| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Sep | Nov » | |||||
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | |||||
joshuatj@twitter
Am I suffering from Narcolepsy?
Once again, I apply for USP (University Scholars Programme).
This is my essay.
The Concept of Sin.
If there’s a God in this world, why would it still be suffering? If there’s a God that is just, why do bad guys always live longer than good guys? If there’s a God who is fair, why do some seem to have unlimited wealth whereas some cannot even afford a piece of bread? If there is…..There must be answers to these questions. Little did I know that I have known the answer to these questions all along.
All my questions are directed to God. God is the subject in these questions. What I’m doing is actually blaming all the responsibilities on Him. But after serious thinking, God may not be the one responsible for all that happens. I search around for answers, reading philosophy books, research on the internet, discuss with friends of other religion and even intending to try Astrology. But eventually I stumble back upon the concept of sin in Christianity.
Sin in the Christian context means estrange from God, means the desire to go our own way. This particular analogy astounded me, “The state of Sin is just like a man who lies in the Hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU), his life depends solely on the peripherals”. He cannot do anything to sustain his life. It all lies on the equipments and maybe his doctor. In the Bible, it is stated that the consequences of Sin is death. It sounds all so terrible and bleak to me at that moment.
Fortunately as I venture further I began to catch a glimpse of light ahead. Like the helpless man in the ICU, we are helpless when it comes to Sin. Not unless there is some divine intervention. This is where Jesus comes into the picture. According to the scripture, God, out of love, send Jesus to die for our Sins. From then on, we are free, free from Sins. I have always heard of Jesus dying for our Sin and the ever famous Bible verse, John 3:16. But not until then that I finally felt the significance of Jesus dying for our Sins and believing in Him will lead to an eternal life. Without Him, I will still be a Sinner. Without Him, I will still be bounded to death no matter what I do or how much I do.
I am almost speechless when I finally understand what God has already done for me. All I need to do is to believe in my heart the God had raised Jesus from the grave and confess with my mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and I will be saved. That’s all. It is just so simple. That is the exclusive feature of Christianity. It really bemuse me to know that God actually died for my salvation’s sake. Honestly, who would want to die for a Sinner? Slowly, everything is starting to come into place.
I come to understand the fact that Christianity is not just another religion. It is about relationship with God. It was Sin all along that barricades us from having a close relationship with God. It was Sin in its many forms that causes all the unfairness and unjust. It was the Sin that causes greediness and evilness which result in all kinds of sufferings. It was Sin that hinder us from helping those in need and thus resulting in the uneven distribution of wealth among ourselves.
In conclusion, being someone who grew up in a Christian family, it is really embarrassing for me to only fully grasp the concept of Sin at such a later stage. I suppose iteration really promotes mundane. But no doubt I have found the truth. It is not just head knowledge but it’s a personal conviction. Therefore, I’m truly grateful as God has been leading me to him all along. I believe that God will guide me along as I continue walking my path in NUS.
Please comment on my essay!
This is the essay that I’ve ‘chop chop’ written.
The whole anti-gravitational thingie is just some spontaneous thoughts.
Since it’s free to join, why not?
At least the judge will read.
Just by that, this essay has proven its purpose.
It has always been in science fiction where vehicles have anti-gravitational engines and able to manuever to wherever whenever they want.
Year 2029, that’s 23 years from now. Observing the current rate of technology advancement, it is possible that the unknown force Graviton has already been discovered. With the exploitation of Graviton, anti-gravitational travelling will be made possible.
Anti-gravtational travelling is definitely the best mode of transport. These anti-gravitational vehicles will be a combination of aviation and land transport. In addition, the whole system is fully computerised with GPS-similar technology. Travelling is no longer a waiting game. No longer people will need to waste precious time waiting for slow and inconvenient public transpor. No longer will people be made to pay extensive amount of money just to buy a vehicle of his own. This is made true because the anti-gravitational technology is super user friendly and does not contain sophisticated controls. People will be able to travel several times faster than now. That means more things can be done in the same amount of time.Maybe with the proper manipulation of graviton, we might even be able to travel to outer space by just using the vehicle. Expansive rockets and space shuttles will soon be obselete. In the future, everyone will be able to travel to outer-space to admire God’s creation in awe.
Similarly, with the novelty features to travel to outer space, now inaccessable terrains will not be a problem to anti-gravitational travelling. Mountains, river, sea, swamp, desert are no longer the contraints of human travels.
To me, more accessable places means more opportunity for evagelism. More people will be able to know and experience the truth that’ll set them free. With the acceleration of evangelism, the Great Commision will be fulfilled sooner. Glorifying God and living a life that fully utilise what God has given to us is, to me, the true quality of life.
Visit the site to participate,
http://www.cnnasiapacific.com/marketing/fschallenge/form.cfm
Haih~ Late for class again…
I didn’t on my alarm clock.
Haih~
What can I do?
I think I’ll need to buy the FIRE ALARM type alarm clock.
Haih~
But if I have a habit of sleeping and waking up at fixed time,
I’ll not have the problem of waking up in the morning.
Is it possible?
I think I need to be harsh abit..!
DO not disturb after 12am!
Will it work?
Friday, 20th October 2006, 11:55AM
believe it or not! i’m attending the HALL BASH right now. it’s at Bumble beez, boat quay.
in case you’ve no idea what’s a Bash is; it’s something like clubbing.
The place is like a combination of Disco and Pub.
Usually People go clubbing to ‘destress’.
Ya, maybe it’ll let you reach some high and you’ll be indulge plus enjoying the process.
But everybody knows that it will only be an temporary fulfillment.
The sad case is that ppl doesn’t have other alternatives to relieve tension and stress.
NUS students le.
We’re suppose to be the cream of the whole South East Asia region.
Just imagine 华山论剑….
All 高手 gathering together and competing against each other.
One small mistake might be fatal!
What i’m trying to say is that
the stress level is beyond imagination.
It’s just normal for ppl to give the destress excuse for clubbing.
aha! i didn’t mention why i’m at the Bash right?
Actually this event is suppose to be for Dance Production 0607 fund raising.
Since i’m in the Sets team, i’m suppose to help them sell the bash tickets at $13.
Well i didn’t manage to sell any but i bought one, just to show my support.
but just now Vijay saw me carrying a camera bag. He thought i’m going to take photographs for this event.
I myself haven’t thought of that but it would be a good reason for me to be present at the Bash.
See, it just look odd for a guy to carry a camera in a Bash.
Haha… i don’t mind actually.
Odd or not odd i’m going to do my best in ensuring this event gets the best event coverage.
Yesterday night my neighbours computer broke down.
After spending 4 hours of brain juice stirring,
I’ve managed to put everything back into place.
But then it’s already about 5am in the morning.
Well, I’ve learned another thing extra about laptop computers.
In fact, all my computer skills are gained through fixing computers.
Besides, I’ve earned another friend because I’ve helped him
intensely by walking more than the second mile.
But, it cost me my sleep and my energy.
As a result, I cannot focus during lecture this morning;
keep dozing off.
As what my friend have said,
My fatigue have accumulated up to a point where I can no longer control.
My brain will just automatically shut down unknowingly.
Actually, my concern now is my studies.
Although CM1503 Organic Chemistry is just repeating STPM Chemistry with some additional topic.
Well, I got 66 marks for my Mid-term exam.
Considering the amount of effort I’ve put in,
66 marks is already GREAT!
But I know I can do better.
As for Maths, University style is no longer like Mr.Ang’s style.
The professors expect us to study the topic ourselves,
giving us only hints and important points.
No more clear examples, no more special problem solving techniques,
no more can I do with not doing the exercise.
In short, it means we’re no longer spoon-fed.
This, I need some time to get used too.
Physics we’re now dealing with Vibration and Waves.
The lecturer’s progress is very slow.
Relief for me~!
The only problem I have is the text book.
It’s about 25years old and all the notations that the author used
are not conventional notations.
Imagine displacement is known as Ψ
and spring constant is known as s
For the computing part, I’m starting to get a hang of Numerical Methods.
Since I already have an advantage over others in this subject.
I should concentrate more on it.
I can foresee the importance of numerical methods in my research later.
Ironically, the only subject I’m confident and doing great is
EG1471 English..
This is really a joke!
Imagine, joshuatj, who hates language during his secondary school years, now,
best subject is ENGLISH!
hahahahah~
Looks like I’ve just switch from hating language into LOVING language.
The ability to express myself and express what I want to express,
which is what I’m doing now, is super fun and satisfying.
Looks like that’s all I can say about my progress in university.
I’ll definitely need to work super hard from now on.
I can’t possibly waste my God given talent.
I want to be a good steward!!
Our topic today is "CONSCIENCE"
Let’s have a look on the meaning of "conscience"
1 a : the sense or consciousness
of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct,
intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do
right or be good.
Why do we have conscience?
Every single one of us have conscience right?
The only reason I could think of is that we’re created in the image of God.
"
So God created man in his own image, …"(Genesis 1:27a)
Goodness is one of God’s characteristics.
Thus, we have conscience because
every single one of us is an image of God.
But consider the scenario in Rob-B-Hood.
Slipper wants to do good,
but due to his environmental factors and situation,
he cannot help but keep being a thief.
But why? I thought everyone of us should have conscience.
Everyone of us should have the obligation to do right or be good.
From observation,
there must be something that is interfering with our conscience.
Something foreign.
Something that is not suppose to be in us.
Something not from God.
What is it?
"…For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 6: 18-19)
I’ve just watched Rob-B-Hood with MSL friends at GoldenVillage,
VivoCity.
There are 17 of us that went. (19 to be exact, but two
didn’t watch the show)
It’s a great comedy.
Typical Jackie-Chan-Style comedy,
but the show does not fail to include a few important
good values.
There’s one particular phrase from Slipper (Jackie Chan)
that struck me.
“贼也有道德的。偷抢拐骗、奸淫老良、
杀人放火，我们不做。”
In English,
Roughly, it means thieves hold on to moral values too.
Below are my thoughts and reflection after the movie.
What caused him to hold on to his values?
He is a thief after all.
There must be something that he base his believes on.
Is that what we called conscience?
But what is the foundation of conscience?
Where does conscience comes from?
Why do we humans have conscience?
Well, in the movie, Slippers put it all out to save the
baby?
What is the cause of his actions?
He must have felt something deep in his heart
that tells him that what he did is RIGHT!
So he felt something….?
What is the “something” that he has felt?
What makes him feel that way?
What incredible power has the baby had,
that changes Slipper completely?
Slipper did mention about the importance of the baby to the
baby’s mother.
The baby was her PRECIOUS.
There’s “something”, something special that bonds the mother and the baby;
“something”, some unknown biochemistry hormone reaction.
Is that “something” called LOVE?
Wow!! The power of LOVE huh!
Therefore, It’s not very hard to recognize that the LOVE
between a mother and a child is an image of God’s love towards us.
“For God so loved the world that he gives his one and only
son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
(John 3:16)
God put it all out to rescue us from DEATH!
Because,
“..the consequences of sin is DEATH,……” (Romans 6:23a)
But
“…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23b)
Slipper put in his best effort to save that the baby’s life;
Similarly, God has given us His one and only son to us,
sinners, so that we will have eternal life?
His target is everyone!
"…not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8b)
Amazing Love.
I have a broad interest.
I would like to get a taste of everything.
I used to say "I like everything!"
But today I’ve found out that the word "like"
doesn’t really convey what I mean.
meaning of LIKE from Webster.
|
 |
The word LIKE are often associated with "prefer".
Thus, I will give a wrong impression when I say "I like everything".
I will thus change to "I am interested in everything!
INTEREST on Webster
5 a : a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects : CONCERN b : something that arouses such attention c : a quality in a thing arousing interestINTEREST on Dictionary.com
1. the feeling of a person whose attention, concern, or curiosity is particularly engaged by something:
She has a great interest in the poetry of Donne.
2. something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person: His interests are philosophy and chess.
Actually, the whole commotion happened just now
when one of my friend asked me
"So how about find Horror Movies?"
prior to the question
I’ve just said "I like everything"
I stopped and thought of it for a while.
(I was thinking, ‘HEY! so there is something that I don’t really like!’)
Below is a more refined version of how I’ve answered.
Horror movies (in essence) are great movies.
Imagine….. the director is able to incite physical senses of the audiences.
You actually feel ’scared’ and ‘eerie’.
That’s it!!
You’re just watching a white piece of board with projected moving pictures!
Oh~ did I missed out having air molecules hitting your ear drums?
Just that~
And all the feelings are incited!
The same goes to "Korean Drama Series" (cry-baby series).
Sadness is incited.
Some "Chinese Drama Series" I’ve watched incites Angerness and hatred.
Especially those that the bad guys always wins!
Therefore, the art of combining these elements so as to incite human physical senses is one of the spectacular thing I’m interested in.
Another thing I’m interested in would be the reason why horror movies are so popular? Why to be scared?
There must be reasons!
As for watching horror movies, to me, is purposeless.
because I know it will not bring me any good.
In fact, it will provide a strong hold for the enemy.
"Everything is
permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is
permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
In conclusion, I may not like to watch horror movies myself,
but I do not despise them.
Surely there is a purpose for the existance and popularity of Horror movies.
Maybe the excitement and fear of horror movies gives the feeling of one’s existance?
Maybe to some people it’s just another mean of excitement?
Maybe it’s a clear indication of what a human being really wants?
…………………………..Maybe?
The same principle applies to almost everything.
‘horror movie’ is just a small component of the bigger picture — everything.
I believe everything that happens,
happens for a divine purpose.
Thus the phrase "I am interested in eveything."
Phew… finally my thoughts are clear.
note: Thanks Sopphia for asking me that question.
Thank you. Your question caused me to ponder over
my own statement. Now my thoughts are clearer.
Thanks a lot.
Today was my first meeting with the Eusoff Works project I’m handling!
It’s a great success!
The meeting is full of enthu members all wanting to contribute their ideas!
Wow!! That’s the most productive meeting I’ve ever encounter.
Furthermore, some of them even did intense preparation prior to this meeting!
I’m really grateful!
Really really grateful!
Eusoff Works will do great this year!!!
Don’t worry!!
I have done a 13 page detailed Projects Work Plan
for Semester I and Semester II.
Another reason I’m grateful is because Eusoff Works is a technical Committee that fully utilizes Multimedia as a tool to promote Eusoff Hall.
I’m in charge of Projects!
Which means I will plan and oversee projects.
Our projects mainly are event coverages.
Some say event coverages are boring.
Nay~! It’s meaningful and fun!
Only through watching archive videos or photos will one be able to see
him/herself in another person’s perspective.
Well, God made our eyes to be embedded in our skull, looking out.
We cannot see what’s behind us nor how we ourselves look like.If not for the invention of photographs, human will not be able to look at how he himself looks like. (ya, you can say mirror or reflection in water is comes first. But photographs can last for a long time)
If not for the invention of motion picture (Video), human will not be able to look at how he himself interacts with one another.
Through a normal video archive we can learn a lot.
It serves as a reflection platform.For example,
After a powerpoint presentation, Ah Beng asked his friend,
"How was my presentation just now?"
Answer that Ah Beng most probably will get will be
"Ok-lar" or "You’ve did your best" or "You should have…."But if Ah Beng’s video are videographed.
Ah Beng will be able to know the exact feeling his audience will feel.
Mistakes are noted.
Funny gestures are noted too.Therefore, the next time Ah Beng present, he will feel more confident and less prone to mistakes. Gestures are corrected as well.
That was just a simple example.
Sports Athletes have long used Video to analyse their own performance in a match. Most often, enemies tactics and techniques are analysed so that a counter-attack strategy can be implemented.
Actually my focus is not on performances nor sports.
I am aiming for sermons, church events, church ministry, yada yada…I’ve tried taking a 5 weeks long School of Disciples training footage.
Unfortunately, I’m the only one editing and archiving;
Therefore the progress is slow;
Nonetheless, it’s 90% done.
Ok, back to why I’m grateful.
I’m grateful because God placed me in Eusoff Hall.
He placed me in the position of Director of Projects for Eusoff Works.
Everything seems to be clear now!
Although planning for projects is tedious, but I enjoyed the process.
I know it will sure be used as a tool to serve God in the future!
Dear Father in heaven,
hear my prayers.
Father, thank you for guiding every step that I take.
I’m grateful and the only way I can express my gratitute is to
fully utilise the talents you’ve given me.
Father, now that I understand the reason you placed me in Eusoff Hall, NUS.
Yet I need wisdom from You to maintain both my commitments and my studies.
I’ve just finish reading "Daniel’s Studying Method".
Father, please grant me the strength to discipline myself so that I may be a better vessel for you.
Thank you Lord.
Your love endures forever,
Your Grace is in abundance.
In Jesus most precious name I pray,
AMEN.
