Before I forget the feedback I got from PA regarding last saturday...
1) Communicate effectively! This will help not only in leading bible studies, but also in everyday conversations. Keep the sentences short and meaningful, yet not childish. No unnecessary repetitions.
2) Be a facilitator, not an answer giver.
3) Don't be anxious... (mai gan cheong)
It's a loss when the teacher understands the text rightly, but fails to bring the group to that conclusion. I've always been horrible at teaching/talking (there had been some progress though, thank God), but as long as I have the opportunity to I'll keep trying.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ah...languages are interesting (especially computer languages). Do check out the similar examples in other languages, like the Malay ("Sayang, sayang, sayang sayang sayang. Sayang sayang sayang?") and the Mandarin ("Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma") one. =D
Ah...languages are interesting (especially computer languages). Do check out the similar examples in other languages, like the Malay ("Sayang, sayang, sayang sayang sayang. Sayang sayang sayang?") and the Mandarin ("Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma") one. =D
Friday, September 15, 2006
Looking Back
It's been slightly over one year since I've committed to join BTPC, to learn and to serve God's people in whichever way possible here.
Looking back over the year, many many many things have happened, and many lessons learnt, from the subtle ones to the jarring and painful ones.
One of the most notable lessons was in terms of my pride: having been rescued from bad theology (I'm not pointing fingers at a particular group or whatsoever, but the simple fact is that I never came to know what Christianity was about in the first place till someone taught us) we came to see how bad the situation was both for ourselves and in Singapore. And unconsciously I came to have the mindset that anyone not affiliated with those that we know or doesn't have the same "eloquence"/Christian jargon as us would be automatically deemed as possibly heretic and treated as such.
(It's wrong to think like that, for it is also possible for a person to be unfaithful to the text in the bible and yet talk with the same language as us, and also possible for a person to be faithful to the text but for various reasons have a different language to a varying degree)
In addition to the scriptures repeatedly exposing my problem of pride, I've also had the opportunity to be corrected by observing others around. In working with the youths here (and bible studies together), the example of the deacon has repeatedly given me a glimpse of how humility (in thinking for others first) could look like, and how far I am from being like Christ.
Not that we shouldn't be aware about or point out wrong ideas about God and Jesus at all, but to make such quick decisions about a person's destiny is uncalled for. And in the either case it's the wrong thinking that need correction just as the right ones need to be reinforced.
As part (only a small part!) of my committing to join this group of Christians to learn and serve one another, I guess it's about time I did my transfer of membership to here =P this is truly a good church to join, though not perfected yet in Christ, but the pastor's accurate to the text when teaching, the people generally are committed to obeying God, and the chance to serve them. And that's what I think is important in a church...
Looking back over the year, many many many things have happened, and many lessons learnt, from the subtle ones to the jarring and painful ones.
One of the most notable lessons was in terms of my pride: having been rescued from bad theology (I'm not pointing fingers at a particular group or whatsoever, but the simple fact is that I never came to know what Christianity was about in the first place till someone taught us) we came to see how bad the situation was both for ourselves and in Singapore. And unconsciously I came to have the mindset that anyone not affiliated with those that we know or doesn't have the same "eloquence"/Christian jargon as us would be automatically deemed as possibly heretic and treated as such.
(It's wrong to think like that, for it is also possible for a person to be unfaithful to the text in the bible and yet talk with the same language as us, and also possible for a person to be faithful to the text but for various reasons have a different language to a varying degree)
In addition to the scriptures repeatedly exposing my problem of pride, I've also had the opportunity to be corrected by observing others around. In working with the youths here (and bible studies together), the example of the deacon has repeatedly given me a glimpse of how humility (in thinking for others first) could look like, and how far I am from being like Christ.
Not that we shouldn't be aware about or point out wrong ideas about God and Jesus at all, but to make such quick decisions about a person's destiny is uncalled for. And in the either case it's the wrong thinking that need correction just as the right ones need to be reinforced.
As part (only a small part!) of my committing to join this group of Christians to learn and serve one another, I guess it's about time I did my transfer of membership to here =P this is truly a good church to join, though not perfected yet in Christ, but the pastor's accurate to the text when teaching, the people generally are committed to obeying God, and the chance to serve them. And that's what I think is important in a church...
Monday, September 11, 2006
Fun With Thresholding
One of the joys of programming is that you get to make something and see it work.
Part of my Final Year Project involves converting a colour image into black and white in the best (and fastest) possible way.
Here's some of the fun I got to do with the test program that I wrote:
Just a simple operation that we can perform really easily with Photoshop, etc. But it is simply different when something you make does these things instead~
Part of my Final Year Project involves converting a colour image into black and white in the best (and fastest) possible way.
Here's some of the fun I got to do with the test program that I wrote:
Just a simple operation that we can perform really easily with Photoshop, etc. But it is simply different when something you make does these things instead~
Must. Not. Waste. Money....
CITS-notebook trade-in
Very tempting to trade in my (half corroded =P ) laptop and get a new one at student rates, but I guess I'll have to stop myself from doing this =P
Very tempting to trade in my (half corroded =P ) laptop and get a new one at student rates, but I guess I'll have to stop myself from doing this =P
Thursday, September 07, 2006
War
Finding myself in the middle of a war, what can I do?
The only way I could ever become like this solely is by God's work in me. I'm not that good a person myself to begin with.
If anything's going to progress (with our conscious effort), it'll be when we all fall on our knees before this great and almighty God and confess that we've done wrong.
Yes, we've all done wrong. We've not lived lives as God had designed. The only way out of the final consequence is to turn from our old ways and beg God for forgiveness by trusting in Jesus Christ.
What am I supposed to do? All the wise counsel in the world isn't enough, we must recognize that real wisdom comes only from fearing the Lord. And I must do the same also, else everything will amount only to nothing.
But if we fail to listen to God's biblical counsel, we'll really need to ask God to humble us..
Seeing God's family fight for the wrong reasons pains me the most, and the recent episode also caused by my stubbornness and pride. Coming up a close second, is to see my other family destroyed by sin, sin on everyone's part...
The only way I could ever become like this solely is by God's work in me. I'm not that good a person myself to begin with.
If anything's going to progress (with our conscious effort), it'll be when we all fall on our knees before this great and almighty God and confess that we've done wrong.
Yes, we've all done wrong. We've not lived lives as God had designed. The only way out of the final consequence is to turn from our old ways and beg God for forgiveness by trusting in Jesus Christ.
What am I supposed to do? All the wise counsel in the world isn't enough, we must recognize that real wisdom comes only from fearing the Lord. And I must do the same also, else everything will amount only to nothing.
But if we fail to listen to God's biblical counsel, we'll really need to ask God to humble us..
Seeing God's family fight for the wrong reasons pains me the most, and the recent episode also caused by my stubbornness and pride. Coming up a close second, is to see my other family destroyed by sin, sin on everyone's part...
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The Lord Is Near
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
Let your gentleness be evident, for the Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in all things by petition and prayer.
With thanksgiving present your requests to the Lord.
Whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is (commendable?).
If anything is excellent
and worthy of praise,
think about these.
The only reason we should rejoice always...
Regardless of the situation at hand...
and now regardless of whether I'm facing the stress of not understanding my lectures and that I need 48 hours a day (not just 24)...
Not because Christians are just a bunch of naive, shortsighted people who just gloss over things and laugh it all off, but simply because the most important, eternal, issue has been settled already all by God's work of sending Jesus to the cross.
That is why we can rejoice (and be content) in all situations. That is why we should rejoice in all situations.
The song came as a good reminder at the right time. Though I will continue to face the stress for this upcoming year, I know there's no need to be depressed and crushed by the surrounding pressures.
Regardless of the situation at hand...
and now regardless of whether I'm facing the stress of not understanding my lectures and that I need 48 hours a day (not just 24)...
Not because Christians are just a bunch of naive, shortsighted people who just gloss over things and laugh it all off, but simply because the most important, eternal, issue has been settled already all by God's work of sending Jesus to the cross.
That is why we can rejoice (and be content) in all situations. That is why we should rejoice in all situations.
The song came as a good reminder at the right time. Though I will continue to face the stress for this upcoming year, I know there's no need to be depressed and crushed by the surrounding pressures.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
How To Write Unmaintainable Code
How To Write Unmaintainable Code
Really funny, yet painfully true (when we're on the receiving end of the 'merits' of writing such code) sometimes.
PS: It's not meant to be followed.
Really funny, yet painfully true (when we're on the receiving end of the 'merits' of writing such code) sometimes.
PS: It's not meant to be followed.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Start Right, Continue Right, End Right
When the dead are raised, it is a wonderful thing. This done not by our own effort, but solely by God's.
And the lesson in John 8 comes clearly: it's important to start off right by trusting in Jesus' words regarding himself, but it's equally important to carry on being grounded and growing in his word, really really important.
This warning couldn't come at a better time for myself, to obey Jesus as Lord and not to ignore him in the way I live my life, since I've already declared my faith in him.
And the lesson in John 8 comes clearly: it's important to start off right by trusting in Jesus' words regarding himself, but it's equally important to carry on being grounded and growing in his word, really really important.
This warning couldn't come at a better time for myself, to obey Jesus as Lord and not to ignore him in the way I live my life, since I've already declared my faith in him.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Worried sick
So many things happening at the same time, so little time...
...but the most worrying of all, is the fact that many around are facing various things, and the most I can do for them is to guess, and pray...
Giving up on everything certainly has crossed my mind before, but it's not taken because I know the God that we've come to believe in has everything within his control still, and the task he's called us to is something that will not fail in the very end.
...but the most worrying of all, is the fact that many around are facing various things, and the most I can do for them is to guess, and pray...
Giving up on everything certainly has crossed my mind before, but it's not taken because I know the God that we've come to believe in has everything within his control still, and the task he's called us to is something that will not fail in the very end.
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