Anytime Now

Irene saw adrian today …. ember has really grown, she’s 3kg now !! She’s poise to see the world anytime. Adrian was suggesting that we may need to consider inducing if she’s grown too big by next week … coming weekend could be our last in the category of married without kids.

Talking about weekends … the last few weekends has been great being back in the BB … its been awhile that we see the Boys, its always great to see every single one of them … yet somehow every week I always felt that we have not done enough to get to know each of them deeper and truly impact them with our life.

However, I’m pretty happy that we started the basketball team, just wish that more people will join, keep praying that its a start of something good. In fact, we are so excited about the basketball team that yong wei, irene and myself spend the weekend hunting around for outfit for the team. Did not manage to lock in on the outfit … but irene got me  a 10 year wedding anniversary gift instead – a RayBan … something I’d always wanted .. thanks baby. Thank God for keeping us together all these years.

My RayBan

Talking about connecting … great to have govin & betty back, even its for a short while. We had a great time enjoying each other cooking during our welcome party. Also good to have a surprise guest – Geok Hua who served her expertise … fried carrot cake.

GnB welcome party

Ember – Week 28

Took the day off today to get some CQ stuff done, give myself a break and make sure I don’t miss the appointment with Adrian today.

Was out of bed late just after 9am, first thing is to check my open solaris download, I’m suprise at the ease of getting it installed on my Mac via VMware is to simple. Its took me less than 30 mins to get everything setup and I’m out for breakfast before 10am.

Went for a haircut and hit the gym after that – its my de-stress routine.

And finally, we get to see Ember !!! She’s doing extremely well, heart pumping stronggggg and even gave us a cheeky smile ..

Ember

Seems like she inherited all the strong features from us , not too sure about the thick lips? Regardless, we are really blessed. On the way home, got a call from mum that she is joining some church activities coming Sunday – another piece of good news.

It has been a wonderful, we are truly thankful. Thank you Lord.

More religious or its economics? (Part 2)

Saw the hits on my blog jumped recently, not sure why, but hey, thanks for reading !!

Now, back to finishing my blog about one of the key topic of the national day rally. Many could read the recent trend as just due to a recent push of religious conservatism – another word with lots of qualification needed. Guess in layman term, people are more active in religious activities, more expressive in sharing their religious values and taking religion more seriously.

This is an interesting global trend … I thought religion is actually on the decline especially in the west … remember reading an article that there are more people going to the gyms than churches on Sundays in Britain.  Many years back ST publish an article about American social value in the 70’s versus 80’s. Among many humorous pot shots, one thing I vividly remember was this:

10 years ago, if you don’t go to church – you go to hell. 10 years on, if you don’t go to church – what the hell.

If things where going downhill since the 1960s – Time Magazine publish the Is God Dead article; Did God resurrect?

My conclusion is primary derived what the authors of The Experience Economy. I think people are moving towards transformational experience … its not good enough to just consume goods and services, but people are looking for the consumption to change them. Take for example the rise of cosmetic surgery, people want to change to be someone. Even services like spa which is primary a de-stress outlet for modern day people, is now being qualified with energy, medicine, eco and what nots – the idea? Its changing you.

In Singapore, the big trend is long distance running. I’m not diminishing the value of it … ok fine … I’m not a big fan … in fact, I think it does has adverse health effect (that’s another time). Bottom line, I think more people are running, because it changes them – both mentally and physically. The next big business is to a endurance coach

The biggest market of it all are the kids. The whole industry is out there to help parents customise their kids from the day they are in their mum’s womb. Even as parent-to-be, we are told to take supplements for the foetus brain development etc, etc. Irene doesn’t like to swallow pills and to save a few bucks, we decided to give them a miss.

The big transformational market is within the person soul. People are heading to the religious institution because I think people genuinely wants to be better person and find a higher purpose in life.  While self-help book will continue to be a big draw and there are some quasi-religious groups that are meeting the needs, people still see the religious institution as the primary answer to the transformation of the soul. As a Christian, I see this as a great opportunity to share our lives and faith and the churches should step up to the challenge. We need to be acutely aware about not to take the Pharisaic stand and be keenly engaged to the needs of the community, yet not be caught up in the economics of religious experience because we have nothing to sell.

More religious or its economics? (Part 1)

Heard the N-day rally last weekend, kind of feel that its content-free – maybe it lacked goodies like previous years ones or major policy changes that interest me

One big topic that kept the press buzzing after that is the issue of religion – I thought the points covered by PM is very well put across without making any group too uncomfortable and remind all of us the importance of having the equilibrium in our society. I for one is a firm believer that we should keep religion separate from state and politics. As Christian, I’m not for ‘Christianising’ secular institution and organisation, faith needs to be personal and not imposed upon.

Yet my faith and eastern upbringing makes me worry when social norms are challenged – when casinos are build, when alternative lifestyle is promoted and media is liberated. Not that Christians stand on moral high ground for the Bible says “All have sin and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23″, but having personally seen families and lives torn apart as a result of moral compromises, its only socially responsible to ring the warning bell when we are concerned. I don’t think its non tolerant when I’m worried that me or my family members could fall into the trap gambling or when I’ concerned that my child will grow up in an environment when the definition of the Family is blurred.

One thing Christians needs to do when trying to share our view is really to watch the tone and more importantly do it out of love, especially towards those who have a different view. Yet, we need to realistically know  that we cannot “Christianise” the society, instead we should live a lifestyle  that attracts as Bible commands the followers:

Philipians 2:12-15

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

Actually, this is a side note … will cover the main point in my next blog

Amazing Week

Its been awhile since I’d blogged. Work schedule has been extremely hectic, none stop since the day I joined. The funny thing was that I was introduced as a new staff last Friday – alright that was a sabo, but it felt that I’d been there for ages when it was only slightly more than a month !! Thank God that things are falling into place and really thankful for a good rapport at work.

Things in BB is moving into cruise mode now after the pickup from the H1N1 break !

Post national day holiday was spend cycling with the Boys. It was a pretty good cycle from Pasir Ris to Changi Point & back.

Didn’t have a chance to take pics while biking, but Harry manage to snaps some photos after the cycling …

Boys still in good spirit after the cycling, decided to head to tampines mall area to grab dinner. Walked around for 1 hour in the new shopping mall but decided to head to Yishun for dinner instead … after some time waiting and standing on the bus, we finally reached Yishun, we were all hungry …

Hungry Boys

At the coffee shop, we decided to order some Z i  Zcar, apparently they were low on staff, by the time we had our food its around 8pm. Its not New York, New York or Seoul Garden, but its still great fellowship and we were already talking about going for a fishing trip next at the end of a wonderful day

Octovan & friends

I think we set a new attendance record post H1N1 last saturday, its was great to see so many Boys back especially the sec 1s, irene and me enjoyed the time having CQ quiz with them. We still own irene’s group winning prizes. Also spend some time with Ed and Jon trying to start the sixty6 band – Ed’s really good with the keyboard. Really pray that the band will have them engaged through their gifts.

Talking about gifts, yong wei did a great one teaching a new chinese song during singspiration, but I think someone else outdo him in a youtube rendition ….

At the end of an eventful week, I remember praying during the officer fortnight for an amazing saturday, as God truly answers with Good News from the alpha retreat and Mavis encountering the fruit of our labour.