Month August 2007

In Iraq, sex is traded for survival

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Al Jazeera News • August 13, 2007

By Afif Sarhan in Baghdad

When Rana Jalil, 38, lost her husband in an explosion in Baghdad last year, she could never have imagined becoming a prostitute in order to feed her children.

A mother of four, Jalil sought out employment, but job opportunities for women had decreased since the US invasion.

“I think of my children, only my children; without money we starve in the streets.”

She begged shop owners, office workers and companies to hire her but was treated with what she calls chauvinistic discrimination.

Within weeks of her husband’s death, a doctor diagnosed her children with malnutrition.

Fighting tears, she recalled the desperation which led her to the oldest profession: “In the beginning these were the worst days in my life. My husband was the first man I met and slept with, but I didn’t have another option … my children were starving.”

She left the house in a daze, she recalled, and walked to the nearest market to find someone who would pay her for sex.

She said: “I’m a nice-looking woman and it wasn’t difficult to find a client……………”

Continue with the full story here>>>

Living with eternity in sight

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“But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.”

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (New Living Translation)

Property Frenzy

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One of the mornings I noticed this long queue near a bus-stop along the AYE where I usuually board the bus to work. 

Long Queue

They were definitely not queueing for Gwen Stefani’s live concert tickets nor for Singapore’s latest local musical production- “881” getai movie tickets. They were queueing to purchase units from a freehold condominium property! 

This property frenzy is really taking Singapore by storm at this moment.  

And apparently it looks like Singaporeans these days getting richer and richer (and more, poorer and poorer).

Why?

Cos the very next day I saw that all the units were snapped away like hot cakes and sold out (!?).

Where is the love?

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I hopped on a cab to church yesterday from Clementi. And as usual, I gave the cab driver my destination and directions.

“Uncle, Orchard Road. Please go by AYE and exit out of Clemenceu Road”

With that, I sat back and did what I enjoyed best- “stoning”.

Not long after, I realised that the cab driver made a wrong exit. Instead of Clemenceu Road, he actually exited prematurely from the AYE and entered Clementi Road again?!

Upset I questioned him and pointed out to him with much irritation what I had originally instructed. But apparently he mistakenly heard me saying Clementi and not Clememceu. Duhz….

Eventually, we had to take another route to Orchard.

Where was the love of Christ in me?

But just as I was quick to react, the Holy Spirit gave me a jab in my heart; seemingly disapproving my attitude. 

Oops… I was impatient and oblivious to the feelings of the cab driver who could easily be tired from having to wake up early to work 24/7 and at his age ( maybe over 50 years old), life was already stressful enough with increased 2% GST, later withdrawl of CPF funds and the recent stock market volatility. (=P)

As I recollected that God is for the people; with a contrite heart I sought His forgiveness and I repented of my ill-spirit.  

I need more of His love.

Lunch with Philip Kotler

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Today ‘heng heng’ (lucky blessed) I got a free ticket to attend an Executive Lunch Talk with Philip Kotler. He is supposedly the world’s No.1 Marketing guru, and believe or not he is now 76 years of age.

And believe or not again… the tickets were priced at $800 per person!? My colleagues and me really ‘tan dio’ (profited) sia…

Personally, I would never spend that kind of ‘scandalous’ amount just to listen and rub shoulders with a who’s who status person. And frankly, listening to Mr Kotler was more like sitting in a lecture class except of cos, this was in a hotel.

Mr Kotler presented most of his points in an academic-like fashion or text-book style. And surprisely, almost half of the strategies and case studies he shared were taken from a book- Blue Ocean which was not authored by him. That was puzzling.

However, I did brought home some useful knowledge like this one- Factors that build a company’s reputation:

  1. Quality of products or services
  2. Innovative-ness
  3. Financial soundness
  4. Quality of Management
  5. Social responsibility

These factors in building a company’s reputation can be similiarly used for one’s personal life.

(1) Quality of products or services refers to our character- am I trustworthy and be relied on by others? 

(2) Innovative-ness refers to how my life is continually adding value to others- If Google or Apple were to close down, would they be missed by people? if I were to die, would I be sorely missed?

(3) Financial soundness is equally critical in an individual’s life, in exhibiting stability in order to gain credibility.

(4) Quality of Management is self-explanatory. If you can’t manage you life, don’t expect others to allow you to manage them.

(5) Social responsibility is the need to be accountable to those around you and contribute to the betterment of your community. No man is an island. 

Therefore, I believe if we bear these factors in mind with our personal lives, we can build a attractive personal repution for Christ with those around us too. And in any case, building a reputable company begins with us (our personal lives) first as CEOs or bosses.

The Gospel of God’s Kingdom

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During one of my recent CG times, we had an upclose and personal session with fellow brothers, Alan Tea and Paul Tan (co-founders of Decus Consulting). That session left me even more convicted of the gospel of God’s kingdom in me that I was carrying, and not just the gospel of His salvation.

Facing the real world

Which now means, I know without a doubt that I am called to do more with my redeemed life than simply eat, sleep, shit, play, work, contribute to Singapore’s statistics and taxes for nation building before I return to dust again.

In this world that we are living in, we must firstly concede that we are ‘trapped’ (by default) in an endless and temporary world system that demands us to pursue after things that have no true significant meaning or eternal value to our lives. And in most situations, these are things that have been ‘forced’ upon us to the point that we naturally accept as our way of life.

I think it is kinda like the virtual world concept of the Matrix movie, but only in our reality, we need to be awaken to the spiritual world. And this will enable us to see beyond the facade of our world and see the true reality in what harm it is actually doing to us- our souls.

To live is Christ, to die is gain

When faced with the reality, the second logical step is to find a solution- a way out. For some, attempting to escape being trapped is trying not to be a part of our world system, would be their way. Though this may seem like a solution, but unfortunately it is not. In fact, by escaping, one is not truly facing the reality but in denial.

The only solution- way, truth and light at the end of the tunnel is Jesus Christ. It is only when we tap and align our lives with Him, then can we truly free ourselves from this system despite living in it. Cos in Him, we know who we live for and where we truly belong- For Him and His kingdom.

Only in Him, we can overcome and emerged as the head, and not the tail, to influence our world for Christ!

Be on constant high-alert in this battefield

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In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

God-sent ‘Angels’

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Last night there was an unexpected knocked on my door. I was expecting to be greeted by a salesman, but was surprised by the sight of two female strangers.

As I hid behind my door in my under-dressed state, I asked, “Can I help you?”

One of the girls replied, “Can we pray for you for any blessings?”

Taken slightly aback, I was able to identify them as members of Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) when I saw the “100K”  mini-brochure she was holding as I recalled reading in Ming Chun’s blog his 100K adventures. 

100K

Greedily Readily I answered, “Ya why not…” and I proceeded to tick the blessings which I needed that were indicated on that mini-brochure:

  • Health
  • Protection
  • Family Harmony
  • Financial Freedom
  • Progress in Career
  • Friendships and Relationships
  • Wisdom and Intelligence
  • Direction for the Future
  • Fullness of the Holy Spirit

After this whole 100K thingy was over, other than being encouraged of the good work that this church was doing, I didn’t think much about it.

It was not till I was to turn in for the night that I realised that the 100K blessing was a miracle from God. Cos out of all the days, it had to be on MY BIRTHDAY that these two sisters came, and moreover I was AT HOME at that time!

Wah… Thank God for those two ‘angels’ who He sent to bless me and remind me of His love for me =) 

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My Doodling:

Believe it not… Man U won the FA Community Shield in great timely fashion at the stroke of midnight thru Van Der Sar after he saved the first 3 penalties from Chelsea in the penalty shoot-out! Yay…. Heavenly Daddy gave me the first best birthday gift!

Happy birthday to me… Happy birthday to me… Happyyyyyy Birthdayyyy to meeeee… HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! =P