I am not wallowing in self-pity.
I am different.
But I will be alright.

I know I got to get out of the "me-world" and integrate myself in the world around me. But howwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww?

Anyway, I really miss the UCV2206 group. By far, they've been the best people to work with. Very nice people who were accepting and encouraging. Ahhhhh, the time we spent TOGETHER in Bei Jing would be one of the best things that happened to me in this lifetime.

A greeting or a smile can change one's attitude for the day.
The lack of them can do the same, but for the worse.

I thrive on a "Hello!" and an enthusiastic facial display of welcome.

I just have to last.
I just have to focus on surviving.
I just have to stay alive.

Mark 1:23
"And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out."

Obama is contemplating using Public Funds to pay for Abortions in USA, on the basis that Abortion is part of Healthcare. Think about this.

Let's vote against this, we have less than 3 days.
https://www.aclj.org/Petition/Default.aspx?sc=3499&ac=1

We need to stop being oblivious and negligent about these matters going on in the world around us. Open our eyes, there are more things that matter more than our tiny closed-up lives.

[Update: Victory.]

Pro-Life Amendment Approved in Health Care Debate

The vote to approve the Stupak/Pitts Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion, represents a critical pro-life victory on Capitol Hill.

We applaud the pro-life commitment shown by the Democrat and Republican members of the House who voted to approve the Stupak/Pitts Amendment which prohibits federal funding of abortion.

The passage of this pro-life amendment represents the only bright spot in an otherwise troubling government-run health care package put forth by House Speaker Pelosi. The American people understand that health care should not include federal funding for abortion and we’re grateful to Democrat Congressmen Bart Stupak (D-Mich) and Joseph Pitts (R-Penn) for their unrelenting efforts in protecting the unborn.

Unfortunately, the leadership in the House produced a disturbing and flawed health care package that not only fails to meet the needs of most Americans, but interjects an unprecedented level of government intrusion and bureaucracy into health care.

The fact is that your voice was heard on Capitol Hill. With nearly 170,000 signatures on our petition protecting life, a majority of the House - Democrats and Republicans - voted to stand for life. There was a tremendous outcry of support for this Amendment. And, our thanks to you for standing with us during this critical time.

Source: http://www.aclj.org/LegislativeAlert/Read.aspx?GUID=45be3c65-2375-49b9-8bb0-32f2b1f200f6

I caught a few snippets of Jay Chou's "Secret" on Channel U today. Besides being very impressed by Jay Chou's talent (which I always dismissed previously - I was wrong), I realized how much I miss playing the piano and how fast I seem to have given up - not given up on piano lessons, but the motivation to practice everyday. In fact, the last time I practised was when I went for lessons in about 2 months ago.

Of late, I find myself being involved in learning so many things that I seem to be well on my way to become a true blue "jack of all trades, master of none". Ironically, this is what I'm trying not to be. I'm always looking for something that uniquely characterizes me.

So much has been thought about, and I still think it boils down to the same-old problem of having time as an enemy. If only I wasn't limited by time...

Let it show, let it show, let it show.

One thing that I learnt from Evangelism-focused Life Meeting was to "Get Real". The speaker, Regina Wong, from Youth With A Mission (YWAM) recounted her experience as a christian student in NUS, who wasn't in any christian organization. In fact, she was the only christian among her close group of friends in school.

"I really enjoyed my time spent with my non-christian friends because they were very real people. They're just like, 'This is me, with all my weaknesses - take it or leave it.' They were just very real and I appreciated how straightforward they were."
(Okay, not the exact words she said but I believe I got 75% of it right anyway.)

So, Christians = Hypocrites, perhaps?

Christians are susceptible to the accusation of being a "hypocrite" precisely because of this "get real and let it show" dilemma. We are constantly being judged by the world as representatives of our faith, therefore, we have to watch our attitudes and behaviour. Paradoxically, we may fall into the trap of thinking that we need to appear as Saints in order to be a good reflector of Christ, especially when we are not. I don't think the world appreciates that.

Though a christian's life purpose involves being Christ-like, everybody knows that we are definitely not 'Christ's. We can show the world who Christ is by making apparent our relationship with Him, instead of pretending to be Him. What the world needs is not someone who pretends to be perfect (and may shame them because of their sins, which one pretends not to have), but someone who can show them that despite the weaknesses and limitations that are common to Man, there is hope in God through a relationship with Christ.

There shouldn't be a secret weakness that any christian hides from anyone (christian or not christian), especially if its supposed to be "for the good of God's reputation". God doesn't need anyone to maintain His reputation. Being real (read: sincere) is what really matters to people. They don't care how good you are until they see how real you are.

Get real.