Evolution and intelligent design

Didn't know there such a term till recently. Intelligent design, apparently, doesn't necessarily mean creationism.

Definition I've learnt is that when we are intelligently designed, there is a specific purpose or reason why certain thing is created. Especially in the context of life.

I never knew that nobody can for certain answer the source of life. Mankind in all it's technological splendor still is unable to grasp the meaning of existence scientifically. Strange but true... Could we be focusing too much on the unnecessary details than we should?

Evolution is another term which I learnt today!
Evolution can be known as a change over time. While that may be agreeable, a lot of people also define evolution as a change of species from a common descent of a single cell organism. That fact, many people couldn't agree. however, that's the definition of evolution in neo-darwinism theory.

I have never read the origin of species... And I don't think I belong in the circle of intellect where the micro-biologist or evolutionary-biologist reign. Having said that, I do feel that since there is no firm answer in science on how and where life began on earth, I'd say that the most improbable and truth, will be the truth!

In any case, if the world revolves around Darwinism theory, the saddistic part of mankind where cruelty is applied to the less fortunate and disabled, will prevail...

Hmm, I do hope i can visit the mizpah museum one day in Germany.

Learning to live while being tired

Christmas eve gift wrapping exercise spanned till an ungodly christmas day - 4.30am...
On Christmas morning, I woke up a zombie.
I realized my temper became so-so short with lack of sleep that I have to watch my own interactions with other people or I might injure people!!

No more late night-early morning gift wrapping!!

Forgiveness, then reconcilliation. Next, resolution

An incident occurred a while back about how a friend reacted with another friend's response to an event. While both of them were striving to do what is right, and none of them sees themselves in the wrong, I guess the goal wouldn't be to point out who is right or wrong. Not to figure out who is more wrong either.

Wouldn't it be wiser to look at whether I can be more Christlike-thus be more merciful?

Because the goal isn't to be more right, rather to be more Christlike. That's why we strive to do what is right in the 1st place!

So we may have forgiveness.. Reconciliation may take place; but resolution... None whatsoever. Will life necessarily always turn out to be better when resolution happens? I guess it depends...

Lesson learnt! :)

Learning not to repeat my mistakes in running a half-marathon

I just completed by 21KM run this morning and I was really disappointed due to finishing the run 2-mins slower than last-year. It's my second time running this half-marathon, and I realized that I made much more good moves last year as compared to a more 'seasoned' me right now.

Mistakes I made: (which I really hope that I won't repeat them...)

1. Not eating bananas before the run... (it's really important.. I ran out energy!)
   
2. Eating only 2 pieces of bread and milo (well, if I had bananas... and 3pcs of bread....Hmm!)
3. Being late... I started the run at 6.50am, when everyone started at 6.30am!
   
4. Because I was late, I didn't spend sufficient time doing warm-ups... Duh!
5. I dropped my heat-rub tube. (I didn't check, and it was too late when I really needed it.)
   
6. Always drink 100-plus at every drink-points (water is good, but I already had water!)
   
7. Go to the toilet BEFORE the run... not during the run! (slows me down, and lost my momentum..)
   
8. Do NOT run 10-KM 3-days before the run... (I paid my price... my calf was so-so painful!)
9. Sleep at least 8-hours every-day in the week for the run. (Thank God weather was merciful...otherwise, I might have had fever!)
10. Practice-Practice-Practice for 3-months before the event... (My training was inconsistent!)
11. Prepare my iPOD... I was jogging halfway when I realized I ran out of songs + the songs were jumbled up! When I needed to speed-up, I hear some sleepy songs and I got distracted....
12. Concentrate on the run.. Remind myself why I am running the race!
13. Breathe consistently (I didn't and I was so easily out of breath!)
    

Good things I did: (As opposed to last-year...)

1. finding a suitable pacer during the run (keep looking around for people)
   
2. get a good pair of socks (I invested in 20 bucks for a new-technology socks)
   
3. wear a proper sized attire (last year, I wore everything XL...)
4. I ate breakfast...
   
5. I drank water more consistently... (I was properly hydrated) Had a gulp everytime I was slowed down by people.

With these, I think I will not join Standard Chartered Marathon for the next 1 to 2 years until they change their logistics and organizing team.. They are quite bad in my opinion. They really need to find someone more qualified to handle the management of the event and put some social sciences and planning into practice!

Life Mission Statement..

My new life motto in hoping to live life to the fullest:

Living life out loud to its fullest capacity!
Loving lives as deep as I could!
Laughing as much and as loud as I can!
Latching on to God's grace as tight as possible!

Learning to enjoy myself...

Was on the beach having coffee with wife this morning. Sitting on the beach-chair, thinking of what we're doing and what we're going to do later. As we were discussing, I realized how easy I was in getting myself busy even with the idea of relaxation...

Earlier, while trying to do my daily bible-reading, the temptation of the hurried-mind created a mental block in getting the insights I needed to fuel my soul.

Therefore, I decided, while taking the swing, to let things be as it is. I guess it has to start from letting things go as it should. I use to believe there is no such thing as letting nature take its flow as everything must/should have it's purpose and as industrious human-beings, we ought to take charge and manage. Well, however true that conviction may-be...NOT APPLICABLE TO HOLIDAYS!!! :)

As such, we took it easy.. I went on upload photos, did some emails, watching the opposite unit watching TV, listening to Joanne Wang and Diana Krall while wife took a dip on the tub. Hmm.. what a peaceful and easy-going sunday afternoon...

Deep flight challenger and the org of this planet

The deepest trench or depth of this world is the Mariana trench. And the deep flight challenger will be to undergo 5 missions to visit the deepest parts of planet earth to see what goes on beneath.

The company behind, virgin oceanic, funds such researches and the man behind. Died in 2007, now renewed by Welsh, who hopes to carry out this expedition in 2011.

I realized that excellence comes when we push ourselves-human, to the limit.

I also realized that there are many organizations out there who has the money n capabilities, but not the driving courage for the missions.

Putting their lives at stake for the sake of testing the human limits. Would I do that?

Afraid of being silly

I realized that people are many times afraid to be classified as 'not knowing' in today's society. I believe living in information age has made us fear to be labelled as one who doesn't know.

The other side of the equation is also true, where people in this age ARE expected to know! The demand for excellence is applied not to myself alone, but inevitably to people around as well.

Example was in my usual Sunday class. One of my student refused to acknowledge that she was not listening during class. Not that I will punish or scold, in my opinion, a student who wasn't paying attention will lose out in class in any-way to one who pays full attention and process those info into thoughts.

Another instance was another student who gave me a loss look yet unwilling to acknowledge that she is lost.

What's wrong with not-knowing?
Where are the values in honesty, humility and teachability placed in the ranking against pride, show-off and arrogance?

Discussing about the rules of engagement

Never realized the day would come for me to have a set of rules of engagement in the course of my marriage. I always see it as a form of legalism which marriage and love should be able to conquer.

Nonetheless, imperfect as we are, selfish as our hearts would be, we have no choice but to discuss and came to this conclusion; In order to allow and help each other to be better communicators and partners, we need to have some set of rules to allow for vulnerability..

And so we set some of ours:
1) when one talk to share our feelings, just listen and don't try to defend.
2) when we want to speak, we ask if it's ok for us to speak.

Understanding conflicts in communication

Learnt about whenever there are conflicts and problems, we need to first identify whether:

1. Is it a communication problem?
2. Is it a character issue reflected by historical evidences? In short, does similar thing like this happen before?
3. Does it happen a lot?

Key:
1. Learn to bring things up without creating or initiating conflicts.
2. Give space for growth. I think the only way we can learn to improve communication would be to make small and short mistakes for growth.

The difference of identity and self-image

I learnt the difference between identity and self image today.

Self image is a self-given view of myself that is shaped by the things around me. Meaning, if I grew up fat, careless, lazy, and the world sees me and puts me down in that way, i will have those self image characteristics. Self image is easy to build up, and easy to be identified. Self image can also be destructive!

Identity on the other-hand is a god given status of my life. Some eg. I am a child of God. I am a
Man. I am loved by God. I am jesus's disciple. I am a leader at home and at work. I am the son at my parents house. Identity is the image which God has entrusted us with and would like us to project to live life the way He intended me to be.
Eg, If I am a child of God, God loves me very-very much. Since i am a leader at work and church, I am given the ability to inspire and encourage.

Our identities would be supplemented with talents a.k.a. Resources like time, money, relationships. Identities also comes with natural gifting, and anointment. Gifting such as natural abilities to do something extra ordinary that will suit and fill what we are suppose to be doing. Anointment covers the part where God will bless and empower us in the place we are living the identity and using those talents and gifting.

In my life, I realized that my identity as a child of God, blessed with wonderful relationships, gifted with computers and teaching, sometimes makes me wonder what in the world am I doing in Singapore. Nonetheless, I believe that everything has their time and place, plus, I always believe that we simply need be prepared. God will direct the paths.

Realizing That People Do/Give/Work for a reason to benefit self.

I work for money.
I go to church for a relationship with God and people, plus, I am afraid to go to hell.
I get married for companionship and love. Because I don't want to be all alone and I long for a family to go home to.
I blog to remember and reinforce what I learn. Because I oft forget.
I mentor youths to improve my parenting/mentoring skills and gain greater sense of purpose with my life.
I serve in the Audio/Visual team at church because I am blessed with a gift and to contribute in the community, I serve.
I tithe because I fear God.
I teach voluntarily because I hope to use this experience to improve myself - confidence, presentation, organization, and teaching.

See. In every possible good things, there is a reason. In a way, people will not do things if the reason they do it, doesn't benefit them. I just thought and discussed with Wife about it. I realized how difficult it is to be a co-ordinator for volunteers in an organization because it's difficult to formalize a carrot of possibly 'non-tangible' benefits. How can one measure 'satisfaction', 'gratitude', and 'charity' to one's appetite?

How to vote for the coming election

Singapore is very hyped up today as the nation gathers in different polling stations to vote for their respective member of the parliament representatives. Many are saying that the non-ruling parties ae forming an opposition against the ruling party and are gathering power to change the political landscape of this nation.

I am a supporter of order and control. In fact, I always believe that when creating something great, order and control are necessary components to kick start and maintain growth in the early stages of organizational developments.

Having said that, I do feel that the current government may have gone overboard with some decision making policies. While it's true that there is evident peace and prosperity in the outlook of Singapore, the general population harbor a sentient of disdain and dissatisfaction.

As a believer of decentralized leadership, I must say that having more non-ruling party members in the parliament always serves as a good reminder that we, as humans, simply need reminder. Especially when great power brings great responsibility.

So how do I vote? Not that I had to anyway...
A lot of people were fearful that voting against the ruling party, or afraid to lose out in the next upgrading projects for the area they live in, or even the fear of being black-marked from national benefits.. For me, given chance, would follow these set of principles:

1) by making this vote, am I making it for my personal well being and benefits, or the benefits of the nation?
2) since the past election or the party rule, how has the society improved? Meaning: how has the life quality of a common man improved?
3) what were the common topics the parties brought up? Are they relevant to the society and does it come with solutions..
4) what is the character of the candidates am
I voting for.. Simply put, why should i vote for you...

I think these 4 principles or reflective question has helped me in making some really practical choices. I really hope and look forward to a better nation. Not that it's not good enough, but it definitely can be better in the way we live our supposedly happy and content life..

Lessons on vulnerability.. Part 1?

I had a tiff with The Wife last weekend. Err maybe the weekend before. Doesn't matter. It's over. The tiff I mean..

We went to a nearby video store to rent a DVD to spend the evening with. I had something in mind I want to watch, and so did she. However, we were quite diplomatic in the way we put it across that we ended up not understanding each other expectations.

J: shall we watch DVD?
A: sure! Lets rent one.
J: hmm there are quite a lot of good shows recently. Shall we try some of these..
A: shall we get a more light-hearted show?
J: how about the new shaolin movie
(no answer, flip-flip-flip DVD album)
A: any funny shows? Comedy?
J: ok... How about this? (flip to one show)
A: how about this instead? Do you think it'll be nice?
J: am not sure. I guess no harm trying..

You get what I mean... It's a series of undercurrents that are pulling each other apart for the fear of being disappointed... The truth is, we were disappointed. At least I was. I was not happy for the start.

Well it ended well when i talked to my wife about the matter eventually. Nonetheless, it's a problem of insecurity and possibly lack of trust that we have to deal with I guess...

Learning about 'the not so important things': about tickles

Learnt today the usefulness about being tickled. There are 2 kinds of tickle. 1, the subtle one and 2, the forceful one.

And tickle can only happen with foreign objects touching our body, plus only when we aren't alerted.

This idea of being tickled happens from the days of Aristotle and many have asked the questions why but till today, there is no valid scientific explanation on why we laugh when we get tickled.

Now, rodents too also can get tickled! Mice, guinea pigs and rats. The other group of animals would also be the chimps and gorillas.

We naturally laugh when a forceful tickle is executed. However, too much of it will cause irritation.

Now... Why am I learning this and posting it on my blog??
I went on a hangout last weekend.. And i realized how lacking of topics i had for small talks! So I decided it's time to brush up general knowledge and try to relax and not talk about serious stuff all the time..

Lessons in Marriage: the truth

"whatever I say to my wife, must be true. But whatever is true, I need not tell my wife!"

My good friend told me this saying. 5-years of marriage has taught him this about communication. It's a game called life. In an ideal world, the truth sets us free. Its meant to liberate and not being down the trust we have in each other, let alone the way we look at one another.

My only guess, insecurity exists in this imperfect world because we have to live in it. Our desire to improve and win, creates a bi-product in losing and the not-good-enough standard.

No wonder there is no perfect formula to our behavior! In all that we do, there will be-for sure, someone whom we will offend.

Such-is life!

Lesson about God: Precision

Precision in Details, with sense.

Exodus 25, 26
it's pretty amazing to see how God gave exact details to the things he'd like to see it done. I wonder if the people back then would make mistakes, careless or sloppy, in the process of building the things as required. How would they be 'punished' or expected to fix the mistakes?

Having thought all these, if we human beings are created in the image of God, wouldn't it make perfect sense that we are designed to do things with precision. When we like certain food for eg. We'll like it done in a certain way, served a certain manner and presented in a certain way..

The problem in us, is drawing the limit (in being sensical) and the actions we take when realizing that our requirements don't go as planned.

Knowing it's a human problem with a godly design, I realize the need to be precise, as part of the design, yet understand the human limitations in consistency. I have yet to come to terms with laziness though. Is it the bi-product of our productivity and efficiency? Because laziness do have a direct impact with the desire to being precise...

Learning to learn

2011, a new year for me and it's been 3-days after turning 28.

Started to realize that I needed some new good habits to replace the old ones. And there are indeed some habits that I should start cultivating for the benefit of longevity and joyfulness.

Habits are: (not in order of priority)
1. Write down lessons learnt in life
2. Spend time with wife an-hour a day
3. Recording my finances
4. Pray and connect with God
5. Have a 5-10min exercise
6. Read my bible.

God willing.. I need to do these daily!