I love to read, i love to read to learn new things, to learn about other people's perception. I now realised that my interest in reading started with the book Rich Dad Poor Dad. It was such an easy book to read and the concepts within were rather interesting. The concept of "paying yourself first" was easy to understand but tough to practice.
The only issue that i have with a good book is every month there will be at least one good book on the shelves of Borders/Kino/MPH etc. Sometimes you lose focus on the good concepts presented in the book you read earlier and moved on to the next without exploring it further.
The books i like to read are typical, books on money management, investing, poker/gaming theory, sales and sometimes books on living life which are more christian in nature.
I have come to realize that there are many nuggets of truth that can be learnt through the multitudes of books. Truths that can benefit you for life. So why aren't everybody running to the bookstores or clicking all the books from Amazon right into their homes and reading them till there is no tomorrow?
All i can deduced is the reason why books don't always benefit readers is the fact that readers are just readers and not practitioners of the many useful truths that can be found in the books. In fact many readers are cynics and skeptics who just reads and doubts in his/her mind before trying to absorb the authors viewpoint. My ex boss always taught me, "one good idea" from a book you read will be worth many times the cost of the book you paid for.
Truth be told not every book you will read is the bible truth but even if the author is wrong, you learnt from his "wrong" as you learnt from what is "right"
If i were to condensed all that i have learnt through the ways from the many books that i have read, it will be this, Learn to manage and master yourself, your spirit, your mind and your body. All other things will fall into place.
Proverbs 25:28
Whoever has no rule over his own spirit. Is like a city broken down, without walls.
You cannot have prolonged success in life without being able to master yourself, your mind, your emotions and your body most importantly your spirit. I believe submitting to the authority of God is the way to go.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Part 2: Chapter 1
I am beginning to see the light. It’s almost like a mathematical equation falling into place right before my eyes. When you realised the right numbers to use and put them in place into the right formula. Viola! You can almost hear a click sound and the wheels start to be set into motion.
It seems that chapter one of my life has finally started. Or rather Part 2:chapter one. Joel Osten spoke in “Becoming a better you” That God gives every individuals different giftings and inclinations which makes us unique. This can be used as indications and directions that points us in the right directions.
Lets take a look at different examples. Some people can stare at numbers everyday and just have that eye for details when it comes to auditing company numbers, they make great auditors or CPAs.
Some have the gift of the gab and more importantly gift of high EQ and they make their sales pitch seems effortless and become top sales people in their industry.
Others are born to please and have such a pleasant personality and patience and they make great PR or service industry personnels. The cruz of it is that you know that you are there when you are there.
Don’t get me wrong, your job does not necessary equate to the calling in your life. Some people get by just by doing a job and spent the rest of their time on their calling, i.e missions, outreach to the poor or even a hobby that they are pursuing outside of their work time. Many of those whom God place them in their career and that is their calling. There lies the assignment that God has given you.
If you are less than motivated where you are now, you drag yourself out of bed every morning. Chances are you have not yet realised the assignment that God has given you on earth.
Do continue to ask God the important questions: Who, what, when, where, why and how? Who can help me find out my assignment Lord? What is the assignment? Does it have anything to do with my interest and inclinations? When will this happen? Help me prepare for it Lord. What is the purpose of this assignment? What is your will to be done? And finally when all the above questions has been answered, teach me Lord? I cannot do this by myself, Tell me how to do it.
At the beginning of this year, God revealed to me that this year will be a year of redemption for me, redemption for lost time, lost wealth and lost relationships. Now that we are at the third quarter mark, everything seems clearer now what God is doing in my life.
I thank God for placing me in New Creation Church, I never knew that my beliefs were all along so self centred and not Christ centred. I never knew I had such a poor opinion of God, sub consiously believing that I deserve the bad things that are happening to me because of my imperfections and disobedience.
So what is my calling in life? I am called to influence! To become a bearer of light. To make a positive difference in the lives of the people around me. Though I am not perfect now, and I can be such a pain the rear sometimes, but I still want to be able to influence the people around me positively. This will not be done my my efforts but through Christ.
In order to do that, God will be blessing me with all good things, health, wealth, love and life. And the good news is God’s strength is made perfect in my weaknesses. My heavenly father sees me as righteous as He sees Jesus righteous.
It seems that chapter one of my life has finally started. Or rather Part 2:chapter one. Joel Osten spoke in “Becoming a better you” That God gives every individuals different giftings and inclinations which makes us unique. This can be used as indications and directions that points us in the right directions.
Lets take a look at different examples. Some people can stare at numbers everyday and just have that eye for details when it comes to auditing company numbers, they make great auditors or CPAs.
Some have the gift of the gab and more importantly gift of high EQ and they make their sales pitch seems effortless and become top sales people in their industry.
Others are born to please and have such a pleasant personality and patience and they make great PR or service industry personnels. The cruz of it is that you know that you are there when you are there.
Don’t get me wrong, your job does not necessary equate to the calling in your life. Some people get by just by doing a job and spent the rest of their time on their calling, i.e missions, outreach to the poor or even a hobby that they are pursuing outside of their work time. Many of those whom God place them in their career and that is their calling. There lies the assignment that God has given you.
If you are less than motivated where you are now, you drag yourself out of bed every morning. Chances are you have not yet realised the assignment that God has given you on earth.
Do continue to ask God the important questions: Who, what, when, where, why and how? Who can help me find out my assignment Lord? What is the assignment? Does it have anything to do with my interest and inclinations? When will this happen? Help me prepare for it Lord. What is the purpose of this assignment? What is your will to be done? And finally when all the above questions has been answered, teach me Lord? I cannot do this by myself, Tell me how to do it.
At the beginning of this year, God revealed to me that this year will be a year of redemption for me, redemption for lost time, lost wealth and lost relationships. Now that we are at the third quarter mark, everything seems clearer now what God is doing in my life.
I thank God for placing me in New Creation Church, I never knew that my beliefs were all along so self centred and not Christ centred. I never knew I had such a poor opinion of God, sub consiously believing that I deserve the bad things that are happening to me because of my imperfections and disobedience.
So what is my calling in life? I am called to influence! To become a bearer of light. To make a positive difference in the lives of the people around me. Though I am not perfect now, and I can be such a pain the rear sometimes, but I still want to be able to influence the people around me positively. This will not be done my my efforts but through Christ.
In order to do that, God will be blessing me with all good things, health, wealth, love and life. And the good news is God’s strength is made perfect in my weaknesses. My heavenly father sees me as righteous as He sees Jesus righteous.
Friday, 31 July 2009
What's "Majulah Singapura" got to do with it?
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
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
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.
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