettling sound of history about to repeat itself .... THUD!

It's the most extraordinary, outrageous, provacative, insighful, and keenly cutting flight of fancy yet from Discworld's incomparable supreme creator ... TERRY PRATCHETT
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Well, Terry Pratchett has done it again. Using the fantastical world of Discworld, he has written about events in this world in a serious-hilarious method. For the ardent fan, it's to catch up with one of their favourite characters, Commander "Mister" Sam Vimes, City Watch, Ankh-Morpok. I'll not spoil the reading by revealing any of the story plot. Suffice to say dwarfbread, Slab and a chicken is used in the narrative. :p

Go read it.

친절한 금자씨 Sympathy for Lady Vengeance 亲切的金子

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Cult

Outstanding show, with great performance form Lee Young-ae (of "Jewel in the Palace 大长今 fame) and fantastic director Park Chan Wook (of "JSA", "Sympathy for Mr Vengeance" and "OLDBOY").

The plot is macabre, dark and very very sad. The gore is plentiful. I guess what impresses me most is how Lee Young-ae managed to portray realistically as a psycho-bitch (no milder word I can used to describe her character Geum-ja") And what pushes this woman over the edge is because of a psychotic bastard, also acted convincingly by another top Korean actor, Choi Min Sik.


Official website
www.geum-ja.co.kr/

Switchfoot - Gone

Switchfoot - Gone
From the album The Beautiful Letdown

She told him she'd rather fix her makeup
then try and fix what's going on
But the problem keeps on calling
even with the cellphone gone

She told him that she believes in living
bigger than she's living now
But her world keeps spinning backwards
and upside down

Don't say so long, you're not that far gone
Don't spin today away, 'cause today will soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone
Like history is gone
Just try and prove me wrong and
pretend like you're immortal

She said, he said, live like no tomorrow
Everyday we borrow brings us
one step closer to the edge. Infinity
Where's your treasure, where's your hope
if you get the world and lose your soul?
She pretends like she pretends like
She's immortal

Don't say so long and throw yourself wrong
This could be your big chance to makeup
Today will soon be

Gone, like yesterday is gone
Like history is gone
The world keeps spinning on
Your going, going
Gone, like summer break is gone,
Like Saturday is gone
Just try and prove me wrong and
Pretend like your immortal

We are not infinate
We are not permanent
Nothing is immediate
And we pretend like we're immortal
We are so confident in our accomplishments
Look at our decendance

Gone, like Frank Sinatra, like Elvis and his mom
Like Al Pacino's cash, nothing lasts in this life
Gone like my dreams are gone
like my childhood sweets are gone
Life is a day that doesn't last for long

Life is more than money, time was never money
Time wass never cash, life is still more than girls
Life is more than hundred dollar bills and roto-tom fills
Life is more than fame and rock and roll and thrills
All the riches of the kings end up in wills
We've got the information in the information age
but do we know what life is like outside of our convenient
Lexus cages?

She said he said live like no tomorrow
every moment that we borrow brings us closer
to a God who's never been short of cash
Hey Bono, I'm glad you asked
Life is still worth living, life is more than we are

on coming together to worship

argh, this is my 3rd time writing this entry, MAybe I should take the precaution of writing it in Word doc first. Ah well, here goes nothing:

Was reading on the closing chapters of the Book of Numbers. Am using a Life Application Study Bible, so they have some interesting footnotes to certain passages, to help the reader to think further. Here are 2 from Chapter 29.

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29:1ff:  God placed many holidays on Israel's calender. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the three great holidays celebrated in the seventh month (the Feast of Tabernacles and Day of Atonement were the other two). These holidays provided a time to refresh the mind and body and to renew the commitment to God. If you feel tired or far from God, try taking a "spiritual holiday." Separate yourself from your daily routine and concentrate on renewing your commitment to God.

29:1, 2:  The Feast of Trumpets demonstrated three important principles that we should follow in our worship today: (1) The people gathered together to celebrate and worship. There is an extra benefit to be gained from worshiping with other believers. (2) The normal daily routine was suspended, and no hard work was done. It takes time to worship, and setting aside the time allows us to adjust our attitudes before and reflect afterwards. (3) The people gave God something of value by sacrificing animals as burnt offerings to him. We show our commitment to God when we give something of value to him. The best gift, of course, is ourselves.

(Taken from Life Application Study Bible New International Version, Tyndale House Publishers, 1997.)

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The main thing I took away from this is there is a time and place for gathering en masse to worship the God, with the other saints. Therefore, we must make the time even when we are very busy with stuff in our lives.

 

 

on eating at L'Estaminet

Went to have dinner with an old friend on Monday evening. Initially wanted to go old Bukit Timah Hawker center, because I missed the fantastic satay beehoon and pasta over there.* However, my friend later smsed me just before the appointment, saying he don't wanna go hawker. So met him near his workplace instead.

He suggested hiking over to Greenwood Avenue to look for chow. As I have been hearing all kinds of marvelous stories from my friends, but never been to the place, I went along with the suggestion. He brought me to L'Estaminet, a very good Italian pizza place. Only when I went to do research just now, then I realize it was part of Les Amis restaurant group.

Basically, L'Estaminet does the the thin-crusted pizza kind. We ordered 4 Formaggi, which is a meatless pizza. ah, but the toppings more than make ups for the lack of meat - tomato sauce, mozzarella, taleggio, scamorza and gorgonzola. We Cheese Max! We ordered a side of calamari fritt and a jug of Hoegardens.

Then we sat down to catch up for 2 hours' worth. Who says guys don't communicate?  yea, talked about his work, my lack of work , his friends, his wife, my love-life**, and our friends in common. The ambiance was great, not too crowded. Well, the position where we were seated at also helps, as we were partially shielded by a pillar. No "chio bu"s to distract us.

All in all, it was a wonderful dinner. Should go there when you have a chance!

 

For more info. goto http://www.lesamis.com.sg/webtop/index2.html

*Coincidence that these are noodles dish - there are other fantastic stuff you can get from this joint. Do go there and find out.

** or lack of it . See, it's all a big conspiracy, once people are married, they will all try to get their single friends to join them. Don't ask me why, natural progression, I guess...

 

Positive Life Radio

https://www.plr.org/
Another internet live radio. Takes a bit time to connect.

on the Ides of March

yeaps, once a Year, we have the Ides of March, the 15th of the 3rd month. "So what the big deal?" you may ask. Well, for us who did "Julius Caesar" for Shakespeare class before, the Ides of March will hold a special place in our hearts. "Beware the Ides of March!" *dramatic fanfare*

For more info, goto: http://www.william-shakespeare.info/shakespeare-play-julius-caesar.htm

Well, poor Caesar didn't see it coming, cos he let too much pride gets to his head. Well, there's a lesson to be learnt from this. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" don't work in this scenario. *

Another reason the lament the Ides of March is that from today onwards, the local coffee-shop owners will have official license to increase the price of coffee drinks anywhere from 10 cents to 20 cents per cup. The reason for this increase is because the price for raw coffee beans and materials have gone up. This bodes very good news for the coffee sellers. Just imagine with me, if you can sell 4 cups of coffee every 5 minutes, that'll be 48 cups an hour. An average coffee shop operates from 6.30am in the morning till 9pm at night, that 6.5 + 9 = 15.5 hours of operations. So daily hike in revenue will be 15.5 x 48 x 10 cents =  $74.40. Given Singapore coffee shops are opened whole year round**, that'll be increase in monthly revenue (30 days) of $2232. Guess this goes towards covering the electric bills a bit for the coffee shop owners...

On the other hand, what about us coffee drinkers? For those of us heavily addicted to caffeine, we can easily order 3 cups of coffee a day (one for morning break, one during lunch, and one during noon break). So that's an additional 30 cents a day, an additional $7.50 a month. My my, small things do add up.  I have already people telling me they will switch over to tea and caffeinated-soft-drinks, just to beat the price hike. I wonder, what will they do when the price of these drinks go up?

For a lively discussion, goto http://info.channelnewsasia.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=22801&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0&sid=79e2a710a512e0b80c7d37c42540f0b1

ah, it looks like it's gonna be another hot day just like yesterday. Better hike myself to the library, before all the seats get taken up.

 

*Quote from the Godfather II (1974).

 ** except for special holidays like Chinese New year, where thy are closed for 2-3 days.

Lost and Found

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author:	Alan Dean Foster

From back cover:

Marcus Walker was just another young commodities trader in Chicago - until he was attacked and tossed aboard a starship bound for deep space. Instead of being a rich upshot at the top of the food chain, Walker discovers he's just another amusing novelty, part of a cargo of "cute" aliens from primitive planets destined to be sold as pets to highly advanced populations in "civilized" regions of the galaxy. Any other man might resign himself to the inevitable and hope to be sold to a kind owner, but not Walker. This former college football star has plenty of American ingenuity and no intention of admitting defeat, now or ever. In fact, he's only just begun to fight.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not a bad read, very engaging. Guess in the realms of fantasy and sci-fi you get extreme caricatures of humanity, that would be offensive and politically incorrect if you tag it to a human, but not to other non-human (dog, K'eremu or Tuuqalian) :D
Hopefully the 2nd book will come out soon.


http://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/frameset.htm

Covenant Church Camp

Start:	Jun 12, '06
End:	Jun 16, '06
Location:	Palace of the Golden Horse

On reflections on the Excellence of a Free Mind

ok, here and some of my thoughts about what I read the other day:

 

"Of the Excellence of a Free Mind, Which Is Sooner Gained By Humble Prayer Than by Reading"

 

              hmm, I was pretty baffled when I first read this. What is a "free mind", and what is "excellence of a free mind" After reading through the whole entry, I decided the "free mind" is mankind's original mind before the Fall. It is a mind not tainted or bogged down by sin, thus "a free mind". "Excellence of a free mind" means the superiority of this state over our other states.

              Then how can this state be "sooner gained by humble prayers than by reading"? I was pondering this, as to shouldn't we be reading the Scriptures to gain insight and wisdom? Then I realised I read it all wrong - Thomas was writing about the source from where we get our free mind, and not the activity per se i.e. we asked in humility for a free mind from God rather than reading the Scriptures through our our own efforts. Basically the "ask, seek, knock" principle.*

 

 

"O Lord, it is the work of a perfect man, never to relax his mind from attentive thought of heavenly things, and so to pass amid many cares, as it were, without care; not as one destitute of all feeling, but by the prerogative of a free mind, adhering to no creature with inordinate affection."

 

               First thought that pops to mind when i read this is Jesus as the "perfect man" - only He is perfect. I am reminded that even as Jesus walked the earth in His 33 years,** amidst the many troubles can injustice and evil He saw in the land, His eyes are focused on the Heavenly Father's will. Yet Jesus was not a man without emotions or "destitute of all feeling". He chose ("by the prerogative of a free mind") to fix His focus to the Creator, rather than to His surroundings. And this is to be an encouragement, that I should likewise do so, as a disciple and follower of the Way.

 

 

"2.       I beseech thee, my most gracious God, preserve me from the cares of this life, lest I should be too much entangled by them; also from the many necessities of the body, lest I should be captivated by pleasure; and from whatever is an obstacle to the soul, lest being broken with troubles, I should be overthrown."

 

          The last line struck me the most - if I'm not careful, I'll be overthrown. Literally the image that comes to mind is that of a suplex move in WWE***, getting thrown out of the ring. If I don't have a firm foundation and anchor in Christ, when trouble come, I'll probably just come tumbling down like a pile of uncemented brick.^

 

 

      "I speak not of those things which world vanity so earnestly covets, but of those miseries, which as punishments, and as the common curse of mortality,¹ do weigh down and hinder the soul of thy servant, that it cannot enter into the freedom of the spirit so often as it would.

¹Gen. 3:17; Rom. 7:11"

 

          haha, just when I thought this was about asking for "a Lamborghini car or supermodel wife".  Thomas was writing to say he's not writing of all the extreme luxurious things we can pined for. The very ordinary stuff, or the "mundanities of life" can already weigh us down. From these cares of what we will eat and what we will wear, we will not have freedom of our spirit, which God has already given to us from the start.

 

 

"3         O my God, thou sweetness ineffable, make bitter for me all carnal comfort, which draws me away from the love of eternal things, and in evil manner allures me to itself by setting before me some present delightful good."

 

            I laughed when I read "make bitter for me all carnal comfort". Basically this will mean for me "make my nap time uncomfortable by burning my quilt ; make my mom nag at me everytime I surf online for more than an hour ; make my snacks all sour and bitter when I taste them; make the water full of screaming kids and men in pink or white speedoes when I swim at the public swimming pool ; make me have sore eyes when I see beautiful women " You get the drift.  

 

            And the best part is in the latter part, "...allures me to itself by setting before some present delightful good." I guess this brings to mind of the earlier portion, where we are to set our thoughts to heavenly things. Sometimes we get so caught up in the present, that we fail to plan and live for the future. Do not focus overtly on the good things in the present (as it may distract us from working for the future), nor focus overtly on the bad things ("Aiya, Lord, why me? Why only the bad things?" Don't whine like a childish brat, nor complain of bad things in our lives - remember the Israelites in the book of Numbers! *dramatic music score* ) Also, what may be good for us now may not be good for our future, if we are not careful with our responses. Guard your heart!

 

 

"           Let me not be overcome, O Lord, let me not be overcome by flesh and blood;² let not the world and the short glory thereof deceive me; let not the devil and his subtle craftiness supplant me.

²Rom. 12:21"

 

             This part is quite depressing. As if I don't have enough to plague me already as it is. Thomas is saying I should look out for my own sinful nature from the start. How easily my own carnal nature is working against me to keep me distracted from heavenly things. Then, even if I can win my self, I need to guard against the world and all the things the world is throwing against me. And even after I can win against these two, I'll still need to look out for the devil, who has eons of practice and enticing man away from God. That's just great news, ain't it?

            But that's more of reading the above with a negative mindset. If we turn our hearts back to God, and cry out with our whole being, He will hear us and deliver us Himself. Ergo, pray the above with a confident desperation.

 

 

"          Gives me strength to resist, patience to endure, and constancy to persevere."

 

            Three of the best things we can pray for ourselves and any brother- and sister-in Christ: Strength! Patience! Constancy! Super 3-in-1 formula from God!

 

 

"           Give me, instead of all the comforts of the world, the most sweet balm of thy Spirit, and instead of carnal love, influence with the love of thy name."

 

            This one really puts me to shame. Many a times, I pray for better jobs, better colleagues, better environments, better friends etc. etc. I actually prayed very little for the sweet balm of God's Spirit. To those who are wondering "Why balm?", well according to Wikipedia^^, a balm is a kind of liniment, which is a "medicated topical preparation for application to the skin". It is "applied with friction, that is a liniment is always rubbed in". The chief purpose is to "relieve pain and stiffness". So all in all, it's like getting a massage from God, if we take the analogy far enough.

             The next part is also an often-neglected area in my name. How many times have I ask from God to have influence with the love of His name. Too less to boast about...

 

 

"4          Behold! meat, drinks, clothes, and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body, are burdensome unto a fervent soul." 

             Yeaps, a return to the earlier idea that it's not the big attractive luxuries that stumbles us, but the mundane cares of eating ("meat"), drinking ("drinks"), what to wear ("clothes") and other stuff ("other necessaries").

 

"            Grant me to use such refreshments moderately and not to become entangled with an over-great desire for them. "

             Yet Thomas did not denied these as frivolities. Instead, he labeled them as "necessaries" and "refreshments" for us. The idea is to consume just enough, and not to overdo it. Sadly, that's not what the world is teaching these days.

 

"             It is not lawful to cast away all things, because nature is to be sustained; but to desire superfluities, and those things that are merely for delight, the holy law forbiddeth us; for then the flesh would rebel against the spirit. Herein, I beseech thee, let thy hand govern me and teach me, that I may not exceed the due bounds."

            To me, the first line basically teaches about don't go to extremes. We shouldn't gorge ourselves as mentioned earlier; neither are we to starve ourselves and practice asceticism for asceticism's sake. Anyway, we are supposed to take direction from the Almighty, and let Him guide us in whatever we do.

 

*Matthew 7:7-8

** debatable. Some say he walked 30 years, some say 36. see the arguments on  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus

*** Man, I feel old. I still remember when "WWE" was "WWF", before all the buff bodies came and you have a bunch of weirdos in costumes pummelling each other. Names like King Kong Bundy, Yokozuna, Bushwhackers...

^ Matthew 7:24-27, Like 6:46-49

^^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liniment

 

On reading "the Imitation of Christ"

Bought this book donkey years ago*, been collecting dust in one corner of my room. Finally guilt pushed me to turn open the pages 2 days ago, and the reading on one of the chapters blew my mind away. Here's the piece that I read:

The Book of Internal Consolations, The Twenty-Sixth Chapter

 

Of the Excellence of a Free Mind, Which Is Sooner Gained By Humble Prayer Than by Reading

 

O Lord, it is the work of a perfect man, never to relax his mind from attentive thought of heavenly things, and so to pass amid many cares, as it were, without care; not as one destitute of all feeling, but by the prerogative of a free mind, adhering to no creature with inordinate affection.

2.         I beseech thee, my most gracious God, preserve me from the cares of this life, lest I should be too much entangled by them; also from the many necessities of the body, lest I should be captivated by pleasure; and from whatever is an obstacle to the soul, lest being broken with troubles, I should be overthrown.

            I speak not of those things which world vanity so earnestly covets, but of those miseries, which as punishments, and as the common curse of mortality,¹ do weigh down and hinder the soul of thy servant, that it cannot enter into the freedom of the spirit so often as it would.

3          O my God, thou sweetness ineffable, make bitter for me all carnal comfort, which draws me away from the love of eternal things, and in evil manner allures me to itself by setting before me some present delightful good.

            Let me not be overcome, O Lord, let me not be overcome by flesh and blood;² let not the world and the short glory thereof deceive me; let not the devil and his subtle craftiness supplant me.

            Gives me strength to resist, patience to endure, and constancy to persevere.

            Give me, instead of all the comforts of the world, the most sweet balm of thy Spirit, and instead of carnal love, influence with the love of thy name.

4          Behold! meat, drinks, clothes, and other necessaries for the maintenance of the body, are burdensome unto a fervent soul.

            Grant me to use such refreshments moderately and not to become entangled with an over-great desire for them.

             It is not lawful to cast away all things, because nature is to be sustained; but to desire superfluities, and those things that are merely for delight, the holy law forbiddeth us; for then the flesh would rebel against the spirit. Herein, I beseech thee, let thy hand govern me and teach me, that I may not exceed the due bounds.

 

¹Gen. 3:17; Rom. 7:11

²Rom. 12:21

 

May the above passage bless you this day!

 

* think it was either late last year or early this year ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Above passage taken from Bechtel, Paul M. (Ed.), The Imitation of Christ (by) Thomas à Kempis, Moody Paperback Edition, Chicago, U.S.A., 1984.)

 

For more info on Thomas à Kempis, goto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_A_Kempis

 

For online reading of modernised rendition of "The Imitation of Christ", goto http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.all.html

Chuck Norris

http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/
Totally crappy, go there for nostalgia's sake, nothing else....

on my fun filled saturday

yesterday was a fun-filled day for me. Morning went for men's ministry in Church. Went for morn prayers at 6.30am. I must say I was impressed, when the turnout was around close to 15-17 brothers. It's really a joy to behold men coming early in the break hours to sing praises and worship the Lord. I was blessed by the message that morning, as the speaker spoke about the significance of bringing the Gospel to the marketplace. After that, broke into small group sharing. I was with my mentor and a newly-met brother. I was so awed with the wisdom of older men; somehow the sharing spoke to me of my past stiff-neckedness when I was in my previous jobs. I think unconsciously, I was very proud. Carried certain crutches and baggages with me. Thank God for His workings during yesterday's session.



 

 

Had to go home to change after that, cos' had a friend's wedding to attend. Didn't expect the men's ministry session to last so long, so had to rush home and rush out again. Was about half an hour late and missed out the walk in of the bride - shucks! Thank God still was able to join in for the worship session. A beautiful ceremony at Chijmes. Am really happy for Victor and Yane. And it was a very special wedding - my first time experiencing a black-colored themed wedding ceremony. Ultra chic, mes amis.

 

After that, to work off our heavy lunches from the fabulous and awesome buffet provided by the wedding couple, a few of my friends went to sing at a karaokae joint at Chinatown. Man, it's been so long since I last stepped into one. Nowadays, they have "wireless mouse click and choose a song" interface. And all the new songs, I can't sing. Because I don't know how to. So just belt out a few of my favorite 五月天songs. Yes, managed to shatter some of my friends’ eardrums, with my style of “shout into your ears” singing. But I like it – I call it singing therapy.

Then after that went to another friend’s place for Bible study. My friend led a “un-Biblical” bible study session. As in there was no study of the Word per se. However, we had a debate of sorts, of how we would respond to different situations. We were supposed to take sides on issues, and were to defend our cause or viewpoints. One thing I noticed about myself throughout this debate is that I am sort of a legalistic fellow. I will try to find scriptures or verses to defend my position. May or may not be a good thing, depending on how you look at it. But it’s a good exercise nonetheless.

Reached home around 11.30pm. Had to send out some e-mails so stayed up till past midnight. On the whole, a full Saturday it was yesterday. The coming Saturday will be just as a busy one for me, cos’ helping out at a friend’s wedding. Well, better treasure my weekdays more!