Thinking aloud

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'We can't be simplistic about CCM. What Sandlin sees at those festivals is impressive. (I've been to more than 40 of them. I know the feeling. It's quite triumphant.) But the CCM revolution is a very mixed blessing. God has raised up some powerfully Biblical music. There are thousands of artists who are accountable to local churches and being taught by good pastors. At the same time, CCM has allowed the culture- the consumer culture- to make huge inroads into the church, and has captivated the minds and artistic tastes of millions of young people. My career in youth ministry tells me clearly that the fruit of the current CCM 'revolution' is very meager, indeed. Christian kids going from concert to concert, camp to camp, event to event, looking for a musical high and paying adoration to their favorite 'stars.' This isn't worship or discipleship. It's corporate culture making the church just like the world, and paying for the privilege.'

*CCM = Contemporary Christian Music*

...is that it has nice food. We (the old exco) were invited to join the new exco for supper, and so I went, all the way from church (in Commenwealth) to Bedok (30 minutes journey).

Well the food made the trip worth it. Had oyster omelette, chicken wings, a bowl of bak cho mian, satay and stingray, all washed down with a nice cup of cool lime juice.

On the way back (thanks Jasmine!) I mentioned that I haven't been to Geylang, which then translates into: "Whattt!"

I could say the same about myself. " What!! Been here 3 years and haven't sampled the food at Geylang, you crazy wan ah?"

Lydia gave me sachet of ipoh coffee yesterday, the net result is that I was tossing and turning all night long, thinking of of why the determinant of the Cartan matrix = the order of the fundamental group of a root system...

...bleah

...in short, I couldn't get a decent shut eye. I didn't really sleep until 4.00 am and woke up at 6.30...crazy. The effect of such a high dosage of caffiene is to make you feel in the limbo of sleep and wakefulness-the zombified state.

Another of my favourite quotation series.

Today's famous quote is:

So, do you believe in Jesus?

Now, one may argue that this isn't a quote, it's hardly significant in and itself. It's a conversation starter mostly, pointing to the eventual sharing of the Gospel.

But what is interesting to note that in Acts, nobody ever asked this question since it was painfully obvious that not many did.

But somehow in our day and time, we have seemed to have forgotten the simple fact that in the majority, people are not Christians. But the more surprising thing is that we do not need to know whether or not they believe in Jesus.

Preach the Gospel, but use words if neccesary. Somehow in this day and age, we have equated evangelism = gospel proclamation. Evangelism is certainly included in the latter, but never vice-versa. Look throughout history, Gospel proclamation is a bigger enterprise, a larger movement of the Spirit that canned evangelism tracts.

Not to say that personal evangelism does not matter, it does, and simply because we should 'answer when we are asked about our hope'.

Preach the Gospel, through words and actions, live it, breathe it and proclaim it. Die for it, if neccesary, through all and all, the Gospel is preached anyway. We don't need to know whether or not 'the other' believes in Jesus or not, we already know the answer to that.

With the 2004 AP list out, at least we can safely say that our dear PM is trying his level best to defuse the bush-fire.

Darn, I'm no motor trader nor do I even own a car, why the heck am I so interested in this?

Will see how this pans out, and finally which party is going to swallow their pride and shut up.

The ongoing 'sandiwara' of Malaysian politics continues, and the episode takes a turn to the national car, Proton.

(My sinus is acting up again, but that is impertinent)

Watching the political scene from the comforts and distance of Singapore, never in my life has the show become more interesting-I mean, one big story arc after another...hehe. I read a comment on Screenshots, that this controversy shows that Pak Lah is out of control.

Well maybe and maybe not. For one, it's not like there are 30,000 people in the streets calling for 'Transparency!" or " Trade minister, Resign!" like in Philipines. So one could safely say the our PM is in the shadows, watching carefully, waiting for the big players to finally tire of the game. It doesn't matter if either one 'wins'. In the eyes of the rakyat, both of them have already 'lost'-if not a confirmation of the undercurrents that have always been suspected of.

For one the PM can't side with either one, since clearly there is some hanky panky on both parties. Nobody is going to say the ex-PM is vindicated because of his 'concern' for the 'national car project-a national institution' and the country's welfare. The AP scandals have a history to it, the pandora's box is finally opened and of course who was the PM during those times?

Or neither is Pak Lah going to openly side with his minister (although he will of course stand by his cabinet.) She's been percieved as the 'bad guy' already-witness the bad behaviour of some UMNO delegates during her roundup speech during the recently concluded assembly. Perhaps unfairly, she is seen as a threat 'to a symbol of our national pride-Proton'. Can't help it that people will be incensed against her-some people are just plain irrational. But of course the claims (true or false) of irregularities in the AP allocation hurts big time.

In the end, the winner is the newspapers, who will undoubtedly enjoy wider circulation, and the coffee shop owners, with more people loafing there to hear the latest gossip on this issue. Such is Malaysian political culture-we don't hit the streets, we're not barbarians after all. We are the 'knights of the roundtable' after all. Everything can be discussed around the table.

Sooner or later this would come out, after all cars are an expensive commodity, and the money is good-and anybody who is smart enough not to get 'caught' will try to steal the mangoes from thier neighbours yard.

*post edit*

This article is merely my first attempt commenting on a socio-political issue, and certainly must contain plenty of flaws, take it with a pinch of salt

CNN.com - Accident kills 4 Scout leaders at Jamboree - Jul 26, 2005:

...


The Jamboree runs through August 3 with President Bush scheduled to speak Wednesday evening. Scouts ages 12-18 are to spend 10 days camping in tents and doing activities that include archery, fishing and a GPS-based scavenger hunt.

The Boy Scouts of America have held the event since 1937 with the next gathering set for 2010, the Scouts' 100th anniversary. It may not be held at Fort A.P. Hill, which has hosted the event since 1981.

A federal judge recently ruled that the Pentagon can no longer financially support the event. If the ruling stands, the Boy Scouts would have to find another location for their next gathering.

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois contends that the Defense Department's sponsorship violates the First Amendment because the Scouts require members to swear an oath of duty to God.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


I cut out the relevant portions I was interested in. Although unrelated to the tragedy in question, this last portion is interesting in its own right. This is America's own social issue, and I guess it's out of my place to give a comment. But nevertheless there is a potential for any organization within any country (Singapore and M'sia included) to act in a knee-jerk reactive way like the ACLU above.

I'm not playing favourites among my siblings...

Take time to take a deep breath,

And enjoy the wonders of God's creation

around you.

God bless!

You know what...doing there a certain sense in which mathematics 'swindles' you. What I mean is that what goes on in a proof usually has no bearing at all to any kind of 'intuitive picture' that you would imagine.

(For example a proof on linear transformations on vector spaces, one could imagine lines being drawn to represent vectors and the linear transform a movement of those lines).

Really, some proofs are so abstract that it is almost like magic when the result pops right onto your lap. That is why I think, I'm so slow at understanding results, I tend to 'draw' a picture in my mind, when actually the more economical-and fruitful-is to consider the abstract point of view.

Come to think of it, this is why notation is invented in maths-to give precision and abstractness to reasoning, allowing one to single out the implications that really matter.

I swear I'll never look at reflections in the same way again.

I think I'll just eat my words.

'Nuff said.

I guess I'll just blog about the (computer) games I've played before.

1. Warcraft 2
2. Starcraft
3. Warcraft 3
4. Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
5. Half Life
6. Alpha Centauri
7. Alien vs Predator
8. Grim Fandango
9. Castlevania series
10. Pokemon
11. Final Fantasy VII
12. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

And I want to play:

Neverwinter Nights.

Think I'll go for a walk, haven't done that for a long time.

OpinionJournal - Extra

This is an excellent piece of writing concerning the 'gay marriage' issue. It is a piece of writing which I hope to aspire to. Concise, easy to read, moderate and deep and with the effective use of common sense irony.

But of course, I resonate alot with the content. Lee Harris (the writer) has given me 'handles' to cling on.

I heard this somewhere, can't recall exactly where though.

" Innovations are usually borne of curiousity, not of necessity."

I am attracted to this quote, especially when people ask me the question: " So what are you going to do with you math's degree, teach?"

A common lay person's mentality (though not everybody) in developing countries I think. The quest for knowledge is never an end to it self. Knowledge is power after, all, but takes on a different slant from what it is understood in the West. Power to change from a backwater country to a developed modern state. And of course, being the Asians we all are, developed means more money first for me, and then for everyone-and a status to go at the same time.

So when it comes to innovation, we see it as a response to the problem: " How can I use this to earn more money for myself." The urge to innovate and to change-in orther words-is never because we are curious (or 'for it's own sake') but to keep up with the times (read the 'West'), and too survive (this is not merely a Singaporean excuse, M'sian leaders use this sometimes as well).

Being the cynic I am, I just realized that 'survival' is a relative term-in the sense that we are measuring ourselves against a 'potential threat' to a 'desired but not currently available' way of life. Why is the West so developed in the first place? Isn't it because of innovation, enterpreneurship and daring that made them who they are today? Isn't it because of the innate curiousity to discover and create-and not to compare themselves to another (because there wasn't any other culture as developed as theirs)

It is rather ironic that we talk about 'developed status' using a Western definition of the term. Invariable, we are concerned more on our status (Think the Selangor state status fiasco), on what we can call ourselves instead of emphasizing the true content of modernization-which is unfettered freedom to innovate.

Malaysia, China give up peg

Wohoo...after 7 years..the've decided to unpeg the Ringgit. But my main concern (of course!) is wherether the singapore dollar-ringgit exchange will be affected...ermm...positively...

Is this a signal of confidence in ourselves? A willingness to take more risks? Opening up M'sia to bigger opportunities and an abondenment of 'save-me' attitudes?

Have you been to never neverland? I feel like I'm in neverland, sleeping late, waking up late. That time is inconsequential. Hmm...

But the feeling is kinda wierd, 4th year, but hardly feeling like a final year student or 23 for that matter. Must be because I'm still living in neverland.

Peter pan, Peter pan..where are you?
Take me to neverland,
where flowers stay fresh,
and never grow old.

Here's what I signed up for during Round 0. (seems there a new department in FASS)

Group Theory
Complex Analysis II
Graduate Algebra
NM 1101E New Media and Society

The exam dates are pretty spread out, so no complains there. Last paper is on the 28th of November.

Yep, my new room mate has moved in. His name is Sheng Yun, (hope I got it correct), loves Slam Dunk! and rock music according to him. He is busy unpacking right now, so those that want to say hi to him can wave!

....

*sheepish*

I just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Good read, entertaining ( someone spoiled the ending for me, so I was reading it with the resolution in mind darn!) with positively engaging scenes. As always I'm kept guessing until the very last. This book is different though from the rest in the sense that it...

...ha, decided to keep it to myself. Shouldn't spoil the book for anyone.

I finished it at 3:30 am. I know I'm a fan.

A lot of people ask me about what I'm doing for my honours project. Honestly it get's a little embarassing having to say, " Lie algebra's and representations." And get a blank stare.

" What is that?"

I'm afraid even if I explain it to you, you might not be able to understand it. The plain and simple way of putting it is that a Lie algebra is a type of mathematical object which we study-much like numbers, geometrical shapes. In this case, it is a vector space endowed with a multiplicative operation. When we say 'study' it, we are trying to learn more about it's multiplication table, and the patterns that arise within it.

Hehe,...so for those curious souls out there who read my blog, hope this explanation helps.

I know I haven't been updating as often as I want to do. i.e. one day one post, but the last two days have been hectic. Been at CGL training, all the way in Toa Payoh, so by the time I reach my room, I'm too dead tired to even think of writing something here.

Gloria's having a celebratory BBQ to mark her commencement. Going later at 5 to help out. Hop to catch up on how others are doing.

But why spiced yoghurt you may ask? Because right now, I'm feeling really hungry and have a craving for yohurt and bread dipped in chicken curry right now. Hostelites never get enough to eat.

Bought a biography of John Sung yesterday, and will finish it by today. Inspiring read.

Firstly, The $1 Popiah at Clementi is tastier than the one in Holland V. It's the garlic...

The weather is unpredictable.

I am attracted to my new phone. I took it out to stroke it no less than 5 times today after I got it.

D24 sells at $6 for one packet.
School is starting soon

It's 245...

That's the total number of posts I've made so far (actually it's more, since deleted posts are not counted) in 6 months.

Got an offer (a loyalty gimmick actually) for a free phone. Sony Ericsson J300i. It is time for me to change phone liao.

It's not the end, it's the beginning of the end. A mountain has be climbed here only to reveal higher peaks behind it

Bono on the recent G8 leaders pledging to double aid to Africa.

It's not the result that matters, but the struggle. I venture a query to this commonplace wisdom.

In this case, the result is the end to hard-core poverty in Africa which I think is what a lot of people really care for.

However there is a subtle shift in the way people far removed, distant from the plight of poverty in Africa or those not directly involved in the aid efforts to shift their focus from the end goal to the struggle.

These kind of people tend to criticize alot. Those who are at the front line, I guess would really know what it means when they say, " There are higher mountains to climb."

But those far away, people like me, people like you could read it the long way, using it as a quote to justify looking at the struggle rather than the end goal. We may be tempted to think, it is the struggle which gives meaning to the result. Or at least when results don't come, we can pat our back and say, " Well at least we tried..."

But for those at the other end of trying to end poverty, of those affected by poverty. Of those trying to fight rampant corruption and lethargy which is preventing aid from reaching the needy, of those trying their very best to empower the poor, to give them back their dignity, it is the goal that gives meaning to their struggle. These are the people who cant truly quote Bono above. They know it first hand, and are grateful for every little victory that comes by.

Faith: anyone got nice non arts mods to intro to me. i need to clear breadth mods! says:
its ok.. tt dae @ pgp, denyse and kerling , u and i had dinner tog rite

Faith: anyone got nice non arts mods to intro to me. i need to clear breadth mods! says:
they asked me hw come u're shy ard girls.. lol

There and back again... says:
me? shy arnd girls?????

Faith: anyone got nice non arts mods to intro to me. i need to clear breadth mods! says:
yeah.

There and back again... says:
wah..something new I know about myself...really meh??

I have totally nothing to say

Is it the durian season now?? Tell me that my family back in Malaysia aren't enjoying D22's while I'm down here stuck in Singapore...

...I want to cry already.

It has been a long time since music has brough tears to my eyes. In fact there are only a few. Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, We are the Reason and this...
...Sekai no Yakusoku (Yumi Kimura) and Jinsei Merry-go-round, (Joe Hishiashi). Both are from the OST for Howl's moving castle. It is really beautiful music, one to be enjoyed with loved ones watching the sun set over the meadows and mountain lakes.

Doubtless most of us would have heard that London has been hit by awful bomb blasts at the peak of their rush hour traffic. Let us remember the victims of this tragedy in prayer and pray also that those responsible will be brought to justice.

Pray against hate crimes that may result in this and pray especially for Tony Blair as he leads his people through this difficult time.

Damn those terrorists...

I was tired and He sent me a lost driver to pick me up and send me back to hall.

Isn't God great!!

My dear friend,
Why do you have to pray knowing it's a lie?
Why pray just for the sake of happiness,
when there is true happiness to be found,
which gives birth to true prayers
which we know aren't lies.

My dear friend,
Why do you pray to a god,
that lives inside of you,
whom you don't really know,
when there is Someone,
who really cares for you.

My dear friend,
Why pray for happiness,
when you believe your happiness is just an illusion?
Why hope against all hope,
when you don't believe that hope exists?

Mr dear friend,
Is the strength of faith,
your assurance of significance?
Is your belief in happiness,
your true source of joy?
Or is there a Person,
who is really out there,
calling, calling, calling,
waiting for you to respond?

My oh my,
looking down at the face of death
no? He's only sleeping.
A statement of remorse
or probably defiance.

He's probably blacked out in the blue
summer of discontent, washed over
with the piteous smiles and rock hard
snubbery.
Touch him dear! He's not dead, just a little,

how would you say it?

nauseaous...

When the problem becomes too big,
look at the parts.
When it's all a whirlwind of scenery,
when the tides bring in the bottles,
when shells grow legs and walk around,
it's time to take out,
your own guitar and strum,
the cooling melodies of a golden evening.

Divide, conquer,
take a break and have a beer.

A black and white photograph has it's own unique touch and feel. A sepia photograph lends an old rustic charm to the print. A colour photo expresses joy and exuberance.

If God made us all to look in black and white, I don't think we be poorer. We would see things...I don't know...in a more 'focused' way?

...about some things. Hmm...not going to let it out just yet. But I feel like that guy in the picture though. Calm, collected, nonchalant...

I wonder...

Pastor Lynette did a short sermon on what pervenient grace. It's was ok I think and I did learn something. But strangely, I felt as though there was a certain listlessness among the congregation today. Like there was a carpet muffling the entire worship service. They were a little 'too respectfully' quiet. The mood was so heavy...

I don't know, it seems that everytime the pastors do teach doctrine, there is this seemingly invisible wall that separates pastor and congregation. But when the pastors do talk about practical christian living, the walls disappear. Hmm....

Bought a new external burner from Funan after church today. And I daresay that my system can support Half-Life 2. Was testing out the demo just now. At 800 x 600 resolution, it looks good and feels good.

Have reinstalled KOTOR, going to test it out in a moments time.

I was wondering how typical my desktop looks when I realized that the taskbar was at the bottom. I usually have it on the top of the screen until I started using Object Dock. Now since I'm not, it's time to shift it up again.

I was also trying out how 1280 x 1024 resolution looks like. But it makes everything look too small. Besides, I don't have chock full of icons littering my desktop, so I think I'll stick with 1024 x 768.

There's a novel writing competition for M'sians organized by the people in Utusan. I am interested. Now waiting for my muse to come only.

Just went to Simlin just now and bought some RAM and a new graphics card. It does seem to have and effect, things run a little smoother now. Time also to change my CD-drive. The prices looks affordable now. Once that's done, let's see how KOTOR runs. I won't expect maximum stability, but with 512 MB of RAM and a ATI 9250 EXCALIBUR, let's see how things go.

*hehe, my systems reqs are nothing to shout about. It can't play DOOM 3 much less HALF-LIFE 2*

After pouring through reams of formulaes and bending your back making sure that the integers add up, it's good just to sit back and listen to the soft thumping beats of some slow rock numbers.

Head to the shower then a little nap.

Octavio Paz - Nobel Lecture:' But what is postmodernism if not an even more modern modernity?'

-Octavio Paz, 1990 Nobel Laureate for Literature.

Hmm.....*takes a long deep sigh*