Democracy

When the Supreme Court gave a decision of 5-4 in favour of same-sex marriage, there were gasps and cheers in every country. People (even the White House) started to put up the 6-colour filter to show support while those against were crying doom for the US. As I grappled with this myself, I realized a few things.

First, the media seem to jump all over it and are puffing this issue up in favour of the court ruling. Buzzfeed released an article '15 Slight Overreactions To The Marriage Equality News' . While I contend that a media site is supposed to be impartial to news, the issue at hand is also me wondering how this would contribute to the society? Why do you need to put down the other person's view who differs with yours? To have a laugh? To make them sound ridiculous? To do it because the previous majority view did the same? In the progressive times that we live, apparently this backward tactic of putting down other people's views is still common I guess. In close relation to the article, there's the second thing I noticed.

Calm down peeps who are against the ruling. Some called doom on US, one even claimed that this was a 9/11 from a moral standpoint. While it does affect the nation in a way, 17 other countries have already passed this law. Among them are France, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Last I checked, they aren't doing too badly. As a Christian, while it is a sad thing that the law has been passed, I believe we can react better than just spelling doom (There are only four letters, I'm sure the others can spell it too). Rather, it is an even more urgent time to encourage the discouraged and to seek opportunities to engage this issue. Many articles are already written on the proper Christian response and that's what's needed. Moreover, my girlfriend did say, 'Weren't you expecting this to happen?' I guess we shouldn't be so surprised as the world is changing in a way that we didn't hope for, but hey, God did see it coming. On to my last point.

Now, in case some are ready to bash me up for bringing up religion and God, please don't. Because I don't like conflicts. :( But through this I do see the shortcomings of democracy. To put in layman's terms, democracy is basically the more famous opinion being shared. 30 years ago, the 'trendy' opinion was traditional marriage, today it's same-sex marriage. 30 years ago, the opinion of the minority was shunned for the majority, today it remains the same. Democracy, for all it's worth, does fall short as it doesn't unite all people, only those with the same opinion. It tells the ones with a separate opinion to just live with it or find more support. What makes it more dangerous is when the contentious issue is when it's one of morality (or appears so to some). Morality then becomes somewhat a scale that when more people gather to a side, the scale tips and it changes. 

It's the semester break now and I think I'm using my brain a bit too much. Studying Communication as a course does help me to study things more critically I guess. I should rest and play something brain-dead like Mortal Kombat X where they literally rip your brains out. Hmm.

Friends leaving.

It is these times that I wish I had not formed a close bond with them, so that them leaving may not hurt me so much. The last post was about me leaving for a short semester break, now it's my friends leaving university for good.

It hurts.

So a year passes...

And I'm back home for a 3-month break. Looking back at my first year in university, I'm rather shocked that time passed so quickly. It feels just like yesterday that I made the 6-hour trip up to Penang.

Seems just like yesterday that my family and I carried the heavy luggage up the hill to Restu hostel, unclear where it was anyway.

Seems like yesterday that I waved at my family before they went home, without me for the first time.

Seems like yesterday I got to know my new coursemates. 

Joined PKA. 

Attended church service in BRGH. 

Grew close to awesome HBP friends in hostel.

First outing with what I'm calling family now.

As fast as the term seemed to pass, I still enjoyed my first year a lot. Well, the assignments and stress weren't that fun, but it was the people and the crazy things we did that made things end positively. It's been great having friends playing Temple Run just for ego's sake, mimicking King of Opera, playing Ping Pong and well, basically do guy stuff!

Wrapping myself was fun too!

I was also nourished spiritually as I grew more into the model of Christ. Reviewing my stands and beliefs weren't easy, but worth the journey. Along the road, I came across spiritual brothers who were missing all these while and also reminded that God uses young Christians for His Kingdom as well as to teach me. I have two peeps I have in mind and I think you know who you are, oh Malacca and Penang girl, so thanks! :) Feeling the need, not for speed but to buck up all the more!

Finally, I managed to clear out one question in my head. I used to wonder whether it would be great to live a life of solidarity, with few to no friends or to live otherwise. Solidarity would certainly reduce the pain of saying 'bye' and make leaving so easy. No friends, no burden, no pain, simple. But thinking again, I don't mind having that sadness of saying 'bye' to friends who will graduate and unlikely to meet again, because the joy of being with them far outweighs everything else. 

What makes life great isn't the lack of sadness, but having the joy of friends.

So I leave with some sadness, but joy overflowing nonetheless.

Saw this on 9gag!

That in itself wasn't funny, but the comment that followed:

"Two guys are having a conversation when suddenly one of them yells "This is Sparta!". Guess who survived the conversation." - Nicklas Rindom

Awesome '300' reference. :)

So I checked my application...

to stay in hostel for another year, and it was rejected. Was in my friends' room at that time and they went,

"Hahaha, see you stay outside next year already loh. Bye bye!"

Went back to my room to do some stuff before coming back, and this is what they said,

"Wei, both of us also rejected."

*Yaomingface*

All 3: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, we all staying outside together already loh!

What Then?

We're all in the Election Hype! To me, BN has pretty much shot its own foot in the month leading to the elections. I've always told people that if BN had just behaved itself and remained quiet, then the folks would be able to at least have a shot at something.

But no, that's not how they work.

They had to have all the free concerts.

The free food.

Free beer.

Bangladesh imports.

With taxpayers' money. No guilt, no conscience. They're exactly what Paul described in Romans 1:28,

"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. "

BN, you've imploded and shamed yourself so much. Not only that, you make use of people who are desperate to make a living. How low can you go?

Apart from this whole BN thing, I'm not quite sure what happens if we do change the government. Will things be better, remain the same, or become worse? Most of us are putting so much hope in this election. We're looking at the dealer and saying, "You know what? I'm going all-in on this one."

 Swim or sink, do or die, now or never.

But.

What if BN retains power? What if expectations are not met? What if the country remains in chains of injustice and corruption?

What then?

I don't know what will happen, but for me I have this one comfort: God.

Some may say it's some made-up image in my head for me to go to when I'm feeling down, but that's if God is fiction. The facts for God is true and so He is real. God is moving.

I may not know what happens, but I know God knows, and I know He has His hands wrapped around this country. Whatever happens, He's there. 

And that.

That's my comfort.

I don't know about tomorrow;

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what lies ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

I just saw this...

And thought it was a good line. Speaking on strikers (people whose job is to score goals in football), Alex Ferguson had this to say:

"You go through spells when you are not scoring and thinking you will never get a goal. Then when you are scoring you never think you are going to miss."

I guess it relates to the high and low moments in our lives. On our high, we feel capable of doing anything and everything, but on our low, we wish for the world to swallow us up.

What if we're in that low when everything seems impossible?

When nothing you do goes right? 

What do you do?

Who do you go to?

What then?

It's nice...

though to see you two together. I'll pray that you two grow together.

Senior: .... Puberty over d la!

Me: Grow in the Lord la!

I'm easily entertained, but I like that I'm easily entertained. :)

Yo

I don't mean to disturb you on purpose when you sleep. It's just that I have work to do and sometimes it goes beyond the average sleep time.

Probably you could wear more than 2 sleeping masks?

The Phleg says "Screw it", but the Sang says "Bear it".

Oh noes, I'll be the next Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde yo!

P.S: I love sleep too.

Planting A Seed

Today was an eventful day. First, I went out with my Christian Fellowship pals to tour part of Penang. The taking pictures and food aside, I really enjoy being with them. Also, the event provided a platform for me to get to know the seniors and fellow batch mates in a deeper way. While there were barriers previously, I suppose they have been broken down or damaged heavily. Probably one more critical hit to seal the deal! Man, I miss games. :D

The new family. :)

After the morning's activity, I went to the Youth Meeting. Feeling a bit tired, a 2-hour nap would have been great but I'm quite glad I went anyway. The sharing struck deep into my heart. It was about planting that important seed in your non-Christian friend that God can only grow and bear fruit.

The Seed of the Gospel.

To be honest, I was feeling a bit proud when he introduced the topic as 'Evangelism' because I had shared the gospel with two of my friends and also brought them to Captain Ball to play with fellow believers, so I thought I was doing well enough already. Then Kah Wei (speaker) said,

"Some of us think that by bringing our friends to a church event then the seed has already been planted and we're fine already, but it's not."

Uh-oh. That wasn't all.

"Also, some of us think by sharing the gospel once then all is fine too."

As I was writing the notes down, I was actually attempting to hide my face rather than jotting down notes as the sharing went on. All previous confidence was shattered within minutes. He continued,

"When you bring your friend to the event and the gospel is shared, does he know the gospel well? If he doesn't, then the seed is not planted. When you share the gospel with him, do you think he grasps the whole gospel truly? If he doesn't, then the seed is not yet planted, and you still owe him that seed."

He made me realise that evangelism isn't so much about blurting out the whole Bible or Two Ways to Live, but letting them understand why we are in separation from God, why we need a Saviour, and what God came to do. Only then, a seed is planted in the heart. Another reminder came as well,

"Remember also to plant the right seed of the gospel in the right place, and that requires the farmer to know the seed well himself."

Still got lots to do and to learn. By His strength I will. :)

P.S: Just saw on Facebook, my friend 

just became a dad. Yay for him!

Funny!

I find it funny how after the serious post titled The Decision, the latest chatbox comment asks whether I kuat makan or not. :D

The Decision

Sometimes I just wish I have more of myself rather than more time to do more things. Being in USM for the 4th week, it has been a time of setting priorities; which to commit, which to leave behind, which church to go, what to do at this time. Things like that.

During that 4-week period, I've come to realised that there are many things I want to join or do (24 seasons drum, Christian Fellowship, debate, church activities) and also time is no friend of mine. I suppose this dilemma is present for all since we all share the 24-hour cycle, but for me (and Christians perhaps), things are a little different.

Having a higher authority over me, I owe God my service.

By service, it means to be faithful to His work and be an active participant in whatever measure I can.

By service, it means to devote time to His work.

By service, it means to leave your interests, no matter how big they are, to do His work.

By service, it means God is first, and you are second.

It took me a while to cope with that, with thoughts like; 

God wouldn't make me sacrifice my interests for His sake.

God would surely leave some time for me to use right?

Surely I can have freedom over what I want to do.

These thoughts were, at the least, self-centred. Having committed myself to Him, I suppose it is only right that His work be first over my interests. God isn't being mean by making me do so, He just deserves it.

The moment I accepted the privilege of being His son, I accepted also the responsibility that came;

Him first, everything else second. 

I've learned that when there are conflicts of interests between these two, I need to select the one that best benefits God, not me. Tough lesson, but valuable nonetheless.

Not like God preferred His own interests over mine when He sent Jesus to die for my sins anyway.

It's ALLLLIIIVVVEEE (Ace Ventura style)

Yep, the blog lives again after a 1 year lay-off. I stopped blogging for a number of reasons:

1. Sometimes the Internet was immensely slow, especially when the mood to blog was high, so the feeling died.

2. I lacked creativity to write; in other words, the writers' block.

3. I was playing lots of games.

So why start again? It's because:

1. Internet here is quite good. Every 4 rooms share a router, so it's fast and rarely slow.

2. I removed the block.

3. There're no more many games to play. T.T

I also thought it'd be a good way to update myself so that my faithful 8 followers can keep up on what's happening here. Your faithfulness shall be rewarded with nonsense posts I guess!

Anyway, it was a tiring one week of orientation. Sleeping at 2 (sometimes 3) and waking up at 6, crazy-packed schedules which only allow 20-minute meals (which upon lining up takes 10 minutes+), and the 20-minute walk from hostel to meeting place each day. Truth be told, I think I got thinner already from all the walking. Still, it was a good week because I got to make new friends of the same wavelength, different wavelength, and those of a particular distant universe.

The orientation ended on a high (meaning highest form of torture) with a 3-days-2-nights camp in Cinta Alam Kelimat, Perak. During my 3 days there, I only got to bathe once because of the tight schedule. On the first night, they let us off at 12am. I had to do patrol work at 1 and with my shift ending at 2, was looking forward for some good rest. Rest though, only belongs with the dead and we had to go for jungle trekking immediately after my shift. Came back around 6+ before the next activity started again at 7am.

Had a presentation to perform that night, and with 12 groups performing, the 6 worst would be sent to 'rendam' in the river. Well, my group was one of them. 'Rendaming' was fine, but before we could get to the river, we had to crawl through the mud which was disgusting to say the least. >.<

In my 3rd day there, the camp commandant was especially strict on us. He made us do many push-ups, claiming that we weren't disciplined and united. His favourite stunt was the 'ukur padang' where we would have to lie flat on the field and roll all the way to the other side. If we didn't count together, he'd make us roll back to the other end of the field. In between the torture, he'd teach some things about taking care of the environment, and also unity, but no need until like that gua. What he did was like killing a fly by running a 5-ton truck over it when you could just have done a Karate-Kid chopstick kill. I guess the more severe the longer the effect lasts though.

So all in all, I'm kinda glad the 1st week was over. Class was on yesterday and it was interesting. I'm the first batch of students who'd be undergoing a 4-year course in Mass Communications instead of 3 years that have been going on before this. They're teaching us about the history of it now which I like and the lecturers so far have been nice.

Looking forward to coming back this week for Sharlissa's wedding and meeting my family again. Oh wheeee, oh whee oh whee, am baba wei!

Did You Watch...

The match between Manchester United and Chelsea last night? I'm not talking about my sis and her roommate but the actual clubs. Well, Man U won the game 3-1, but the game was interesting not because 4 goals were scored, but the amount that weren't instead.

One fell when wanting to score.

One slipped while taking a penalty kick.

One keeper running to the opponent's goal only to realise he was at the wrong side.

But the greatest of the miss belonged to Fernando Torres. He rounded the keeper very well and was actually one-on-one with the goal! At first sight, I thought he was going to score but he missed. I was more flabbergasted, blabbergasted, dumbfounded, smartunfounded than being happy he didn't score. Click here for the miss.

Anyway, I just pity him for the miss. He was playing well up until that point. As a striker, your job is to score. Rounding off the keeper is a bonus but the core you must fulfill. And sadly, he missed the target.

It's just like a student preparing for the exam only to realise the exam was 2 months ago and he missed it.

It's just like an accountant missing an obvious number and the accounts come up with a huge mistake.

It's just like a lawyer getting her files ready for the big trial and upon walking in the court with brimming confidence, realises she's in the wrong court and missed the right one.

How sad indeed.

Ah well, I checked the dates and phew, STPM ain't 2 months ago!

Only He Knows

Just read a blog of a friend of mine. Always seemed so cheerful, but that blog had none of it. I guess people often put up a brave front but inside, they're just hurt and shattered. If not for that blog, how am I to know?

I suppose only God knows, and hence the only One who can help. It is comforting to know God does help through us friends.

A Motivator Came...

To school to well, motivate the students. It was a very good presentation about inspiring ourselves to keep moving forward and never giving up. What felt a bit weird though was the fact that God was never mentioned, even when Calvin, the motivator, said who was the one we listen to the most. But well, I guess that's true among many of us, even Christians are guilty of it.

But what made the presentation contradict itself was when he showed a clip of Nick Vujicic.


Nick here has Tetra-amelia syndrome, a disability which results in losing your limbs. What Calvin wanted to bring out was that Nick of all people, could be the first to give up but chose instead to fight on, to listen to his voice, and to pursue greatness. He stood on his own two feet so to say, and stood tall. So we with limbs, should follow suit.

But is that how it really went?

Calvin probably didn't know the part where Nick contemplated suicide because of his condition. He felt hopeless and couldn't find meaning in his life. But what really changed him wasn't the voice inside him, but the voice of God.

It was in his hopelessness that he found God.

In his struggles.

In his inability.

In all these he found comfort and strength in God. God became and is his limbs till this day.

Many people in the world today are always telling us to push through things by ourselves.

To conquer the world.

To win.

But what about the helpless? Does it become a 'the strong survive, the weak die' situation?

It took Nick's helplessness to realize he needed God in his life.

To realize strength comes not from himself, but from God.

To realize life is hopeless without Him.

If it takes a sense of hopelessness and helplessness for people to come to God, then I hope they do, and then find hope and help altogether.

Who did Nick listen to?

He listened to God the most.

His video can be found here.

I Was Like...

'Woah, you're that fat already?'

No, I'm not saying any girl is fat or anything, but Ronaldo!

And no, not Cristiano Ronaldo.

If he's fat, we're all doomed.

I'm talking about the Brazilian Ronaldo. Yeah, he was awesome and stuff. Won 2 World Cups and holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup with 15 goals! He was fit at that time and had speed and strength!

Glory days!

Yeah, but look at him now. T.T

I DON'T WANNA BE LIKE THAT!

The Constant Variable

Life changes a lot as you grow older. New responsibilities come in and are often heavier than the previous ones, new worries, new headaches, and then pimples and wrinkles.

When I was a toddler, all I worried about was getting a new toy and milk. Ken seems to be at this stage still, hmmm.

When I was 7, I worried about getting up early on Saturdays to watch Dragon Ball Z at 8 a.m. Still a mystery why TV2 had to put it so early.

When I was 13, I didn't have my first love. Instead, I worried about Manchester United winning the Premier League and God.

When I was 17, I worried about how useful I am in God's work. Oh ya, there was SPM too... Nah, not as much.

When I was 19, WRONG! I am 19! I worry about my future, Manchester United winning the Champions' League (Which they loss and caused a waterfall of tears), and pleasing God in every way.

Petty stuff like watching a cartoon show or little toys matter little now. It's just like how we put away clothes that don't fit us anymore and wear clothes that fit.

Considering the fact that Manchester United is a mature thing, it's safe to say I matured when I was 13. Whee!

Anyway, my point is that things just get bigger and bigger from here on out. Looking at my elder sisters, the things they go through can get quite stressful as compared to my 'big worries'(MU is an exclusion). But the one thing I'm glad is The Constant Variable, God.

Sure, my perception of how much He loves me might change sometimes, but the truth remains that God is constant all the time. In a world of uncertainty, it's nice to have a certainty which is true to hold on too. And for that, I'm thankful. I'll manage through uncertainties.

"Shaun, What hair to cut?"

When my sister asked me this, I thought,

"Hmm, Commando hairstyle maybe? Or what about bald, or go wild with mohawk?"

And then I remembered, it's my sister.

And I sighed.

I don't know any female hairstyle la.

T.T

"You Know About My Parents Right?"

I hesitated to answer. I kind of gathered that somewhere something was wrong because my friend always spoke about her mom only.

Err... Not really. I'm kinda shy in asking you about this actually.

Oh, my parents were living separately for quite some time. Then they divorced.

How long did they live separately again?

11 years. (Which makes her 8 at that time)

And when did your parents divorce again?

Last year.

That for me, was hard to swallow. And I'm not even the one having to bear it. The divorce happened as recent as last year, and yet she showed no signs of it.

I'm sorry about what happened.

It's alright, I've learned to live through it.

Divorce isn't a thing that should happen. Yeah, you may have done well living through the pain, but the whole point is that nobody should be put through that pain in the first place.

Love of a father.

Care of a father.

Support.

These are things everyone is entitled to experience. And yet, my friend lacks it.

Living through it is brave, but if only there weren't such a thing as divorce, then she wouldn't have to live through it but to enjoy it.

Is it really that hard to stay together until "death do us part"?

My teacher said,

"Only when your wife breathes her last in your arms, can you truly say, 'This is my wife'."

Shouldn't we then, live like today would be our loved one's last and treasure them dearly instead of signing some documents?