What Makes Me Sad?

Random thoughts :) Went to East Coast Park with some leaders yesterday. So while a few of us sat at Subway waiting for the rest to arrive, the ever creative Bro Andy came out with a few topics of discussion to spend the time. With the first topic of "What makes me happy?", came the next inevitable question of "What makes me sad?".

That caught me thinking...hard.

We live in a sinned-filled world. With it comes emotions and feelings that God didn't intend, one of them being sadness. As such a undesirable feeling, it is no surprise that many of us try to block it out from our lives. We put on masks to hide it...or we try not to remember persons/things that cause us to be sad. During the discussion, one of us aptly commented, "I remember the things that made me happy more than those that made me sad." And judging from the nods of agreement around the table, she isn't the only one who felt that way.

So...what makes me sad?

My answer didnt come almost immediately like it did for 'happiness'. Like I said, I thought hard. (By the way, holy answers like 'Seeing that many people have yet to know Christ' were not counted :P) Yes...I could recollect incidents where I was sad, such as "I fell down and hurt my knee, so I was sad." :P But I was searching for something deeper and less superficial. Things that really hurt me inside. Things that cannot be healed easily. Things that are difficult to forgive and forget.

And then the answer came to me...

Seeing people who are close to me being sad, and I can't do anything about it.

I can't believe I took so long to think of it, because such things always tear me inside. Long after the tears have stopped, the pain continue to hurt. And the helplessness of not being able to do anything just makes it worse. In such scenarios, I can only turn to God and pray for His intervention. But that doesn't mean it is easier. I always wish that I can do something...anything!!

Corrinne May has a knack of singing my feelings...

'cause I'm standing in your corner
Knocking at your door
You don't have to be alone

Just call my name
Let me be an answer
'cause it hurts me to see you this way
I wanna ease your pain
Help me understand
Let me be your shelter my friend

-- Corrinne May, Shelter

Is Rebellion Wrong?

Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
- 1 Samuel 15:23a [New Living Translation]

Wow!! That sounds really serious. And it is. Whenever people rebelled against God in the Old Testament, the ground opened up to swallow them, or a plague broke out, or fire fell from Heaven(...and a couple more). In the New Testament, God's method of punishment may be less fanciful, but punishment by death wasn't unheard of. And just in case you didn't realise, we (yes! you and I) are living in the times of the New Testament.

When Bro Andy was briefing the leaders about the roles we had to play for F.U.E.L. last Saturday, I thought playing the rebellious role was going to be fun :P Haha...I got to be unleader-like. But as I rebelled against some of you, I didn't like it. It felt uncomfortable. I believe all of you didn't like it too. Somehow, I felt troubled and regretted choosing the role.

Haha...I am sure some of you are going 'Yar right!'. But honestly, I really didnt enjoy it. And yet, all of us (myself included) do it so naturally, sometimes without even realising it. That is why we need God and godly leaders in our lives - to let us know when we have done things that aren't right or pleasing to God. All of us need a 'compass' in our lives to let us know when we have gone off track, because our own judgement may not be right all the time.

Rebellion is more than just the words we say or the things we do...it is also the condition of the heart. We can obey and behave accordingly, but if there is grudge in our heart, God still isn't pleased. That is why in Deu 15:10, God commanded us to give 'without a grudging heart'.

BUT...is rebellion by itself wrong?

definition of rebellion: resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or tradition.

Hence, when we show defiance towards God, then it definitely isn't right. But if you rebel against (resist) the tradition, cultures, practices...of this world, then I say 'Rebel all you want!!' :)
Be different!
Stick out like a sore thumb!
Be a 'loser' in the eyes of the world.
Believe me, it is not easy. I know. But I figured it would be better to be an outcast in this world, then to be cast out of God's kingdom.

So what if you are not with that popular group of friends?
- at least you have godly friends

So what if you do not have the latest fashion accessory/gadget?
- at least you are not tempted by worldly materials

So what if you are unable to pass your exams?
- at least you didn't cheat

So what if you can't 'talk' like your friends?
- at least you didn't use vulgarity

So what if the world looks down on you?
- at least you can look up to God

Mark 8:36 - What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?

The challenges that I have put forth above isn't easy. But I am challenging you to do hard things. Go against the ungodly culture of your generation. Be a Mighty Warrior for Jesus!!

Movie Experience

Hi all!!! I am so sorry to those who are going to take their exams, or are already in the midst of it, but I must really share about my latest movie watching experience. This is my first movie since my exams ended last week...and more importantly, it has been a really really long time since I really really enjoyed myself so much at a movie :D


Ok...it should be a no-brainer of the movie I watched. Note that the local release date on the poster above is incorrect. 'Iron Man' was released here on 30 April 2008.

*** Spoiler Alert: I will be revealing parts of the film ***

For the non-Marvel fans...some background on Iron Man. The original person inside Iron Man is Tony Starks, which is also the person the movie is focused on. Tony Starks is a brilliant engineer/scientist and a wealthy businessman. His main business is in the inventing and manufacturing of weapons for the U.S. Army. He believes that by giving the army more powerful weapons to use against the enemy, he will help save the lives of soldiers. However, when he was attacked and captured by bad people, he had a close encounter with death. Through the experience, his eyes are opened, and he realised that making bigger weapons isn't the solution to the problems. So he escapes from the bad people (which I won't say how) and taadaa..!! IRON MAN is created. For the rest of the story, or if you didn't understand my brief summary, go watch the movie or read the comics. Or if you really desperate to know the full story...go here.

So...why was Iron Man such an fun and enjoyable movie for me?

I watched it with engineers

Among the group of us, we had 4 Aerospace Engineers, 2 Mechanical Engineers and 1 Electrical Engineer. And with Tony Stark being an engineer, you can see the connection. Throughout and after the movie, we were thoroughly picking apart every piece of technology featured in the movie. For example, the Aerospace department were drooling over the the air flaps on Iron Man and wondering how he can withstand the G forces when he flies. Haha...somehow we made everything we learnt in school come alive. Even if it isn't reality but a movie.

Humour

Seriously, I lost count of the number of times I laughed. When I first watched the trailer, I thought it was going to be like another cheesy 'Fantastic Four' (the first movie). Instead, each time I laughed during the movie, I told myself "I got to remember that." But I kept on laughing time and time again, and lost track of everything. Don't get me wrong here. It is not a comedy show. There are its explosions and actions. But the funny parts were really well done. Good example is the constant banter between Tony Stark and Pepper, his assistant (yes his assistant namer is Pepper.)

(When Tony meets Pepper after escaping from captivity)
Tony: Your eyes are red. Tears for your long lost boss?
Pepper: Tears of joy. I hate job hunting.
Tony: Okay, vacation's over.

OH!! and there's the robot assistants...

Really Really Memorable Moments in the movie

Like I said, I don't remember all the funny moments. But the robot assistants are firmly etched in my memory.

Most memorable moment: Tony Stark's robot assistant showering him with a fire extinguisher.

Second most memorable moment: Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit crashing through the roof of his house, through a grand piano, and onto his Mustang. AND his robot assistant proceeding to shower him with a fire extinguisher :D


Haha...ok, I better stop here. If not those taking exams will probably start flaming me for making them drool :) To those taking exams, I still remember you although I am taking a break from my studies. SMS me if you need any prayer requests. Continue to study and do your best for God's glory!!

See all of you this week at F.U.E.L.!!!