Once I Held The Moon

Once I held the moon a lover's gift
If memory serves me right
Once I owned the sky where moons could drift
And bathe my world in light
I held on to that moon as long as
She was there just holding me
But it means nothing to moons you see

Once I held the moon a lover's ploy
It was not hers to give
This is life she said enjoy
But it wasn't mine to live
I let the moon slip through my fingers
And my love let go of me
But it means nothing to moons you see

They sail through the night and you follow
You hitch up your heart to that moon like a cart
It's all you know how
You're faced with your pride but can't swallow
You lift up your spoon
And you howl at the moon
That it shouldn't have shone
And that you are not sad she has gone

Once I held the moon
And by its light I loved and she loved me
But it means nothing to moons you seen

The Rabbi

There once was a jewish religious student who heard about a rabbi living alone in the desert who was so wise that he could teach a student the meaning of the Torah while the student was standing on one leg. One day, curiousity got the better of him so he decided to look for this rabbi.

After a long and difficult journey, the student found the rabbi in a cave with his camel beside him. "Are you the wise rabbi who can teach me the meaning of the Torah while I am standing on one leg?", the student asked.

"I sure am", answered the rabbi.

"Well can you teach me?", the student asked.

"Sure", the rabbi answered, "stand on one leg."

The student did as instructed. "Well?" he asked.

"Ready?" asked the rabbi.

"Yes!" the student answered, wishing the rabbi would get on with it while trying to keep himself balanced.

"Okay here goes." said the wise rabbi as he clears his throat, "the meaning of the Torah is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might. The rest of it is commentary go read it yourself."

After saying that, the rabbi mounted his camel and left the cave.

The End :)

UN Crisis

I wonder whether if it is the world that has gone to hell or we got better at finding bad news but things in the world seem to be getting worse. War in Lebanon, North Korea launching nuclear capable missiles, Iran trying to go nuclear, bird flu in Thailand, earthquake in Indonesia etc... Although things like earthquakes and disease are quite unavoidable (if it happens, it happens. You just have to deal with it). Most of the crisis we are dealing with are man-made.

I have a few things to say about the war in Lebanon but I will refrain from sharing it because I have a feeling it will come off biased. And I don't want to make it to any terrorist hit list :) But all this man-made crisis and the inability to do anything about them does put into question one thing. The effectiveness of the UN(United Nations) and the UN security council.

No doubt getting the nations of the world to solve the problems of the world through their collective resources is one of the best ideas we have came up with (after millions dead and two of the biggest wars we have ever seen). It seems to me coming from a layman's point of view that the UN security council is divisive, fragmented with member states only interested in serving their own motives and aims, and although the security council has the power to make decisions which member governments MUST carry out under the UN charter. Most members just turn a blind eye to the resolutions that does not suit their political aims. In fact, some of these so called "resolution violators" created the problems we are facing now.

The UN sort of reminds me of the Galactic Republic in Star Wars where political infighting and the selfish aims of its members led to its downfall. The Galactic Republic became the Galactic Empire led by a despotic and cruel leader. Lets pray that the UN does not go that far.

War photos

Here are some photos from my ORD parade and D & D...

OICW

I wrote a post a long time ago about how good we are at making weapons that kill people so well. This just proves my point. It's called the OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon). It basically has everything but the kitchen sink installed in it. I certainly don't want to be at the wrong end of one of those weapons, but in the words of a certain "wise" man, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." Go figure...

Day Shift Manager

Another well done and hilarious fan flim

Conflicted

I am now the subject of every NSF's envy. ORD loh, getting my pink IC in two weeks. Happy that things like morning runs, IPPT, SOC, out field etc... is no longer part of my daily routine. I went out for lunch with my company mate Eric yesterday before our ORD D & D and he said, "can you believe it? We are out on a WEDNESDAY! Do you smell that? It is the air of FREEDOM!" What he said was true. The taste of the billy bomber's sirlion steak I was eating did taste especially good on a WEDNESDAY afternoon. I believe it is because the steak had the taste of FREEDOM.

As we spent our last days together as a company thinking back to all the tekan sessions, missions and fun we had, not to mention the stupid things we do when we are shag. I secretly wish in my heart that I could relive those days again (yes, I am crazy, I know). And I am not only talking about the good days, I am talking about the bad days as well. Because it is the experience that counts, the whole package.

To be honest I always complained to God about why He put me in the commandos. But let me put it this way, if experiences are the currency of life then with what I have experienced during my NS. I can safely say that I am clearly richer than most. I have truly been blessed.

The Day Of Days

The irony. I waited 2 years for this very day but find my feelings mixed. Sorrow, happiness, pride, I felt it all. I am talking about my ORD parade. Wearing the number 1 uniform, slow marching down the battalion block as the CO and the entire commando battalion salutes you to thank you for the service to the country and the commando formation.

After the parade, we exchanged hugs and handshakes. I saw my CSM cry for the first time as he was talking to us. We can't help but tear a bit ourselves. I will sure miss my days in 5th company, 1st commando battalion. Best combat unit 05/06, best operational company 05/06. STRIKE TO SILENCE!

Pictures will be coming soon. Today for me was indeed the day of days.

Lameness and Blindness

"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind."Albert Einstein.

I was quite taken aback when a pastor in my church mentioned in a Sunday sermon that the theory of evolution is a lie. There are heaps of evidence suggesting that every living thing do evolve to suit their different environments, we change and are changing continually that is undeniable. I often fail to understand what is the issue the church has with evolution, it does not explicitly disprove the existence of God at all. Yes there are a lot of people who will take it to the extreme and say dumb things like because we evolve, God does not exist. The theory itself does not state that at all. Yes, I know what some people are thinking. "What about the theory about humans coming from monkeys? Doesn't that run contary to the creation story in the bible?" Scientist have yet to prove that for a fact. They are frantically trying to find what they call "the missing link."So that theory is just that. Theory, not fact.

But that being said, science is not without its flaws as well. The greatest physcist of the modern times, Albert Einstein said, "As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality. "There are countless flaws and unknowns in science itself, giving an example will cause you to log out of this site immediately. So perhaps we should take Einstein's word for it.

Science and Religion have always been regarded as opposite sides of the same coin, they seem to be forever in conflict. Nevertheless they are part of the same coin, they share a relationship together. One side would not exist without the other. I personally believe that if you want to be religiously schooled, you have to be scientifically schooled and vice versa. I don't think that the church should treat science as an adversary, neither should science try to keep poking holes in religion as I know some famous scientist are. You will only end up lame or blind.

"No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life. "Albert Einstein

Airborne!

There is a saying among Airborne troopers no matter which country you come from, "there is a reason why your wings are worn over your heart." I am going for my last jump this thursday, but it is my first time jumping from a chinook. Pray that God will protect me.