There was this Japanese tourist who goes on holiday in the States and goes to a money changer to convert his yen into dollars and is disturbed to find that he gets fewer dollars than he expects.
“Why so little ne?”, he asks,
to which the helpful money changer explains that it’s due to “fluctuations”.
Shocked, he yells at the money changer, “Well, fluck you Amelicans too”.
PS: Can you catch the joke? Focus on the pronuciation of “fluctuations”. Cheers
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Cult Watch
I know that some of you are following my blog. Just want to share with you this website that I have been introduced recently and it had certainly helped me made a great deal of sense of things that had previously happened in church. I hope to share to all of you, so that you too can "open" your eyes, and be free from human "indoctrination" of teachings which are not as biblical as claimed to be by the church leaders.
http://www.cultwatch.com/
For those who knows me, do feel free to ask me out to clarify more on the article.
Bless!
http://www.cultwatch.com/
For those who knows me, do feel free to ask me out to clarify more on the article.
Bless!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Important Things in Life
I've received this story from my CEO (Yes, it's the CEO of NCSS. She's actually very nice and always motivates us by sending us inspiring stories and quotes) and immediately some thoughts come to my mind. We all know that almost intuitively that our family, children, health, friends, etc are the most important things in our lives. However, it's funny that some churches preaches otherwise, that "serving God to the utmost", to the point whereby we sacrificed these important things to show our love to God is the noblest.
Food for thoughts on what exactly is God's will for each of our lives.
Enjoy the story!
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls..
He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. ! He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf ball. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.. 'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, friends, and favourite passions - Things that if everything else was lost and only they! remained, Your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else --The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and! inquired what the coffee
represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
Please share this with other "Golf Balls"
Food for thoughts on what exactly is God's will for each of our lives.
Enjoy the story!
The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls..
He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. ! He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf ball. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.. 'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, friends, and favourite passions - Things that if everything else was lost and only they! remained, Your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else --The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and! inquired what the coffee
represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'
Please share this with other "Golf Balls"
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Muser over Kong Hee's Blog
I came across this blog from the Pastor of City Harvest Church.
http://www.konghee.com/www/category/blog/
Inside the blog, there are a lot of postings of his own personal take as a Chrisitian on some of real life issues and concerning recent happenings in Singapore. Moreover, it generates a lot of discussions, further insights, alternative perspectives and more other questions revolving around these issues.
Personally I think that is a great way of growing in being word-centered, especially pertaining to comtemplatory issues that we have to deal with but yet, there are few channels to discuss. Moreover non-believers who have misconception about the Christian faith and belief can see the discussions for themselves to have an accurate, better and complete understanding of the Christian faith. Moreover, the Pastor understands the "potential", "power" and the "reach" of Internet to engage people through the use of his blog.
Well done.
http://www.konghee.com/www/category/blog/
Inside the blog, there are a lot of postings of his own personal take as a Chrisitian on some of real life issues and concerning recent happenings in Singapore. Moreover, it generates a lot of discussions, further insights, alternative perspectives and more other questions revolving around these issues.
Personally I think that is a great way of growing in being word-centered, especially pertaining to comtemplatory issues that we have to deal with but yet, there are few channels to discuss. Moreover non-believers who have misconception about the Christian faith and belief can see the discussions for themselves to have an accurate, better and complete understanding of the Christian faith. Moreover, the Pastor understands the "potential", "power" and the "reach" of Internet to engage people through the use of his blog.
Well done.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Parable of the Good Samaritian
Luke 10:25 - 37 (NLT)
“A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
It is so interesting to experience the bible so directly in our lives and to translate the knowledge from an intellectual one to an experiential one. Recently I have the "privilege" to come across this story from my friends who was preparing for their marriage.
They were once very fervent in serving the church and the church community but because of some incidents were no longer doing so. Recently as they were preparing for their wedding, they needed some people to be their key helpers for the event. Due to their commitment to the church community previously, they were not so in contact with their own friends outside the church community. As such, they could only turn to those whom serve with them in the past from church for help.
They encountered mixed responses to their requests from the people they asked, ranging from the enthusiastic and supportive ones to those who were hesitant. The interesting fact was that those who were hesitant were the ones who served as fellow church leaders with them in the past. They were hesitant as they needed to be involved to run service on Sat for their group. I can imagine myself in the shoes of my friends and how they are to make sense of these people.
How to we serve God? Does serving God entail only doing religious matter, e.g. running church service, leading caregroup, etc? Or is it that helping a fellow brother and sister in Christ who's getting married once in a life time, less desirable than running service (which takes place 52 weeks a year?). Does it mean that we are loving God lesser if we were to help out in the wedding while ignoring running of service?
We have on hand, a real-life case study for Luke 10:25 - 37, and something for us to experience and learn experientially. It beats having to attend church service and listen to pastors preaching week after week.
My personal reflection is this: I would rather have a Samaritian for friend anytime than a Priest or a Temple Assistant. The Samaritian may not be perfect or religious (attending service or caregroup regularly) but at least the Samaritian reflects Christ and His love in my life.
“A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
It is so interesting to experience the bible so directly in our lives and to translate the knowledge from an intellectual one to an experiential one. Recently I have the "privilege" to come across this story from my friends who was preparing for their marriage.
They were once very fervent in serving the church and the church community but because of some incidents were no longer doing so. Recently as they were preparing for their wedding, they needed some people to be their key helpers for the event. Due to their commitment to the church community previously, they were not so in contact with their own friends outside the church community. As such, they could only turn to those whom serve with them in the past from church for help.
They encountered mixed responses to their requests from the people they asked, ranging from the enthusiastic and supportive ones to those who were hesitant. The interesting fact was that those who were hesitant were the ones who served as fellow church leaders with them in the past. They were hesitant as they needed to be involved to run service on Sat for their group. I can imagine myself in the shoes of my friends and how they are to make sense of these people.
How to we serve God? Does serving God entail only doing religious matter, e.g. running church service, leading caregroup, etc? Or is it that helping a fellow brother and sister in Christ who's getting married once in a life time, less desirable than running service (which takes place 52 weeks a year?). Does it mean that we are loving God lesser if we were to help out in the wedding while ignoring running of service?
We have on hand, a real-life case study for Luke 10:25 - 37, and something for us to experience and learn experientially. It beats having to attend church service and listen to pastors preaching week after week.
My personal reflection is this: I would rather have a Samaritian for friend anytime than a Priest or a Temple Assistant. The Samaritian may not be perfect or religious (attending service or caregroup regularly) but at least the Samaritian reflects Christ and His love in my life.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Muser over Foreword by PM Lee
The following statement made by PM Lee as the foreword for the book "Economics in Public Policies - The Singapore Story" caught my attention and is so apt to describe my thoughts towards the church.
"A better informed and engaged citizenry will more likely support rational policies that ensure our continued growth and success..."
For more information on the context of this statement, you can refer to the following link below.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC090723-0000127/That-deadly-deficit-hangover
Simply translated in the church context, it means "Better informed and engagaed church members will more likely to support comprehensive, well-considered and thought through policies that ensure our substained, continued growth and success..."
Is it sufficient at the level of information dissemination by the church leadership?
Is it sufficient at the level of members' engagement in decision making of important things?
How does better informed and engaged church members "fit into" the vision of "Fulfilling the Great Commission by raising Christ-centred disciples to plant vibrant, biblical churches in our city, country and all over the world"?
If raising Christ-centred disciples means making disciples who are engaged in Kingdom business, whose convictions and conclusions of their surroundings are based on truth and adequate information about the happenings, then is the leadership doing enough to promote this?
Is it time to align our leadership practices to our beliefs?
"A better informed and engaged citizenry will more likely support rational policies that ensure our continued growth and success..."
For more information on the context of this statement, you can refer to the following link below.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC090723-0000127/That-deadly-deficit-hangover
Simply translated in the church context, it means "Better informed and engagaed church members will more likely to support comprehensive, well-considered and thought through policies that ensure our substained, continued growth and success..."
Is it sufficient at the level of information dissemination by the church leadership?
Is it sufficient at the level of members' engagement in decision making of important things?
How does better informed and engaged church members "fit into" the vision of "Fulfilling the Great Commission by raising Christ-centred disciples to plant vibrant, biblical churches in our city, country and all over the world"?
If raising Christ-centred disciples means making disciples who are engaged in Kingdom business, whose convictions and conclusions of their surroundings are based on truth and adequate information about the happenings, then is the leadership doing enough to promote this?
Is it time to align our leadership practices to our beliefs?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
