Racism & Foreign Language

Foreign Languages That I'd Like To Learn

Note: The above picture means "love"

Well, I've always been called a "banana" or "OCBC" (no, not the bank) since primary. Reason being that I did not know how to speak mandarin though being a Chinese dude. But since NS (National Service) I've been talking a lot in mandarin with friends and thus have learned to speak in mandarin. Still not as fluent nor with high vocab but it works. People understand me.

As for a foreign language that I'd really like to learn. Well, my answer is easy. I would like to learn Japanese. Why? Well, I've always found their language to be rather interesting. The way it sounds is just unique.

No, my main purpose is not to woo Japanese chicks (though that's a bonus =P). I've always liked the Japanese culture. Maybe it's influence from anime but it just hooked onto me when I first heard the language and seen the culture on documentaries and stuff.

Taking Japanese as electives in uni next year. ^.^





Racism




No matter where we go or whichever country we visit, racism exists. Some may deny it and say that their country has zero racism cases. No matter how peaceful the country may seem, behind the scenes, racism is at large.

There are many causes to racism. Some may be cause by influences of friends. Some by previous bad experiences in life. Some even by parents or family members. Sad really how racism actually exists when everywhere we look there are varieties.

In schools, workplace even in public, there is someone who dislikes another race other than their own. No matter what the statement may be, some people just can't get along.

It is human nature to feel dislike and hatred about something and most of the time, it's always caused by another human being. This is because we are all not perfect. Yet many refuse to accept that fact and keep justifying themselves trying to prove that they are the ones who are right and the opposite party is wrong.

Acceptance will only happen when we are able to look beyond the differences and see the similarities. Sometimes, there may not be any similarities at all but because we are looking beyond it, something will form, and it's called "bond".

To overcome racism, there has to be acceptance and to have acceptance, there has to be understanding and to have understanding, there has to be respect and to have respect, there has to be selflessness and to have.........

It just keeps going on. We need to reflect to see who we are before we judge anyone else.

A question that is really tough to answer....

Everyday, I pray for unity.

Questions

Questions


Here I was staring at my laptop thinking that I should really update my blog as my one week is up. I got a topic and started typing but lost it quarter way through. Decided to watch a movie and all the while I was thinking of what I should blog about.

And I thought, "Why not blog about what to blog?". It's unique and well, I can definitely blog about that.

So here I am. What to blog?

Some or maybe most people would blog about their daily lives. Goings on, activities, events and stuff. But for me, sad to say is that my life is not as interesting as some of these people. Sure, I'm a student. I should have many things going on in my life right now. Well, sorry to disappoint. I'm what you can declare as boring. I don't go out much and I spend most my time in my room watching movies and going online. Well, perhaps when I move out I'll be more inclined to go out maybe for a jog or some sports.

Education. Seriously, I'm not really that driven to write about education all the time. I mean yes, school's good and stuff but I'm more into life's teachings. And there is so much that life can teach you in a day. Sometimes, it would just run so smoothly and normally that you didn't really learn anything about life on that day. Yes, yes...I always say that you learn something everyday. True. And sometimes what we learn may be something private or something that we don't wanna talk about. Ok, fine...I'm making myself confused but I think you get what I mean.

Reviews. Movie reviews or music reviews. Well, that may be a good suggestion as I've been watching a lot of movies lately. The only problem is that I'm a firm believer of letting people believe what they wanna believe. So I don't like writing reviews as much. But I may take it up as it actually may be a fun thing to do. =P
Ok, so I'm contradicting myself here.

So, the reason why I started this concept for my blog is so that people will give me topics to talk about. And the topics may be anything on their minds. It was smooth flowing for the first few weeks. And also to no surprise that the questions were mostly about my personal life. But there have been a few topics that were fun to talk about.

Of course, I'm not blaming anyone here. Any topic at all is welcomed. Sadly now, it has slowed down. Probably due to the exam period.

Sometimes I just wonder how some people can blog every single day. In fact, most famous bloggers don't even blog that often.

Oh, not to mention the fact that my blog is not as interesting seeing as I don't travel as much or do stuff. I guess it's a sign for me to get out more. Sigh...my life is just sad no? Okay, maybe not sad but boring? Some of you will put it that way.

But for me, life is always great. Wanna know why? Because I'm alive. And even if nothing interesting is going on, I'm still happy. =)

Many In One

Why is it so important to have a blog? Are we that desperate for people to read about us?


Well, the question is not about the importance of it but more of why one would create a blog.

Blogging is not something that is compulsory in life. It does not mean that if we do not blog, we will be put to prison or be dumb or even become an antisocial. It is in fact...a choice.

A blog is not important unless it is for the purpose of work or studies or something that makes blogging compulsory. I have had assignments where I'm asked to blog. That is something that you can classify as important and it means marks and if I don't blog, then I shall fail. However, if you mean in the context of a personal blog, started at ones own will, it's a different story.

Some of the many reasons for blogging (that I know of);

- To keep as a journal
- To update friends on what's happening in life
- To release stress
- Just to write (as a hobby)
- To share experiences with the world
- To inspire others

So to answer the question, blogging is not important. And also, whether the blogger is desperate for someone to read their blogs is up to them. Each may have their own personal reasons.

Most importantly is we don't have to follow the flow and blog just because everyone else does. It's a free choice and the choice is yours alone. ( Exceptions; work, school, assignments etc.)





Broken


There is no Heaven on earth. Words may claim there is so. Actions may claim so. Feelings may claim so. Yet all these will fail us and we will come to realize that there is no Heaven on earth.

Some already have. Some have not. Yet all will come to feel it. All will come to know it. All will come to face it. All will come to see it. All will...

When the time comes, will you give in? Will you not stand back up? Will you lie still and not move? Or....will you stand back up? Will you continue to fight?

What will you do when everyone else around you has fallen? Will fall amongst them? Will you run? Will you fight and die honorably?

What would you do? How will you know? Who will you look to? When will your turn come? Where will it occur?

Pain. Many have come to know it personally. Some have known it so well to the point that they no longer want to feel it. Even so, will it cease completely? Instead, will it get worse? Maybe it'll hurt less the next time?

Whatever it is, pain is a part of life. Without it, life is just not life.

As the saying goes, "If it doesn't break us, it'll only make us stronger."

How true is that? Tell that to those who downed a whole bottle of sleeping pills. Tell that to those who hung themselves from the ceiling. Tell that to those who jumped from buildings head first.

Not everyone can live with it. One did go through it all more than we can ever imagine. Yet, in the end, He too died.

Human as we are, live is never easy. It will never be easy.

I pity those who hurt. But I pity more those who don't.




Lost


You answered when I asked.
You gave.
You guided when I was lost.
You showed.
You lifted me up when I was down.
You healed.
You came when I called.
You never left.

Thanks alone will not be enough.

So many things were done for me and yet I fail. Yet I fall. Yet I break. Yet I die.

Still, I stood up again. I walked again. I ran. I lived.

And I did not do it alone.

I thank You O' Lord for being there with me all this while. When I asked Father, You gave. When I prayed Father, You answered. When I was lost Father, you came and guided me back onto the path. When I was weak Father, You gave me strength. When I was worried Father, You calmed me. Forgive me Father, I have sinned against You. You gave so much and I took as much yet I gave nothing in return. Help me Father. I need You in my life ever more now. What shall I do? Where shall I do it? When shall I do it? To or with who shall I do it with? How shall I do it? Father, am I even worthy to do it? Speak to me. I long to hear Your voice once again. I long to see You clearer than ever before. I long for You O' God. I seek You with an un-whole heart yet You touched me. I have lost my way. I pray of You Father, guide me back. Let me hold Your hand once again. Let me bask in Your might. In Your power. In Your presence. In Your love...
Nothing else matters Lord. You are all I need. You are all I want. Forgive me Father for I have been unworthy. Bless my family and friends God for they have been a blessing unto me. Even though there have been ups and downs. It was all in Your plan for me. Father, I'm sorry. Amen.

Tough Question

Extremely Tough Choice To Make

Question: If you were headed to church and you see an accident, you are serving in church on that day (i.e. worship team). Would you stop to help or go straight to church?


Think about it for a second.
Tough choice isn't it?

Common typical Malaysian reply; "Go church lah, the accident none of our business what. God more important."
( Of course not all will say this. I'm just generalizing. )

Some would ask instead; "What would Jesus do?"

Indeed, what WOULD Jesus do? Serving the Father is what we are called to do yet helping those in need is ALSO what we are called to do. Which is which now?

Well, after giving it some deep thought as well as inspiration coming to me. I have finally come up with a sensible enough answer by my standards.

My answer would be; stop and help.

Why?

Well, first off, if say you are in the worship team and you are late for church, the worship team can still carry on without you by playing maybe in a different style. Also, worship does not come from the band on stage or the song, it comes from the heart. Incomplete as the team may be on that particular day, a simple acoustic worship or even an acapella worship will do. If you are serving in other ministries such as hospitality, or ushering, or communion or pastoral staff, just a call ahead to notify and they will be able to find replacements.

"If that's the case, then you are neglecting your responsibility in church."

The question is this; is your responsibility in church more important or your responsibility towards God?

Sure enough, you made a commitment to serve in church. But you made a covenant with God to serve with your life.

In church, 99.99% of attendance are believers. What if the people involved in the accident are not? And even if they were, you would just be a testimony to them by blessing them like the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35).

Matthew 9:9-13

The Calling of Matthew

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

The people at church can continue even with your absence. But the people involved in the car accident may need the love of Christ at that very moment and you may just be that beacon of light. Even if they are believers, they will feel a lot better if someone is there to reassure them that Jesus loves them no matter what.


So, that's my answer. Hope you enjoyed it. =)
Of course if you disagree, feel free to leave a comment in my cbox.