Busy or Free?

We often complained about being underpaid and overworked, and we envy people who are seemingly quite free at work. Question is, is it better to be busy or free?

In a workplace consisting of employees, productivity is of utmost importance to a business. If a worker is not fully utilized, the business cannot thrive, and if a business cannot thrive, the business will sooner or later die. If everyone else is working hard and there are staff that are not, it is not a sight to admire, because it means the department or the section requires less staff than they currently have. This means essentially some staff are probably destined to be fired because they are not busy enough.

Being busy and overloaded with work often means the need for more staff, but if more staff is added and some become free, it is time for some to move on. I am saying this not without experience, as I have been invited to leave before. When I was employed to provide professional services some years ago, I was trained, certified, and after three months was still not assigned any field job. I knew therefore that business in the area I was trained in was not picking up in the region where I was to cover – South East Asia, and before long, I was given the golden handshake.

That handshake meant almost three years living without income, apart from bits and pieces received from freelance jobs. I have apparently left a 'secure' place to join the corporation because I could see potential in them, but after five months, I was retrenched. To the employer, it seems normal for them to hire and fire, even though all other areas of their business are doing well.

Is it therefore better to be busy or free? Consider now from a different light what it means by being overloaded with work, because it may just be the reason why we are still employed.

Releasing Lives

I heard on radio this morning about pet sellers facing difficulty in getting buyers for birds, ever since the news of bird flu. One of the sellers told the reporter that many people buy birds in bulk to 'release lives' (fàng sheng) as an act of setting free or liberating 'lives' in captivity. This sets my mind thinking.

In order for ‘lives’ to be set free, these ‘lives’ must first be in captivity, else there cannot be any experience of liberation or freedom. Does this mean in order to do the good in releasing lives a greater evil must first take place in capturing these lives? Does it mean in order to appreciate freedom, lives must first be in captivity?

Many religions today believe in releasing birds as an act of setting free the captives. A look at the American Express advertisement of Richard Gere sponsoring a girl to release multitude of birds, and the many Hong Kong television serial dramas will show this is true. This method of liberation is a good way to make the bird sellers rich. The sellers capture the birds and people pay money to release them, an act I consider enterprising.

Let us see these beliefs in human equivalence. Few of us will ever think of ourselves as totally liberated with complete freedom. We are in some sense captives in a prison, no matter how much ‘freedom’ we have, so long as we have governance. Governance is by no means totally bad, because it provides some form of order and liberation, without which we may become out of control. Liberation, in this sense, means we must first be in captivity, and only in captivity and deprivation, can we experience what it means to be free.

In the day Man chose to disobey God, Man has fallen and chosen captivity. Since Adam’s time, we are already in need to be set free, and this by no means is possible by the act of releasing birds from their cages. We were not created as captives, so we cannot say a greater evil is needed in order for us to experience freedom.

Freedom is not something we can purchase by doing good. We are essentially slaves to sin, and we need help to be set free. Freedom needs to be paid in blood, without which liberation from sin is impossible. Jesus, for this reason, has paid the price by shedding His blood on the cross for you and me, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 NAS)

If you have not found Christ and invite Him into your heart, let me invite you to do so now. Jesus can liberate you from the hold of sin and give meaning to your life on earth. No longer do we need to live lives without meaning or aim, for the love of God can encompass and overwhelm you to experience true freedom in the LORD.

Christmas Trees

It's Christmas season and a time for festivities! Enjoy it with me by reading 'A Christmas Story'! (",)

JoY of Traveling

Singaporeans are great vacation travelers.

Every time when there is a public holiday that falls before or after a weekend, or when there are two days of holiday, or when two public holidays fall between a workday,people disappear from the city-state to travel the world.

Take a look at the pictures here on a normal day and on a day during an eve of a public holiday, or a day between two public holidays and you will know what I mean!

For a preview of the places you can go on your vacation travel, visit the group blog Vacation Travel!

Happy holidays! (",)

The 'JoY' of Marriage

... from the author of Old Master Q (Lao Fu Zi)

Blogging Offence News Aftermath

Negative publicity about blogging recently has affected many people, including the non-bloggers.

News pertaining to the jailing and punishment of bloggers over offences of sedition and porn has raised considerable concerns in the public community, resulting in negative effects and pseudo-perceptions of blogging and online activities as a dangerous affair.

In a blog created by a student less than a month ago, the blogger wrote about how she has secretly started her blog and how her parents would 'kill' her if they found out. A few days after she wrote that blog, she has ceased blogging completely, leaving her last words as having been found out.

The news is not without having an effect on me too. Don't get me wrong, I am not against blogging. I have been blogging for sometime, and I have found it extremely helpful for sharing, educating, and getting to know new friends. What I am saying here is its effect on me resulting from the daily hounding of my better half who reminds me constantly of the dangers I may be in, getting upset over my 'addiction' to online activities. The truth is, I barely spend more than five per cent of my available time in Net activities, even though I do communicate in online communities and blogs. I suspect the real reason is probably because I have not been spending enough time with my companion, but considering the fact I am a worker and a student at the same time, I am in actuality already barely grasping with time.

The way news is presented can affect the way views are perceived. If presented negatively, its effects may result in unfair perception of blogging and online activities as totally bad. In reality, however, blogging is a useful way of communicating and sharing, and online activities have helped build a unique sense of closeness in a global world, which have never before been possible prior to the introduction of cyberspace.

Psalm 23 for the Information Age

The Lord is my programmer, I shall not crash.
He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart.
All of His commands are user friendly.
His directory guides me to the right choices for His name's sake.

Even though I scroll through the problems of life,
I will fear no bugs, For He is my back-up.
His password protects me.
He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies.
His help is only a keystroke away.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life
And my file will be merged with His and saved forever.

Amen.

NoTe:
This 'psalm' is NOT an attempt to modify God's Word! It's simpLy a hypothetical funny presentation of a 'creative' (or sick) mind. This information Age version of a 'psalm' is sent to me by someone I know, so I am sharing it with you, hopefully to cheer up your day! lol (",)

Fallen ...

After two days of consecutive 'marathon' working on study assignment through early mornings up till 3am and 4am, I am now fallen ... taken ill with dizzy spells.

However, even when a person is sick, work don't get done by itself, so I'll still be needing to slog, even with a 'swimming' head. I really need a break badly, but with about six written assignments to go and an exam third week of next month, all pleasants dreams are forgotten and I just have to continue to hang on!

Depressing ...

I am going into a depressive mode again, because I used to be a perfectionist and expect high standards in everything I do, but now I cannot.

With me at hand is an overdue study assignment, and another due Friday this week, and a third due next week. I am inefficient at work and lack the concentration because of tiredness, probably because of insufficient sleep, resulting in doing everything imperfect, and I just cannot accept that.

I cannot accept the fact I am accomplishing nothing in everything and anything I do, yet there are still so many things waiting for me to do. I am not doing anything right nor to my very best because I am ill-stricken at mind.

Sometimes I just want to give it all up, so to retain my sanity, but life is such, not everything is up to us to decide. With money invested in studies and the risk of losing my job, I simply cannot neglect and inefficiency is just not something to accept.

So, I am back to overdrive mode, hoping against hope for better days to come! If you find a mad Spidey swinging aimlessly these days ... just don't expect too much, because I am just trying to keep myself sane!

Confession of a Pusher

It irks me that I am a pusher and I have to do it daily. It is not as if I am enjoying it, but I don't really have a choice.

Let me tell you my story, how I became a pusher. I work it a place remote from public transport and I have to take a feeder bus to reach my destination. Each time the bus arrives, a huge crowd will gather to enter to a one door entrance up the bus. There is no queue whatsoever nor the cue to know the exact spot where the bus will stop, so everyone will have to move discerningly to position a good spot when the bus is seen arriving.

When the bus arrive and stop, all hell will break lose and everyone will be rushing to get up the bus relentlessly. Some passengers however will be stricken with fear of stampede and freeze without moving forward, and that is where I become a pusher.

I push people to move forward to reach the bus. Many people surrounding the bus will try all angles and means to make their way forward and up, inch by inch, step by step, but with some fear stricken people ahead, there is seldom chance to reach the goal. The only way, therefore, is to PUSH ahead using a finger or one's body, with a stare that can kill, to make sense to the person ahead, to quit being a stumbling block and move forward and up.

This is my story of how I became a pusher, and it is an unpleasant daily experience for me, because I have always pride myself in acting gracefully, but for this case, I do not have a choice, so if you are one of my victims, I hope you will understand.

Disney @ Causeway Point

Disney promotion at Causeway Point from Septemeber 2-18, 2005!

Hold On Together

Here's a very meaningful stanza from Diana Ross's song, If You Hold On Together ...

Don't lose your way
With each passing day
You've come so far
Don't throw it away
Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story
Faith, hope, glory
Hold to the truth in your heart

Travel Collectables

Flirting Online

Many people use words to flirt with others on the Net through chat, comment in blogs, and e-mail, with others whom they can only 'see' or imagine from photo images or avatars representing them.

In the 'real' world, people who flirt online may really be quite tamed, while people whom seemingly keep silent and use ordinary pictures to represent themselves on the Net may be reversed.

Words, verbally spoken or casually written, are often assumed harmless because people on the Net seldom meet each other and unless they do, nothing physical can happen. However, the truth about words is that it can send sensory signals to a person's innermost being, triggering roaring desires hidden within.

Whether we think of words as harmful or otherwise, it is prudent for us to be wise, to note the things we say, to keep ourselves from harm's way!

Juxtapose Personality: Decline of my Active Blog

My new school term has just begun and I will be facing the battle field for the next four months, so forgive my diminishing activity at this blog.

I am having withdrawal syndrome now, and like Spider-Man, I live triple lives, struggling with work, studies, and saving lives. Like him, I sleep late in the nights, frequently in the early morn, and like him, I have little time for anything else, living my life at the edge at times. Often, I'll to give up, but life is such, that with great powers* come great responsibilities!

*Acts 1:8 - but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses ...
So, to all my friends at moblog, please bear with me for a little while ... I will be back! Meanwhile, to those who want to know more about me, read About Me.

How can I live without You
How can I survive without Your love
You're the reason I am here
With all I have I give it all to You

Casino Cards

A week at Las Vegas and I have already become a collector!

Here is proof ... my collector's Casino cards!

Strastosphere n Caesars Palace

Hard Rock, Desert Inn, New York New York, MGM, n Mirage

The World Beyond

There is a world we look beyond
A place we long to go
The place we can only presently dream
Of peace and joy we yearn to have
Free of dust odours and pollution
Utopia of nature undefiled
An environment only of pleasant smell

In hearts within we long to possess
The place in God can we only have
A promised land of blessings beyond imagination
A truth we can only see to comprehend

To catch a glimpse of the world beyond, view the picture above.

A Season for Durians

It's durian season again!

Anyone for a bite? This picture is taken at the 'marketplace' of Chong Pang City, at the junction of Sembawang Road and Yishun Ave 5.

By the way ... I hate durians. It stinks, but some people just like it!

Voyeurism

Much knowledge and information have been gained from the Internet, but with each gain also comes the negative effects influencing and intruding the private lives of many.

One of the greatest negative effects that influence private lives is the easy access to pornographic materials on the web. According to the Webster Dictionary, voyeurism refers to "one obtaining sexual gratification from seeing sex organs and sexual acts; broadly: one who habitually seeks sexual stimulation by visual means".

In the information age today, getting materials of visual sexual stimulation is very easy. Pornography in cyberspace is accessible 24 hours a day and available everyday on the web. No amount of measures taken by watchdogs can completely wipe out access to these materials. Whether it is interactive games or web viewing, pornographic materials are here to stay. Voyeurists no longer need to go to underground places to seek such material; they can get it right at home on the computer.

What then have we gained from technology? Is it better knowledge or is it worst? What has become of the world today?

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:16 NAS)

Therefore, "do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15 NAS).

Toilet Education

Squatting on Toilet Seats

An educational piece of art dedicated to people in Singapore ...
With compliments from the ... National Environment Agency (NEA)

My Spidey Comic Collection

Places of Solitude

Places of quiet is where I'll go
When I need to calm my mind
To let my thoughts wander
To receive a word divine
To be inspired and know
What next steps to take
While breaking routines
And taking a break
To reflect the truth
In the silence of solitude
Retaining the moments
In life I treasure most

Nothing but FHM

Known for always being close and never closed, the store that is opened 24 hours a day sells many things, including different genres of magazines.

For this outlet up North, however, it appears to sell nothing else, but FHM - For Him Only magazines!

A Place of Serenity

A place I sometimes go
To walk and talk with God
To calm my soul and refresh my thoughts
Away from work and from routines
During lunchtime after a meal

toYs @ foYeR

Where Spidey Lives

This is where I live - in a puddle of muddy wateR!

Actually, the wateR is usually green, but this photo is taken after heavy showers, so you can understand why the color.

Do you know where this is? If you do, you can stalk me if you like, that is, if you are looking for Spider-Man (",)

Sea Shells in the Glass

Seashells, turtles, and a treasure chest ...

from Thailand, Africa, and Singapore ...

under the glass top of my dining table

Painting on the Rock

Spidey in London!

Glad my friend HostSara remembers me even when she is in London!

Picture from HostSara's Photo Album.

Uniquely Singapore

When you see a caucasian rush into a MRT train just to 'fight' for a seat, you'll know he has stayed in Singapore for too long! This is the way Singapore teaches culture to foreigners!

As I attempt to tie-up my umbrella before getting off the MRT train, I accidentally let the umbrella drip some drops of water on the lady sitting at my left. Her face expressed great annoyance, but she failed to realise that throughout the journey, I have expressed irritation, because she has placed her umbrella on her right, wetting the left side of my pants.

A small build man in his thirties crosses his leg and occupies three seats on the MRT train. To his left, he puts his personal things, and on the right, he lets his leg cross boundaries, as he reads a tabloid sized newspaper. The small man hangs his umbrella at the metal pole in front of him, where he allows the rain water to drip a the train floor. When I take the seat on his right, he remains oblivious and continues to put his leg across. When a big guy stares at him and the seat of the small guy's left, the small guy gives up the left seat and let his leg down. When the crowd starts building up in the cabin, many people has to avoid the umbrella hanging at the pole because of the wet floor, and that is despite the scarcity of space.

This is Singapore, the place where graciousness is built on putting ourselves first before others.

The Chronicles of Narnia

My Comment n Review
I have always been intrigued by the story of Narnia because it embodies an equivalent to the Christian truth.

In the story, Edmund is the sinner under the clutches of the White Witch. Aslan, the Lion, has to suffer and die on behalf of Edmund in order to save him from the control of the witch. When Aslan arose from the dead, the powers of the witch begin to weaken and Narnia is eventually restored.

The story begins with four children playing a game of hide and seek. Lucy, the youngest of the four, stumbles upon a magical wardrobe that allows her to enter into another world in the land of Narnia where she meets a faun. Edmund also enters that world, but refuse to admit it because he was enchanted and addicted to the 'turkish delight' offered by the White Witch. When Peter, the elder brother, and Susan, the elder sister, with Lucy and Edmund finally enters into the world of Narnia, Edmund chose to betray the others and seeks to report to the White Witch their whereabouts. The other three meets with Aslan and the war begins between good and evil, with Aslan dying for Edmund and the world to free them from the curse, and restoring Narnia with the appointment of Peter as High King, Edmund as king, Susan and Lucy as queens.

Revelation 5:5 (NAS)
and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."

My Collectables

Souvenirs n Collectables from all over the world ...

My Place of Work

Where I work these days ...

Bringing Up Parents

"To teach graciousness to children, begin with their parents."

An example of parents needing parenting:

A father goes to the supermarket and place his trolley in the middle of a passageway with child in the trolley. He then begins teaching his child by pointing to things in the supermart saying, "This is an apple, that is an orange, the other is ..."

This 'anecdote' happened at the NTUC FairPrice Sembawang supermarket in the morning today. The passageway totally blocked, and other shoppers were unable to get through. The stares from the people at the father did not help, because the parent was totally oblivious to surroundings, because his world is the child, not earth.

For help on being gracious, read 'Learning to be Graceful'. For a biblical perspective of building graciousness, read 'Gracefully Yours'.

Bringing Up Parents

"To teach graciousness to children, begin with their parents."

An example of parents needing parenting:

A father goes to the supermarket and place his trolley in the middle of a passageway with child in the trolley. He then begins teaching his child by pointing to things in the supermart saying, "This is an apple, that is an orange, the other is ..."

This 'anecdote' happened at the NTUC FairPrice Sembawang supermarket in the morning today. The passageway totally blocked, and other shoppers were unable to get through. The stares from the people at the father did not help, because the parent was totally oblivious to surroundings, because his world is the child, not earth.

For help on being gracious, read 'Learning to be Graceful'. For a biblical perspective of building graciousness, read 'Gracefully Yours'.