THE GREATEST ADVICE
- Rick Warren, the Purpose Driven Life
Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.
Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate!
Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Ms./ Mr. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Ms. /Mr. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.
Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.
Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.
It isn't true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!
When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back.
Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give to someone is your time.
Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is T-I-M-E because the essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves.
God is good all the time!
The Purpose Driven Life - Rick Warren
(Over 10 million copies sold, # 1 BEST- SELLER
*New York Times *Wall Street Journal *Publisher's Weekly
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Friday, December 8, 2006
Malaysia bites back and industriously trades the insults
by Michael Backman
The Age
November 29, 2006
MY LAST column on wasteful government spending in Malaysia (Business, 15/11) generated a furore. I received more than 600 emails from readers, mostlyMalaysians (both expatriate and in Malaysia) and nearly all supportive.
The column was the most emailed item on The Age's website for six days straight and it was replicated in dozens of blogs worldwide.
My personal website received more than 50,000 hits. AMalaysian Government minister criticised thecolumn publicly. And the Malaysian Opposition Leader issued a news release in its support.
The minister, Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia's Minister for Trade and Industry, declared somewhat imperiouslythat she didn't care what I said because I am a foreigner and I probably don't know much about Malaysia anyway.
Rafidah knows her trade brief like few others. Her knowledge of the complex rules of the international trading system, with its many trade barriers, is remarkable. In meetings with other trade ministers, she rarely needs assistance from minders. Hard working and tenacious, I once thought she might make areasonable prime minister.
But her technical abilities are marred by her mishandling of other issues, most recently her ministry's allocation of much coveted car import permits. Most went to a handful of well-connected businessmen, including her own relatives.
The issue exploded in Malaysia late last year and she was lucky to keep her job.
And then there are the corruption allegations. In 1995, in are port to the attorney-general, the public prosecutor said there was a prima facie basis for Rafidah'sarrest and prosecution on five counts of corruption.
An opposition activist later acquired official documentsthat appeared to confirm this. He was jailed for two years under the Official Secrets Act simply for possessing them. Rafidah, on the other hand, was not even charged.
Rafidah added to her remarks about my column that no Malaysian should say such things. It's little wonder that she doesn't welcome scrutiny from her own people. But then the idea that Malaysians cannot comment publicly about how their country is run but a non-Malaysian can, is disgraceful.
Perhaps Rafidah needs to be reminded who pays her salary.
And as if to underscore my points about waste, on the day that my column was published, an assistant minister told the Malaysian Parliament that Malaysia's first astronaut to be sent into space next year aboard a Russian space mission will be tasked to play batu seremban, a traditional Malay children'sgame played with pebbles, will do some batik painting and will make teh tarik, a type of Malaysian milky tea, all to see how these things can be done without gravity.
The day before, the Government announced that a new RM400million ($A142 million) palace will be built for Malaysia's king, a position that is almost entirely ceremonial.
And the week before a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a second bridge between Penang and the Malaysian peninsular costing RM3 billion, a bridge thatmany consider unnecessary.
Where would the money be better spent?
Education is the obvious answer. But not on school buildings , for it matters less in what children areeducated than how. And how children are educated in Malaysiais a national disaster.
Learning is largely by rote. In an email to me last week, one Malaysian recalled her schooling as being in a system "all about spoon-feeding, memory work and regurgitation. Students are not encouraged to think for themselves and they become adults who swallow everything they're told."
Even the existing system fails many. It has just emerged that in Sabah state, only 46 per cent of thestudents who had sat the UPSR - the exam that students sit before going to secondary school - had passed. One small school actually had a 100 per cent failurerate.
But does the Malaysian Government want creative, critical thinkers? Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi saidto the ruling party's recent general assembly Malaysia needed to make students creative. But that means they must be questioning and thus critical; what hope is there of that when one of Abdullah's own ministers tells Malaysians that they cannot say the things that I can and hundreds of them write to me to complain because they don't feel that they can complain to their own Government?
Malaysia needs to do something. Its oil will run out soon and it has lost much of its appeal to foreign investors - recent UN figures show that from 2004 to 2005, foreign investment in Malaysia fell by 14 percent, when the world economy was enjoying one of its longest periods of growth. One might wonder what the Trade and Industry Minister has actually been doing.
But, while politicians from the ruling party preach aboutMalay nationalism, there are at least some who quietly go about the business of trying to secure the country's future. Not all of them are Chinese.
Two weeks ago, Malaysia's MMC Corporation, together with a local partner, won a $US30 billion infrastructure deal in Saudi Arabia. That's a huge undertaking for any company, let alone a Malaysian one, and just as well too - someone has to pay the bills.
by Michael Backman
The Age
November 29, 2006
MY LAST column on wasteful government spending in Malaysia (Business, 15/11) generated a furore. I received more than 600 emails from readers, mostlyMalaysians (both expatriate and in Malaysia) and nearly all supportive.
The column was the most emailed item on The Age's website for six days straight and it was replicated in dozens of blogs worldwide.
My personal website received more than 50,000 hits. AMalaysian Government minister criticised thecolumn publicly. And the Malaysian Opposition Leader issued a news release in its support.
The minister, Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia's Minister for Trade and Industry, declared somewhat imperiouslythat she didn't care what I said because I am a foreigner and I probably don't know much about Malaysia anyway.
Rafidah knows her trade brief like few others. Her knowledge of the complex rules of the international trading system, with its many trade barriers, is remarkable. In meetings with other trade ministers, she rarely needs assistance from minders. Hard working and tenacious, I once thought she might make areasonable prime minister.
But her technical abilities are marred by her mishandling of other issues, most recently her ministry's allocation of much coveted car import permits. Most went to a handful of well-connected businessmen, including her own relatives.
The issue exploded in Malaysia late last year and she was lucky to keep her job.
And then there are the corruption allegations. In 1995, in are port to the attorney-general, the public prosecutor said there was a prima facie basis for Rafidah'sarrest and prosecution on five counts of corruption.
An opposition activist later acquired official documentsthat appeared to confirm this. He was jailed for two years under the Official Secrets Act simply for possessing them. Rafidah, on the other hand, was not even charged.
Rafidah added to her remarks about my column that no Malaysian should say such things. It's little wonder that she doesn't welcome scrutiny from her own people. But then the idea that Malaysians cannot comment publicly about how their country is run but a non-Malaysian can, is disgraceful.
Perhaps Rafidah needs to be reminded who pays her salary.
And as if to underscore my points about waste, on the day that my column was published, an assistant minister told the Malaysian Parliament that Malaysia's first astronaut to be sent into space next year aboard a Russian space mission will be tasked to play batu seremban, a traditional Malay children'sgame played with pebbles, will do some batik painting and will make teh tarik, a type of Malaysian milky tea, all to see how these things can be done without gravity.
The day before, the Government announced that a new RM400million ($A142 million) palace will be built for Malaysia's king, a position that is almost entirely ceremonial.
And the week before a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a second bridge between Penang and the Malaysian peninsular costing RM3 billion, a bridge thatmany consider unnecessary.
Where would the money be better spent?
Education is the obvious answer. But not on school buildings , for it matters less in what children areeducated than how. And how children are educated in Malaysiais a national disaster.
Learning is largely by rote. In an email to me last week, one Malaysian recalled her schooling as being in a system "all about spoon-feeding, memory work and regurgitation. Students are not encouraged to think for themselves and they become adults who swallow everything they're told."
Even the existing system fails many. It has just emerged that in Sabah state, only 46 per cent of thestudents who had sat the UPSR - the exam that students sit before going to secondary school - had passed. One small school actually had a 100 per cent failurerate.
But does the Malaysian Government want creative, critical thinkers? Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi saidto the ruling party's recent general assembly Malaysia needed to make students creative. But that means they must be questioning and thus critical; what hope is there of that when one of Abdullah's own ministers tells Malaysians that they cannot say the things that I can and hundreds of them write to me to complain because they don't feel that they can complain to their own Government?
Malaysia needs to do something. Its oil will run out soon and it has lost much of its appeal to foreign investors - recent UN figures show that from 2004 to 2005, foreign investment in Malaysia fell by 14 percent, when the world economy was enjoying one of its longest periods of growth. One might wonder what the Trade and Industry Minister has actually been doing.
But, while politicians from the ruling party preach aboutMalay nationalism, there are at least some who quietly go about the business of trying to secure the country's future. Not all of them are Chinese.
Two weeks ago, Malaysia's MMC Corporation, together with a local partner, won a $US30 billion infrastructure deal in Saudi Arabia. That's a huge undertaking for any company, let alone a Malaysian one, and just as well too - someone has to pay the bills.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Tired
Two months into work and I'm already tired. Do think that my current work is not for me. Guess I still need to do my best as it is my work at the moment.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
and He shall direct your path
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
and He shall direct your path
Saturday, November 25, 2006
tough week
this week has proven to be tough for me at work, similar to the night where i went to watch the play. need to think about certain things right now and to make some decision in my life.
i've hurt my friend's feelings again this week. twice in a roll. how cruel can i be? yet how can i remember everything? sometimes i wonder if i am to take this blame, yet, i do play a part in this and thus, i will bear the blame still.
don't know what to say, don't know how to apologise, don't know what to do..
sigh, God, thank U still that I can rejoice even though things are tough, coz I know U are with me still. Do pull me through this trying times I plead...
i've hurt my friend's feelings again this week. twice in a roll. how cruel can i be? yet how can i remember everything? sometimes i wonder if i am to take this blame, yet, i do play a part in this and thus, i will bear the blame still.
don't know what to say, don't know how to apologise, don't know what to do..
sigh, God, thank U still that I can rejoice even though things are tough, coz I know U are with me still. Do pull me through this trying times I plead...
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Last Monday, 6th Nov 06
Okay, I havent been bloggin for a while. Those who saw me last week would be able to see how stressed out I was at work! Rest assured, I am fine now and things are going on a slow pace (until the next wave of work pile up on me again). Okay, I think I need to justify why I was stressed given that this is a new job and all. Basically, I am required to present my project to our sales general manager and it was quite intense scrutiny as they need to ensure that the event would work and thus, I must be super confident during the presentation (which I’m afraid offffffff) and be able to handle their shots (questions by definition). I was stressed as I was not fully prepared (I feel that I am not) and it’s been quite a while since I need to do such presentation. Sigh, but God is great. As I prayed for peace, it was granted to me and I was quite myself during the presentation. Truly, I thank God for being with me at all times, even though sometimes my little mind cannot comprehend Him.
This week is a little slower after Monday. I’ve done up most of the things that I need to do and I’m actually quite free, come to think of it. I can’t wait for Friday to come, so that I can hang out at my friend’s place for board games and such. But first, there’s this month end session at a bar nearby organised by my office. Since I am new, I gotta give face, so I would definitely be late to my friend’s place. Sigh, it’s gona be crazy, for the fact that the place is at the jammest area eva! Oh well, we are to take things in stride aren’t we JRight now I’m feeling bored and sleepy, counting the time to go home, in 17 minutes! Yay!!
This week is a little slower after Monday. I’ve done up most of the things that I need to do and I’m actually quite free, come to think of it. I can’t wait for Friday to come, so that I can hang out at my friend’s place for board games and such. But first, there’s this month end session at a bar nearby organised by my office. Since I am new, I gotta give face, so I would definitely be late to my friend’s place. Sigh, it’s gona be crazy, for the fact that the place is at the jammest area eva! Oh well, we are to take things in stride aren’t we JRight now I’m feeling bored and sleepy, counting the time to go home, in 17 minutes! Yay!!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Living Bible
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans
and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of
college. He is brilliant, kind of profound and very, very bright. He became
a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative
church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure
how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, wearing his
jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started
and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is
completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really
looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.
Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes
there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. By now the
people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this
time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a
deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.
Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece
suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified and very courtly. He
walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is
saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.
How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand
some college kid on the floor? It takes a long time for the man to reach
the boy.
The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All
eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister
can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great
difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with
him so he won't be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says,
"What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just
seen, you will never forget."
"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!"
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.
and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of
college. He is brilliant, kind of profound and very, very bright. He became
a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative
church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure
how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, wearing his
jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started
and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is
completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really
looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.
Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes
there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. By now the
people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this
time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a
deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.
Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece
suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified and very courtly. He
walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is
saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.
How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand
some college kid on the floor? It takes a long time for the man to reach
the boy.
The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All
eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister
can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great
difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with
him so he won't be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says,
"What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just
seen, you will never forget."
"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!"
I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.
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