Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Work Trip to Henan Zhengzhou, China

Came back last Sunday from Zhengzhou. Overall, it was a fruitful trip. Weather was great, 18 to 24 degrees. The day we left the temperature was like 10 degrees.

Zhengzhou Foregin Language Middle School

Main courtyard Presentation Student having PE class


Zhengzhou No1 Middle School

I was busy setting up at the hall, so didn't take much pics.

Showing their vast campus Presentation


Zhengzhou No 9 Middle School

We did not have a chance to do a pesentation to the student here. But we did saw some very interesting stuffs.

LCD signage welcoming us With the principle



A last min demo of shooting a rocket


Students were required to run 1.2km everyday. So in the morning about 10am, they all run (pic on the left). While the students run, the teachers did some streching excerises (pic on the right).....


Saturday, October 20, 2007

Supernatural Organism (Part 1)

.Thought for the day

"Without the gifts of the Spirit, the church would become something very different from what God intended . Instead of being a supernatural organism, the church would be only another human organization."

Penal Code 377A

Several decades ago homosexuality was rarely mentioned in our society. Viewed as something sinful, sick or illegal (penal code 377A), it was ignored by most heterosexuals, treated by psychiatrists who view it as sexual deviation, and hidden by many people who wanted to keep their homosexual tendencies from becoming known.

Then things began to change. Great numbers of homosexual persons who previously had been silent about their sexual orientation came out of the closet to declare their homosexuality, to form gay organizations, and to demand a stop to government, cultural, and media persecution.

How should we deal with them, as Christian?

The place to begin is with our own attitudes. If we are afraid of homosexuals “homophobia”, joke about them, condemn them, uncritically accept stereotypes, or are unfamiliar with the complexity of homosexuality and its causes, than we will be ineffective in dealing with them. As long as we have negative attitude persist, we are unable to effectively meet their needs.

Sexual orientation should be considered under 3 terms:

  • Nature – there may be some hormonal-congenital influences that have a bearing on later sexual orientation. However, there is no solid evidence to support the view that homosexuality has only a physical or biological cause.
  • Critical period – Especially in early childhood, experiences will influence the person’s later sexual preferences.
  • Nurture – Sexual orientation and behavior will be influenced by nurture, the impact that comes from one’s home and social environment.

To me, there is a strong evidence that homosexuality is primary a learned condition that is affected mildly by genetic or physiological influences. If this is true, then homosexuality can be prevented by providing learning experiences that stimulate heterosexuality. This does not mean that we can give lecture or reading assignment and expect that this will prevent homosexuality. The learning must start with:

  • Building Healthy Home environments. Since homosexuality often appears to arise from undesirable parent-child relationships. The church prevents homosexuality when it stimulates biblically base family patterns. Stable homes stimulate healthy heterosexual attitudes in the family members.

  • Giving accurate Information about Homosexuality. It is sad to know the condemnation and horror with which so many Christians react to homosexuality. Growing up in such an environment, people learn to fear homosexuals and to suppress any gay tendencies within themselves. Instead of admitting and dealing with one’s same sex preferences, they keeps them hidden. Since they cannot get understanding and help from parents or church, in time they drift toward homosexual groups who are more understanding, accepting, and loving. All implies that’s issues like homosexuality should be discussed in Church instead of being denied or “condemned.

  • Developing Healthy Self Concepts. To have a woman, a man must to some extent feel himself a man. If a man feels inadequate or unmasciline, he may seek safe relationship where he does not have to act like a male or prove his maleness.
Just in case, if you are wondering my position regarding homosexuality.

The Bible says little about homosexuality. It is mentioned in only 7 passages, and is relatively brief. Clearly homosexual is never approved, but neither is it single out as being worse than other sins... : o )

When homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible it is mentioned negatively. It is clear that erotic homosexual acts are wrong.

While overt homosexuality is sinful, homosexual tendencies, feelings and desires is nowhere condemned in Scripture, but when we dwell on such thoughts and continually engages in sexual fantasy, either homosexual or heterosexual, than thoughts become lust, and lust is sin.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Choices, Choose, Chosen

“Maybe, I should apply for a half day leave today, just don’t feel like going to work”, I told Yvonne. Her reply “save up the leave for next year, if, we are going for a longer trip.”

Choose
We have many choices in our lives. We need to make a decision on what shirt to wear, what shoe to matched, what’s for lunch, what bus to take, to filter lane or not, to speed up or to slow down my speed, to get angry or not…
We make choices everyday for almost everything…

Chosen
However, some of the things we do not have a choice, like who should be my parents and siblings, accidents, illnesses….

Choice
There is one other choice we need to make, which is very important, between heaven and hell. The choice of whether we should received Jesus as our Lord and Savior. To me, Jesus is the answer to heaven, joy and peace because He is the Son of God and has died for our sins, and came to give live in abundant. What about you, have you make a choice?

Ps: sometimes people just hear the 1st part and not hear the second part of what you have spoken, does anyone care? : o (

Friday, October 12, 2007

My Birthday

I am so melancholy these days that I didn’t even bother the update regarding my birthday…..
Basically was last Sunday, 7 Oct. 39 yrs old already….next year will be 40… : o (

With all these below, I should be happy right....but not sure why I just got no mood for it.... : o (


Celebration started
· Friday, friends (colleagues) bought lunch at Crystal Jade.
· Care group bought me dinner at Sushi Tei, but Oliver paid for all.
· Dinner on Saturday with Yvonne and Nathan at my new favorite Jap restaurant, Akashi at Vivo.
· Sunday, lunch with Andrew and Karen at Boon Tiong Kee Chicken rice (Nathan’s favorite) and Olio Dome at Dempsey for tea.
· Sunday dinner was what I enjoyed most out of all, Yvonne cooked. Nothing can compare to it. But ended up arguing about washing dishes…. : o )
· Monday, dinner at No Sign Board with Yvonne. And did a lot of shopping. Was even “psycho” by Yvonne to buy 3 shirts, each costing $92 after discount (original price was $139 each). Quite a good buy lah. Finally, my wife has learned to shop!
· Last night, Jocelyn, Jackie and Aaron bought me dinner at this new place, some Mediterranean food at Vivo.
· One more lunch this Sunday with Eng Soon and Denise

Gifts received
· A pair of Geox leather shoe – by Yvonne
· Lots of well wishes at Yvonne’s blog – initiated by Yvonne
· A new G-Shock watch, yellow – by some care group and church members
· A blue tie and cuff pin – by Joanna, Santha & Hui Hsien
· A birthday card – from colleagues

Depressed??????

It’s a strange feeling. Woke up this morning feeling so down and stress up….without any apparent reason : o ) Is there something wrong with me? : o ( Maybe I should consult some professional advice.

Anyway, last Tuesday prayer meeting was a good one. The missing of all those “lecturing” and having plenty of time with the Lord in worship and prayer, made the whole meeting, a prayer meeting. There was such a wonderful presence of the Lord in the meeting.

And I fully agreed with what Ps Danny mentioned at the closed of the meeting.
1. When God moves in a meeting, allow time for people to sink in.
2. Only when you are certain that it is from God, and is able to bring the whole “climate” to a higher level than release the word of exhortation.

Looking for more of such meeting…….