Christianity thinks of human individuals to as mere members of a group or items in a list, but as organs in a body- different from one another and each contributing what no other could. When you find yourself wanting to turn your children, or pupils, or even your neighbours, into people exactly like your self, remember that God probably never meant them to be that. You and they are different organs, intended to do different things.
On the other hand, when you are tempted not to bother about someone else's troubles because they are "no business of yours," remember that though he is different from you he is part of the same organism as you. If you forget that he belong to the same organism as yourself you will become an Individualist. If you forget that he is a different organ from you, if you want to suppress differences and make people all alike, you will become a totalitarian. But a Christian must not be either a totalitarian or an individualist.
I feel a strong desire to tell you- and I expect you feel a strong desire to tell me- which of these two errors is the worse. That is the devil getting at us. He always sends errors into the world in pairs- pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why, of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one. But do not let us be fooled. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight thought between both errors. We have no other concern than that with either of them.
C. S. Lewis, "Two Notes" in Mere Christianity
upon reading these paragraphs during a sunday school lesson, a student found it appropriate to conclude that it is all about moderation. Be an extremist and you find yourself becoming either a totalitarian or an individualist.
Now the word moderation has always ruffled my feathers.
The middle ground, the "balanced" quite often seems to be some watered down, half-hearted, compromising thing. Furthermore, moderation gives us no guide at all. What is moderation? It seems to be something defined on the fly, a simple way of saying "what you are doing now feels extreme to me".
Anyway, Christian unity can be seen in two ways. First, I'm sure we know of unity in uniformity, that is, people are united because of some commonality, they are united because they are similar. Is this not the case in Christianity? It is, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One Spirit which dwells in all, two gifts (or maybe more), of love and priesthood, which all have. One mission, to witness for Christ and preach the gospel. One duty, to take up the cross. On paper, we ought of have all of these. It's the mark of a Christian and so it is unsurprising to see if all Christians approximate to this over the course of their lives.
Then there is the sort of complementary unity and this is where the analogy of the body comes in. Each part of proficient in a particular scope of work but hopelessly deficient in the others. Their deficients coincides with the proficiency of other parts and so they form this tight network of interdependence which when complete, forms an exceedingly efficient system.
So, should a christian be a totalitarian or an individualist? I think that's the wrong question to ask. Instead, if we ask "in which areas should a christian be a totalitarian and in which areas an individualist?" we see that perhaps a christian ought to be, in a sense, both totalitarian and individualistic.
So we can be totalitarian (attempting to make other people like us) in some ways, for instance, insisting that all our brothers confess that Christ is Lord.
On the other hand, we can be individualistic, making no attempt to insist that all Christians should be speaking in tongues, be prophets, be teachers etc.
To say that we should be neither totalitarian or individualistic will, in this light, be very misleading indeed.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
knowing and believing
When asked which is "more", my slant is belief.
I'd say that you don't really know something unless you believe in it.
My favourite thought experiment is one which will be close to many of our hearts. As Singaporeans many of us have the fortune (to some the misfortune) of experiencing kayaking, be it in the enclosed Kallang River or the open (then again not so open) sea.
It is because of kayaking that I first gave careful thought to the concept of faith. You know how people talk about faith as putting our weight on a chair simply because people tell us to do so or because we've seen others done so and it worked out for them? That example lacks the oomph- none of us have felt particularly apprehensive about sitting on any chairs around us.
But kayaking is different. Now we all know that the waters around Singapore are really safe. It's nothing like Australian waters with the danger of sharks or even saltwater crocs. Furthermore the water is so bad we'd scarcely find a fish.
And so in a sense we do know the water is safe, we know that nothing's going to bite off our limbs when we fall into it. What explains the panic (for some) and discomfort (for perhaps the rest) when we do fall into it?
When we look at the water we think... hmm... well it's really murky isn't it? In the sense that I can't be sure I can even see my legs, much less what lurks at the depths beyond them?
When safe in the kayak we're so quick to tell our capsized friends that they're perhaps too panicky, too hasty to get out of the water.
I think our panic and discomfort is actually an indicator of our faithlessness. We know that nothing's going to harm us but we don't quite believe it. It's so helpless isn't it, the idea of faith? It seems like nothing can assuade us to calm the heck down, no prior known facts sufficient to put the racing heart in its proper place.
I'm thinking if I've ever met a person who fell into the water but remained absolutely carefree, who, when asked, will simply reply that the water is safe? That'd be an instance of what they call child-like faith. One who perceives the authority behind the factual statement "there are no sharks in Singaporean waters" and believes in it.
The rest of us find ourselves on the continuum of skepticism.
I'd say that you don't really know something unless you believe in it.
My favourite thought experiment is one which will be close to many of our hearts. As Singaporeans many of us have the fortune (to some the misfortune) of experiencing kayaking, be it in the enclosed Kallang River or the open (then again not so open) sea.
It is because of kayaking that I first gave careful thought to the concept of faith. You know how people talk about faith as putting our weight on a chair simply because people tell us to do so or because we've seen others done so and it worked out for them? That example lacks the oomph- none of us have felt particularly apprehensive about sitting on any chairs around us.
But kayaking is different. Now we all know that the waters around Singapore are really safe. It's nothing like Australian waters with the danger of sharks or even saltwater crocs. Furthermore the water is so bad we'd scarcely find a fish.
And so in a sense we do know the water is safe, we know that nothing's going to bite off our limbs when we fall into it. What explains the panic (for some) and discomfort (for perhaps the rest) when we do fall into it?
When we look at the water we think... hmm... well it's really murky isn't it? In the sense that I can't be sure I can even see my legs, much less what lurks at the depths beyond them?
When safe in the kayak we're so quick to tell our capsized friends that they're perhaps too panicky, too hasty to get out of the water.
I think our panic and discomfort is actually an indicator of our faithlessness. We know that nothing's going to harm us but we don't quite believe it. It's so helpless isn't it, the idea of faith? It seems like nothing can assuade us to calm the heck down, no prior known facts sufficient to put the racing heart in its proper place.
I'm thinking if I've ever met a person who fell into the water but remained absolutely carefree, who, when asked, will simply reply that the water is safe? That'd be an instance of what they call child-like faith. One who perceives the authority behind the factual statement "there are no sharks in Singaporean waters" and believes in it.
The rest of us find ourselves on the continuum of skepticism.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
there are persons, and then there are events.
Was having an extended conversation with Celine today and I was remarking that sometimes I entertain this heartbreaking thought that some people don't really think I'm human, don't think I'm a real person.
Perhaps this is what is also afflicting Joel. I guess it happens to people who are publicly seen as "mean". You know how when someone is put down by a nasty person the entirety of our consciousness seems to rush to the side of the "victim"? We then criticize the "aggressor" for being mean, for hurting the feelings of others, for being unthoughtful and the list goes on, I'm only too familiar with the receiving end.
At that moment it seems that have also forgotten that the "aggressor" is also a person. A person who has his or her reasons to say what he or she did say. They may not be the best of reasons but it is not without reason. Our rash aiding of the supposed victim is usually accompanied by the fact that we don't bring to mind the considerations of the one who said the harsh things he said.
And these people, when they repeat such acts frequently enough, are regarded or responded to as not humans, but just events. They are part of the landscape of the inanimate world. They are like the rain which comes whenever, which does soil our moods every now and then but we won't profoundly ask why.
I do feel sorry for myself sometimes because some people do behave as though they think I'm too rational. They think I'm like a programme, unfeeling, without genuine cares and their disregard of my feelings or intentions is all too obvious.
But am I not equally guilty of it? Keng Yong comes to mind. This nefarious individual who is always up to mischief and whose mouth is always spilling raunchy nonsense has occurred to me for 1 whole year as but an event in life. He is like a cleverly crafted computer virus who eats away at the infrastructure of an otherwise fine world. But certainly one has got to pay due interest (yes interest is due) to why he does or says the things he says? I'm afraid this seeing of some individuals as events rather than as persons is just quite the common feature of our lives.
And it is regrettable. I guess the greatest disregard we can have for a person is not to think poorly of his intentions, thoughts and motivations,
it's to not think that he has any at all.
Perhaps this is what is also afflicting Joel. I guess it happens to people who are publicly seen as "mean". You know how when someone is put down by a nasty person the entirety of our consciousness seems to rush to the side of the "victim"? We then criticize the "aggressor" for being mean, for hurting the feelings of others, for being unthoughtful and the list goes on, I'm only too familiar with the receiving end.
At that moment it seems that have also forgotten that the "aggressor" is also a person. A person who has his or her reasons to say what he or she did say. They may not be the best of reasons but it is not without reason. Our rash aiding of the supposed victim is usually accompanied by the fact that we don't bring to mind the considerations of the one who said the harsh things he said.
And these people, when they repeat such acts frequently enough, are regarded or responded to as not humans, but just events. They are part of the landscape of the inanimate world. They are like the rain which comes whenever, which does soil our moods every now and then but we won't profoundly ask why.
I do feel sorry for myself sometimes because some people do behave as though they think I'm too rational. They think I'm like a programme, unfeeling, without genuine cares and their disregard of my feelings or intentions is all too obvious.
But am I not equally guilty of it? Keng Yong comes to mind. This nefarious individual who is always up to mischief and whose mouth is always spilling raunchy nonsense has occurred to me for 1 whole year as but an event in life. He is like a cleverly crafted computer virus who eats away at the infrastructure of an otherwise fine world. But certainly one has got to pay due interest (yes interest is due) to why he does or says the things he says? I'm afraid this seeing of some individuals as events rather than as persons is just quite the common feature of our lives.
And it is regrettable. I guess the greatest disregard we can have for a person is not to think poorly of his intentions, thoughts and motivations,
it's to not think that he has any at all.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Dyslexia and not the best Semester
Finally, a free Friday morning to myself, not cooped up in the dentistry lab getting experimented on.
I'm currently researching on Dyslexia and boy, is it a window into a problem of the internet.
It's a really confusing place if you're looking to learn more about Dyslexia, some sites are very lay man and some sites very scholarly. Some are a mixed bag of both, throwing both together as though they belong to the same basket.
From what I gather thus far, the lay person thinks of dyslexia as a sort of learning disability and this disability ranges from reading to math, and even motor movement. So clumsy people can be considered dyslexics.
Meanwhile, the academic world defines dyslexia in a more restricted manner. It is, as its name suggests, problems with reading, a reading dysfunction.
It is also the case, as suggested by a particular neuro science blog, that dyslexia is thought to be mainly a phonological deficit. You know how you hear your own voice in your head when you read words? Yeap, you're beginning to understand why phonological deficit can result in reading deficit.
Imagine if that voice in your head is uttering nonsense to you, things you can't quite match to the catalogue of words you have in your head.
Imagine now also that these voice is giving you wonky pronunciations of words, what ultimately comes out from your mouth will be pretty odd too, right?
But then the public sentiment is that dyslexics see words funny. Like they're all over the place, upside down whatever.
Some academics propose a visual explanation for dyslexia. In our heads we have a ventral and a dorsal visual path. The ventral stream processes object identity while the dorsal stream processes the object location. Now suppose that your ventral stream is working perfectly fine. You're reading the letters and they look like how they look like to everyone else. But suppose your brain isn't quite sure where the letter is, suppose it's not sure if the letter is attached to the next word or to the previous word... you'll start experiencing reading difficulties.
So anyway, that's a quick review of what I've learnt about dyslexia thus far.
Now people have asked me how my semester is. I think, it's not the best of semesters. The modules I'm doing aren't exactly my favourite (especially critical discourse analysis and language and the internet) and some are just pretty downright new field. Neurocognition of language for instance is so loaded with cranial jargons that I don't understand what the teacher is talking about half the time because I'm just thinking...
left, okay left of the brain, posterior.. post means back, okay back, occipital temporal... okay somewhere at the back of the head, lower half, sulcus. oh the valley okay... so the left side, back of the back of the head in the valley between the occipital and temporal lobes?
Yeah okay, but as I processed that I missed out the other 2-3 names down the line and now I'm completely lost. I can't seem to write fast enough on my notes either and then I just feel like not writing anymore.
It's a completely new field. Yes, everyone is feeling disadvantaged but still that doesn't make it any more enjoyable.
The worst part I think, is how my brain is confidently telling me that these things would be of no kick to me if I just spent a little more time pondering over them.
Which is... well, kind of true. So now the fault actually lies squarely with me.
Okay, back to work.
I'm currently researching on Dyslexia and boy, is it a window into a problem of the internet.
It's a really confusing place if you're looking to learn more about Dyslexia, some sites are very lay man and some sites very scholarly. Some are a mixed bag of both, throwing both together as though they belong to the same basket.
From what I gather thus far, the lay person thinks of dyslexia as a sort of learning disability and this disability ranges from reading to math, and even motor movement. So clumsy people can be considered dyslexics.
Meanwhile, the academic world defines dyslexia in a more restricted manner. It is, as its name suggests, problems with reading, a reading dysfunction.
It is also the case, as suggested by a particular neuro science blog, that dyslexia is thought to be mainly a phonological deficit. You know how you hear your own voice in your head when you read words? Yeap, you're beginning to understand why phonological deficit can result in reading deficit.
Imagine if that voice in your head is uttering nonsense to you, things you can't quite match to the catalogue of words you have in your head.
Imagine now also that these voice is giving you wonky pronunciations of words, what ultimately comes out from your mouth will be pretty odd too, right?
But then the public sentiment is that dyslexics see words funny. Like they're all over the place, upside down whatever.
Some academics propose a visual explanation for dyslexia. In our heads we have a ventral and a dorsal visual path. The ventral stream processes object identity while the dorsal stream processes the object location. Now suppose that your ventral stream is working perfectly fine. You're reading the letters and they look like how they look like to everyone else. But suppose your brain isn't quite sure where the letter is, suppose it's not sure if the letter is attached to the next word or to the previous word... you'll start experiencing reading difficulties.
So anyway, that's a quick review of what I've learnt about dyslexia thus far.
Now people have asked me how my semester is. I think, it's not the best of semesters. The modules I'm doing aren't exactly my favourite (especially critical discourse analysis and language and the internet) and some are just pretty downright new field. Neurocognition of language for instance is so loaded with cranial jargons that I don't understand what the teacher is talking about half the time because I'm just thinking...
left, okay left of the brain, posterior.. post means back, okay back, occipital temporal... okay somewhere at the back of the head, lower half, sulcus. oh the valley okay... so the left side, back of the back of the head in the valley between the occipital and temporal lobes?
Yeah okay, but as I processed that I missed out the other 2-3 names down the line and now I'm completely lost. I can't seem to write fast enough on my notes either and then I just feel like not writing anymore.
It's a completely new field. Yes, everyone is feeling disadvantaged but still that doesn't make it any more enjoyable.
The worst part I think, is how my brain is confidently telling me that these things would be of no kick to me if I just spent a little more time pondering over them.
Which is... well, kind of true. So now the fault actually lies squarely with me.
Okay, back to work.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
I'll never live my life fully if I do not know you died to set me free
33- Corrinne May
Feels like a milestone
Being in my 30s
Friends become mothers and fathers
With little ones of their own
So and so’s a doctor
A lawyer and accountant
So and so’s got married
They’ve got a lifetime ahead
A beautiful lifetime ahead
CHORUS
33, the age that You died for me
Now here I am at 33
33, You crowned it with Your life upon a tree
The mystery of Your love for me
We could have been schoolmates
Studying together
We could have had tea and scones
And talked about our day
You walk this path before me
Living close to guide me
You’re thirsting for someone
To show a little care
You’re hidden in faces everywhere
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Everyone’s got a song to sing
It doesn’t matter how short or long
Just let each note ring
So long as we’re in this key
CHORUS
33, the age that You died for me
Now here I am at 33
33, You crowned it with Your life to set me free
The mystery of Your love
The mystery of Your love for me
I was lazing on bed on facebook when I saw this song and I thought to myself that I really need to go and hear it. No regrets at all, it was all gain.
As I listened to the song I envied how corrinne may is able to think about things like this and I thought, enough, I will rise right now for the Lord. I will get off my bed and quit lazing around.
I song begins with a contrast of what 33 means for most people. It's where life begins, some say. For our Lord, it is when life ends. Nonetheless, 33 remains a high point in life for all, but you can say, it was the peak for our Lord.
So I regret that the line in the chorus cannot be changed into:
33, you'll culminate your life upon a tree.
And I'm 23, 10 years away from 33.
What trajectory of my life do I choose? It must be none other than
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Cor 5:15).
How am I set free? I'm set free from the need to live for myself, I'm freed to live for You.
Because You died when You were 33, I will live for You while I am 23.
Feels like a milestone
Being in my 30s
Friends become mothers and fathers
With little ones of their own
So and so’s a doctor
A lawyer and accountant
So and so’s got married
They’ve got a lifetime ahead
A beautiful lifetime ahead
CHORUS
33, the age that You died for me
Now here I am at 33
33, You crowned it with Your life upon a tree
The mystery of Your love for me
We could have been schoolmates
Studying together
We could have had tea and scones
And talked about our day
You walk this path before me
Living close to guide me
You’re thirsting for someone
To show a little care
You’re hidden in faces everywhere
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Everyone’s got a song to sing
It doesn’t matter how short or long
Just let each note ring
So long as we’re in this key
CHORUS
33, the age that You died for me
Now here I am at 33
33, You crowned it with Your life to set me free
The mystery of Your love
The mystery of Your love for me
I was lazing on bed on facebook when I saw this song and I thought to myself that I really need to go and hear it. No regrets at all, it was all gain.
As I listened to the song I envied how corrinne may is able to think about things like this and I thought, enough, I will rise right now for the Lord. I will get off my bed and quit lazing around.
I song begins with a contrast of what 33 means for most people. It's where life begins, some say. For our Lord, it is when life ends. Nonetheless, 33 remains a high point in life for all, but you can say, it was the peak for our Lord.
So I regret that the line in the chorus cannot be changed into:
33, you'll culminate your life upon a tree.
And I'm 23, 10 years away from 33.
What trajectory of my life do I choose? It must be none other than
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Cor 5:15).
How am I set free? I'm set free from the need to live for myself, I'm freed to live for You.
Because You died when You were 33, I will live for You while I am 23.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Learning to breathe in the Abundant Sky
Hello, good morning, how you do?
What makes your rising sun so new?
I could use a fresh beginning too
All of my regrets are nothing new
So this is the way that I say I need You
This is the way that I'm
Learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that You and You alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies
Hello, good morning, how you been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never, never thought that
I would fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad
[Chorus]
So this is the way I say I need You
This is the way that I say I love You
This is the way that I say I'm Yours
This is the way, this is the way
The steadfast love of the Lᴏʀᴅ never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22–23)
What makes your rising sun so new?
I could use a fresh beginning too
All of my regrets are nothing new
So this is the way that I say I need You
This is the way that I'm
Learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that You and You alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies
Hello, good morning, how you been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never, never thought that
I would fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad
[Chorus]
So this is the way I say I need You
This is the way that I say I love You
This is the way that I say I'm Yours
This is the way, this is the way
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22–23)
I was asked to choose a song which reflects my life right now. A worship song.
That's quite a tough one, I mean, I cannot recall any particular song I sang in church which captures the state of things perfectly.
Well, that was when I recalled this song. It isn't a worship song but as you can see, it's obviously Christian. Let's talk about the song first.
Hello Good Morning how you do?
What makes your rising sun so new?
I'm not sure what this verse means. I can only guess that there is a remarkable difference between a person who wakes up and finds the day mundane, as ever, a repetition of what's been going on for years. The sun rises but it's the same old thing, and a person who wakes up to a new morning everyday. It sounds so much like his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.
The rising sun is new every morning for those who know of God's unending mercies.
So in a sense this song feels like a reflection on how this verse plays out in the life of someone. How does one live cognizant of the fact that God's love never ceases nor his mercies ever end?
This is the way that I say I need you
I'm not quite sure what the way is here. "The way" can be something which was already mentioned: is it seeing the rising sun as new? Is it the having of regrets? Maybe both?
But certainly, the same way is being equated with what comes later
Learning to Breathe
Learning to Crawl
Finding that you and you alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies.
This chorus talks about fundamentals. Learning to breathe is so fundamental we don't even usually talk about it. I have a hunch that learning to breathe is almost equivalent to "learning how to live". Learning to crawl gives an imagery of a child. The first steps of a baby is crawl. We say learn to walk before you run and certainly we ought to learn how to crawl before we walk. Again, these things seem to be really basic stuff.
It seems that, this "the way" is talking about the fundamentals of Christian living. The writer is saying that he is finally learning the basics, the breathing and crawling, of living as a Christian.
Maybe it's both then, seeing the rising sun as new- God's mercies never come to an end and they are new every morning. Only the hopeful can see each morning as new, separate from the baggage of the past. Only those who are acquainted with the never-ending mercies of God have real reason to be hopeful.
Maybe it's also the regrets, the confession that I could use a fresh beginning too. This, we call repentance.
Putting it together: this is the way I say I need you, we can confess our need of God by trusting and repenting.
So this is the way I say I need You
This is the way that I say I love You
This is the way that I say I'm Yours
This is the way, this is the way
This is the way that I say I love You
This is the way that I say I'm Yours
This is the way, this is the way
The song progresses and in the bridge it elaborates about the way. The very same way is also the way to love and confess the Lordship of God.
Now, why did I choose this song? A few reasons really, I haven't thought them through thoroughly but I thought I'd just try to list them out.
1) Ungratefulness. This is perhaps the thing which prevents us from considering the endless mercies of God. We simply don't think that there is any to speak of, of if there were, they're not much to write home about. How has ungratefulness played out in my life? Well, for starters, unwilling participation in some of the ministries God has placed me in. How is this ungratefulness? I think it's that I don't serve Him eagerly because I simply don't thank Him for the gifts and talents He has given me. I think of them as a burden, I think of them as collecting trouble for me. If I were any less talented, I'd think, I'll not have so much to do.
Ungratefulness also shines when I covet I guess. I want so many things. I'm always looking at the things I don't have and forgetting to give thanks for the things I have, especially those electronic gadgets.
2) Egocentricity. I mean, self-centredness or self-affixation. I think that in recent days (or perhaps thus far in my life) I've been so obsessed with my own emotions. So when people disappoint me or let me down I just want to be angry, kick a fuss and say that life is hard. It sounds pretty irrational right? The bible would have me look at God instead, not myself. In the event I do look at God I guess these little things in life will appear little indeed. I don't even know why I get angry anymore, I mean, God's grace is enough!
So what this tells me is that I don't care if God's grace is enough. I'm not even looking God-ward, I'm just looking at myself. I'm fussing with things which don't matter, I don't want to turn my gaze onto God. But I'm learning to breathe, I'm learning to think about God and what He is for me when I think about the things in my life.
I think these things culminate into the skeptical, negative person you know me to be. I just not a person who spends time contemplating the grace of God. I like to say I'm practical and realistic, but how can I ever be realistic if my view of the world takes little account of the grace of God?
I guess this song really resonated because I feel like I'm really... just learning to breathe and crawl.
Good news is, I'm doing this in the midst of His abundant skies.
God I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
extra training
I wanted to go do some pull-ups before I went home last night. It was pretty depressing, managing to do only 5. Maybe it has something to do with me injuring my lats the last time.
Or maybe it's this nagging problem on my right palm. Whenever something causes my thumb to stretch away from the palm there's this dull pain that feels like a cross between a muscle and bone thing. Can't figure it out.
Maybe the pain is affecting my grip. I don't know.
While I was standing around and readying myself to go a 2nd round, I saw this dude walking around. Initially fearful that he may help himself to my valuables when I went for the 2nd round, I kept an eye on him. He was trying get a glance above the covered walkway and had this stupid, embarrassed smile on his face. So I asked him what he was up to.
Turns out, this guy got his ball stuck in the tree and tried to throw his shoe at it to get it down. His less than impeccable aim got his shoe onto the covered walkway beside the tree instead. He was looking for a ladder to get on top of it.
Surveying the grounds, I found a shelter which was connected to the covered walkway, which has pillars extending beyond the height of the covered walkway itself. I hypothesised that it's possible to get to the top of the walkway by scaling that pillar, but that guy was not willing.
Playing the hero, I climbed up the pillar and arched myself onto the top of the walkway, where I found his shoes. It took a lot more effort than I imagined and my arms were beginning to hurt. The old shoulder problem on my right and my lats were began to protest. Coming down was a lot quicker, but also way more daunting. Squatting down, I took a good grip of the pillar and swung my legs out onto it. The rest was easy.
Yeah, who would have guessed that I got more than what I was looking for. It was good training and a bit of madness which I haven't done in recent times.
Or maybe it's this nagging problem on my right palm. Whenever something causes my thumb to stretch away from the palm there's this dull pain that feels like a cross between a muscle and bone thing. Can't figure it out.
Maybe the pain is affecting my grip. I don't know.
While I was standing around and readying myself to go a 2nd round, I saw this dude walking around. Initially fearful that he may help himself to my valuables when I went for the 2nd round, I kept an eye on him. He was trying get a glance above the covered walkway and had this stupid, embarrassed smile on his face. So I asked him what he was up to.
Turns out, this guy got his ball stuck in the tree and tried to throw his shoe at it to get it down. His less than impeccable aim got his shoe onto the covered walkway beside the tree instead. He was looking for a ladder to get on top of it.
Surveying the grounds, I found a shelter which was connected to the covered walkway, which has pillars extending beyond the height of the covered walkway itself. I hypothesised that it's possible to get to the top of the walkway by scaling that pillar, but that guy was not willing.
Playing the hero, I climbed up the pillar and arched myself onto the top of the walkway, where I found his shoes. It took a lot more effort than I imagined and my arms were beginning to hurt. The old shoulder problem on my right and my lats were began to protest. Coming down was a lot quicker, but also way more daunting. Squatting down, I took a good grip of the pillar and swung my legs out onto it. The rest was easy.
Yeah, who would have guessed that I got more than what I was looking for. It was good training and a bit of madness which I haven't done in recent times.
Monday, September 08, 2014
damn you surface pro 3
Almost went on a crazy impulse buy. That thing is really a thing of beauty.
You can say it was the machine I was truly waiting for. Now that it is here my fingers are itching.
I almost made the deal but I when I think about it, what real reasons do I have to get it?
At least not yet, maybe in a year I have. Not now, there's absolutely no justifications whatsoever for it.
Oh God help me to be grateful for the things that I have. Help me to thank You for that Thinkpad Tablet 2 with the same intensity I had when I first got my hands on it.
Help me to love it.
Help me also to see that a thousand dollars can be put to better use!
You can say it was the machine I was truly waiting for. Now that it is here my fingers are itching.
I almost made the deal but I when I think about it, what real reasons do I have to get it?
At least not yet, maybe in a year I have. Not now, there's absolutely no justifications whatsoever for it.
Oh God help me to be grateful for the things that I have. Help me to thank You for that Thinkpad Tablet 2 with the same intensity I had when I first got my hands on it.
Help me to love it.
Help me also to see that a thousand dollars can be put to better use!
Monday, September 01, 2014
Automatons and the good of moral actions
Some people say that free will is necessary for love.
Some say that free will is necessary for any moral actions to have worth, to have value, to be "good".
What's the logic? They say, well what's the value of your moral action if you weren't even capable of immoral action? You're just an automaton.
What I gather is the real existence of a risk to not do the right thing is what gives meaning to the choice of doing the right thing.
It sounds fine and dandy and extremely intuitive. But I don't know if I can buy such a view.
I was in the church office today talking with my pastor and we just went on the inevitable topic and predestination yada yada. I was surprised that he didn't rush it down. He didn't even so much as to say that I was wrong. He just commented on some general problems a Calvinist would run into, and he listened patiently when I took my turn to take a dump on arminianism.
And then we went onto this topic, on automatons, free will and the worth of moral actions.
I posed him this challenge. I asked him if the possibility of doing evil was giving worth to our choice against moral evil, how then do we go about giving value to God's moral actions?
It is not even possible for God to do evil. His attributes constrain Him from doing so. Will we say that He is an automaton though, since his attributes so decisively direct the things He does? Will we say that His moral actions are of no value since He is not even remotely at risk of doing evil?
If we wouldn't then why would we demand the same for Man? Can't we just say that it is right just because God says it is?
Some say that free will is necessary for any moral actions to have worth, to have value, to be "good".
What's the logic? They say, well what's the value of your moral action if you weren't even capable of immoral action? You're just an automaton.
What I gather is the real existence of a risk to not do the right thing is what gives meaning to the choice of doing the right thing.
It sounds fine and dandy and extremely intuitive. But I don't know if I can buy such a view.
I was in the church office today talking with my pastor and we just went on the inevitable topic and predestination yada yada. I was surprised that he didn't rush it down. He didn't even so much as to say that I was wrong. He just commented on some general problems a Calvinist would run into, and he listened patiently when I took my turn to take a dump on arminianism.
And then we went onto this topic, on automatons, free will and the worth of moral actions.
I posed him this challenge. I asked him if the possibility of doing evil was giving worth to our choice against moral evil, how then do we go about giving value to God's moral actions?
It is not even possible for God to do evil. His attributes constrain Him from doing so. Will we say that He is an automaton though, since his attributes so decisively direct the things He does? Will we say that His moral actions are of no value since He is not even remotely at risk of doing evil?
If we wouldn't then why would we demand the same for Man? Can't we just say that it is right just because God says it is?
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