Caleb photos! From my E63 – first time transfer

 

Caleb with Samuel and pr. lingli’s aunt

Pr. LIngli’s aunt close up

 

Oops, he ain’t getting very used to the flash.

    

Caleb with Pr. Lingli who has a big smile

   

Caleb having a weird look with teacher Grace

 

Caleb having a ‘small eyes’ look with teacher Grace

 

Close up with Pr. Lingli’s aunt

  

Oops…intruder alert

Going to Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition

We will first go to Bank Negara of Indonesia to remit money for the maid, then we will go for lunch at Beppu?? (mummy is hitting me)

And then we will go to the Arts Museum to see the Dead Sea scrolls where the rest of the church members will join us.

Then after that, we will go to Mummy’s friend’s baby who is celebrating his one year old b-day.

Ok, what a boring post this is, well to test Windows Live Writer 2009. Get your free copy now. It comes with many other useful applications like a photo gallery. Well of coz, google still rules.

http://windowslivewriter.spaces.live.com/

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Really really thank God

Really really thank God that grandpa was discharged today and able to go home. May I plead with God that he continues to build up grandpa's faith that he can believe in God more and experience Him more.

It was really a miracle when i think back, when he was struggling to even breathe and his life was in danger, till now at home filled with energy though now his level of antibodies is very low due to his medication for MG, and as a result is very vulnerable to common diseases.

Finding a church for cousin

Hmmm...does anyone know of a good english speaking church which preaches the Word of God truthfully and worships Him in spirit and in truth?
It would be really useful too if the church is located in the east.

Would like to bring my cousin and her brother there as they are having some problems coping with the mandarin language used in my current church.

I really do hope that they have a right relationship with Christ through the use of a language they are comfortable with. May God lead us to finding such a church.

I love Mummy and Caleb! + random thoughts

oh gosh, its been ages since i last posted. Well many things have past and gone, and God's abundant grace and mercy has never failed to be on me. As well as pray for strength on how to be moulded by his trials.

Caleb is 7 months and 5 days old! He can crawl, walk on the walker, reach out his hands to ask to be carried, can eat solids, do ga-gas wa-was, hold his milk bottle to feed himself and of course brings lots of joy to people around him as what his name is intended for.

Thank God for taking care of him, growing stronger day by day.

On a side note, did you guys read the article on the suicide pact by a self made taoist medium who is only 16 yrs old? He made the pact together with 6 other teenagers and 2 really did jumped off a 9th storey floor. Felt really really sad on what had happened.

Apparently, they felt that they had to self sacrifice themselves to save the world. May we always have God's truth in us, given to us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, having God's Word as a light before us, shining clearly and brightly the path before us, to warn us of temptations, warn us of dangers, to know the truth, and the truth sets us free, free to do God's will. Not the will or deception of the devil, or man's depraved thoughts.

Oh well, off to teach my Global Citizenship class now. Signing off, Jason.

Our Very First Family Portrait!

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Originally uploaded by certainan

The Entertainer!

Caleb with his great grandparents who accompany him in the day and evenings. =) Caleb never fail to amuse them. And of course, it brings about the great story telling/analysis/prediction skills from greatgrandparents too! haha. Jia Le realli added joy to the family. Thank God for children are a gift from God.

Who Loves Caleb? Me! Me! Me!

Sleeping soundly…zzzz….zzzz. Don’t wake him up!

Smiling and chuckling. =D

Just lazing lazily on mummy. Hmmm…seems that hairloss is more obvious.

Papa trying to imitate his sometimes grumpy look.

Windswept photo shot! And he’s wearing mummy’s long awaited bip.

Documentary on Benny Hinn

 

I got the below youtube link to a documentary on Benny HInn. It assesses if his claim to miracle healings are true or not. Thanks to my Stemi Sg facebook friend.

Do add him/her to ur fb, veri uplifting and truth indwelling videos it shares not to mention any services tat are up and coming.

In the video, you will realize how awfully similar the worship services conducted are to some other Mega Charismatic churches in Singapore...

May God Himself guide us into His truth and give us the wisdom to discern, as well as the heart to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth instead of just aiming for a uplift of our individual self.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhvFScYQR_c&feature=related

Blog using Windows Live Writer!!!

Decided to try out live spaces instead of my blogger site where it is a pain to add photos. So far so good, still trying to get used to spaces.
So if things turn out well, expect to see my posts here!

My beloved son! haha. so funny! Love u Caleb!

Pretty Wife and cute son!

Thank God for His grace for blessing me with a wonderful wife and son.

The Rapture

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7e18e50b58eb7e0c6ccb&sp=1

First Day of Teaching at TP

IT was my first day of teaching at TP today. A fun day starting with class at 10am, engaging the students with numerous real life examples, giving them homework, later in the lunch time going back home to bring Caleb to see the pd for a slight bout of constipation.

It was real fun teaching the students, their excited faces beaming with curiousity and thirst to know what is upcoming for the semester. And hopefully, I responded with the needed energy to quench their thirst.

But what hit me on my first day was when I was walking towards my lab room, I saw a student in a wheelchair doing his homework with his grandmother standing beside him. Both were there at 9.30 waiting for their lesson which starts at 10am.

It was really a heart warming scene. I couldn't concentrate on my teaching task any longer till I could understand them both more. So after connecting my audio visual aids, I went over to ttalk to them. The grandma was a teochew and she had been bringing her grandson, wheel ridden from young to school since primary three. And yet there she was, day in day out, fetching her grandson to school, sitting with him in classes, with love caring for him.

I introduced myself to the boy, and he was there diligently concentrating on his assignment placed on a tabletop on his wheel chair.
It was then that I really had to thank God for whatever troubles I have cannot be compared to them. And also, the kind of love that this grandma demostrated to her grandson reminded me of my own.

May God help me to keep a lookout for them and get to know them better, helping them in needs and in God's love and truth.

Good Friday - Just Another Holiday?

Dear Wonderful Friends,

In the anticipation of tomorrow's Good Friday public holiday, I hope that we can just spend a little time thinking of the significance of this very important day two thousand years ago when a man, whom no judge could find any wrong-doing by him, yet was sentenced punishingly to death by Crucifixion on a cross.

I hope that before we just ignore this mail and go on about surfing sites/or work, that we will at least sit down to ponder on the actual happenings that have occurred, and if indeed it is not just a fictional recording, what does it mean for me?

Born by a virgin birth, Jesus grew up progressively and reaching the age of thirty travelled around towns and cities of Israel, making disciples, whom have recorded his teachings which have made up the Gospel books today as found in the bible. He gave comfort to the hurt, rest to the weary, healing to the sick, nourishment to the tired, hope for the faint, peace to the worried, joy to those in sorrow. He was sinless, not even a faint drop of wrong-doing was found on him.

Yet the most important thing was not about the impact of his actions but about whom he claim he was. He proclaimed and taught of Himself as the Saviour, the fulfillment of the Messiah as prophesied in the Old Testament completed five hundred years ago. That through him and only through him, we can gain eternal life. And that is not in abstract terms, but eternal life realized in being able to live in God's heavenly Kingdom for eternity.

With jealous, hypocritical, untrusting and murderous hearts, the religious teachers of that time whom are well versed with the prophecies of the Old Testament about the Messiah, plotted to discredit him, shame him, hurt him, kill him. And in doing so unrealizingly that they had actually fulfilled one of the many prophecies that Jesus was to be brought like a silent lamb, to the slaughter.

Betrayed by his disciple for 30 silver coins, whom later admitted that the had spilled the blood of the innocent, he was arrested and was brought before the temple priests, whom couldn't find charges against him. They later referred him to the Roman courts and repeatedly, the judge, Pontius Pilate refusing to condemn him of any charges, an act shared by his wife that "this man is innocent". Finally relenting to the shouts of the people who wanted Jesus crucified, Pilate gave in but not before professing that the blood of this man was not his head and he was found to be innocent.

He was flogged, severely whipped, till his flesh and muscles were left dangling from head to toe, with intestines and bones being exposed. A crown of thorns put onto his head, being mocked, spitted, shamed as the King that he had claimed to be. And the final act of punishment, the crucifying of him on the cross oh which, nails driven through both hands and legs, he finally succumbed to the tortuous treatment and breathed his last.

There was a huge earth quake after that and the curtain temple separating the Holiest of holies from the holy place was split into two. Many who witnessed then wondered, surely he was the son of God!

Before he breathed his last, he uttered two very important phrases. "Father, spare them for they do not know what they are doing." and "It is finished."

What these two phrases mean is that all the suffering and ultimately death brought upon Jesus Christ was actually God's wonderful plan to save man kind. With tremendous pain, Jesus still had mercy on the people whom are killing him, pleading for them before God the Father. And as he breathed his last, "It is finished." Signifying that the price for man's sins for all time has been paid by His death on the cross. That whoever accepts Jesus as dying for him/her, he/she can appear clean of sin before God.

And that is, really, the really Bad Bad Bad Friday which ultimately turned out Good for God's Love for Man that day was shown and accomplished.

So dear friends, I hope that the significance of Good Friday speaks to you today. And it is all summarized in our often over-looked verse which I would add some elaboration,
"For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, to die for us on the cross on Good Friday, that whoever believes in Him dying for us, will not perish but have eternal life."

And lastly dear friends, it does not end here, but He who died today, will resurrect three days later, disapproving once and for all, any doubts that He was the Messiah, proving once and for all, that He is the Messiah, Saviour of Man kind.

The empty tomb, the mark of my salvation.

God Bless,
Jason

Stupid AXA Agent

quite stupid saturday...when Caleb was born, there was a free 6-mth insurance coverage for him by AXA. So naturally, when the insurance agent called, and mentioned to come on down our home to arrange the docs for us, we agreed. of coz we knew that he wld definitely recommend 'extra' products to us but we were v. strict on only signing the basic essential insurances.

so he came first time down and did the docs for us, and of coz recommended a whole set of additional coverages for our family but it was quite a hefty premium per mth and we realli didn't feel the need for such extravagant coverages. so politely turned down his offer.

now he called us a second time saying to deliver us caleb's completed insurance coverage, so again of coz we are ok with that and also expected him to recommend again to us strongly on more coverages.

and it was as such, giving us caleb's stuff, he proceeded to turn away to recommending a 'family' coverage. As i have an existing coverage frm an army fren of mine whom has given me appropirate coverage, he asked to review tt coverage. Well, wrong choice actually, as once we laid all our existing coverages, it kinda became clear to me which plan was the better one. The existing one i had was much much better then the one he was recommending to me.

What made me realli angry was that he kept insisting that the one he had was much better. I realli politely rejected him a few times as his plans realli needed me to pay premuims well into my old yrs. He had well proclaimed he was looking out for our finances and all tt, but his actions were unfortunately not in tune with his recommendations.

Some of his absurb recommendations include saying of 9% interest rate is easily obtainable because we are monitoring it for u, hence u dun have to worry abt ur withdrawal being non-guaranteed. And he quoted this example believe it or not...imagine..u bought stuff with us in 2003 and in 2007 when it reaches the peak, and sell it, u gain a 30% return! well tt is true and many might be enticed...but wat we want is just a basic coverage and not investments and if realli investments, we wld hld it long term..and tt means holding it beyond 2009 which means a 10% loss instead which he conveniently just blanked out.

I asked him why he ignore the latter part of the years from 08-09 and he said, "because we wld know to sell it 2007!" yea rite...realli can't believe it man.

more stupid stuff to come...

i showed him my existing plan and he calculated the compounded interest rate for it. And unfortunately, he calculated it wrongly and still told me the wrongly calculated result. Becoz of my previous cfa exp, i knew the right of calc but the thing tt angered me was his blatant lying.

And of coz, i was most angered when he kept insisting his plan is better and its better for my family but obviously his first priority is defn to get the deal done.

before that, i actually believed that he as a insurance agent with his professionalism, cared abt his clients more than getting a deal which i feel tt is the true valued thing tt makes ur job worth while and worthly of a call. but he realli changed my mind quickly.

I seldom am pissed off with pple but i realli wanted to highlight such insurance agents to all...there are realli those who care for u and ensure tt u get appropirate coverage but there are those, who quickly turn a blind eye to better coverages from competitors. forunately for my basic finance knowledge, i cld discern it better and in the end, i had to reject all his plans.

And worse, was that he originally suggested upgrade to MySheild paid using cpf, he didn't want to do for us as he doesn't earn any commision frm tt...well fine...dun wanna own him any favours.

well i understand that its his job and the hrs he spent on discussions with us, but its my family's money tt is in concern now and not just a one time payment but almost life time.

oh not to forget, when i kept rejecting his plans, he started to randomly come up with plans from all his AXA arsenal and ust randomly recommend this and that, saving that he wld like to at least have us sign a plan with us.

haiz...realli hate to do this but, he to me, his concern wasn't for us and tt pissed me off. if he calls me again, wil simply just reject reject reject.

tt are gd insurance agents out there,....and there are erm....no comments.. but well through out the whole thing, i was polite to him, offering him drinks, but realli unhappy abt his unthought of reommendations.

but wat struck me was also, paying premiums here and there, i am reminded of Christ' s saving grace for us which is ENTIRELY FREE. Freely given to us. Freely. And as we enter passion week, let us remember Christ dying for us, and we, reminding ourselves to live for Him!

复活了

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

My Resolution I Pray

Two things I ask of God to grant me in my new role,

1. To love my students just as Christ as loved me. To have the strength to go beyond my duties to help each student grow.
2. At available opportunities, to share Christ's love with students.

Caleb's trip to T3

DSC_4279
Originally uploaded by certainan

Been quite a while since we church youths last gathered. Finally, met at T3 food court and then Ya-Kun for a mini-farewell for our bro.
Oh Caleb was there too, with Grandma, haha. He kena over stimulated that day.

Do your own passport photo

Who wants to do your own free passport photos?
Don't need to go to those photo studios and pay $7 for 4 photos which we keep losing...

http://www.epassportphoto.com/

Farewell

(this post was created wif a baby on my arm whom i am tryin to put to sleep =X)

mar 18 was my last day at cs. it was one of the most unforgettable days ever for me as i received a great farewell frm my colleagues. i thot it was just gonna be a hand shakin plus greeting thing but wat happened was really beyond my expectations!

(ok, luckily mother in law took caleb away so i can type much faster!)

THe sweet guys gave me a super big precious card! And it in had signatures/greetings from my IT team and even the proj mgmt team which of coz i gotta thank Karen for orchestrating this.

Here's the size of it.

Besides that, they gave a big photo collage which consisted of photos taken in my whole duration at CS. Incredibly well done and I heard that they had to put many hrs, collecting photos, arranging photos and getting the photo frame putting it altogether.Of course i had to pose with these wonderful guys with the gifts. Of my team also gave me a team t-shirt!!!
Special thanks to my teammates and also Karen and Cheri for orchestrating these...this is also not to mention the farewell lunches for which i did not post photos over here.

To express my gratitude, treated them for afternoon tea of brownies, rum balls, cakes, biscuits...

Thank you guys. Realli appreciate the efforts and it made it realli a wonderful and memorable departure. Will miss u all.

On the road to Wanaka (9)

On the road to Wanaka (9)
Originally uploaded by certainan

Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
Psalm 98: 7-9

Mummy and Grand Mummy!

DSC_4138
Originally uploaded by certainan

I love this comfy breast feeding pillow! I can just snuggle in it. And oh look! Mummy and Granny are beside me! Let's all pose for Daddy to snap from his borrowed D200. A pity daddy still doesn't understand the concept of ISO etc....

Mummy and Caleb!

DSC_4136
Originally uploaded by certainan

Both of them making funny poses at Daddy!
And btw, this is a test blog post straight from flickr.

Caleb - My Story

I love mummy! And hmm...why do I look at her so much?

Feel so comfy in grandma's arms!

My cot during my first day in the world in KK.

Oh, I learned how to open both my eyes for the first time!

Caleb's arrival

Finally, on the 3rd of February 2009, at 1815 hrs, Caleb was brought into this world.

Peixuan was induced on Sunday, and it was a long and terrifying wait for dilation to happen as we really didn't want her to go through C-section as her fibroids ran the risk of her losing too much blood.

Thank God that after 2 days, it dilated and it was time to push. Gynae's recommendation earlier was that she try natural delivery as the fibroids are not obstructing baby's path out. And it was indeed! Her delivery actually only took 1/2 hrs! Also thanks to Mummy's super determination and pelvic muscle and strength that she pushed and pushed and pushed and Caleb came out!

When I saw Caleb for the very first time, i was in total awe. We are indeed wonderfully and fearfully made by God! There must be an intelligent designer these wonders and He is to be praised! Also thanked God that I was involved in the actual delivery, mid wife taking one side, and I taking the other, both of us helping Cat count the pushing breaths, taking a deep breath, breathing slowly...the tips, the reminders. Hubbies, hope you will find the quick tip guide to helping your wife give birth useful.

QUick Tip guide to helping your Wife Give birth

1. If possible, go enrol for antenatal classes, you might say you know already. But it really doesn't harm and gives you the added confidence to support your wife.

2. If contraction pain, ask her to breathe slowly. Appear duhz, but trust me, your reminding will help them (as verified with my wife.)

3. Talk, chit chat, with mid wife, bring some humour in to ease the tension. Must get your wife to relax

4. And err....epidural if wife can't tahan anymore, feels like heaven.

In all, I really thank God for hearing and answering our prayers. Helping Peixuan have a safe delivery. Keeping her and Caleb safe. Caleb growing well to today. Faith in Him really kept us going and facing the next moment in confidence though we may fear.

Thank God for Caleb and Cat.

Caleb's coming out

Cat's gonna be induced coming Sun. Admission at 1pm and induction at 2pm.
Induction is needed as she has some fibroids which might get in the way of the delivery if baby is too big. So since baby is now 3.1kg (2 wks ago) and lungs are mature, will induce first.
Praying that her natural delivery will be all smooth.

Please do keep her and Caleb in prayer.

New Year, New Heart

New Year, New Heart - New Year's Eve Sunday Morning Sermon

Philippians 4

A heart of rejoicing.
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

A heart of gentlesness
5Let your gentleness be evident to all.

A heart of entrusting to God, not being anxious about anything.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A healthy heart, medicated by these qualities.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

A heart of setting an example.
9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

回顾2008 - 数算主恩

2008年实在是一个该感恩的一年。

年头，我和珮宣结了婚。过后就到纽西兰度蜜月。真好玩。自己也体验到了，神伟大的创造。

回来后不久，公司就安排我到Sydney公干两个星期。在那段时间里能和在那里居住的亲戚见面。太太也在那里陪了我一个星期。也蛮好玩的。最高兴就是能够与亲戚见面。

回到新加坡后，糟糕，工作忙起来了。但仍然神眷顾。祷告会，主日学教导，团契，崇拜，诗班仍没有缺席。

忙到了六月份，感谢主！太太怀孕了！心里又感激又欢喜。

前三月的怀胎期真不容易。若不是神的眷顾，人的眷顾就枉然劳力。但凭着神的看守，终于度过了前三月的怀胎期！

八月发现到我及格了CFA level two。真没想到会及格。但应该是不会再继续读了。也就在这期间，美国许多的投资银行开始倒塌。累积了好几年的经济繁荣泡沫终于被穿破了。也在当中看到泡沫是因为人自己的贪引起了百物高涨而造成的。认为什么物价会起。认为越不能测透的经融产品赚钱。认为越多贷款来赚更多的钱越实际。因此，从未见过的经济市场倒塌就发生在我们的眼前。

十二月-感谢神能够参加实乃断宣。太好玩了。而且又学习到儿童侍奉和各人布道，并看到神自己预备的果子。

在这月里也要感恩的是虽然经济衰退，工作仍然稳定。也看到前面的道路神预备。

当然不忘了每个星期能够教导可爱的少年人们主日学。整个过程当中也也在圣经里的话造就到自己。

主的恩典样样都要数！主的恩典都要记清楚！必能叫你惊讶立时了欢呼。

新年蒙恩！

刚刚下载了谷格（google）的中文拼音输入工具。哈哈。觉得他比windows的输入法好多了！就让我用华文来写这个部落格输入吧！

新年将来临了。很期待。也很紧张，因为。。。快要当爸爸了！但靠着神的力量，和恩惠，我会学习做个好爸爸的！

时间要到了。即将要去锡安楼开青年团契会议了！过后就是守岁礼拜，在神的家过年。

新年蒙恩！再见了！

如果你要试试谷格（google）的中文拼音输入工具，请到以下的网址下载。
ps：http://www.google.com/ime/pinyin/index.html

Hello Caleb!!

Hello Caleb!

You are going to arrive in about 1.5 to 2 months time! I hope i can carry you well and bring you up into a fine boy! Growing in stature and in favour with man and God.

I also pray to God that i can help mummy ensure your smooth and safe delivery and both you and mummy will be fine.

Looking forward to holding you Caleb!
You are wonderfully and fearfully made by the grace and mercy of God!

Senai Mission Chapel on Google Maps

Just some extract of google maps of Senai Mission Chapel below,

Zooming in...

And the area which we gave out tracts as well personal evangelism are demarcated by the red bold lines.

Thank God! Will hopefully write a proper blog entry on the wonderful experience!

唐崇榮 - 信仰難題有問必答

Very very very edifying. This is part 1 of Rev Tong's Q & A. Do go on to the succeeding parts. Think up to part 31...

Our Everlasting God

Too good lar!!!

You are my Hiding Place =X

As the Deer - (Gosh I need to improve =X)

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

Felt you kick for the very first time today. Very excited and happy to feel you. Haha, and you did it on my birthday too. Haha, though mummy has been feeling you for a while already, it was my first time feeling you, thought I was abit sleepy haha.

Look forward to welcoming you to this world wonderfully created by God. Do continue to grow well ok and keep Mummy happy and safe.

Dad

Why I do not support the US USD 700 billion bailout plan.

Why I do not support the US USD 700 billion bailout plan.
I support that the government rescues the ailing economy by injecting money into it.
I sympathize with the Americans that they are in risk of losing their jobs and need a jab in the economy.
I am fine with the amount being USD700 billion, the nation probably needs that.
Why I do not support is, where this USD 700 billion is being put into!
It is to buy toxic assets which are in the balance sheets of wall street companies. Basically transferring toxic assets from these companies to the US govt, which is in turn and we already know, funded by tax payers.
The greed that had caused these wall street companies to buy these assets have caused them to end up in this state. Many of the employees of these companies have for the past years benefitted from fat bonuses and salaries. Why as tax payers do they have to ensure that these people continue (albeit lower pay packages) at the expense of still ailing citizens still recovering from inflation, hurricanes and losing investments?

Yes the economy has to have a fiscal injection of money from the government. But not to buy toxic assets from these fallen-from-grace companies. These companies as severe to say, have to face a year of losses. But these 700b has to be spent properly, in education, in medical welfare, in ensuring the old’s retirement benefits, in the providence of the not so well to do, in recovery from people impacted by natural disasters, in the continuing fight against terrorism. Not in saving companies who have avert these losses on to themselves, leveraging to get better losses, basically greed when the upturn was on, borrowing to get more profits which resulted in the state they are in today when it turned out that money has to come from a solid root cause, not some nice sweet AAA wrapper around dung that people thought cost $$$.
These companies have to face the consequences of hindsight blinded by greed.

700b is a mighty lot of money. Dividing it to all Singaporeans assuming 4 million population, each one of us, baby, elderly, adult will get what? 180,000 sing dollars.
Ok, the above is just an illustration of how much 700b is. But the point is, the economy can still be saved by the govt’s injection of money as illustrated above, where more job opportunities will be created, and more importantly, tax payers, people, children getting assisted directly through this fiscal spending. And this will helping the ailing economy in the indirect, natural free market way albeit taking a longer time as compared to spending directly to in-the-red companies, tax payers not benefitted, top executives who made wrong decision to go scot-free without the punishment in economic sense, and the govt. left as a toxic dump. Not much better than a landfill waste.
US Fed Reserve Chairman Ben mentioned that as markets recover, tax payers might even benefit from profits in the toxic assets. Key word is might.
First Point. No guarantee that markets will recover
Second Point. No guarantee that toxic assets will profit. In fact, extremely low probability.
It is really bad to make such a probability based statement using words like ‘likely’,’might’ in front of congress, in front of the world and considering the seriousness of the issue. One has to at this point be extremely definite about it and certain.

Hence I disagree with this bailout plan on two fronts.
700 b not spent on the proper avenues, and the people who made the mistakes have to face the consequence. Well facing the consequence is not like being placed in jail or something, but you might be sacked, retrenched, yes, but it allows you the time to reflect on things. Reflect on what he/she have been doing for the past few years, betting on complicated derived hollow business models to make money. Money in the end state, has to come from a solid base. And upon reflection, stand up, understand something not based on fundamentals will one day come crashing down.

Now spend the 700b yes! But on more the people! For the people! Not for greedy companies!

Goodbye Investment Banks.

Goodbye Investment Banks.

You certainly made the world go round when you were around for these 20 odd years. Simple stocks were not enough. You had to wrap some weird filthy stuff up in nice little wrappers, stamp an AAA on them, give them complicated names, and shared them with the world.

Once upon a time when jobs from you were most coveted, people just couldn’t fathom the amount of money that you generated. It was incredibly crazy and unimagineable just how you earned at a rate more than the minting machine could make.

Now, back to the good old days of using deposited money instead of some weird source of borrowed money. Goodbye Investment Banks.

Ha ha..just a funny ‘poem’ about our dear wall street financial institutions and the dire state they are in now. Sometimes, we really have to get a real job instead of ‘deriving’ from real jobs. Punt intended.

Sorry if the above post may seem weird, its really suppose to, like the way these guys have functioned for the last few years. ;p

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Oh ya, recorded some sermon summaries from Rev Tong's gospel rally and prayer meeting sermons. Hopefully will persist in adding these precious, precious, precious messages as we go along.

Ranting 16th july

Ok ok...you guys probably already know it, but if you don't, here's the ahem..shocker. yes my wife's 'you le'. Thank God for children are a gift from Him.

Bad news is that she has to stabilize her condition more and is currently a week of m.c. Have to be confined to bed rest and absolutely no load lifting, walking about too much etc etc.

The confines of growing up to more and more adult like responsibilities have been indeed abit too much to take sometimes. But its part of moulding i guess. And of course and that we can leave any burdens to the Lord.

Work now is realli quite hectic and it is not really to my enojoyment. I seldom wanna talk abt work but this time round, its like...abit overwhelming at times. But taking it in stride and step by step and definitely by relying on God, I get by well.

Have been interpreting much more now in church and i've kinda enjoy it. Though the nervous bugs till bite me when i start to step into unfamiliar ground. To all budding interpreters! Interpret that thru you, others are edified (they can understand), and bringing them to God. Simple as that.

Its been so long since i have last blogged and so many things have happened in the world, sichuan, myanmar, oil price, zimbabwe, catholic priest in scandal,...i wld like to comment on each one by probably just to lazy to type it down. sure thing that i wld comment if face to face discussion. =)

Please treat the above as just my ranting, its like 2am and I can't get to sleep so i am just anyhow bloggin out my thoughts which are highly subjective and prone to changes hahahah...

Why can't I?

Just added my minutes on Pastor Teo's sharing on "Why can't I?".

Please go to http://sundayschoolz.blogspot.com/

四川

对不起。真的很久没有blog了。要和各位分享以下的短访问(thanks to Uncle Victor)。是和一个在四川christian relief worker.
短短的访问在次的提醒我们人很软弱,很有限，生命不再我们的掌权之下。
要信耶稣，神有他美好的安排。

http://upload2.net/page/download/NStg08MBIFsCF21/qingting.mp3.html

继续为着受灾民祷告！

BBN Radio

Check out the below 福音电台

http://www.bbnradio.org/wcm4/tabid/3104/Default.aspx

Can just listen from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
Its really edifying, with sermons, prayers and hymns.

A good word from God

Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad."
Care, fear, and sorrow, upon the spirits, deprive men of vigour in what is to be done, or courage in what is to be borne. A good word from God, applied by faith, makes the heart glad.

So do not worry about tomorrow;
for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34

Good bye Sam

When I first joined CS, a british accented chinese sat near me. Becoz I sat near him, I always got to hear him speak. And it was really fascinating, to see a chinese speak in perfect british accent. He was of vietnam accent but guess his family moved over to London. Not only was it nice to hear him speak, but as he handled issues, management of projs, it was quite an experience to witness all that.

I do not know him personally and never got a chance to speak to him. It was just me observing him from far. A month or so later, i moved to another location and thus was the end of our close proximity.

Today I received a mail ,

"I was told the sad news yesterday that Thang Sam died in the early hours of Thursday morning. As many of you know he has fought a brave battle against cancer for the last year or so. Thang has been an important and very popular member of Risk IT for as long as I can remember. In 2006 he agreed to move from his management role on Insight in London to head up the Credit Risk IT deployment in Singapore. It was during his time in Singapore that he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He was very brave indeed in the face of this news and carried on working for a long time whilst undergoing treatment. Eventually however in mid 2007, he had to return to UK to go on long term disability. He leaves a wife and two young children."

I was immediately down spirited for the whole morning. I pray that in God's sovereignity, might he be saved and may his family be preserved and guided by our all powerful all loving God.

Writing Down

Surprise, surprise...

"CS has written $2.85 billion off the value of its asset-backed investments and found mismarking and pricing errors on its books, it revealed on Tuesday, sending its shares plummeting."

It was first Julius Bear, then Merill Lynch, then Citi...and sub prime blood was soon all over markets. But the thing that pissed me off is not that CS is writing off a loss, the thing that pissed me off was the timing it did that.

Time and again it reported that '07 3rd quarter, 4th quarter had earnings despite writing downs (of which are not so big a magnitude). And it had to wait till 1st quarter to announce the big bath write down.

Surely it would have its balance sheet tidied up way back in '07 right? I mean where's the integrity of the company? Why wait till now for this big write down?

Whoever is being this decision, reputation has indeed fell deep down in the pit. Let's wait till the next can of worms pops up.

Sorry about my ranting, but I am really quite disappointed about the integrity of the company here...which I always thought was respectable.

Chinese New Year (status: married)

Hey, just got back from home after watching 881, the singapore made film on getais.
Today is the first year of the chinese new year, went to bedok shop, then went to 3rd grand aunt and 4th grand aunt and finally to Cat's house. This is also the first new year where i start giving hongbaos.
Whoa, its seriously big losses man, people stop giving me hongbaos and I start giving them out. Cash Out no cash in. haha...the only way to counteract this is of coz...haha..u know

Talking about 881, for most parts of the show, its actually quite fun, watching the hokkien songs and superb act by Mindy Ong and Yeo Yann Yann. But it was really sad at the last scene, with her life slowly disappearing due to cancer. It was particular sad knowing that Mindy knew that life was coming to an end, but she was doing all she can to live her life to the fullest.
The show overall was kinda boring, but Mindy's role kinda touched me, and to really appreciate that to live the fullest with hope, we have to live in Christ.

Also just got back from having a tour with Cat over the Compassvale Beacon site. The site where we got a queue number of 399 for 540 4-room flats. The flat is situated in an established area, v. near Sengkang Sec. sch. Transport wise it would be taking an mrt from Ranggung LRT then to Sengkang MRT. Well, not to sure whether to take that up yet, but will wait for the HDB call up to finally decide.

A month ago, our house is bustling with relatives from all over and excited about our wedding. We ourselves were excited about preparing to go to New Zealand. A month on, excitement is still there, discovering our marriage lives, grappling a foothold over it..haha..mum's back, but sis is back to NY, coming back in May(hopefully). Also, have to pay more attention to grandparents, for their health is deteriorating slightly. Hmmm..must come back home earlier!

Also started initial study prep for cfa 2, having a break from sun sch teaching this wk, catching up with work, looking with intent interest at the world's development, firms' losing money, central banks cutting interest rates, microsoft over yahoo, Jerome Keriel wanting to drag SocGen down...well haha...this blog is really about me ranting rite?! ahah..

Oh ya...church frens coming over on sun to have lunch. Also a simple way of thanking them for their help during my wedding. ALso glad to have the long weekend being able to spend with family.

Thank God for everything!

Long Overdue post

This is a long overdue post. Life changing things have just happened to me over the past 1 month.
For eg. er.....i got married and after that I went NZ for honey moon haha. Talking about my wedding, oh man..trying to recall it, it just flashed me in a boom. I am still kinda dazed. The whole day just went passed like that, shaking ten thousand hands, taking and giving ten thousand hongbaos, smiling ten thousand times etc. But it was all fun!

Luckily we get married only once in a life time. phew! :) But i am glad wifey had her dream wedding. Her fav. gown, fav. hotel, fav church wedding, almost everything fav..hahahahehe.
And of coz all these are possible due to my dear church mates and family!

And as u already know, after my wedding we went over to NZ south island for 2 wks. Photos can be viewed at wifey's blog
http://jascat.multiply.com (there are probably thousand over photos there)

NZ, super duper beautiful island. Words just do no justice to the beauty of the country. Every photo taken is a postcard quality one. Alps, lakes, valleys, panaroma lakes, valleys mountains..phoa..too power already. And it realli gave me a sense of awe that God created these magnificient landscapes.

Just a few quick tips if u go to NZ. Go to SOUTH ISLAND. TREK on the GLACIERS. RENT A CAR. Buy INSURANCE for the car. Get the cheap MOTEL guide book and go to the cheapest MOTELS. And with that, NZ is quite easy to navigate. A GPS unit wld be useful if available from the car rental.

Thank God for His numerous graces.

2008. A new start, a new life, a new family, new strength to serve. New family member? nah.....hahahah....

byebye!

p.s. my mum and sis, if u reading, quickly come back! :)

Reflecting back on 2007

Well now, let me kinda do a review of 2007 and reflect back on ups and downs, the Lord's graces, and certain interesting things! Let's see how much I can remember.

January- Think it was around this time that Cat and I decided on Oriental being our wedding dinner venue. It was really the earlier stages of our wedding preps. Looking back..haha..we went Park Royal, Orchard hotel, both service stuff where nice.. but Wifey liked Oriental best. Hence there u haf it, coming Sat! Enjoy the food ya!!!

What else in january..hmmm...can't really remember anything significantoh..maybe at work it was my first attempt at giving training to adults? haha...i have taught sunday sch to teenagers, computer science to undergrads and tuition to kids, but adults ? it was kinda my first, but haha..i treat gave it the same mentality to all my teachings, keep it simple, bring out what the audience needs to know, and a sincere love for them. (okok, I still have a much to work on that!!!)

Feb - Err...chinese new year? Boring...haha.... Oh was quite tied up at work coz of UAT (User acceptance testing). Realized that this is the period where work kinda gets doubled. Its actually where users and programmer finally sit down and say, hey...this is wat i understood from you. hey this is what I expected from you. And also started to think, hey, is this what i really want to do? Spend my time with? Or, is there a higher calling?
ALso, got to know the joyous nwews that the May is pregnant!

March - UAT still going on. At the same time had to study for CFA. Also had to prepare for sun sch every wk. But thank God for His preservation, to put my priorities rite. Sun sch seriously had to come first. Those 12 young souls listen to me for an hr each wk, i just can't go there irresponsiblily and any how teach them, especially when its the Word of God. More on sun sch later. But i thoroughly enjoyed the Gospel of John. Indepth reading of the bible is way different from just reading thru...

April - die die, memory failing...cannot rem much. UAT was coming to an end. More studying for CFA. Sun sch...

May - Took 10 days leave to study for CFA. study study study...but funny and u might not believe me, but I love studying finance leh...the subject interests me. veri much like i like comp sci too.

June - Exam day. Also thank God that Cat and I could join family camp. Thank God that some of the youths could go to the watchmen's fellowship in Penang. 'Shou wang tuan'. Cat and I went abt 2-3yrs back, so encouraging that other youths went too!

July - woo hoo.By God's grace, i passed CFA level 1! haha...one thing bad that happened was that Grandma had a realli bad fall. She broke her thigh bone and also had a frigthening scare of symptoms of stroke. But God indeed works wonderfully, when she was in her bed, we had many moments to share, pray for her. And she was very willing for me to pray with her. Its in times of need, that we seek the Lord most. Hence, it realli made me understand by what James said that "Consider it pure joy when you experience trials."

Aug - Got to know 2 realli cool colleagues from work. U know who u r!
Sep -
Oct - Declan was born! First baby from the youths! Population birth rate of church: 1! Also shuxian got married!
Nov -
Dec - Phew. SF/YF Camp over. Tiring sia...Prep for wedding

Er...i sougta eased off towards the end of the last 6 months. Too lazy to type and think and recap. But realli many many things to thank God for in 2007. Now to look forward and press on in 2008!!!

Getting Married! and thanks to those who helped out!

I am getting married this coming Saturday 5th Jan!!!
It will be a church wedding then lunch buffet than break in the afternoon and have a evening tea ceremony followed by the wedding dinner tonite.

Wanted to say a Big thank you to all of you whom have helped out with the wedding preparations.
You know who u are! :) Its with you guys that Cat and I could have a fun, relaxed day where we share our marriage vows! From helping me with the song lyrics, producing of the invitaiton/bulletin cards, corages/hongbao/ring pillow boxes, emceeing, carpark marshalling, ushering, marchin, AV, video, photo montage, marriage counselling, honeymoon prep, crowd control etc etc. so many things but guys just make it happen for me. THANK YOU!!!

Treat u all to big big one.

Of coz also BIG THANKS to my family. The reno, seating plan, honeymoon, etc etc also...they did so many things!!

Lastly Thank you Lord, for besides the salvation you bestow, she is the greatest gift i can ever receive!

hope fully can post up some wedding photos and videos soon!

Now to count down!

The true meaning of Christmas

The true meaning of Christmas.

当我们庆祝圣诞节，
你是否想过耶稣基督降生是为你，
当我们互曾礼物给朋友和所爱的人，
愿我们献给他神圣的赞美。

当我们赞美救主也将生命献给他，
好让世人都知道他的爱，
他降生在伯利恒，
是神赐人的礼物，
感谢天父，
你的完美爱的礼物。

"When we celebrate Christmas, have you ever thought that Christ was born for you.
When we exchange presents to friends and loved ones,
let us give to God holy praises.

When we praise the Savior Lord and give unto Him our lives,
we let men on earth know about His love.
He was born in Bethlehem,
a gift given by God to man.
Thank you Heavenly Father,
For your perfect loving gift."

End of SF/YF Camp + PS Photos!

Hello, just completed SF/YF camp this wk. Though tiring, but thank God that everything went well and the students benefitted greatly both in fun and in the Word of God.

surprize surprize..below!!! Glimsp of Photoshoot photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=D



Alamak...i hope the above photos do look like me. Hate it when pple sae eh...how come u look so different one..or..eh..how come don't look like u one.=X

But hor...very yandao and mei nu rite =D

BIG Thank you

Hey all, first off, I would just like to say a BIG thank you to a great colleague and friend at work. Thanks, Jaz, for the 1000 piece Mickey and Minnie jigsaw puzzle below! (she spent 2 days doing this thing hor...so nice...:P and its was nicely framed! ) Seems like wifey has a companion in her jigsaw puzzle building.

As wedding preparations come by more and more, also got to thank Linglee and I-ning for helping me with the SF choir to sing the song that my sis composed. They thought long and hard about the lyrics/melody merging and also guided the SF choir. Thanks to you both and also u lovely kids in SF!

And of course, to Thank God for all these wonderful people around me. Also want to thank my family, whom helped tremendously with house renovations, ensuring that i have a nice nest to stay when I am married. My grandparents, for their daily meals providence...My uncle offering to help with video graphy and photo montage ...my other friends who are all in the preparation process...and of coz my wife (to be) for kinda like EVERYTHING. Let's enjoy our wedding prep and the day itself ok? Not to mention NZ...

Coming week I will be on leave to help out in SF/YF camp! Thank the Lord too that all is well in work, managed to rush out some last minute year end work and am thankful that it all went well, hence letting me able to help out church camp in peace. Remember back i think 15 yrs ago i attended my first church camp and now, I am doing it for other students, hope that it will be a memorable one for them too, not only in terms of fun but through the camp, getting to know God better.

Ok...no more random thoughts, or rather too lazy to pen them down. Gonna sleep soon, tmr sun sch, sun service, SCEL Christmas rally, and wedding @ nite.

1 month countdown...

Wah...very long neber update liao. Singlish all come out liao. hahahah

hehe, below are the song lyrics to be sung by SF choir during my wedding. So romantic rite...They sounded really angelic during their first rehearsal. Many thanks to I-ning and Linglee who led them! My sis gotta quickly come back and rehearse with them!

What we saw during our traffic-jam-look-at-christmas-lights orchard road. It distracted me away from the christmas decos.


Hachi Roku!!! (meaning 86...well even though Jaz says its supposed to bbe Hachi Loku.)


And of coz...my newly renovated study room! With new tables from ikea and wardrobe!! Super big wardrobe! Super long jointed 2 white tables!!!