30th April

Come 30th April, the gloves are off... It is going to be make it or break it. Lets pray that I make it

Random Thoughts

There is a fine line between asking for more and being content with what you have. When is it appropriate to ask for more and when it is prudent to be content? Is it too much to leave your job just because you are not satisfied with it? Especially now when a job is so hard to get.

I mean, who cares about job satisfaction, I’ve financial obligations and I need the monthly salary, money does not grow on trees you know. So I will work just for the pay and jump ship the moment I have something better. This begs the question, is such an existence worth living? Where is that sense of life? Are we really created to do things like that? What is the point?

Some would say we have to be pragmatic, things don’t always work out the way we want. We all have ideas about what our life should be and it is normal to fall short (really?). Because reality will creep in with loan repayments, mortgages, insurance and a whole lot of other stuff we need that requires money and we need to work for money. And that is how things get complicated.

I guess it boils down to what we work for. Some work to support the family they love, even if the job sucks they will stick with it because they are working for their families, that is a good reason. Some work to fulfill their dreams, whether it is earning lots of money, buying that dream car or home, those reasons are valid too. Some of these people will work even though they do not enjoy it because the money is good and they can get the things they want. Then what is my reason? Is that asking for too much to work for a reason other than money?

My guess is that most people will say, “yes.” They might say that I am being too idealistic. I should appreciate what I have, there are lots of people much worse off than me and that I am being too greedy, I should be happy to have a job in the first place. So where do we draw the line? How is the balance struck between ambition and pragmatism? Were you expecting an answer? Or at least my point of view? I don’t have one. Read the title :P. I am still trying to figure this shit out. Life is full of difficult decisions, that is what makes it so “fun.” God help me

Logic

Logic has always been a mistress with very little compromise. We are bounded by it. It dictates our actions, our motives even our likes and dislikes. No matter how crazy or sensible a person’s logic is, the person will stick to it to the very end. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the Islamic terrorist that blow themselves up, they might seem crazy to you but rest assure that it is their stone cold logic that guides their actions. In short, blowing themselves up with dozens of other people makes perfect sense to them.

Logic would dictate that in times of economic crisis, people will try their best to hold on to their jobs with all the retrenchments going on. They would try to ride out the storm before looking for better opportunities out there when things begin to pick up. They would refrain from overly risky investments in light of a volatile market. It makes perfect sense does it not? I can understand why this logic appeals to most people, it is the safe and responsible thing to do.

Unfortunately, I do not go by such a logic, and as stated above, I have very little room for compromise. With things going on in my company, the logical thing for me to do (as I see it) is to leave even if I don’t have a job offer at the moment. On top of that, I am sinking some of my savings into an investment that has considerable risks with no guaranteed return. Sometimes, I really think that I have lost my marbles, but I don’t think I have a choice in the matter because I think that it is the logical thing to do. Logic need not be sane.

Of course the logical Christian thing to do is to pray about it and look for God’s guiding light, but I believe I don’t need a “burning bush” moment for every decision I make in life. Sometimes you just have to do it when it feels right. But this will beg the question, “what happens if it all falls apart?” Do I expect God to bail me out? I would answer, “No.”

One of the thing I am honestly quite fed up with is what I call the “human sense of entitlement.” We believe that just because of who we are, we are entitled to certain benefits. For example, just because we are a citizen of a certain country, we are entitled to free medical care or social safety nets even if it costs the government billions of dollars and hurting the economy. In truth, we are entitled to nothing. We were born in the world naked, we leave naked. What we want in the world, we must earn and deserve. Sad to say, this is true even for love. But how does God fit into this you might ask.

Well… God is sovereign, He has free will to choose what to do. Hypothetic speaking, if God chose not to send Christ to die for us, it is entirely within His right. My point is that although God can choose to bail us out when we run into trouble, we cannot assume that we are entitled to it just because we are a Christian. God in His sovereignty might choose to allow us to fall. Sound pretty bleak doesn’t it, but I cannot assume that I will walk my Christian walk without some bumps and bruises. That would be illogical.

So the conclusion of the matter is this. Humans can’t live without logic in this world, no matter how insane or sensible the logic sounds, or even if it is based on a lie. But no matter what I do, I know one thing. God did send His Son to die for me, even though I was grossly undeserving of such an act. Logically, it would be difficult to take something like that for granted. That is logic that I can abide by.

Atlas Shrugged

Even in these troubled times, people are buying books to read. Curiously, a book I bought and read 5 years ago is making its way up the bestseller list again. The book is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. (Yes, you heard me talk about her before.)

Written more than 50 years ago, it depicts an America where economically successful people were "penalised" through government regulations and taxation so that the less successful people can get what they need. Almost like a "Robin Hood" system, take from the successful and give to the unsuccessful. Much like what is happening in the USA now, with all the bailouts and massive spending to keep unsuccessful companies afloat.

Unfortunately, the successful people in Rand's book had enough of such a system. So they went on strike, refusing to contribute anymore to a world they know would not allow them their just rewards. And since it is the successful people that "run the world," the entire world collapses without them.

The reason why this book is beginning to sell again is because it seemed to have saw the current economic crisis coming 50 years ago. So people are now looking for answers in the book. Although I feel that there are still some differences between the book and the current reality we are in, I believe Ayn Rand still makes a good and very powerful point in the book. Especially the point about how a man must ultimately work for his own happiness and no one Else's. Really does make you think.

Read the book, perhaps we can have a good discussion later.... lol

Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim - Chega de Saudade

What can I say, the masters at work :). The original bossa in its purest form.

Dance

As some of you might know, I have been taking up dance lessons. The 2 kinds of dances I am taking up now are called "Bachata" and "Salsa" both of which have their roots in Latin America. In order to address the blur looks I get when I tell people what dances I am taking up (cause they really don't know), I have decided to put up a couple of showcase dances on this post that basically show what the dances are about. Yo guys! If any of you are interested, let me know ok? Will intro you to the places I am learning from now. Enjoy!

This is Bachata


And this is Salsa

Nietzsche

I know I promised something on Nietzsche, but I got lazy :) So I am letting a well made documentary do the trick. The documentary does serve to clarify a few things.

1) Was Nietzsche nationalistic?
2) What did he really mean when he said that God was dead?
3) Did he intend for his philosophy of the "Overman" to be used by the Nazis in the way it was used?
4) And finally after all that hoo haa, Was he actually significant in the history of philosophy?

I believe all the above questions are answered in the documentary. One question that is not answered though is what is your reaction to it as a christian? Think on that for a moment after watching it. Enjoy!

Part 1 of 6


Part 2 of 6


Part 3 of 6


Part 4 of 6


Part 5 of 6


Part 6 of 6

Still Alive

Yes! In case anybody was wondering, I am still alive, here some updates on what I am doing. Despite the economy situation, everything for me seems to be more or less stable. In fact, I am actually doing a job search now, not that I dislike my current job but I now feel like doing something more hands-on, something where my technical skills can be put to good use. But I am really in no real hurry to change though, currently asking to God for guidance now and taking my options as they come. If God see fit that I should change, I believe a door will open despite the bad economy.

This might come as a surprise to some but I am also taking salsa dance classes now and I am currently on my 8th lesson :) I actually find it quite fun and who knows? It might turn out to be a serious hobby. I have long loved the music and it felt quite good to finally learn how to dance to it. It also gives me one more option for things to do in boring old Singapore. Hahaha!

Finally, I am working on a post about Friedrich Nietzsche cause I find that he is misunderstood by most of us Christians. For the uninitiated, Friedrich Nietzsche is the guy most often quote as saying, "God is dead." And that did not help his reputation among us Christians. Hopefully I will be able to put the post together soon. I also I will not drag so long to post again, my apologies for that. Cheers

Good Music Nice Settiing

The title says it all, kudos to Paris Match, they sure do know their stuff. Enjoy!!!

Hello Beautiful Year!!!

Okok... I know it is a bit late, but I do not want to wish people happy new year just for the sake of it. If anyone if you guys are interested to find out what song Elgin and I were talking about well I will tell you now.

It all started when I was his room-mate for the church retreat last month and he heard my morning alarm tune on my phone which was a song titled "Hello Beautiful Day" by Paris Match. I personally find that song uplifting, optimistic and a good start to the day. That was the song Elgin wanted to get, here it is:



2008 was a good year which sort of went downhill for me near the end. I don't want to go into details but I am praying for a good start for 2009 for me and all you guys out there. Especially since we don't know what will happen, economically speaking. I hope the song above will help you feel optimistic about the year ahead, which is a hard thing to do especially now. Finally here are my new year wishes for all of you taken from a jazz standard I love.

"May all your storms be weathered and all that is good get better"

Blessed New Year!!!