Birthdays and Transformers

Today is my birthday, (yes yes one year older woohoo... ). Being one year older does give you a bit of perspective, to add to that perspective is the upcoming release of the "Transformers" motion picture. Finally, we are able to see our favourite "robots in disguise" interact in the real world and "transform" before our very eyes, making that funny robotic sound when they do.

I remember in my earlier birthdays when I was still a kid and my dad bought me my first Transformer toy, I was very happy. I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be great to be able to own all the Transfomer toys? Wouldn't it be great to actually see them in real life?" Transformers were like my purpose in life during those times, and that is the reason why the movie is being made now. It does not take rocket science to tell you that it make perfect business sense.

Millions of kids like me were also drawn into the world of the Transformers when the cartoon series first rolled out, and kids like me grow up. The difference is now kids like me now have incomes, more spending power and are eager to relive their long lost and sorely missed childhoods, and they have the money to do it. Not only will they be happily buying tickets to the movie but the licensing deals on toy, computer games etc... would be enormous. Plus, it is also a good way to capture the imagination of today's kids and pull them away from their Power Rangers or Pokemon or whatever the hell kids watch these days.

This movie has been a long time coming, but it is only now that the technology exists to make such an endeavour practical. So I guess we should count ourselves lucky that we live in an age where we can see our childhood dreams come alive. But I wonder what would happen 10- 15 years later when the "pokemon generation" grows up. The last thing I want to see in the cinema is a computer generated "Pikachu" jumping around and acting cute in a motion picture. The thought of it alone is disturbing. I guess I should stop thinking about it and enjoy what is left of my birthday.

Mankind

"I love mankind - it's people I can't stand!" Linus Van Pelt in Peanuts

I Need Inspiration!!!

It is becoming an increasing challenge to keep this blog updated because it is more difficult to find blog-worthy stuff to blog about. Life after the army is much quieter and things are beginning to settle down. Though I did get a letter stating that I will be on standby for mobilisation. The lousy army can't leave me alone for three months.

I am not complaining, I am doing ok. Waking up, going for breakfast, reading the papers, going to work, coming back home to relax. My job gives me a sense of challenge and satisfaction, my boss is good and my colleagues are friendly with none of that office politics crap which I want nothing to do with. I have a roof over my head, enough money to use and provide for myself. Things are falling into a sort of a timetable and I am fairly satisfied with how I spend each day although I still think I don't leave enough time for God, that is a constant struggle.

This so called "lack of inspiration" in my life have highlighted all the mundane stuff I often take so for granted in my life. Yes, life in the commandos was high-key and exciting filled with challenges and milestones. Thanking God for giving me the strength to complete my 72km route march is one thing but what about giving thanks for the mundane, your everyday life? Now I have started giving thanks for having the ability to support myself, having a good job, having good friends and a loving family to look out for me. Now I thank God for the mundane.

Cell Group

I was having lunch with my boss on Thursday and the “lunch table talk” eventually when to church (my boss is a Christian). He ask me whether I was part of a cell group in my church, I told him that I was part of one and I am now looking for joining a working adults cell group in my church. Then he said something that shocked me especially when it was coming from an elder Christian. He told me that he was a cell leader before and from the perspective he had as a cell leader, he is convinced that the cell group system was not good for Christians and warn me not to get too involved. I was quite taken aback by that remark because I often thought that being part of a cell group is considered good for a Christian.

I could not shake that remark off for the rest of the day. I got to thinking, how did a healthy church going Christian come to this conclusion? Looking at how my boss practices his faith, it would not be illogical to think that he is currently part of or even leading a cell group. But here he is criticizing the every system I have come to see as one of the foundations of being Christian. Did not the early church of the apostles work very much the same way, meeting in small groups eating, worshipping and fellowshipping together?

Then I started to look for examples of Christians who did well alone. Joseph was one example. He spent most of his young life alone but he kept the faith and was used mightily by God in Egypt. I am not saying that we are all Josephs by any stretch of the imagination, but it does lend weight to my boss' arguments. I also started thinking about my experiences in cell groups, most of which is not good. When I think about times in COR with the El-Shaddai cell group, I think I spent more time just trying to fit into the social circle than learning and talking more about Christ and if that is the case the cell group is nothing more than a social club.

Maybe it is just me, but perhaps going alone has its merits. I am relieved of the pressure and distraction of having to fit into the social mold of a cell group. I am not saying that cell groups are bad; I am saying that perhaps cell groups though good for a majority of Christians may not be good for all. My boss chose to go it alone in his walk with Christ, I just might be tempted to do the same.

Chad Vader

A while ago I posted a couple of Star Wars fan films on this blog, namely "Troops" and "Chad Vader". These films have considerable quality, are funny and are done by super dedicated fans of Star Wars with nothing better to do. What I did not realize is that one of these films I posted happen to be the first of a series, so here's presenting "Chad Vader" episode 2 and 3.

P.S. You have to have knowledge of some of Darth Vader's more memorable quotes in Star Wars to understand some of the jokes but nonetheless enjoy!

Episode 2



Episode 3

Open Road

Last week during a meal with Audrey, I asked her a very unusual question. I asked her if I was an approachable person, and she in all the honesty which I have grown to rely on and appreciate, said, "no". Then I asked her if I should change that, that I should make myself more approachable, she said that if I did I would not be "me" anymore, adding that I was a guy who prefers to be distant and thats just the way it is.

Honestly, I was quite uncomfortable with what Audrey said. Not the part that I was unapproachable(I was comfortable that way), but that I should not try to change the way I am. Because I fear that being distant and keeping people at arms length will give people a wrong impression on me. It already has in some cases.

Though I must say I do have a few friends who I am very close to and pour my heart out to in certain times and I take this opportunity to thank them (you know who you are). They are the ones who chose to look past my distant self and approach me to extend the hand of friendship and for that I am grateful. :)

But I guess Audrey was right, I should not make apologies for who I am. God made me, fearfully and wonderfully for His purpose and I should not care about people's impressions on me be it good or bad. That is their problem not mine.

Someone once said that life was like walking on an open road. There are some people you will pass without notice, there are some who you will stop to talk to for a while before going on your separate ways. Then there are some that will walk with you on a certain length of your journey and then turn a different direction when you reach a crossroad and yet there are a few who will take your hand and walk with you together to the end. And if I walked this "open road" being the way I am and not trying to be someone I am not. I will have no regrets, I am ready.