不一定是贪

29 Jul 2015 (Wed)

(A brief version with some edition of a parable posted on Facebook by Sir Tan Chong Boon) A hunter set a trap, a hollow coconut with a small hole and inserted sweet rice, a monkey sniffed the rice, inserted his paw, and screeched in frustration when it was unable to withdraw its paw, because a fist clenching the rice, through the narrow opening. The hunter caught the monkey.

What was the trap that caught the monkey?

Rice? Coconut?

No,  the trap was greed. The monkey only had to let go of his attachment to be free.

Likewise, we are the ones who trap ourselves. We are always responsible. The real trap is always within, not out there. The causes of suffering are in us. External situations are only conditions.

What is in your fist that you still hold on to?

When we play chess game, we know how to give up the Castle to save the Queen (弃车保帅). This beast do not know, or too frighten to think properly, lose the ability to release its paw to let go and get free. We also unable to release whatever in our possession in order to get freedom, for example stay in high pay post with great pressure. Not necessarily we are being greedy.

 I had been employed by the BFI (Battlefield Instrumentation, a civilian company support ATEP), I considered it was a good pay 2nd career for me after 37 years of regular service, but it was tough. Initially 1 or 2 ATEP per month, later, more and more ATEP allocation. During ATEP, we manned the work station 24 hours continuously 4 days, 4 ATEP missions, without break. Thus, I worked there only 14 months although I was offered contract for 3 years. I was able to release my hand to let go and get freedom, thank the Lord for the wisdom given to me. I was not the monkey.

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

舍得放弃，弃车保帅，留得青山在。当局者迷，猴子不知道放手就得自由，人也是为名为利，不知道放手就得自由。（不一定是贪）。

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！

SG Funpack

26 Jul 2015 (Sun)

I received the SG Punpack notice card very, very early without any indication when and where to collect the SG Funpack.

The Card designed resemble a commercial advertisement. Someone could have  disposed it in the rubbish bin next to the mailbox.

'Please keep this card for exchange of the SG Punpack' top of card in English, right edge in Chinese, left edge in Malay, bottom in Tamil. I like this in multi-languages.

The reverse side of the card say that your grassroots organisations will let you know by 15 July how you can collect the SG Funpack.

I had waited until 21 Jul 2015, and I saw below my flat the RC started distributing the SG Funpack, so I went there first attempt to collect but in vain. The staff told me that my block number had been assigned to collect on XXXXXX date. I didn't really pay attention to the date. Just said that since no queue, she could be flexible, but she stick strictly to the assigned date for distribution.

On 23 Jul 2015, I went to the RC just below my flat again, and I managed to convince the same staff and collected my SG Funpack.

The next day, on 24 Jul 2015, when I opened my mailbox, I received a letter which inform me that I could collect the SG Funpack between 27 Jul 2015 - 06 August 2015.

Alas! that was the problem created, on the card saying that by 15 July 2015, your grassroots organisations will let you know how you can collect the SG Funpack. And they had started distributing it. The letter only reached me on 24 Jul 2015.

It was only for a Funpack, however, it had made me unnecessary frustrated. They should have sent me the letter before 15 July 2015 or before started distribution.  

Daddy

25 Jul 2015 (Sat)

I sent a birthday greeting on face book to a friend who was my former Basic GA Course trainee, and I received a very comforting response - 'Thank you daddy.'

In the army soldiers address their superior Officers 'Sir'. I was appointed BSM of TAW in 1973, then I was only a Sergeant, but for Artillery, soldiers practiced address their BSM 'Encik', hence, I earned the title of 'Encik' - Mister in Malay. I felt respectful.

My trainees and fellow NCOs (lower ranks), addressed me 'Encik', This was regimentation, respect required in the uniform organisation.

When I was Course Commander in the 2000s, it was not my intention, but during my first talk to my men, I liked to say I would treat you as my sons, I would have your welfare at heart, etc, etc, etc. and I was sincere of what I said. For that I earned the title of 'Daddy' from my Basic TAs/GAs, soldiers started addressed me 'Daddy'.

One day, I was walking at 23SA compound in Khatib Camp, someone called 'Daddy' aloud from a distance. I looked where the voice came from, I recognised a GA, my former Basic GA Course trainee, posted to 23SA, in a tentage performed stand-by duty. Called me 'Daddy' was an extraordinary respect from my soldiers.

I would like to thank Sgt Hassan, my Papa Bty BSM, who had demonstrated to me an example of a good BSM/superior, he treated us well, 27 of us TASA, when we first posted to Taman Jurong Camp, I was just copied his method of leadership.

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

创世记 9章11节，我便记念我与你们和各样有血肉的活物所立的约，水就再不泛滥，毁坏一切有血肉的物了。

神是伟大的，祂创造了宇宙万物，我们要敬畏神。

约翰福音 4章23 - 24节，那真正拜父的，要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他。神是个灵所以拜他的，必须用心灵和诚实拜他。

在金庸的武侠小说‘神雕侠侣’里，杨过对小龙女的称呼，不叫‘师父’，叫‘姑姑’，因为杨过曾经拜全真教的赵志敬为师，可是赵志敬没有教他武功，还常常诬蔑他，是一个不信实的长者，杨过却要称他作‘师父’，杨过敬畏小龙女，不想小龙女和赵志敬有相同的称呼，所以不叫‘师父’，叫‘姑姑’。

我们敬畏神，祷告时，对神的称呼是‘天父’或‘阿爸父’，我们能说出口，是用心灵和诚实，也是得到圣灵的许可的，不然，就难以说出口。

清世祖爱新觉罗·福临（1638年3月15日—1661年2月5日），清朝第三位皇帝，清朝入关的首位皇帝，年号顺治。福临六岁登基，由叔父摄政王多尔衮辅政。起初，福临对叔父不敬畏，只叫他十四叔，较后改口称皇父，最后，福临敬畏多尔衮，以‘父皇’称呼多尔衮，也自居‘儿臣’。

感谢赞美主，我信主的心一天一天的成长，自居神的儿子，对神的称呼，已改口叫‘天父’或‘阿爸父’。阿们。

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！

Fear God

24 Jul 2015 (Fri)

The FCF (Fisherman of Christ Fellowship) senior fellowship for Area South was held at Labrador Park.

A minibus was used to ferry some of the Bro and Sis-in-Christ, while some drove there and took along with them 2 - 3 persons.

Praise the Lord, the weather was sunny and hot humid, however, the sea breeze brought us comfort while we shared the God word.

We had lunch together, we said the grace for the lunch provided, the food is important for our body, however, the 1030 - 1230hrs spiritual food even more important. Today topic was 'Fear God'. The God word was:

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.   （Proverbs 3:7)

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！

SG Funpack

23 Jul 2015 (Thu)

I have collected the SG Funpack at 1930hrs today, it is my second turned up at the collecting centre just below my unit. The first time i went there on 21 Jul 2015, I am worry that they may run out of stock.

On 21 Jul 2015, no one queued there, but the staff adhere to the rules and regulations, said that your block number has been designated to collect on 27 Jul 2015. I told her, since there is no queue, why don't you issue to me. She stick strictly to the designated date.

This evening, I tried my luck again, saying the same reason over again to her, 'The assigned different times for collection is to prevent crowding, and now not even a single soul, why don't you issue to me'. She finally gave it to me, thank you.

I checked the SG Funpack at home. I did not find the rubber eraser with the Singapore flag, that was the most valuable item I was looking for, I think my funpack was imcomplete, I rather disappointment. How come?

Not very long ago, there was an advertisement on TV, a student fight with someone over the rubber eraser with the Singapore flag printed on it. There were other national flags printed on the rubber erasers, but the boy like only the one with Singapore flag.

Majulah Singapura.

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！

Cruise

22 Jul 2015 (Wed)

Before i retired in 2005, I made a rough calculation, if i spent $100 everyday, i could survive till 80 year-old with my saving.

A friend of mine made an interesting proposal, ' Shall we all go when all have retired' - 31 nights round trip Singapore to Australia Cruise on SuperStar Virgo, Geraldton,  Fremantle,  Albany, Adelaide,    Melbourne,  Tasmania,  Sydney,  Brisbane, Cairns,  Darwin.

The cost was $3089, rough calculation that was $100 per day per person, quad share in an inside Cruise. Exclude sea port tax of $1060.

The 'Fisherman of Christ' Fellowship, our pastor, late Mr Huang, used to preach a parable that God provision resembled we go onboard cruise, everyday meals have been catered for by God's grace. An ignorant fellow who having paid for the trip  but did not enjoy the food provided onboard. He took instant noodle everyday in order to save cost.

Faith in the Lord Jesus, pray and communicate with Father, enjoy the grace of God.

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.（Luke 12: 16 - 29）

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！

vacuum cleaner

21 Jul 2015 (Tue)

I paid S$219 for a vacuum machine at Court today. The manufacturer warranty for 2 years, promised to repair or replace the machine if malfunction and defect part. I paid an additional S$45.90 to Court for the 3rd year warranty. In the 3rd year, Court promised one for one replacement if the machine breakdown. Maybe not the same model but the same value of a new vacuum machine.

I paid to have 3 years usage of a vacuum machine.

I registered on line to the manufacturer for the warranty for 2 years for the vacuum machine i have purchased. And safe keeping a piece of payment note for the 3rd year warranty by Court.

I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. （John 6:47)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2: 8 -9)

No one can pay to have everlasting life or to pay to have 3 years or longer life. It is the grace of God.

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！

生老病死

20 Jul 2015 (Mon) (中文原文在英文译文之后）

When I saw the newborn baby sleeping in a cradle, only about 10cm, my heart burst from the concussion, this baby comes in the world, is the grace of God, his life starts, God has paved the way for him, all of us (celebrities and ordinary people) started the same way, to fulfil God's will in life.

10 days ago on 10 Jul 2015 (Fri), I went to Tang's funeral wake, paid condolence to a former colleague, and today my heart is rippling however, Tang has completed the design of God for his road.

He seems healthy, he preaches with loud and clear voices, few days ago because of sudden breathing difficulty, admitted hospital, checked no serious problem with lung, but heart murmur, required open heart operation, it is supposed to be a major surgery, can we not afraid? Fear is a result of forgotten God, life has been designed by God, trust and obey God, you fear not.

Thank God for His daily grace & counting my blessings，Give thanks daily & rejoice in the Lord always!

生老病死：当我看见睡在床上的初生婴儿，只有大约10公分，我心中起了一阵震荡，这婴儿降临世上，是神的恩典，他的一生由此开始，神已经为他铺好道路，我们（名人和小人物）也是这样起步，要完成神的旨意过人的一生，我为婴儿默祷，求主保守他，阿们。

生老病死：10天前到一位朋友灵前吊唁，到今天心里乃然荡漾着，他走完了神为他设计的道路。

生老病死：他看来无病痛，声音洪亮，但是因为呼吸不顺畅，进入医院，肺无大碍，心有杂音，定期做开心，大手术，能不害怕吗？害怕是忘记了神，一切由神设计，坚心依靠神，顺服神不必害怕。

常常感谢神的恩典，每天记录和计数恩典，感谢主！