The Global Economy

Started on my exercise regime today and swum 20 laps this morning, after a 4 year haitus from the water. It was painful haha but i thoroughly enjoyed it. Went to the Delta pool and the place hasn't changed mush since the day I learnt to swim there when I was a kid. Brought back memories haha.

Spent a good deal of time this afternoon, surfing the web to find resources to understand the global economy and what's happening with the current situation. Got quite a few good sites and my current shopping cart stands at over US$200 haha, enough to last me a few months of good reading. Got a book on the economic crisis, 3 books on the oil industry, E.M Bound's works on prayer and a biography of George Mueller :) Also starting to read up on an old  International Economics text book (didnt realise it was by Paul Krugman lol).

Realised at the end of the day that I do have a knack for this business thing and i think its really a gift. I've got this ability/desire to see the macro picture and the cause and effect relationships at play. But as I was praying I realised that I have the choice to pursue it for personal gain and glory or to do so with the aim of glorifying GOd and extending His dominion and influence into redeeming this area of our fallen world. It is always a reminder to not get sucked in and to constanly hide myself in Him and remember the giver of the gifts and worship Him rather than the gifts or myself. Sobering indeed.

Take Your Rightful Place

"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts."

Read 1 John this morning in a sleepy state but the last verse just hit home. This has been my perennial struggle to not let stuff get in the way and to settle for lesser pleasures. But its a good struggle and I thank God for His reminders.

Sabbatical

Today is the commencement of my Sabbatical and it's really a new phase. Got down to planning all the stuff I'd like to do and learn and it's really alot. Planning to head down to Jakarta in May over a weekend since Air Asia's got cheap fares to visit some friends. I really have no idea how things will pan out, but I'lll need to remember that I'm around to support my folks and that's most important.

Tasks vs Opportunities

If there was only one thing I learnt from Shell Life, this would probably be it. So many times in the last year or even in life, I've tend to look at work I was assigned to do as a task, with the sole purpose of completing and getting it out of the way. It showed in the level of dedication I accorded to it and reflected in the quality produced. I feel a sense of regret at the many times I settled for less than excellence. I'm challenging myself to view every piece of work as an opportunity, to do more than what is expected, to learn as much as I can, to glorify God in all I do and to really see that the work does have benefits to me. It is a paradigm shift that is most powerful and I am grateful for it.

The Pursuit of Happiness

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

This phrase came to mind in service this morning and it is by far the most famous and familiar historical expression found in the American Declaration of Independence. Over the years, it's original intent and meaning, espoused by the Founding Fathers, has been lost and distorted into a justification for the pursuit of hedonism by means of wealth, lifestyle, upward mobility etc. 

What they meant was that happiness was not a means to an end but the end in itself, not mere pleasure or wealth. It thus requires the distinction between an imaginary form of happiness and the most perfect and good form of happiness. And all of us are in some form or another pursuing it, and this could be in the form or wealth, sensual pleasure, status, power; wishfully thinking that it is attainable once the requisite level has been achieved. Often than nought, such happiness is illusory and momentary and I would be so bold as to assert that the ultimate sense of happiness can only be found in the good and perfect God.

Throughout the week while I was on course, I felt this gaping hole in my being, that nothing seemed to fill. All the socialising, the achievements, the fun and all couldn't satisfy and I felt oh so empty. Initially I attributed it to loneliness in a foreign land, but as I reflected, I realised I had neglected God due to my schedule and busyness. Day after day the emptiness was compounded and it wasn't until I worshipped this morning that his light shown through and I could feel His presence all over again. Truly apart from Christ I am nothing.Everything else at that point just didn't matter anymore and I realised that it is only in God that true peace and happiness can be attained.

More often than nought, my disappointments in life have been due to pursuing and settling for a substandard happiness that have proven time and again to be unsatisfactory and detrimental. I guess it is a timely reminder for me to truly set my sights and desire for the greatest good - God Himself and to pursue it all the days of my life.

Checked In

Am writing from the T2 transit area right now as I await my flight for KL. Got the timing a little mixed up and tot I was on the 1910 flight, when instead I'm on the 1945 one. Was really embarassing cause they all though they were late adn had to cancel their dinner order and rush to clear Immigration, only to realise we were on the 1945 flight haha. Got a big scolding haha.

Played a few lame XBOX games and gave up on that. So decided to just clock in an entry while waiting. Really excited to be travelling again and just taking a break from home. Mom cried when I left today and it was heart melting haha.

Pray that on this trip, I'll get the chance to really connect with my friends and to somehow share the Gospel with em someway or another :)

Wanderlust

I'm planning for a trip with the guys up north in good ol Malaysia in March and its jolly exciting. Currently the plan is to head up north by the Jungle Express to Kota Bahru, then we'll stay over for the night. The Thai border town of Sungei Kolok is an hour's bus ride, and if possible, it be nice ot pop in and out of Thailand for lunch ahaha, or just to get my passport stamped and the customary border crossing pics taken. 

Following day is to head down pass Kuala Trengannu and on to Marang, and hop on a speedboat for a 15 min ride to Pulau Kapas,also known as Cotton Island for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Hope it lives up to its hype. After 3D2N soaking the sun, sand and sea, its off to KL for one more night before catching a flight home on Sunday. Awesome stuff!

Even planning this trip stirs up something deep within, the urge to travel, to see new things, to get off the beaten track. Its so much a part of me to travel and explore, to break new ground. Just the other day I was salivating over the opportunity to one day travel from Beijing via Mongolia to Moscow on the trans-Siberian. Man what a heady exprience to travel throught the Russian hinterland, on the tracks laid down by Tsar Nicholas. One day God willing! haha.

Wanderlust.

Climbing Mount Kinabalu

Long overdue photos of my climb last year. Read more about it here.

Beauty in Diversity

I'm glad I did not go to AGBC for my Theological education. Today I was exposed to a differing view on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and a challenge to my entire Pentacostal belief system. I love it! 

It forces me to take a step back and think about what I believe in and its time for some serious study of scripture. I've been sitting at my comp for the last hour or so delving into the arguments from both camps and it sure is interesting. 

I'm approaching it with an open mind, as much as possible and both sides do have convincing arguments and it all boils down to interpretation of scripture really at the end of the day. I'm not done yet, but I'm still unconvinced that there is no additional Baptism of the Holy Spirit after salvation and that tongues are not to be sought or that not all will have it. But I'll continue to read, pray and ponder on this marvelous topic.

Wow I feel my mind expanding and my faith growing even as I learn more and more and truly it is such a blessing. Now only that I may be humble and know that it is God who reveals and instructs haha. Awesome.

If you want to find out more about the Pentacostal view on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, heres a good link.