Sepuluh Hari

About ten days later...

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A "Social Network" Christmas

Blessed Christmas!

hydrangea

In October last year, we snipped off a small branch of Hydrangea from my grandma's plant in Bentong. I admit, i had doubts if it could grow and flower in the heat of Klang Valley. But no harm trying.

So we popped the little fella into a pot....and it grew and grew....nice and tall, with big green leaves....and in August this year, it bloomed!

Pink flowers...a first bunch bloomed, then a second bunch. Very nice!

One thing i've noticed is that the flowers last long, and they age very well: the pink flowers turned into a nice shade of old red with a touch of green.

When i thought the best was done, just last week the same tree decides to bloom again....but this time, blue flowers! (but in the photos below, they look somewhat purple-ish)

Beautiful!

Anyway, i'm kinda on a roll with the hydrangeas...helps a lot that these fellas grow pretty fast when the weather is cool. On hot days, well, even though they look like they're falling apart, they actually pull through pretty well. I've transplanted twice to other pots....one is growing nice and tall, again with big green leaves and all....another one, which i just recently separated from the main dude, is growing nice and easy too.

So nice and easy that the stray cat came and dug up a bit of the soil and poo-ed there in the pot! I figured, why waste good fertilizer, right? So i spread the nutrient-rich feline product under the soil...and i'm sure it'll help this little guy grow nice and tall too! :)
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Certified Guitar Player

Some time back, I blogged about how when I was younger, I wanted to play guitar like Tommy Emmanuel.

And the man himself is here, playing live in KL tonight...and yours truly will be there. Can't wait! One of my friends going with me asked if I'm gonna bring my guitar for him to autograph. I told him no, I'm going there to autograph TE's guitar....wahahaha....righttttt.

I had a very meaningful time at the Haggai seminar. One word to describe my experience there: REFRESHED. Had a great time reviewing, relearning things from a different perspective and approaching them from a different angle. New things learnt too! A timely "refueling" that was much needed. God knows best. His timing, spot on. Still sorting things out in my mind, praying through and trying to make more sense of what transpired over the past week in Haggai...might blog about it, might not, see la, how my lazy-o-meter is :)

For now, I've got Guitar Boogie/Stevie's Blues playing in my head....
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Haggai

Over the next week, I'll be attending Haggai Institute National Seminar.

As part of the pre-seminar preparations, I was asked what my expectations are of this seminar. I told them that my expectations were fairly general, given that I have never been involved in any Haggai Institute event prior to this one. But their vision is an important one, something I subscribe to: "To help ensure the gospel is presented in the power of the Holy Spirit with cultural relevance and sensitivity to all peoples, especially in non-evangelized nations." (emphasis added) I've also heard many testimonies about how God has changed lives through HI.

So when I was invited to sign up, I signed up :) At this point, it's more of curiousity, to see what HI is all about. At the same time, I'll be taking this opportunity to hopefully learn (through the sessions and through fellow participants) and to hear about what God is doing through His people all over the country and wherever the participants may be from.

"Speak, for Your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)

Haggai Institute
Haggai Institute Alumni Assocation Malaysia

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Some way to go

Bottomline: Lots of basic issues and fundamentals that we need to get right first before we can think about advancing any further.
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10 Things You Can Do to Save the Ocean

National Geographic ran an article on their website which summarizes some steps we can take to save our oceans, some of which are dependent on the state of affairs at a particular location.

So here we go:

1. MIND YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT & REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION - Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.

2. MAKE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD CHOICES - Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable.

3. USE FEWER PLASTIC PRODUCTS - Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in non-disposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.

4. HELP TAKE CARE OF THE BEACH - Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach clean-ups.

5. DON'T PURCHASE ITEMS THAT EXPLOIT MARINE LIFE - Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.

6. BE AN OCEAN-FRIENDLY PET OWNER - Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.

7. SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROTECT THE OCEAN - Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with the local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.

8. INFLUENCE CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY - Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.

9. TRAVEL THE OCEAN RESPONSIBLY - Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you're set on taking a cruise on your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option.

10. EDUCATE YOURSELVES ABOUT OCEANS & MARINE LIFE - All life on earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you'll want to help ensure its health. Then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.

Source: National Geographic

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The Servant King

The King became a Servant. Instead of being treated royally, He was treated dreadfully.

Rich, but made poor. Even the clothes on His back were stripped of Him at the cross. The grave in which He was buried was not even His own.

No sin, but made sin.

The extent to which Jesus Christ went from one to the other shows the extent of how much we have fallen, and the extent of our need for forgiveness.

We can search all we want, but there is only one Person big enough to fill that extent: Jesus Christ.

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

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A "Community Message on Prayer" by SSGC Youth

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Homosexuality to Holiness

Here's a video of Christopher Yuan's testimony of how Christ led him in his journey from homosexuality to holiness.


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Dam, No Water

Another fine example of public funds "well-used". Somebody(ies) is(are) heeheehaha-ing their way to the banks.

Happy Malaysia Day folks!

Reposted from Free Malaysia Today.

NEW DAM BUILT IN KUDAT BUT NO WATER SOURCE
By Queville To (22 July 2010)

KOTA KINABALU: Standing tall on an arid piece of land in Kudat is a dam that has cost the government RM300 million to build. Construction on the multi-million-ringgit project began five years ago and it is now almost complete.

It looks sturdy and well-built and appears like it could do what it was built to do -- hold sufficient water to quench the thirst of the district. But therein lies a problem. There is no water source anywhere in sight.

Now, the Sabah DAP has expressed grave concern that the soon-to-be-completed Milau Dam near Sikuati in the northern-most district of the state may end up as yet another white elephant.

Its concern was based on the fact that without a viable water source, the dam must depend on rain.

A downpour is a rarity here, considering that Kudat is known to be the driest place in Sabah.

Sabah DAP chief Hiew King Cheu made the observation following a fact-finding inspection by him and several DAP leaders at the project site last Saturday.

He said the inspection was prompted by some concerned local residents who doubted the feasibility of the project.

Hiew said he was told that the project was first proposed some 15 years ago, but never got off the ground due to strong objections and criticism from the people there who said there was no water source in the vicinity.

Nevertheless, the project started on Aug 1, 2005, and was supposed to be completed by the contractor on Jan 31, 2008. But extensions were granted and it is now estimated to be 99% complete.

Gross waste of public funds
The dam is supposed to supply water to the water treatment plant located a few kilometres away next to a small stream.

A new pipeline was also constructed to connect the treatment plant to the existing pipeline from Kota Marudu to Kudat to alleviate the perennial water shortage in the Kudat district.

“What is the use of the dam when there is no water source? Just depending on the rain will not be sufficient to supply the whole of Kudat district. This could well end up as another 'white elephant' project by the Barisan Nasional government,” Hiew said in a statement today.

Hiew, who is also the Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament, said the dam was a glaring example of gross wastage of public funds.

He asked how the BN government could allow such a harebrained and wasteful project to go ahead and at the same time claim that it was cutting subsidies to the people to save money.

Hiew also claimed that compensation payments had not been fully disbursed by the state government to the affected villagers for the land acquired.

“We received many complaints during the visit. It is understood that the kampung folks received only about 75% of the compensation," he said.

"Why can’t the state government settle the payment quickly?” he asked, saying that it was a well-known fact that the people in the district are among the most deprived in the state.
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Haha!

Moral of the story: just because you look like you can do it doesn't necessarily mean you can :)
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A to Z of blessings

C

Coral reefs: Underwater wonder and home to many a marine life (photo by Greg Leong)

 

Carrot cake: With walnuts. Oh yeah.

Curry: Give me curry and i'm happy in a hurry. Yummmm.

Coca-Cola: Yes, me is Coke, not Pepsi.

Cebu Pacific Air: Thanks to them, i can fly affordably to the Philippines.

Cognitive abilities: The expanses of the mind is fascinating. Which speaks volumes of the Intelligence behind the intelligence.

Christ: my Saviour, my reason for being.

Why Can't I Just Be a Good Person?

Here's a reproduction of an excellent article by Michael Ramsden (European director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in the United Kingdom), taken from http://www.rzim.org/. Emphasis added.


Why Can't I Just Be a Good Person?

"People are basically good," writes one poet. "It is only their behavior that lets them down."

It is remarkable today that despite religion, creed, or practice, many believe they are good enough to get into heaven. Perhaps there is so much bad news about others that they conclude by comparison they are superior, and thus, deserving of a place in eternity. But then it is even more remarkable that when Christians claim they know they are going to heaven, they are regarded as being conceited, boastful, and arrogant. People immediately ask: How can they think that they are better than everyone else?

The fact that the same person can think of himself as superior to others, while at the same time criticizing Christians for arrogance, underlines one of the effects of living in a postmodern world. Though the contradiction is frustrating, we all need to be able to respond coherently to the questions at hand: Why can't I just be a good person? Isn't it unfair of God to say that you can't get into heaven unless you believe in Him, even though you have been a good person? Who does God think He is?

Jesus was once asked a similar question by a group of inquirers: "What must we do to do the works God requires?" (John 6:28). Interestingly, the question was posed in plural form; it seems they were looking for a list of good things to do. But Jesus replied in the singular, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent" (6:29).

Of course, in the minds of those who feel they have lived a good life, Christ's answer will not go unchallenged. What makes belief so special? Surely what we do is far more important than what we believe. How can a good person, who is not a Christian, be denied access on the basis of belief?

The difficulty here lies in the assumption that is being made in each of these questions—namely, that there is such a thing as a good person. Jesus again offers further clarification in the form of question and answer. He was once asked, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18). The theory of the questioner was clear: Jesus is a good person; good people go to heaven, so what must I do to be in the same group? But Jesus's reply was surprising. "Why do you call me good?" he asked (18:19). He then answered his own question: "No one is good—except God alone."

The simple truth is that the issue is not about good people not getting into heaven. Alas, the problem is much worse! Jesus seems to define goodness in terms of being like God, and on that basis there are no good people anywhere. Thus, the real question is not about who is good enough to get in to heaven. The real question is how God makes it possible for anyone to get in at all. The answer is that we need to be forgiven, and that forgiveness is won for us through the Cross.(1)

In fact, this is precisely why the Gospel is called Good News, and why Christians do well to declare it. The good news is that getting into heaven is first and foremost about forgiveness. And thus, the Christian testimony is, in fact, far from arrogant! If a Christian is sure that he is going to heaven it is not because he is good, but because he has received forgiveness by believing in Christ.

In other words, if we will trust in and rely on Jesus—his promises, his person, his life, death, and resurrection—we can be sure that we are saved. Christians are not good people because they live morally superior lives to everyone else. They have been made "good" in God's eyes because Christ has made forgiveness possible—because Christ has extended his own righteousness to those who will believe.

Good people will certainly go to heaven. However, the path to goodness lies not in religious observances or respectable acts, but in the forgiveness of a good God, given to us through the Cross of Christ.

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The Expendables

After the mind-teasing Inception, the next movie i'm looking forward to is The Expendables.

It will be a stark contrast to Inception in terms of the concept, but really, who needs a decent storyline when you have assembled some of the finest hardcore action movie stars to beat up the baddies and blow up stuff together? :-)

Co Bao: Why did they pick you? Because you like to fight?
Rambo: I'm expendable.
Co Bao: What mean expendable?
Rambo: It's like someone invites you to a party and you don't show up. It doesn't really matter.
(Rambo: First Blood Part II, 1985)

a thousand words

Photo (Redang island, July 2010) courtesy of Edvin Eng.

Coral Reef Bleaching

"Coral reef bleaching, the whitening of diverse invertabrate taxa, results from the loss of symbiotic zooxantheallae (microscopic algae that live in the tissue of many corals) and/or a reduction in photosynthetic pigment concentrations in zooxantheallae residing within scleratinian corals." (Jason Buchheim, Odyssey Expeditions - Marine Biology Learning Center Publications)

In other words, bleaching coral reefs equal coral reefs in trouble. The corals lose their zooxantheallae. Without zooxantheallae, the corals lose their colour (hence the term "bleaching"), but worse, life gets difficult for the corals. Bleached corals are more susceptible to disease and reproduction/growth is adversely affected.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority cites that high water temperature is the primary cause of coral bleaching.

My friends who just returned from a dive trip in Redang were lamenting about how bad the bleaching was there, and how warm the sea temperatures were, with the dive computer registering temperatures of 31-32dC (the generally-agreed optimal temperature for corals is in the range of 24dC-29dC, depending on coral species). Their wetsuits were left dry on land while they just went into the water with shorts and rashguards.

And rising sea temperatures is one of the more significant physical impact of global warming.

Can bleached corals recover? Yes, they can. If conditions return to normal, corals can regain their zooxantheallae and become healthy again!

Today, The Star reported that several dive sites at marine parks in the country have been temporarily closed to allow the corals to recover from bleaching. This means no diving or snorkelling activities in these sites.

While the move is good to give time for the corals to heal without the intrusion of homo sapiens, my concern is that this may result in more divers and snorkellers crowding to the other dive sites that are still open and causing accelerated damage there.

For example, it was announced that Renggis, Soyak, Chebeh and Batu Malang sites in Tioman are off-limits for now. As a result, divers in Tioman will flock to sites like Tiger Reef, Magician's Rock or Sawadee and we'll have a case of seeing more divers there than fish.

I'm not saying the move doesn't have its benefits, but my point is that we need balanced and long-term solutions that address the root of the problem, and inevitably some hard decisions need to be made.

Things like investing to ensure each island has systematic and robust sewerage systems, fighting corruption and stopping uncontrolled development, educating the local island population, proper maintenance of boats and sea ferries, educating visitors to snorkel and dive responsibly, and close monitoring of our marine ecosystems, among others.

And of course, each of us can play our part in our daily lives to save the reefs by stemming the tide of global warming:

(1) Use lights, fans and air-conditioners only when necessary. Switch them off when not in use.

(2) Be prudent in usage of water.

(3) Switch off computers and laptops when not in use instead of leaving them switched on or in standby mode. Instead of spending the evening on facebook, go take a walk at the park.

(4) Use public transport wherever possible.

(5) Recycle, reuse.

(6) Keep your car tyres properly inflated. Saves on carbon emmissions.

When you're visiting any of our beautiful islands, here's what you can do:

(1) Avoid physical contact with corals. Keep hands and fins clear of the reef.

(2) Do not litter in the sea or anywhere else. Discard rubbish into designated bins.

(3) Don't remove any marine elements like shells from the sea or the beach.

I have plans to dive Tioman next month. I'll miss the currents at Chebeh and the giant grouper at Renggis, but here's to hoping that the reefs will heal to a healthy state!

Inconvenient Truth vs Reassuring Lie

Felicitaciones España

It's Monday morning, and i'm feeling the effects of waking up in the wee hours of the morning to watch the World Cup final, which went on to extra time to rob me of more zzz.

So in my sleep-deprived condition, here are a few short phrases to describe the match between Netherlands and Spain.

World Cup final nerves.
Missed opportunities (the kind that would haunt a football player for life).
Flurries of the colour yellow.
Speedy Robben.
Stud marks on the chest.
Orange wall.
Ill-tempered.
Tactical substitutions.
The usual theaterics.

And a solitary goal ensures Spain finally gets a star on their emblem.

The promise to claim

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

So is My word that goes out from My mouth: it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

~Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)~

when i was younger...

...i wanted to surf like Kelly Slater.

Gulf Oil Leak

Excerpt from The Star article 'Gulf oil may leak until August' dated 1 June 2010:

"In the wake of a devastating failure this weekend to plug the BP well with the tricky 'top kill' operation, BP chief executive Tony Hayward said the Gulf of Mexico leak may not be stopped for two months. 'There's no doubt that the ultimate solution lies on the relief well, which is in August,' he said...The drilling of two relief wells began in May, an expesnive but reliable way to intercept and cap the leaking well that had ruptured with a deadly rig explosion on April 20."

The same article reported that an estimated 1.9 million to 3 million litres of oil is leaking per day.

Based on the above report, let's say an average of 2.4 million litres is leaking per day. Up to today, it's been 44 days since the well gave way.

That would mean a total of 105.6 million litres of oil spewed out. That is equivalent to 70.4 million units of our 1.5 litre mineral water bottles. And more to come in the weeks and months ahead.

Sea birds get covered in oil and they get poisoned when trying to clean themselves. Planktons die, depriving fish of their food and disrupting the entire food chain. Oil enters the whales' body either through their blowhole or mouth and they get poisoned too. Coastlines eroded and contaminated. Substrates are poisoned and again the entire food chain is ruined. People whose livelihoods depend on the sea are adversely affected. The earth's resources are wasted.

Catastrophe.

Caste Violence

I read an article which highlighted briefly a recent incident in Haryana, India where an inter-caste marriage took place without the consent of the parents. This led to a so-called "honour killing", where the couple were mercilessly hacked to death in full view of the entire village. And no one came forward to save them. No one. Such is the stranglehold of the caste system.

The article also continued to talk about overhauls that are trying to be done to laws and even education to address the issue of caste violence.

Theodore Roosevelt once said that "a man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad." I believe we are all aware that laws, education and the like can only do so much. It only addresses the symptoms, not the cause. What we really need is a change of heart.

I'm not saying that if we all change our hearts, the world will immediately be a better place. With such deep-rooted problems, it will be a process of healing. But only with a change of heart can we BEGIN to address such problems at its roots.

Where else can we bring about such a change other than in Jesus Christ and His gospel, where He explains the need to be "born again"? This is God's desire for the people of India. This is God's desire for all mankind.

Anilao, Philippines

When we met up at the airport, i discovered that two out of the whole dive group were going back to dive Anilao for the third time. "Anilao is that good huh?", i thought, being cautious at the same time lest expectations grow bigger than they should.

True enough, Anilao IS a great place to dive, as i discovered for myself.

Located on Luzon island, Anilao is about 2-3 hours drive south of Manila, near Batangas. We stayed at Balai Resort, a simple but quiet & cozy place where the hospitality was as warm as the tropical weather. Food was good too! Especially the desserts, which were all very sweet & just sends you to the gastronomical heavenlies. The coconut ice-cream, oh man, so good with it's real coconut flesh bits....ahhhhhhh.....

Yes, the resort was simple & nice:

Of course, no beach pad is complete without the customary hammock:

I like how the dive centre is set up: open air space with plenty of room to move around, large bamboo patio to do whatever you wanna do (suit-up, gear-up, dry your gear or just sit around & chill), simple racks made of bamboo & wood to dry stuff, bits of shade provided by the trees above...it was very close-to-nature.

And then we hit the water (which ranged between 27-28 degrees celcius, so bring something warm especially if you're diving for longer periods at a time), where we discover the awesome beauty of the underwater world that is Anilao.

Anilao's diving is pretty diverse, ranging from muck diving (at sites like Toro's Point), wall diving (Kerby's Rock) to sites with lush colourful coral forests & fish life that just blew me away.

Say hello to hairy frogfish! (photo by Edvin Eng):

My personal favourite was a site called Sombrero. The place is just brimming with life! The whole place was blanketed by corals of all variety & colour. From the moment i descended into this site, it was just one "wow wow wowww" after another. Because the corals are so healthy, correspondingly the fish population there was thriving and there were heaps of them everywhere!

Wide-angle photographers would have a field day at Sombrero (photo by Edvin Eng):

How awesome is our God. Stuff of dreams...theatre of His magnificence, showcase of God's craft. The pictures speak for itself (pictures by Gregory Leong):

A couple of things i observed during the stay which probably contributed to the healthy marine ecosystem in Anilao: Firstly, no sewerage is flushed into the sea from any resorts there. Secondly, boat engines are well maintained such that there are no visible leaks or unpleasant emissions.

If you're asking "Should i go dive in Anilao?" My answer is a resounding YES YES YES! Do dive responsibly in order to maintain the "ohhlala" of this place. That means no disturbing the marine life, making sure trash goes into the trash, and using electricity & water only when necessary (water at the resort is tapped from spring water source nearby), among others.

For non-divers, it's also a great place to chill & refresh. There are a few comfortable places around the resort where one can plant themselves comfortable, read a book, sleep, dream, get inspired, paint, whatever. The beach is not a beach of sand, but a beach of stones, so no beach running or sports. The sea is great for swimming, just be extra careful when there are currents. Snorkelling can also be done at some sites.

And no dive trip is complete without the never-cease-to-amaze-me sunsets :)

Suicide

I read Tan Soo-Inn's e-commentary this morning and decided to reproduce it here in full. As the article points out, suicide is always a taboo subject (both in churches and society-at-large) that we like to conveniently let it fly by. But the issue is real and there is a need to engage actively, as with a host of other issues (homosexuality, pre-marital pregnancies, abortion, to name a few).

May this article bless us and move us to give life to life.

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GRACE@WORK MAIL 16/10
April 23, 2010 Edition.
(Grace@Work Mail is a ministry of Graceworks: www.graceworks.com.sg)

Commentary: Another Suicide
By Soo-Inn Tan

Introduction
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Last week I received a message that a young person, capable, full of promise, her life ahead of her, had taken her own life. The method of choice in Singapore --- jump from a tall building. Although I didn't know her, I was overwhelmed with a deep sadness. It reminded me of the time when I was a dentist in charge of a team of school dental nurses. There was one nurse who was outstanding, far ahead of her peers. She was highly capable, friendly, with exceptional leadership abilities. I had no hesitation recommending her for promotion every time there was an evaluation exercise. I lost touch with her when I left dentistry to pursue theological studies. When I came back to Singapore years later, I asked about this nurse. I expected to hear that she had risen high in her profession. I was told that she had taken her life. She had climbed to a tall building, taken off her shoes and jumped. I was stunned. No one saw it coming. (Do we ever?) Did I mention she was a Christian?

Why do people take their lives?
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Why do people take their own lives? Gary R. Collins gives us a list of possible reasons:

*To escape from loneliness, hopelessness, depression, academic or work difficulties, financial pressures, or conflicts with other people.
*To punish survivors who are likely to feel hurt and guilty.
*To gain attention.
*To manipulate others (often this can best be accomplished by the threat of suicide.
*To join a loved one who has died.
*To escape from some difficult situation.
*To punish oneself for something that has created guilt.
*To prevent oneself from becoming a burden on others.
*To avoid the suffering and other effects of some dread disease.
(Christian Counselling 3rd Edition, Nashville, TX: Thomas Nelson, 2007, 651.)

Of course Collins is quick to point out that "Some of the reasons on this list are not very logical. There is no guarantee, for example, that suicide will enable the victim to join a deceased loved one. Gaining attention isn't very satisfying if the person is not present to enjoy the public reaction" (Collins, 651).

Is suicide an unpardonable sin?
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Understandably the church has taken a strong stand against suicide.

[We must understand suicide as free and uncoerced actions engaged in for the purpose of bringing about one's own death. Once we define it this way, it is easy to grasp the church's clear teaching throughout the centuries that suicide is morally wrong and ought never to be considered by the Christian. Life is a gift from God . . . Our lives belong to God; we are but stewards. To end my own life is to usurp the prerogative that is God's alone. (Thomas D Kennedy, "Suicide and the Silence of Scripture," http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2000/julyweb-only/42.0.html)]

Suicide is wrong but it is not an unpardonable sin. Kennedy moves on to say:

[If we define suicide as consisting of only free and uncoerced actions, we must ask a series of questions as we try to understand any particular suicide: To what extent do we know the suicide in question was genuinely free? Could pain (either physical or emotional) have coerced the individual to do what he otherwise might not have done? But even if we could know that an act of suicide was genuinely free, can we know that the aim of the act was indeed one's own death rather than a misguided cry for help? Can we know that the suicide believed this action would really kill?

These questions lead us to withhold judgment in many cases; but more telling yet is this question: Did the individual aim at removing himself from God's goodness by suicide? Was this an act of suicide directly aimed at saying no to God? Or was it rather a tragically misguided attempt at saying yes to God? Eternal punishment is reserved, Christians believe, for those who directly reject God and reject God as a consistent pattern in life, not merely in a solitary final act.
(Kennedy, "Suicide and the Silence of Scripture."]

Helping to prevent suicide
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However, it is not quite enough to clarify theologically that suicide is not an unpardonable sin. The more pressing question is: how to we help our people find the resources that will inoculate them against the temptation to take one's own life? I believe we need to do at least the following:
First, we need to give clear teaching on the subject. Suicide is one of a number of taboo subjects in most churches. We pretend that suicide is something that doesn't happen among believers. And when it happens we respond with theological discussions and quickly move on.

Second we need to help our folks understand and experience the "joy of the Spirit" (Galatians 5: 22) which is our birthright in Christ. We need to help people see that joy is something deeper and more resilient than emotional happiness, and that we can have joy even in the midst of tears because joy is a fruit of the Spirit, predicated on God's ultimate sovereignty and love, and on His commitment to make right a broken world.

Third the church must truly be a gracious community where it is safe to share our deepest pains and despair, a place where people listen lovingly and carefully, a place where you are accepted, pain and all, so that together we can seek the healing of God. Few churches I know are like that.

Fourth, we must ensure that we all walk through life with a few real friends, confidants with whom we share the joys and wounds of life (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12). I can't help but link the growing number of suicides, especially among the young, with the increasing loneliness of modern society. Dr. T Maniam, a Malaysian psychiatrist, comments on this trend:

[If 50 years ago the majority of people who attempted suicide were middle-aged, today the bulk has shifted. Sixty percent of those who attempt to do so worldwide are now under 40. While this is yet the case in Malaysia, Dr T Maniam of UKM said that the proportion of youths with suicidal tendencies is fast rising, with depression seeking ever younger targets. Chief of the factors behind this, he said, is the "epidemic of loneliness" brought on by a rise in urbanization, and exacerbated by the lack of quality in relationships. "Young people are more connected through technology, but virtual relationships are solitary pursuits," said the psychiatrist and medical researcher. (Christine Chan and Aidila Razak, "Those considering suicide more of younger age." Malaysiakini, 24th December, 2009.)

Are you walking thorough life with a few close friends? If you are, at least there are a few people who might "see it coming" if you ever turn suicidal, and have the opportunity to do something about it. But I fear most of us are walking though life, indeed following Jesus, alone.

Conclusion
-------------
May the death of the girl who took her life last week be another voice in a growing chorus calling us to wake up to the despair of life, and to Hope.

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Minimum Wage

Malaysia currently does not have comprehensive laws on minimum wages. Wages are left to be determined by market forces. So we have plenty workers all over the country being employed for about average RM400-500 per month. This is very much below the generally-agreed basic cost of living of RM800 per month per individual in this country (and this is 2007 benchmark).

So in a low-wage economy, employers or business owners call the shots. With growing inflation, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Selfishness and greed rears its ugly head in a liberal wage market.

A to Z of blessings

B

Bible: "Ancient words ever true, changing me & changing you." God's word, passed down through the ages, still as relevant as ever.

Books: I'm not much of a reader, but i've learnt the value of books as a great source of knowledge. Great companion when on the go too. Right now i'm reading two books, "Rex: A Mother, Her Autistic Child, And The Music That Transformed Their Lives" (Cathleen Lewis) and "Who Made God?: And Answers To Over 100 Other Tough Questions Of Faith" (Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler).

Basketball: 95% of my sports injuries were sustained while playing this beautiful game. Don't play much of this nowadays. Takde kaki la....

Badminton: This, i still have the pleasure of playing nowadays.

Butter cookies: Yummmm......

Bon Jovi: Great music from these great musicians. My favourite from them happens to start with "B" too, Blaze Of Glory.

Blogs: A good way to catch up on friends' and people's happenings and thoughts.

Bourne Trilogy of Movies: Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon), part of the CIA's top secret "super agent" programme, loses his memory in an assignment gone wrong. It's 6 hours of Jason trying to make sense of things, traversing continents, finding out the truth in unconventional ways, breaking people's arms and necks, until he returns to where it all started and discovers his true identity. The three movies that make up this trilogy is Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum.

Burn Notice: The only tv series i'm following right now (given that i don't watch much tv). I do watch Criminal Minds too but i don't tail it as closely as i do this Burn Notice. The series revolves around a spy (yes i like spy thrillers) who got burned (or fired in common terms) for reasons unknown to him. He sets out to find out the truth of why he got burned while also keeping busy with interesting, and sometimes humourous, assignments of helping people (the man's gotta eat but there's also more to why he helps people, sometimes even for free). Joining him in his misadventures are his shoot-first-ask-questions-later ex-girlfriend, a beer-guzzling ex-Navy SEAL friend and smoke-like-a-chimney mum.

"Bottomline, until you figure out who burned you, you're not going anywhere" :)

Salib

"If you take CHRIST out of the CHRISTIAN, you're left with IAN, and Ian can't help you."
~ Michael Ramsden~

:-)

Been thinking about why Jesus had to die such an excruciating, mangled death. Why didn't He just die peacefully, maybe in a quiet room, comfortably on a bed? Just "cough cough", "wheeze wheeze", and go peacefully. Why did He have to be stripped, injured, ravaged, bloodied, mocked, made to suffer and left dangling shamefully on a cross?

Ravi Zacharias illustrated it very well when he said that it was like telling a drunkard to stop drinking, but wouldn't listen. Until one fine day, in his drunken stupor, he drives dangerously home and knocks over his own child playing in the driveway. Then he sees for himself what his drunkenness has done.

Jesus had to demonstrate to us that sin is bad, and the sooner we come to terms with that, the better. Sin destroys us and the people around us.

Or as I mentioned tongue-in-cheek to a friend recently, sin is like a good-looking person with a gun. They look good on the outside, but at the end of the day, they'll shoot you dead :P

It pains me when we not only justify our sins, but even boast about them. There's bragging about bedding a certain girl, or taking pleasure in another man's wife. Or committing a lesser crime of corruption for the sake of a so-called greater cause which in itself is also a crime.

Yet, down the road, you see those sins manifesting itself in such a real way in the form of broken families, severed relationships, people suffering and lives destroyed. Because sin destroys.

God understands this perfectly. I can't help but wonder that for a brief moment in history, even the Trinitarian relationship was broken when Jesus cried out "My Lord, My Lord, why have You forsaken Me?" So there! Because Jesus understood perfectly, He is able to save us perfectly!

No doubt, it's the hardest thing facing up to our sins. Repentance can be a painful process. Responses to the effect of "cannot la, I'm a hopeless case", "no point la, i'm gone case", etc etc etc crop up. It's hard, yes it's hard, to take an honest look at ourselves and see how we fall short when we stand before a God who demands nothing less than holiness and perfection.

But through Jesus Christ on the cross, what we get is forgiveness. A starting point from which renewal begins within when Jesus fills our lives, and the mending takes place. Without Jesus, we can't begin to make sense of things, find answers and fix the broken.

Jesus Christ's death on the cross is epic. That's why Good Friday is good. Blessed Good Friday everyone!

I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again
~Chris Tomlin~

Vitamin Sea

Pulau Lang Tengah.

A small island off the coast of Terengganu. Turqoise water, island breeze, powder-white sand, sunrays shimmering off the waters. It's a nice island alright. School holidays though, so it was buzzing quite a bit with people.

Waters were pretty rough heading to the island. We only found out a bit later (after we got to the island) that the weather forecast for that day was waves of 3-4m and "dangerous for boat and marine activities". Right. So we were all very thankful for a safe arrival.

The diving. It was nice to get back into the water. July 2009 was the last time. Too long. Too long.

It was interesting getting to know the Dive Master (DM) for this trip. One phrase to describe him: disgruntled employee. Poor dude. He's the only DM at the dive centre. So what happens when 10 or more people show up to dive? Headache lor. Not only is he the only DM at the dive centre, he's also the only one manning the whole dive centre. So check this out...who takes divers out for dives? Him. Who fills up the tanks with air? Him. Who registers divers when they come in? Him. Who takes care of all the equipment at the dive centre? Him.

No wonder he's disgruntled. We were told that boss doesn't bother to hire more people. In fact he pleaded with us to, as customers, go complain to boss.

The diving.

Generally, Lang Tengah offers diving that is not too bad. Some of the dive sites were decent.

Others were not. Barren.

Sea cucumbers are nice though. Comes in different varieties too.

My favourite site was Tanjung Telunjuk. Colonies of colourful sea fans! With orchestras of fishes swimming around the sea fans, it was awesome. I wish i could stay longer to just admire the scenery, but it was quite a deep dive and we had to go at the risk of deco. There was even a school of yellowtail barracudas! Awesome!

Speaking of barracudas, i saw one on a night dive too. When you see a barracuda at night, you need to be on high alert. Because barracudas go hunting at night.

All in all a good trip. We also had the blessing of enjoying two things (among others) to which i collectively term as the greatest shows on earth: starry nights, and sunsets.

(underwater photos courtesy of Jeff Tham)

I got tagged

I got tagged...by a scuba diver. Since it involves a favourite of mine, scuba diving, here i go... :)

Why did you become a certified scuba diver?

To get more up-close-and -personal with the marine world. And to give me an excuse to strap a macho dive knife around my leg :D

Describe your most memorable dive

Every dive's memorable, every dive's unique, and there's always something memorable to bring back from a dive.

One that stands out in particular as i write this was a night dive in Pulau Redang. It was an awesome night seeing a green turtle swim by, observing sleeping fishes and watching the behaviours of night critters. There was this comedic scene where i saw a sea urchin moving rather quickly across the sand. Way too quick for a sea urchin. A sea urchin on steroids? I took a closer look...and the urchin was actually being carried by a crab! It was actually quite cute. At the end of the dive, we surfaced to find a sky full of stars greeting us. Like wow. God is great.

Also, dives in Sipadan never fail to blow me away. It's just bustling with marine life!

And there was this drift dive over anemone garden at Redang as well....so awesome to glide over a huge colony of anemones....

I could go on and on...haha.

What's your favourite sea creature and why?

Turtles! Watching them "fly" through the water just takes my breath away. Sharks and barracudas too. Just the sight of these sleek, menacing-looking swimming machines infuses a sense of wonder. Cephalopods! Cuttlefishes in particular. The way their colours ripple, out-of-this-world. Christmas tree worms. The most beautiful worms you'll ever find :)

Did you have any fears before learning to dive? How did you overcome them?

No actually...I couldn't wait to get into the water and get diving. But i have a healthy respect for the ocean and its inhabitants. I've surfaced to a storm and it was no joke. And i have no intention of overcoming this healthy respect because it keeps me humble and careful when diving...and reminds me that the God of heaven and earth, He's Boss.

when i was young...

...i wanted to play basketball like Scottie Pippen.

Warna Pagi

What gets me up in the morning,
That little rectangle of a thing,
After a full night of tick-tocking,
Blares me out of bed with a loud RINGGGGGGGGG.

Looking all wasted and rotten,
Stumbling through the door and into the garden,
All is stilled, rested and forgotten,
When greeted with what's out in the open.

The fresh air out there,
The birds' chorus in the air,
The gentle breeze headed who knows where,
The morning dew that calmly hangs there.

The skies fill with dawn's first rays,
Ushering the dark and moon away,
An orchestra of brilliant light greets the day,
A dance of colours in marvelous array.

A display of God's greatness,
A testament of God's faithfulness,
A demonstration of God's lovingkindness,
Worship Him, for He deserves no less.

~CW~

Outliers: The Story of Success (Malcolm Gladwell)

So we hear that the people are successful because "they're just born for it" or "they worked hard at it". Ever wondered if there were other factors at play that contributed to their successes?

Outliers, a book authored by Malcolm Gladwell, offers some convincing evidences that there ARE various factors that contribute to success stories other than just mere inborn talent. Factors range from those that are within the individual's control (like the mileage one has to clock in one's choice of trade), to those that are beyond the individual's power (like sports league schedules...hehe). Success stories like Bill Gates and The Beatles are examined in the process. The book basically sets out to correct what Gladwell described: "the biggest misconception about success is that we do it solely on our smarts, ambition, hustle and hard work".

Reading the book made me snicker constantly at the ironies that pop up along the way. An interesting read and definitely recommended.

Can you hear the sound of the static noise...

Thank you Green Day, for a truly entertaining rock show in Singapore!

The show ended appropriately with..."it's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right, i hope u had the time of your life..."

2009 Moments

Memorable moments of 2009, in no particular order.

I thee wed
They say a man isn't complete until he's married. When he is, he's finished. Last year, I was finished...errr, I mean, completed :) God brought two imperfect people together who fit each other perfectly. Been a great journey so far, going to be a great journey, and I'm enjoying every second of it.

Then she fell ill...
My poor wife contracted tuberculosis (TB). Thank God for His grace in seeing her through the healing period. I speak for both of us when I say that much good has come out of this episode.

So I went & planted corals...
I learnt much in the process of participating in Mabul Marine Week (July 2009), particularly in coral transplanting. I wonder how my lil' acropora's doing...

Gone diving...
Kaleebso (Pulau Sembilan), Weh, Tenggol (so glad that there's an east coast island still rich in marine life) and Sipadan....the underwater world never ceases to amaze me. How great Thou art!

Whoever said turtles were slow?
Volunteering with WWF in their turtle conservation programme was a highlight. I've seen turtles swimming smooth & quick underwater, but man, I saw with my own eyes on this trip how quick they can be on land as well when in the thick of danger. To find out more about WWF's turtle conservation programme in Malaysia, click HERE.

Two From Galilee
Being involved in this musical drama with The Canticle Singers was indeed an enriching experience.

Getting to know you...
Getting to know the three girls better...Aeslinn, Ariadne & Anishea...and watching them grow is a great blessing.

Berkat Tuhan
Seeing how the Indonesian domestic helpers hunger for God's word, witnessing them deciding to follow Jesus, watching them grow, talking through their struggles...so thankful to God for being able to share in this ministry.

If Bethlehem were today...
Such was the title of our church's Christmas play, which I had the privilege of being involved in. Great to see the audience understanding the message & enjoying the play...and also a blessing to see the youth getting themselves involved & committed to something like this, which will hopefully be an enriching experience for them.

Here's to a blessed new year ahead!