If you have been reading the news lately, you would have noticed many people bringing up the issue of the fact that our national anthem was not sung during the Singapore-Liverpool match last week.
This is a classic example of making a mountain out of a molehill. I believe that the reporters in Singapore have no more news to report and started instigating certain fans to voice their "displeasure". Okay take a chill pill everyone. Although it would have been nice to have the national anthem played but verily i say unto you, even if the anthem was sung, You'll never walk alone" will still be a few times louder and sung by the fans. If that would have happened, we will still be questioning the same issue. i.e. lack of support for the home team, we don't love our lions, that was the reason why the lions lost.
Let's face some facts here.
Fact no 1:
This was meant to be, as organizers are trying to create an anfield experience for the fans. Anfield = Liverpool home ground = support for home team = support liverpool not lions
Fact number 2:
The fans did in fact buy tickets to watch liverpool and not the lions.
Fact number 3:
National day is just around the corner, you can sing majulah singapura with even more people around you. They will still be wearing red what!
So i don't really see whats the problem, the fans support good football, if the lions play well we will cheer for them, if they don't we wouldn't jeer at them. The liverpool fans support liverpool so whats wrong with that. If you want a match with the supporters supporting the lions, then FAS should bear all the marketing cost and create the publicity for the fans to do so.
This whole things just so Bo liao and mindboggling
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
My Sit and go results after almost 500 games
Just started discovering the profitability of Sit and go tourneys on Pokerstars about 2 months ago. Thought i will share my results provided by Sharkscope. You can check my states by following this link. https://www.sharkscope.com Search database and enter my nick aq17 and you will be able to see my states on pokerstars of course. My ROI is a decent 23%. This is due to the fact that the microstakes are just so full of fishes.
My next target is to move up to $6 SnG!!!!
10 years
The world moves on without a care for what is happening in your life. Okay, lets not be too ambitious here to address the whole world since the furthest country i have ever been is Australia. So, lets start over again.... Singapore moves on and doesn't even care to cast a glance at you even if you are lying flat on your face in the middle of Orchard road right outside ION orchard.
Face it, the world doesn't revolves around just you, it certain doesn't maintain its gravitational pull because you are on it. The sun is not a giant spot light that shines on you whenever you break out into a song and dance.
Just think about where you were and what you were doing 10 years ago. Fav. places that you go to, things you like to do, have they changed? I am sure the prices have but thats beside the point. 10 years ago i was fresh out from Poly and doing my NS stil trying to figure out whats next. I hang out at Olio dome during the weekends with my Jie Meis stirring a cup if their famous Ice Chocolate, btw that Olio Dome is now Balaclava at suntec. 10 years ago i was broke and can hardly afford the ice chocolate at dome but today... wait today i still can't afford it. damn it!
Well let's take a look at how things have changed around here in Singapore, Can you even remember how Marina Square looked like before it was renovated? Do you even know that it didn't looked like what it was today? The Marina area is the best example of how Singapore has managed to transformed itself to an up and coming cosmopolitan and one of the top ten cities in the world! We are now able to attract talents to become citizens, Movie stars like Gong Li, Jet Li just to name a few.
Friends, my point is, if you have so much complaint about the government and how Singapore is runned, then please run away. Many people from all over the world will be willing to take your place here in Singapore in a heartbeat. They will rejoice that there is now more space and oxygen for them to breathe. Thry are willing to work hard to prove that they belong here.
You may ask why are we allowing the so called "Foreign Talent" into Singapore. The reason is simple, we have to, we need to stay competitive and stay ahead. The locals are not willing to take up the work that the foreigners are willing to.
The service industry is a prime example of this, how many people see the service industry as a long term career and willing to start off from the very bottom rung of the ladder. How many are willing to start off as casino dealers to work their way up. I can tell you the rest of the Asean countries pray and wait to be in our position. They pray that the locals continue to have the mindset that they are superior and will not take a step back to look at the changing economy today. Then the government will have no choice but to allow the MNCs to employ more foreigners and lower the quota for locals.
The dynamics are changing, don't take another 10 years to see it coming.
Face it, the world doesn't revolves around just you, it certain doesn't maintain its gravitational pull because you are on it. The sun is not a giant spot light that shines on you whenever you break out into a song and dance.
Just think about where you were and what you were doing 10 years ago. Fav. places that you go to, things you like to do, have they changed? I am sure the prices have but thats beside the point. 10 years ago i was fresh out from Poly and doing my NS stil trying to figure out whats next. I hang out at Olio dome during the weekends with my Jie Meis stirring a cup if their famous Ice Chocolate, btw that Olio Dome is now Balaclava at suntec. 10 years ago i was broke and can hardly afford the ice chocolate at dome but today... wait today i still can't afford it. damn it!
Well let's take a look at how things have changed around here in Singapore, Can you even remember how Marina Square looked like before it was renovated? Do you even know that it didn't looked like what it was today? The Marina area is the best example of how Singapore has managed to transformed itself to an up and coming cosmopolitan and one of the top ten cities in the world! We are now able to attract talents to become citizens, Movie stars like Gong Li, Jet Li just to name a few.
Friends, my point is, if you have so much complaint about the government and how Singapore is runned, then please run away. Many people from all over the world will be willing to take your place here in Singapore in a heartbeat. They will rejoice that there is now more space and oxygen for them to breathe. Thry are willing to work hard to prove that they belong here.
You may ask why are we allowing the so called "Foreign Talent" into Singapore. The reason is simple, we have to, we need to stay competitive and stay ahead. The locals are not willing to take up the work that the foreigners are willing to.
The service industry is a prime example of this, how many people see the service industry as a long term career and willing to start off from the very bottom rung of the ladder. How many are willing to start off as casino dealers to work their way up. I can tell you the rest of the Asean countries pray and wait to be in our position. They pray that the locals continue to have the mindset that they are superior and will not take a step back to look at the changing economy today. Then the government will have no choice but to allow the MNCs to employ more foreigners and lower the quota for locals.
The dynamics are changing, don't take another 10 years to see it coming.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Basking in past glories
The first part of most if not all christian service is praise and worship, and every time the worship is ongoing and you are singing and worshiping, what goes through your mind?
For the longest time a certain scene kept flashing through my mind for some reason that i never could put my finger on.
The particular scene was the bus interchange in Toa Payoh many years ago before the whole place was air conditioned. That particular time frame was when i was still in secondary school. I can tell because it was alway zoomed in on the bus berth for Bus 142, right opposite the 7 eleven with the mama shop right behind. For those who were ex saints know it well, that was the only bus that travels directly to our secondary school. I never knew what God was trying to say to me until last wednesday during the Healing and financial seminar.
In the midst of the service it became clear to me that for the longest time i was depending on past experiences with God to sustain my faith and beliefs. Past experiences are great only if they propel you forward in search of new ones that God has in store for us.
For the longest time i have kept God in a small little box in the corner of my head. I thought that this was it, all the past 16 years of being a christian with its ups and downs, trials and temptations is what God is all about, nothing more... maybe less. I was puting God in a box so small that i was limiting His power in my life.
Lunch with Charles took longer than expected so i didn't make it for third service though i did make it for the last service.
It was a powerful message, simple but powerful. If we can look at our lives and see some of the challenges that we are facing, this will probably be the area that God wants to strengthen us.
All things work for the good of those who love God who were called according to His
purpose.
Do we truly believe that? If we do. our mindset should change radically when we face the challenges in our lives. We should be able to do as Paul did. That is to rejoice in His trials because that is the area that God has His superabounding grace to wrap us in. That is the area in our lives that God wants to place more responsiblility with us and that is our training ground.
Sometimes we ask ourselves, after some many years why the hell am i experiencing the same thing for crying out loud?!?!? It probably meant that we have not learnt the lesson well. God is not interested to sooth your pain as much as He is interested to heal your heart by healing the root cause of it.
God wants to mould and change us by getting to the root cause. I use to think it is about digging up the past and finding out what went wrong in my childhood and whatsoever. Yes, this may help me identify what caused my insecurities when it comes to relationship, with my parents, brothers and even my friends. Why i do certain things to pissed people off especially those who are close to me. But this will not heal or cure me and make me stop doing what i am doing. Knowing that God accepts me and loves me despite all my flaws will change my heart and ultimately free me. Being without and not understanding God's love for us is the root cause of all problems.
I believe that this is the message of the cross, of how Jesus chose to hang on the cross so that the undeserving can receive forgiveness no matter what we have done wrong in our lives. The only reason why we cannot receive this free gift of Grace is when we believe that we can earn salvation by our own strength and works, in short self righteousness.
How wrong can we be? I have spent the last 16 years believing that i have to live my life right in order to draw near to Jesus and believing that one day i will conquer all my weaknesses and attain holiness, how wrong was I?
God meant for us to draw near to Christ and know that nothing we can do will make us pure and righteous but only through Christ. And when we reach the end of ourselves then will we understand and begin to fathom the depth of our Father's love for us.
Right believing will bring about right living. Whereas Right living will not give you right beliefs
For the longest time a certain scene kept flashing through my mind for some reason that i never could put my finger on.
The particular scene was the bus interchange in Toa Payoh many years ago before the whole place was air conditioned. That particular time frame was when i was still in secondary school. I can tell because it was alway zoomed in on the bus berth for Bus 142, right opposite the 7 eleven with the mama shop right behind. For those who were ex saints know it well, that was the only bus that travels directly to our secondary school. I never knew what God was trying to say to me until last wednesday during the Healing and financial seminar.
In the midst of the service it became clear to me that for the longest time i was depending on past experiences with God to sustain my faith and beliefs. Past experiences are great only if they propel you forward in search of new ones that God has in store for us.
For the longest time i have kept God in a small little box in the corner of my head. I thought that this was it, all the past 16 years of being a christian with its ups and downs, trials and temptations is what God is all about, nothing more... maybe less. I was puting God in a box so small that i was limiting His power in my life.
Lunch with Charles took longer than expected so i didn't make it for third service though i did make it for the last service.
It was a powerful message, simple but powerful. If we can look at our lives and see some of the challenges that we are facing, this will probably be the area that God wants to strengthen us.
All things work for the good of those who love God who were called according to His
purpose.
Do we truly believe that? If we do. our mindset should change radically when we face the challenges in our lives. We should be able to do as Paul did. That is to rejoice in His trials because that is the area that God has His superabounding grace to wrap us in. That is the area in our lives that God wants to place more responsiblility with us and that is our training ground.
Sometimes we ask ourselves, after some many years why the hell am i experiencing the same thing for crying out loud?!?!? It probably meant that we have not learnt the lesson well. God is not interested to sooth your pain as much as He is interested to heal your heart by healing the root cause of it.
God wants to mould and change us by getting to the root cause. I use to think it is about digging up the past and finding out what went wrong in my childhood and whatsoever. Yes, this may help me identify what caused my insecurities when it comes to relationship, with my parents, brothers and even my friends. Why i do certain things to pissed people off especially those who are close to me. But this will not heal or cure me and make me stop doing what i am doing. Knowing that God accepts me and loves me despite all my flaws will change my heart and ultimately free me. Being without and not understanding God's love for us is the root cause of all problems.
I believe that this is the message of the cross, of how Jesus chose to hang on the cross so that the undeserving can receive forgiveness no matter what we have done wrong in our lives. The only reason why we cannot receive this free gift of Grace is when we believe that we can earn salvation by our own strength and works, in short self righteousness.
How wrong can we be? I have spent the last 16 years believing that i have to live my life right in order to draw near to Jesus and believing that one day i will conquer all my weaknesses and attain holiness, how wrong was I?
God meant for us to draw near to Christ and know that nothing we can do will make us pure and righteous but only through Christ. And when we reach the end of ourselves then will we understand and begin to fathom the depth of our Father's love for us.
Right believing will bring about right living. Whereas Right living will not give you right beliefs
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
The recession is from within
I have not have the best of time during this week. Over the weekend, my brother blacked out in the toilet and we had to call for the ambulance to send hm to the nearest hospital. It was pretty traumatizing as thoughts that he may not wake up again flashed in mind. The worried look on my mother's didn't helped either. Finally we managed to get him to the hospital at around noon after several ECG and scans the doctor confirmed that he was alright and we left the hospital around 5pm in the evening.
Today my mother just told me that my brother had to take no pay leave for 2 months as he was on medical leave after the blackout saga. Which means he will be without income for 2 months. Life goes on and expenses has to go on as well...
I was in orchard road to meet Mrs Lum today, she noticed the same thing as me. Recession? what recession? The LV and the Montblanc and all the branded stores in Ngee ann city are packed! Hour glass Dior Burberry all packed with people. Yes it is the GSS but it is still the recession right?
At least i know that the recession in my home is real. I try to stay at home and minimize my trips out unless very necessary. I have also stopped driving to minimize the fuel cost and parking charges. I am waiting for God's blessing to pur out to bring me out of this stage of my life. May the blessings of Abraham be upon me soon.
Today my mother just told me that my brother had to take no pay leave for 2 months as he was on medical leave after the blackout saga. Which means he will be without income for 2 months. Life goes on and expenses has to go on as well...
I was in orchard road to meet Mrs Lum today, she noticed the same thing as me. Recession? what recession? The LV and the Montblanc and all the branded stores in Ngee ann city are packed! Hour glass Dior Burberry all packed with people. Yes it is the GSS but it is still the recession right?
At least i know that the recession in my home is real. I try to stay at home and minimize my trips out unless very necessary. I have also stopped driving to minimize the fuel cost and parking charges. I am waiting for God's blessing to pur out to bring me out of this stage of my life. May the blessings of Abraham be upon me soon.
Friday, 22 May 2009
No Music no dream
Recently, i made a list of things that i am good at. Sort of like a strength and weaknesses kind of list. I wanted to remind myself that i am good for something. Things that God has placed in my life that i have not manifest to the best of my abilities. One of the area that i have identified was Music. God has given me a great sense of hearing, a discerning pair of ears. I was always good with picking up a tune and remembering how a particular song goes and how a singer sings the song naturally without trying real hard.
Those of you who knows you have the same ability don't take it for granted, use it go further into exploring music, in singing, playing a music instrument and even creative song writing. I am delving in it myself as well. Think of those people who are tone death and couldn't even hold a tune. Worst is that they don't even realized it! Take hold of your God given talent People.
I have always wanted to make a living out of singing but was unable to do so. I realized that thi s year is not only a year for God to redeem my lost time but also God's moulding in being faithful in the little things He has placed in my life. I am really living each day as God has given me, every thing still seems fuzzy.
Though i see right now through a glass rather dimly.... But i see enough to know that i need God's guidance each step of the way as a loving Father leads his Son.
I vaguely see some light at the end of the tunnel but i see enough to know my life is insignificant by itself but Significant in the eyes of my abba father.
Those of you who knows you have the same ability don't take it for granted, use it go further into exploring music, in singing, playing a music instrument and even creative song writing. I am delving in it myself as well. Think of those people who are tone death and couldn't even hold a tune. Worst is that they don't even realized it! Take hold of your God given talent People.
I have always wanted to make a living out of singing but was unable to do so. I realized that thi s year is not only a year for God to redeem my lost time but also God's moulding in being faithful in the little things He has placed in my life. I am really living each day as God has given me, every thing still seems fuzzy.
Though i see right now through a glass rather dimly.... But i see enough to know that i need God's guidance each step of the way as a loving Father leads his Son.
I vaguely see some light at the end of the tunnel but i see enough to know my life is insignificant by itself but Significant in the eyes of my abba father.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
It all boils down to perspective
I haven't much time to blog due to the fact that i am broke and need to find ways and means to earn the extra income and also due to helping out with my family. (See previous entry) I see life at this stage of my life pretty differently, my insignificantly singnificant life was birth out of sharing about my life thoughts and views. More importantly it is about finding directions in my life.
It has been a great tool for me to pen down my thoughts and bring clarity to certain things in my life. It has done a great job of milestoning the past few years of my life, what i have achieved or not achieved. Here are some of the things i have achieved:
1. The right attitude towards life.
In my 20s, i have had really big dreams but i was never good at doing the small things well to achieve those dreams. I have come to point in my life where i value certain things more than the monetary returns and dreams that i use to value. God, family and friends. These matters.
2. Found something that i love to do and passionate about it
If you love music, go all out and immerse yourself in it. If you love movies, likewise do the same. Be so good at it that when someone ask you something about it, you can share on the topic for hours. Be crazy about it! In return, you will find that your passion will be the one that wakes you up in the morning and keep you up in the wee hours of the morning on the internet doing research.
3. A life of fruitfulness and happiness
In the midst of all my trials and struggles, i realize that i am truly blessed. I have many good friends who love me. My mother who cares and spoils me to bits even at my advance age now. My family is still intact despite the health status that they are currently in. My bosses are the most understanding in the world, giving me a job when i need one and standing by me giving me guidance. The one thing that Max shared with me has been the reason why i am able to face my reality: "I use to complain that my feet has no shoes to wear, until i saw those who had no legs"
It's all about perspective.
If you are complaining about the 30% pay cut you just had, think about those who lost their job and have 100% cut.
If you have lost your job, think about those who lost their fortune in the stock market or even lost their love ones when money cannot buy them back.
And if you have lost your love ones recently, think of those who may have lost their whole family in disasters like the recent australia bush fire or even Katrina, 911 etc. The list can go on and on.
Be thankful today about what is right in your life and be grateful about what went wrong in your life is not worst off then it is. Be still and know that HE is God.
It has been a great tool for me to pen down my thoughts and bring clarity to certain things in my life. It has done a great job of milestoning the past few years of my life, what i have achieved or not achieved. Here are some of the things i have achieved:
1. The right attitude towards life.
In my 20s, i have had really big dreams but i was never good at doing the small things well to achieve those dreams. I have come to point in my life where i value certain things more than the monetary returns and dreams that i use to value. God, family and friends. These matters.
2. Found something that i love to do and passionate about it
If you love music, go all out and immerse yourself in it. If you love movies, likewise do the same. Be so good at it that when someone ask you something about it, you can share on the topic for hours. Be crazy about it! In return, you will find that your passion will be the one that wakes you up in the morning and keep you up in the wee hours of the morning on the internet doing research.
3. A life of fruitfulness and happiness
In the midst of all my trials and struggles, i realize that i am truly blessed. I have many good friends who love me. My mother who cares and spoils me to bits even at my advance age now. My family is still intact despite the health status that they are currently in. My bosses are the most understanding in the world, giving me a job when i need one and standing by me giving me guidance. The one thing that Max shared with me has been the reason why i am able to face my reality: "I use to complain that my feet has no shoes to wear, until i saw those who had no legs"
It's all about perspective.
If you are complaining about the 30% pay cut you just had, think about those who lost their job and have 100% cut.
If you have lost your job, think about those who lost their fortune in the stock market or even lost their love ones when money cannot buy them back.
And if you have lost your love ones recently, think of those who may have lost their whole family in disasters like the recent australia bush fire or even Katrina, 911 etc. The list can go on and on.
Be thankful today about what is right in your life and be grateful about what went wrong in your life is not worst off then it is. Be still and know that HE is God.
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