Does evil exist?

A university professor challenged his students with this question,

"Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes, he did!"

"God created everything?," the professor asked.

"Yes, sir," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are then God is evil."

The student became quiet before such an answer.

The professor was quite pleased with himself and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?"

"Of course," replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.

"Absolute zero (-460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong, sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have already said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love that exist just as does light and heat. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name --- Albert Einstein.




Warning systems are inadequate... but for places where it is in place, did the relevant authorities inform, or did not as they were afraid of its impact on tourism? What about now? Is it greed, absence of God, then that created such a disaster for probably more than 77k of people who have perished?

AND, FENGSHUI... how much do we believe? Does it exist?
I need all the grace I can get... ...

23.12.2004 AD

it's already Christmas' Eve's Eve... it's the 23.12.2004.

Time has truly flew by. And that's gonna be the case, no matter how industrious or how lazy one is. Might as well be industrious.

Having a gathering later with my former cell group. Jaime. Yen. Angela and Yixian, married... (forgot to attend wedding, I ought to be shot) Shawn and Mian...

My goodness...

As thots and memories re-surfaces,
eyes moisten.

I'm glad i sent that email... when I saw Y at Sheng Siong just now, I almost couldn't recognise her. Nose stud, big hoop earrings. Wow. I must have appeared like plain Jane. I think she was the most conservative of us all when we were back in NUS. Incredible. I need a make-over. :P

Another gathering I would enjoy myself at. M's was fun! Hee.

Sentosa was fun too. But I must ask Sis to teach me volleyball liao. Too many mistakes to frustrate myself and others with.

Set up a business. Tt's what A said, in fact, he said he wants to set up two. And a speaker, tt's wat he'd wanna be.

And I'm still wondering about my personal project -- from interviewing regular people -- who have their hopes, their dreams, their future, their achievements. Soundbites. Vids. That would be fun. And help them realise. Isn't it true that when we write down our goals and dreams, it helps us fulfill them?

And a wanderlust to fulfill. Travel as I interview the world, perform? haha
Authentic Happiness by Seligman... captured my imagination... will I ever walk that path again?

Earth, Wind, Rain, Fire!

All that is you need to succeed, you have it. You just need to harness those resources and put it to play.

Ill again...

I'm quite ill... can't almost think straight now. haha.

Did another event yesterday. Pretty fruitful, I must say -- witnessed the first solemnization as far as I'm concerned. It is pretty touching. Tho I didn't cry. Wasn't touching enuff to cry. And it does include quite a lot of things to do after marriage. haha.

A few interesting things about the wedding. A young Indonesian bride married to a dashing young man. Makes me think of one of my staff. Wat is life? Both married Singaporeans, but with very different consequences, I believe.

It doesn't seem like an equal marriage, hmmm... perhaps that's what certain men want. Simple as that. And some women are looking for that kind of a security. I guess I am too... haha. Just like why M gave up on her bf, cos he's simply too "nuah" for her. :P Yeah, he must be someone smarter, more powerful, and have bigger dreams than I do! I'd be glad. Who doesn't want a perfect man? Hmmm, who doesn't strive to be one, anyway? Haha. So they shld be all around the place, isn't it? Is tt warped logic or wat. ha!

This appeared in TODAY today:
MOULDER OF ROMANTIC DREAMS

Long before a teenage girl finds her first real boyfriend or ever falls in love, her attitude towards men is quietly being shaped by her father. I'm one of the many psychologists who believe that the dad and daughter relationship sets the stage for all future romantic involvements. If a young woman's father is an alcoholic and a bum, she'll spend her life trying to find a man who can meet the needs he never recognised in her heart. If he's warm and nurturing, she'll look for a love to equal him. If he thinks she's beautiful and feiminine, she'll be inclined to see herself that way. But, if he rejects her as unattractive and uninteresting, she's likely to carry self-esteem problems into her adult years. (How true!)
I've also observed that a woman's relationship with her future husband is significantly influenced by the way she preceived her father's authority. If whe was overbearing and capricious during her earlier years, she may be inclined to precipitate power struggles with her husband throughout married life (How terrible!).
But if the dad blended love and discipline in a way that conveyed strength, she may be more confortable with a give and take marriage where the reins of leadership are not contested. So much of what goes into marriage starts with a girl's father. That's why it behooves us as dads to give out best effort to the raising of those kids around our feet.

********************If any dads and dads-to-be are reading this, PPPLLLEEAASSE make sure you are well-equipped, or you might scar a child for life.********************

Maybe that's why I haven't found someone. Cos I'd be looking for someone like my Dad?(GOD FORBID!!!) Or it's simply cos there are not many like my Dad around (Hallelujah!) Either way, I lose. :P Or maybe all the ones I've found have a common streak -- abandonment. They see something they don't quite like, they run. A relationship takes a few things to grow and mature. Love creates the initial spark. Commitment and respect make it last. When some of these are missing, the brew simply refuses to cook. It's worse than flogging a dead horse. Love is Magic. Jesus is Life.

Was at a client's place today and she requested us to help her throw away her old cotton bathroom sandals. I remarked that it's still new, maybe could take it home. ( I wasn't serious...) My staff (all of them older than I am) was aghast at that thot... "I'm sure you don't want to take someone else's leftovers," That set me thinking -- yeah, why should I settle to be second best? It simply doesn't make sense. I'd be doing myself a disservice. Very much so.

Another interesting article from TODAY's Focus on the Family on Dec 9:
THE CLASS OF '65

In the mid-1960s, Time magazine selected the senior class of Palisades High School in Southern California as a fodus for its cover story entitled, "Today's Teenager".

These young men and women lived in one of the wealthiest school districts in America and their parents inclusded many of the nation's rich and famous. Time said they "stood on the fringe of a golden era as they left high school and headed for college."

10 years later, two members of that classs, Michael Medved and David Wallechinsky wrote a book entitled WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO THE CLASS OF '65? Their follow-up study was striking. Their former classmates, far from entering a golden era, had been plagued by personal tragedy and emotional unrest. Drug abuse, rebellion, sexual irresponsibility, divorce, and even prison time were common for that group. Many were still lost and unprepared for the game of life. According to Medved and Wallechinsky, the immaturity and rebellion of their fellow students was a product of parental indulgence. Their moms and dads had consistently given them money, bailed them out of jail, repaired their wrecked cars, and made it possible to avoid work or study. Perhaps more importantly, their parents had failed to teach them values and ethics and beliefs on which the meaning of life is based. Well, that occurred many years ago, but I wonder, is there relevance for us today?

Tiles fall...

I'm wondering if it's a sign

Either I'm getting grown up...

But nothing seems to shock me very much anymore

Jaded? Maybe, maybe not.

Or maybe Daddy's telling me something -- to wake up!

Haha.

Wat's the difference btw 2801 n 1028 on Wed Dec 1?

Apparently a world of difference...

esp when u buy 4d. haha!

Too bad sis's 2811 didn't strike. :P

Help the children, help the poor

www.worldonfire.ca

At peace...

Listening to Hillsongs, and at peace... have always felt at peace hearing them...

1. So (Close) I believe (My favourite)
2. The Potter's Hands
3. So You Would Come
4. Holy Spirit Rain Down
5. Let Your Presence Fall
6. Making a Difference
7. Shout to the Lord
8. I Dream by Taufik Batisah, and Sylvester Sim. HAHAH!

Watching Taufik and Olinda, as they go thru weeks... all I can say is WOW. They've grown. It's a process of growth not many has the opportunity to go thru in such a short space of time... and they have indeed proved their mettle. Grateful for the change that they've went thru... I'm sure they've learnt a lot abt ppl ard them, as well they themselves. Once-in-a-lifetime experience...

But seriously what isn't "once-in-a-lifetime"...? Even things we are doing over and over again... the 1st time, is still once-in-a-lifetime, the 2nd time experience is still different. Tt's why we shld get more out of life... then simply trying to get thru... as fast as we can... things tt are unpleasant... they are prob the best learning experiences we can have, isn't it so?

Not often I'm home at this time... but I had my share of pool last nite... and attempted to walk home from Tanjong Pagar, and thinking thru, and speaking to Daddy above. But saw a group of foreigners having an argument far ahead near Arab St... decided not to put myself at risk, and hailed a cab straight away. Have things changed? Are things not as safe, or is it simply a one-off incident that I happened to witness. I'm different, walking home for example, but I'm not foolhardy.

Prayed to God during service, asking for a breakthru and freedom from the fear of lack. Hahah. Tt's also a demon tt's been dogging me for the whole of my life... when I was young I was considered born with a silver spoon... but soon that turned into bronze, then no spoon. haha. Soon, we had to depend on things ourselves... which is not exactly a bad thing. As I went home... I saw a letter from J-Team, asking for ppl to go for auditions -- well, I'm going to ask to be moulded to be all-round artiste - sing, dance, act. Yes. At least both singing and acting. And if only I could produce an album with local Hillsongs... haha. :P I want to make a difference. All the more I ask for what III WAAANNTT. All the more I force it, the more I fall, as it is not in His plans, even when I thot I COULD, it falls apart, as my focus has been incorrect.

Seriously if we think about it, having a material golden spoon is nothing compared to having a intangible golden spoon of love, support and unconditional acceptance. *Glad I could type fast... or else thots would be left behind... still remember P typing away furiously in the SB office... and I thot wow... if only I could type as fast as he does... now I can! Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You'll soften his heart, he's feeling pressurised as ppl ard him hasn't been exactly great testimonials, jus as You've provided the sparrows in the sky, similarly Lord, remove his animosity and feelings of abandonment and hatred, change his heart. I pray Lord, I put my dear friend, P, who has taught me much, at the foot of your cross, Lord. Soften his heart. In your most precious name I ask.*

Lord, I'd like to put my Dad and Mum and grandma, grandpa... my uncle, aunt, Sonia, David... my whole family, and extended family... into your hands. I hear abt Lynette Wan's entire family being saved... which is a wonder. A miracle. I speak your Miracle to this family, Dear Lord. Nothing else I'd like more to have my family attend service, with one heart, my hubby, my kids in tow, attending Sunday school... Mummy was asking about Passion of the Christ after she watched it... Lord, uncover their eyes, and their hearts, as I proclaim that this h/h will be won for the Lord, and all idols be banished. In your most precious name I ask too. For it is freedom to act in His accord, and be free from fear. Freedom means tt. Freedom from guilt too. WWJD?

I ask for mercy for the sins I have committed... too many to mention, too shameful to mention... it's not a matter of who knows... but a matter of myself knowing. "Holy Spirit, Rain dooooowwwwnnnn..."

A still having his exams... hmm. Wondering wat to prepare for M's potluck on 18 Dec. Something refreshing... let's decide...

And as I conduct more interviews... I hear ppl in their 40s to 60s, even... looking for a job. If they are working as they are bored, I do not have a problem with tt... but they share, "I still have energy left in me, I don't mind working seven days a week, I just want to earn more for my kids..." Is that a matter of bad planning? or? Wat if something happens to them? I don't think that we shld be slogging away at that age. I asked Daddy to grant me discipline as well... and it works!!! Haven't been very interested in food already... w/o having to try TUMMYTRIM. :p E, if you are reading this, I rem u told me not to take all these... r u going to heed your own advice? :P My perennial problem: binge-eating when stressed. Scary. Very. But Daddy upstairs is changing tt! Financial discipline too! Haaallleelluuyahh.

Thank You, for keeping me grounded and sane.

I count my blessings

Does hard work mean getting more? Hmm. Seems not necessarily... chafing at it...

As I interview more people, some have just so sympathetic backgrounds... and I start to think... how different am I from them? Do what I inherently possess skills or attributes that make me deserve better? Nature and nurture are both so impt... Choices and consequences too...

I count my blessings... and pray...