A Little Note to You

Hey Joel,

I'm pretty happy for you today. You stood up and spoke what is necessary. You sent out the letters that need to be sent, and you are starting to think the way you ought to. Don't be afraid, don't be shy - you are no more a boy, you are a young man. 

Do the right thing, respect your elders, but do not be afraid to speak the truth. You can be mocked, you can be ridiculed - but speak the truth. You have been in situations where you had to made your stand where there were none called Christians, but today, you will bear witness to Christians. If you have to speak out, speak it out.

Be a man, do the right thing - even if it costs you everything.

I know you long for someone to do this with - but though none go with you, still you must move on. Believe me, God will not leave you alone. Truth matters Joel, without truth - there is nothing. Nothing. You will do well if you hold on to the truth.

Yourself,

Joel

P.S. Don't get puffed up. 

The Australian Experience

Its been 9 months already since I went to UNSW to study. When I entered it, I thought I would go in - join some clubs that would teach me campaigning skills, debating skills, shape my political mindset, and of course get my degree done with flying colours. Perhaps know people all over the world who would shape my mindset positively on whatever areas in life.

Pretty much what your parents expect of you. 

Sometimes they say it out, sometimes they don't.

Well, it turned out that I had to slog to just get revision done, and besides church - have no more time for whatever clubs. But I did get everything I wanted, and more.

I learnt that it is possible for a culture of "esteeming people of all professions equally" to exist. The construction workers dress well. The gardener and the garbage man greets you with a smile. It was weird initially for me, but I slowly caught up and learnt to say hello to strangers - with a smile... to hear them reply back "G'day !"

Now back in Malaysia, I remember to greet the waiters, smile at the janitor, and say thank you to shopkeepers.

Meeting the lecturers, I have learnt that it is possible to be patient enough to repeat what you just said more than 3 times and not blow up. They are happy to hear my questions, and they rejoice when I make progress. 

Now I have learnt to be a little more resistant to the kind of irritation that comes by being bombarded with questions - and be a little more patient. I also learnt not to rejoice at a genius only, but to rejoice when an ordinary person makes progress.

I learnt from the pastors to be diligent in studying the Bible - people might need guidance and ask questions at unexpected times. They are able to piece together different parts of the Bible and put it in an understandable way that is helpful to the hearers... instead of just giving a moral lessons based on some verses they pick out.

Now I learnt that a better understanding of the Bible also means a better understanding of ourselves, the trials that we go through, how to relate to others, and to make sense of this world we live in - economically, politically, and whatever nots.

I also met humble people - who is slowly influencing me to stoop a little lower. Humble people who makes my ego and pride look like pure stupidity... in a loving way.

Besides that, a little time off from people I am close to has made me realize what strings are controlling my life. There are some strings that need strengthening, some need to be cut off.

Of course, I also learnt to cook, do laundry, clean up, and be disciplined. 

When I sit down and think, and look around... 

Countless friends have strayed away from Jesus. 

8 out of 10? Maybe more.

But by some seemingly natural arrangement, I end up being surrounded by people whose zeal for God is only surpassed by their humility to share it with me. I learnt that in life, somethings just can't be repaid. We are just filled with gratefulness and know that it is only right that we pass it on. I also learnt that a lot of things can die off when we are contented with just talking.

God is good. How I wish that everybody can know this good God. 

When you don't know how long you will live, you know that it is never too early to do the important things in life that need to be done in life. I hope that I will be a preacher next time, and watch the effect of Jesus' death and resurrection continuing to change the world.

Hello Mc. University

I hope I don't get kicked out of university for this. 

Who would guess that I could dig out dirty things like CORRUPTION in university over lunch? Well, not that it was too hard. In fact, I didn't have to dig it, my friend just plainly told me about the corruption plainly... and enthusiastically.

To give some idea to what I might be talking about, lets talk about getting a professorship - like getting Prof. Joel Lee...

It takes quite a bit to go from getting a PhD to getting a Professorship. Just as there is a corporate ladder from slave to CEO, 

1. There is a ladder in the university.

Get a PhD

Lecturer

Senior Lecturer

Associate Professor

Professor

Yes, the bottom of the ladder is a PhD.

2. A professor cannot be fired from their position 

To grant a person professorship is to acknowledge that they have made significant contribution over the years to the field that they are in. A committee in the university decides whether they should (or not) award professorship to lecturers.

3. The criteria to pick lecturers promotion includes things like :

a) Ability to teach

b) Research capability

c) Contribution to the field

d) And other related things

Now that we are familiar with the basics:

Of course, the world would be a better place if everything goes accordingly. But we know we live in a pretty messed up world - there are professors who do not deserve their title, and there are those who slog for nothing.

I know of a lecturer who cannot teach, and it is famed among the PhD students that he couldn't care less about the work that the PhD students under his supervision does. 

His name is... 

Professor ...

Somebody

I wouldn't reveal his name of course! You want me to get kicked out of University? 

Oh wait, shit. I'm not supposed to hint you which... 

Well, one of the reasons he is still around is that he is a professor and he can't be fired. 

But the main reason is probably because he has PhD students under him that keep churning out research papers for him. Let me do some explanation:

Every year, Universities are allocated a certain amount of money by the government for research purposes. This money is called a research grant.

The amount of research grants that a university gets is directly proportional to the amount of research they can do - which is the amount of research publications that they can have. One of the main factors that determine University rankings is the research.

When you are a Professor and PhD students work under your supervision , you get to share their research paper - as though you jointly researched the issue with him. Some professors DO  work together in the research, others simply just don't. This means, as long as your student churns out papers, the University will recognize YOUR contribution to help them get grants and improve their rankings.

Do I have to mention that the criteria to promote a lecturer now is a load of trash? Well, not totally trash. But it is just terribly different from what it ought to be like.

Anyway, back to Professor Somebody. 

He doesn't even KNOW what is the title that his PhD student is producing - it is not like he could care any more about it. 

He gets his salary from the University anyway since he can't be fired. 

The university loves him because he brings in the money. 

He can't teach (he could be a genius for all I care) - but it is okay since he has some pretty genius PhD students.

Well, I'm mentioning one of the worse ones. There are good lecturers that I have. 

He started teaching in University in his 20's. Almost 30 now, and the students in the School of Electrical Engineering knows his capability. 

Graduated from Physics, but he is as competent (if not more competent) if compared to other engineering lecturers. Math Olympiad. He does good programming, physics, statistics, calculus, and of course engineering. He sets one of the toughest exam papers, his assignments are killers. But this is one thing I really appreciate about him...

He gives his time to his students. He is ALWAYS open for consultation. He explains things carefully and patiently when I don't understand. The last time I wanted to ask him about something, he was on his way out of his office, so we talked about my academics stuff as we took a walk around university. He bought me coffee as we sat down to talk.

Where do you get this kind of lecturers? 

If anybody should be a professor, he should be a professor 

Well, he is not. He is loaded with work and he has very little time to do the research that he wants to. I know geniuses having weird hobbies like research - but he doesn't get to enjoy the hobby he deserves.

I believe, part of the fault is because our businessman-Chancellor's board is allocating extra money to the business school instead of the engineering school. 

Well, it is easier to churn money out of the business school. They don't need any equipment, and everything is profit! Unlike the field I am in, you need equipment and people who knows how to use the equipment. You may be a genius, but you still need to technical knowledge to make a machine work.

Its just about the money isn't it? 

The happiness is just a trick! 

The happy meal is

$5.95

(5.95 x 2.4 > RM14)

not so happy

Last semester, I had a Cambridge PhD teaching me. Let me tell you, his teaching is hopeless. Any lecturer is better than him. He speaks monotonously to himself during class and sets low grade exam papers which are just a copy and paste of past year exam questions. 

Oh wait, maybe it was the Professor Somebody who set the papers since they both teach the same subject!

What kind of Electrical Engineering students do they let into top universities? 

Its stupid.

Rowan Atkinson studied Electrical Engineering in Newcastle, continued his MSc in Oxford. Yes, Bean is an Oxford grad.

Just when you thought getting a research paper published couldn't be worse - Many times, research publications are accepted because the editor of the journal gets a part of it. Or rather, they can be rejected because the editor was not given an intellectual property bribe.

The editor of a research journal (who resides in Denmark) just somehow appears along with the other 3 researchers in a Korean University (who actually did the real work). Of course, the editor gets the fame and the benefits that come with it. If the Korean researchers didn't "bribe" the editor, perhaps their paper wouldn't even be reviewed (to be considered for acceptance). It works both ways.

Call me naive, but I did expect less corruption in the academic field. I suppose that I have matured a little bit more in my expectations of the institutions in this world. 

The best of them are terribly flawed.

The reason I typed this out - is not so much about me being shocked that such a thing could actually happen. Rather, I am typing this out... never expecting corruption to be so common. Well, I know we Malaysians constantly complain that Malaysian ministers are corrupted. We complain that the police force is corrupted. But it works both ways. Supply and demand.

Corruption being so common, I wouldn't be surprised that we might be involved in cases like these one day - if we have not already bribed the policeman the last time we were caught for speeding. 

Or perhaps, when we bought pirated VCD... I mean DVD. Technically, we have already taken part with the people who robbed, stolen, bribed and did whatever necessary to get DVDs for 5 dollars each. We just happened to be at the other end of the process. To deny it is to somewhat say the thief didn't rob, the robber didn't lie, the liar didn't bribe - and the buyer didn't know.

As much as I write this, in my heart despising some of the people who has tarnished the once good name of the world of academia - I write this with some knowledge that I have done similar things... just that it was of a slightly smaller scale and nobody cared to talk about it anyway. If I could only see wickedness as it is, without being biased for the scale of wickedness - I would despise myself.

However, the rampant corruption has also helped me to appreciate people who worked against the flow and go unappreciated. Thank you Mr. Unappreciated Lecturer for your dedication.

Its a shame that it would be safer for me that I cannot tell the whole Cyberworld how wonderful a lecturer you are. to save my ass.

Thats just how things go - in the midst of me pointing fingers at others, I realize that I am not spared from the same charges. 

Jesus - who sits on the Judgement Throne sees everything.

Worries and Spending Money

After sleepless nights worrying about sitting for the exam itself, I no longer worry about them anymore - since they are over. Just before I shout Yippee!!! too fast - one of the things that wake me up (before the exams were over) is a small little voice at the back of my head...

"Joel, do you think they will moderate the marks for your Mathematics and Control Systems paper?"

"Do you think if you did well for your Electronics paper, the marks will compensate for those you loss in the earlier papers?"

Now that exams are over, I can't shout Yippee!!! either, because now another subject wakes me up...

"Joel, do you think your Mobile and Satellite Communications paper will make up for the marks you lost?" - "You really did make tons of careless mistakes!"

This little voices that wakes me up drives me crazy. Yet, deep within my heart, I didn't want such things to make me go crazy. It feels as though I am placing too much emphasis on my studies - so much so that I am depraving myself of setting my priorities right in life. This is no good, I start taking things for granted - and forget to be happy about the things I ought to be very thankful for.

After reading the Bible, I learn that my goal in life is not to live a life that is "successful" as the world measures it. Neither should I continue thinking of God as one who supports my fanciful fantasies of fame, success, wealth, and whatever-nots. I remember sending my mother an sms right before my final exam. She replied very quickly saying things like -

"I claim the promises of God for you! That Jesus will help you through every battle! You will conquer them in Jesus name!"

Things along those lines. The "battles in life" that she was mentioning was an exam paper...

I realize that it must be difficult for her to come to terms with the Bible - that "battles in life" isn't about academic or career success. I find it difficult too. It revealed itself when I started neglecting God as the exams pile up. I pray so much more at the examination table than my whole week outside the exam hall summed up.

What has my life become? What has my aim in life become? What has my knowing of God become? Is "battles in life" reduced to simply an endless pursuit of my fancies? What then is the difference between me as a Christian and a non-Christian?

I know the answers as to what I ought to do. And making a U-turn in my heart, to realize my faults, to own it up, and to commit myself to a clear and rational mind that desires God above everything I hold dear to (my studies, my dream-future-wife, my reputation, my petty selfish fears)...

That journey that I am somewhat familiar with, is one of the longest journeys I have ever taken in my life. This is one battle in my life. One I have to fight. Talk about fighting for someone you love - I'm far from being as noble as that, I am fighting for my very own humanity.

Its not even fighting, its really owning up - and admit that I have been living careless, and to turn around. Some... Many people think I overreact/overrespond, but if we look at our lives carefully, we will always notice that the many pitfalls we get ourselves into always started with the first wrong step. Too few things in life happen suddenly. Yet somehow, when God opens our eyes to see our faults, we get surprised. I am an idiot for that, but thank God for helping me realise that.

So often, I see the mistakes that I make in others. So often, I want to warn them and correct them - desiring that they would not fall into the things I fall into... but I know my life fails to be a good testimony. But that is also good, then they know I am not trying to teach them as a teacher, but warning them as a brother.

Talking about brothers - I remember some pretty wise saying from my older brother - Noel Lee Chee Leong

He said
"You must learn how to spend money more than how to
earn money"

I asked
"Why?"

He replied
"If you can't find a good reason to spend your money, why would you want to earn any money?"

My brother loves me, and protects me - I thank God for him. More than that, I hope my brother will come to know Jesus.

I'm heading back to Malaysia in about a week. There are so many things I learnt here in FOCUS. I doubt 3 months in Malaysia would be anywhere near sufficient to share the many experiences trying to live a Christian life I had with my friends and family. So much to do, so little time.

To make up for that, I bought books. Books that I would speak of as "I readeth, therefore I am". They are books with the very ideas that make me who I am. Well written by fellow Christians, explaining the Bible clearly and accurately.

I bought more than 30 books.
Its crazy.
It costs crazy too.
But it is worth it.

There are those for my dad, some for my mom.
Some for my pastors, some for my friends in church.
A little more for my special friend not in church.

Being as self centered as I am, I'm pretty glad that God gives me some good desires.

What more can I desire for my dad to come to know Jesus?
I desire the same thing for my mother, my sister, and my brother.

I truly desire my pastor to preach the Bible well - so that many more may come to know the Wonderful Saviour of the world - Jesus my God and King. I desire for my Christian friends to know Jesus more, to give their whole lives to Jesus, and to run this race on earth well.

I desire that my friends who are not with Jesus, to find out about this Jesus that died for their sins, my sins and the sins of the world.

Its crazy for me speak in this way and to say out what the kind of "Christian" desires. I know my life doesn't match it. I would despise myself if I saw myself in some other body. But because I am myself, I don't quite despise myself that much. The longer I live, the more my eyes grieve as I see myself in my short comings.

When I thought I was less materialistic, when I thought I was more patient and loving - how much further can I be from the truth! It is despairing.

The good thing is that I know I don't have to be fatalistic about this - I have Jesus. The whole idea that Jesus will continue to do His work in my heart so that I will become more and more like him - its so simple, its almost something that my pride cannot take. But I better do.

I'm so glad that I can spend money buying Christian books, I'm even more glad that I can practice Christianity... Jesus-ianity... Yeah...

There is this little voice that crosses my head every now and then...

I may board the aeroplane, but God knows if it will crash,or there will be some terrorist, or whatever - and I may not land where I want to. Maybe I will land where I want to, but maybe in more than one piece. If that happens, I have wasted such a big chucnk of my life thinking of things I ought not to be thinking about, and wasting time as I ought not to be wasting - the books that I bought, I will never be able to read them. My family will cry... Maybe some friends.I.Hope.Maybe.Maybe not.

If there is any better time to take the U-turn, it must have been yesterday.

Toilet Horror

Being a good and exam-stressed-out-student



I realize sometimes,



taking notes into the toilet to study single mindedly and being oblivious to the surroundings might not be the best thing to do ...

No, I didn't lay an egg...

It was a million times worse...

Horror of horrors...

I have an exam tomorrow afternoon

Can I Grow Up To Be Obama?

There were times when I would sit down and start wondering about different things in life, and I think to myself... what a wonderful world ♫

"Wouldn't it be great if Jesus was just sitting beside me, and I can ask him a million questions!"

Well, obiously, I can't actually do that. Certain things are just not in the Bible, like...

I would be praying,

"Dear God, I wonder who will I marry?"

(silence)

(more silence)

(even more silence)

zzzZzzzZZ

So, the next best thing you have is your pastor. When you have dinner with church mates along with your pastor, you start asking difficult questions. If God doesn't tell you, and if you can't find it in your Bible, and if your pastor doesn't know - it is probably some mysterious thing you shouldn't know.

LIKE WHO YOU WILL MARRY A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD

WHY IS YOUR LECTURER SO BORING

WHY DO WE HAVE 2 EYES AND NOT 3 EYES

WHY CAN'T MEN GET PREGNANT

WHO WILL WIN TOMORROW NIGHT'S SOCCER MATCH

Well, only the first question. The others were just cover up questions. Its funny, when I hear a peer asking for advice from Josh.

Peer:

"Josh, what do you do - I mean, I have a friend, and he wants to ask a girl out but he doesn't know what to do, if you were him, what would you do?"

Josh:

"You mean you want to ask a girl out..."

But yeah, I asked Josh about American politics.

I shared to Josh that the tone Obama used before and after his victory was very different. So did Mccain and his defeat.

Before Obama won, we said so many "positive" things.

Together, we will bring change to Washington.

Open up possibilities.

Inspire the crowd.

Before Mccain lost, he said things like

"We will definitely win this race"

"We won't let a Socialist run this country"

After Obama won, it went like

"It (the change) might not be seen in a year, not even a term"

although things like

"Yes, we can!"

were still around.

Joel:

"Those speeches, I know he wants to inspire the crowd. But speaking in such a way as though they can literally do ANYTHING just isn't true. I mean, yes, ALL things are possible, IF you vote me, IF the cabinet is very cooperative, IF no other regular disasters strike America, IF this and IF that - there are a million conditions"

" Just like Mccain talking about winning - I know they (Obama and Mccain) wants to win and they want to persuade the crowd to vote for them. But how can they possibly both win and speak in such a way? It feels like lying - all the promises before and after the election"

"It seems as though, if they didn't said such things which were very much like those 'self-fulfilling prophecies' (you pronounce a wish, and you do your best to keep to it, and if you succeed, then you have fulfilled your own prophecy... part of the trick is to pronounce the wish in such a way as if it must happen, IT MUST HAPPEN! and hope that you will somehow be inspired to persevere - it is just another word for self-motivation I think) - IF they didn't say it, forget about being President, they might not even get to become a Senator. With that in mind then, how can it be possible that a Christian who wants to be true to his conscience and to God - speak truthfully to the crowd?"

" I know that in the speaker's mind - he knows the million "IFs". But in his speech, he mentions almost none of the little footnotes! I know the people who listens to Obama are not entirely stupid, and they - to some extent - know some of the footnotes. But the whole thing about not mentioning the little warning signs just feels very deceitful"

"To take it to a more personal level. If you are the coach of a soccer team - you gotta tell them ' WE WILL WIN THIS MATCH GUYS! YOU CAN DO IT!' its the kind of pep talks you just gotta say

(some of the words were actually by Josh, I just wrote them as everything said by me as it is hard to type out a full 10 minutes conversation)

Well, that wasn't exactly the conversation. But that was the idea. Josh agreed on the fact that it also happens when you want to encourage your son - "Go Jordan, you can do it!". He pondered over the fact if saying such things that Obama spoke : can it be considered an outright lie? or not?

This scene reminds me very much of Batman - when Two-Face held the wife and the kids of Mr. Inspector-Guy in ransom.

Two Face said something like:

"Tell your kids everything is going to be fine. LIE! LIE AND TELL THEM EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE!"

The fact is this. Nothing is fine. Batman could have arrived 1 second late. Well, of course, in movies, he can't. But in real life, sometimes somebody dies because the ambulance arrived a little to late. A bank is robbed and robbers get away because the police is too late.

In a real world, certain things just can't be promised for sure.

Josh said that he will think through it. I look forward to his answer.

US Elections and Exams Must be Clouding My Mind

I went shopping.I saw a section for stationery.

And guess what they sold?




UNSW Past Year Exam Papers that comes with SOLUTIONS!
I saw the '04, '05, and '06 papers! ( In the real world, we students don't get access to ALL of the past year papers )

How AMAZING. Now I can be more prepared for my final examinations.

Then I entered into a high school, SMKSJ. Many of the students joined the LEO club.

LEO club was actually not the normal LEO club that we know, but it was actually a REPUBLICAN Political party.

Lee Kuan Yew was actually from the LEO Club in that school and the Principal of the school was a member of the Parliament. Many of the students that attended the school are actually students with political ambitions - probably to take over the country, studying was just a cover up.

Then... I woke up.

ANYWAY, the main point of this post is a pretty good article in Facebook from my High School friend

Cheng Leong

It is about the US Elections

Here goes:

For many including myself, Barack Hussein Obama's victory in his campaign for the 44th US Presidency represents the simple triumph of rational and liberal thought over racial bigotry. It is a rare gust of fresh air onto the rotten stage of politics, especially within our local arena where the real criterion of leadership has become truly questionable.

Indeed, the long-range effects of Obama's worldshakers have been felt right here at home. Already many of my fellow acquaintances are wondering aloud if Malaysia would ever have a non-Bumiputra at its helm.

But let us not get too ahead of ourselves. Here, we must take care to not overstate the significance of Mr.Obama's African heritage. It is equally important to remember that we are not celebrating the defeat of a previously dominant race, nor the triumph of any particular minority (though the afro-americans could hardly be called a minority).

Instead, what is worth applauding here is a nation that has progressed enough in its ideals of equal opportunity that it can appoint a man that it thinks has the necessary qualities to become its leader, DESPITE the color of his skin.

White Obama Black McCain. Credit to Tor Myhren.

The poster beseeches us to let the issues be the issues. It is a pretty well-made point: look underneath the surface and understand what each candidate (or party in our case) is actually advocating. Let us also realise that race is ultimately just a human concept, and it can be readily cast aside if only we allow ourselves to look beyond it.

It is my hope that one day, our nation would grow up enough to be able to do the same. To those who have been hoping for a Chinese or Indian PM, let race not be an issue here. If a man is best positioned to govern our country, then by all means put him there, whatever the color of his skin. In fact, I believe the best thing to happen to Malaysia right now would arrive in the form of a Bumiputra reformist, simply because it would be far easier for him to restore the faith and rebuild trust amongst the races.

Do recall that in late 19th century, it took a white man, Abraham Lincoln, and one of the bloodiest wars in American history in order to end Black Slavery. The US did not elect a non-white president on a whim. The path leading to this long awaited election was paved by great revolutionaries and ordinary people alike, who believed in fighting for what they felt in their hearts was right. It was not until today, more than 200 years since its formation, that the United States finally proved once and for all that it was capable of overcoming any racial barrier, even one as firmly lodged as the door to the Oval Office.

Indeed, Malaysia is hungry for the emergence of one such revolution, though admittedly it will be a great many years before she will become ready to let a non-Bumiputra represent her interests. But I truly believe that day will come.

Please CLICK HERE for comments on the post (link to Facebook Note)

OBAMA - SYMBOL OF HOPE !

Now that I know all things are possible...

I have hopes for Malaysia

We need CHANGE!

We need HOPE!

I BELIEVE IN YOU MALAYSIANS!

YOU CAN VOTE ME!

YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!

YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!
YES WE CAN!

MEET YOUR

NEW PRIME MINISTER

AND

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

God Is On My Side?

Who is it? Who is going to win the elections?

Both believes God is on their side

Months and months of campaigning, both of them have picked up bits of Scriptures from the Bible to put in their speeches, both have quoted famous men and women, both have hurled insults that were politically correct and incorrect.

Somehow, when somebody wants to win - God seems obliged to help. Take it from Sarah Palin - the hopeful Republican VP.

"Tomorrow, I hope, I pray, I believe that I'll be able to wake up as vice president-elect and be able to get to work"


At least according to Osama and Friends, Allah seems to be on their side too. Of course, there are other Muslims who are not in the Osama and Friends group, who claim that Allah is not on their side.

America is catching up.

Suddenly, the American generation is somehow the David Generation, somehow it is the Elijah Generation, somehow Barrack Obama has likened himself to Joshua - the successor of Moses. And somehow, the Americans have become the Israelistes.

Most of us, if not all of us want to be someone great, or at least part of something really great.

Like REALLY GREAT.


The idea that God would also want us to be someone great is pretty good too.



"If somehow God endorses my desire for greatness, then I really going to make it"



Not only politicians make us think that way, motivational speakers make us think that way - as though that were not enough: We have pastors and self-proclaimed prophets to make us think that way.


Let me share with you an experience of mine:

About 5 years ago, I was sponsored to attend one of the seminars founded by Robert T. Kiyosaki & Friends. (please pardon me of my "and Friends" thing, when I don't quite remember all the names involved, I just group them together that way).

If some of you don't know who Robert T. Kiyosaki is, you might know his book entitled "Rich Dad Poor Dad". Now this course is much more than being just business in nature, as it seeks to transform your mindset into one that accepts much more possibilities so that you would take hold of more oppurtunities in life, and create the change that you want in life.

Of course, they also teach you necessary skills to make and maintain those changes, while providing lifetime support.

It is here that I met this woman called Shantelle Gold. One of the New Age gurus. Well, the title is actually something like "Clairvoyant and Spiritual Counsellor".

She invited me to have a "session" with her, where she can read my "aura". Of course, I felt very curious. Its not the ordinary RM20 fortune teller that sits around the LRT with a pack of poker cards and a little buddha statue.

Apparently, I have this Bright White aura around me which was not common. She didn't tell me much, and she simply said things like I have great potential, a great leader (or something like that, at least that is what I would like to remember). Come on, I was only 16 years old.

Well, thats a little short story of liking to be someone great. Imagine Bill Gates coming up to you and say:


"Young man, I see great potential in you to be a billionaire richer than I!"


I'd be walking on cloud 9. If the idea of Bill Gates being on my side makes me fly, what makes you think that the idea of GOD being on my side would be any lesser?



The point is this. When we have little hopes that we hope so much for - and somebody comes along and tell us something along the lines we want to hear, everything just works.

They are GOD-SENT!
They are GOD's prophets sent to affirm your quest for greatness!

When you wish for the iPhone 3G or the new Macbook for your Christmas present, and you pray for it, and WALLA! Your parents buy you that very thing for Christmas!

God is so GOOD! HOORAY!







Now, whoever wins the presidential race this time. Half of America will say that he is God-sent. Really?


Now, I hope that you are already convinced that the whole idea of God-sent according to the definition that changes with our fancies is pretty stupid.

The Bible does teach the idea about people being God-sent -The Bible does teach that God has created everybody and placed them in their respective places. God made me Malaysian, male, destined me to be a Christian and study in UNSW and blog on my laptop today.

It couldn't be any other way simply because this is history.

The Bible also teaches that it is God who commands history. History is made in such a way that God is still its Commander when Hitler murdered 6 million Jews, when the bomb fell on Japan, when the woman was raped in the alley.

When Jesus-God Himself was tortured and hung on the cross until He died. That is also history, and God was and is still the Commander.

I do not know the exact reason for these tragic incidents, including the state that America is in now - but I do know that we live in a sinful world, and we are terribly responsible for all the wickedness and destruction there is in the world.

If Allah wasn't FOR Osama,
Osama would probably have made up a new god that would be FOR Osama.

If America learnt that God demands of them something that is inconvenient,
they will look for a new god.

So many people wants Obama to take over the office. He seems to be able to promise so much, and he also seems to be able to deliver it. Pretty much like the way many Malaysians want to see UMNO dethroned. Maybe not.

But this is what the Bible teaches. There is no hope in human governments. Very much like the way I was born Malaysian, the politicians are God-sent by default. They are not necessarily God-sent to make our lives rosier than it is or to fulfill our fanciful wishes. There is nothing wrong to demand a fairer system, one that has more accountability.


I am not being anti-hope, neither am I anti-dreams.
It is more like anti-selfish thinking.

The Bible defines security - not as in political security, or insurance security.
It is the security that you know when God forgives you as you repent of your sins and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus.

The Bible defines riches - not as in Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or Wall Street riches.
Being rich in good deeds, godliness, these are riches. When God grants us forgiveness because of Jesus, that is riches.

The Bible defines greatness - not as in President of the USA, nor the CEO of a Forbes 500, nor the Commander of the Air Force.
It is to serve others in love and humility, following the footsteps of Jesus - to suffer for righteousness sake, to preach the good news so that people may get to heaven.

We should desire such security, such richness, and such greatness. Now, I don't expect many people to have taste for such noble things. For that matter, I don't exactly get thrilled over such noble ideas.

The good part about this is: The fact that we don't always delight in what is really good (or we only delight in what is good when it is convenient), having no pure desires is a good indication that we are wicked to the core. Not only we do wicked things, we think wicked thoughts.

Dear Human-Inspiration,

I am sorry.

I cannot, in good conscience dream the same dreams that you love, neither can I desire to continue desiring the things you continually consider desirable. Even the
Utopian dreams that you have, I am sorry to tell you I cannot sympathize with you that there will be another Saviour in this world. There is one Saviour Jesus Christ, who has declared that He will make a New World.

God's plans is such that people would be disgusted our their sins and realize that
there is a limit to human potential.

Human wickedness is much greater than human potential. Do not underestimate the forces of the dark side.

God's desire is that as they realize, they would resort to nothing else other than seeking undeserved mercy from God alone - whom they have sinned against... by not living their lives according to God who is the rightful King, and consequently hurting one another.

God's desire is that all the nations would recognize the Jesus' love and submit to His Lordship.

Until we realize that we are stubbornly believing in ourselves that the human race can be good one day (which we have failed since the beginning of human civilization), we live as God's enemies.

There is a New World, and the invitation to us is to leave the sinking ship - and board on to Jesus.

Your friend who longs for your enlightenment,
Joel

So:

Yes, God is on our side - If we are willing to give up our rebellion to go to His side.

No, God was never on our side at any point of time in history. It is inconceivable that God would ever take part in our wickedness.