you know how certain images or songs bring back memories? well this song did. its been 5 years! how fast time flies.
-----------
Out of nowhere, out of my thoughts
Let me sing you a waltz
About this one night stand
You were for me that night
Everything I always dreamt of in life
But now you're gone
You are far gone
All the way to your island of rain
It was for you just a one night thing
But you were much more to me
Just so you know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVIHo-0JKA8
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
19m in 24 hours
I like to refer everyone to this article that came out in the local press.
$19 million in less than 24 hours
The congregation at New Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista. -myp
Tue, Mar 10, 2009
my paper
THE congregation at New Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista - in less than 24 hours.
In a show of support, a record number of 22,000 people turned up for services at the Rock Auditorium at Suntec City Mall three weeks ago.
The donations were collected over four services on Feb 15.
In comparison, a month-long charity drive by NTUC Income, Project Love, raised about $375,000.
Following the success of its fund-raiser, the New Creation Church announced the amount it raised to its members on Feb 22. However, when contacted, the church declined to comment.
New Creation Church-goer Angelique Lee, 26, a full-time student, said her donation was a form of thanksgiving and appreciation "for all that God has blessed me with".
'Attending church has helped to transform my life and make me a better person over time,' she explained.
Graduate student Huang Wei Hsuan, 26, who is not a member of the church, felt that part of the funds could be used to "help those who are really in need, instead of being fully used to construct a new building".
'Is it really a good idea to build a new building now? Should the church members be advised to keep more for rainy days?' he asked. But many others who are not from the church were heartened by the congregation's generosity.
'I feel it's incredible that such kindness, empathy and generosity can be shown in such bad economic times,' said Mr Shawn Chin, 24, a civil servant.
-------
Kindness? Empathy?! I really do not know what the heck Mr Shawn Chin is smoking. Does he even have the slightest idea how bad the economic conditions are now? And the church can even have the cheek to channel really valuable money into building a mega-plex complete with gourmet supermarkets and beauty outlets?
And to do it all in the name of God?! I know a lot more ways 500m could be put to better use. Ok, maybe the megaplex is actually Keynesian stimulus in disguise.
Well at least someone spoke up.
Church funds could go towards helping the poor
A reader is urging New Creation to donate the money raised to charity instead of spending millions on an Integrated Hub. -myp
Thu, Mar 12, 2009
my paper
I REFER to the report, "$19million in the kitty in less than 24 hours" (my paper, March 10).
Some people may have forgotten that a church is meant to be a centre of spiritual teaching and worship. It is a place where one can seek calmness and spiritual guidance.
The plan by New Creation Church to build an Integrated Hub with a "gourmet supermarket, restaurants, fashion and beauty outlets" and a 5,000-seat auditorium with "world-class acoustics" appears contrary to the principles of faith preached by churches.
Instead of spending millions of dollars on the complex, how about building a church with an attached world-class library that houses Christian writings, which can be used to spread the word of God?
Alternatively, New Creation could have chosen to build a clinic and offer free consultations to the needy. After all, Christianity is fundamentally about helping the needy. Such a clinic could help hundreds, if not thousands, of needy Singaporeans.
Of what use to Singaporeans, Christian and non-Christian alike, would a new shopping centre be in an already-saturated retail scene?
In the same report, it was stated that NTUC Income's charity drive, Project Love, raised only $375,000, compared to New Creation's $19 million.
I urge New Creation to reconsider its plans and to perhaps donate the money raised for the hub to charity.
Alternatively, the church could use part of the funds to send its members on a religious pilgrimage. They could use this chance to learn more about the religion, bond with each other and perhaps use their new knowledge to help others who are in need of spiritual guidance.
Mr Ong Yong Shun
$19 million in less than 24 hours
The congregation at New Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista. -myp
Tue, Mar 10, 2009
my paper
THE congregation at New Creation Church raised a whopping $19 million for the construction of its new premises at Buona Vista - in less than 24 hours.
In a show of support, a record number of 22,000 people turned up for services at the Rock Auditorium at Suntec City Mall three weeks ago.
The donations were collected over four services on Feb 15.
In comparison, a month-long charity drive by NTUC Income, Project Love, raised about $375,000.
Following the success of its fund-raiser, the New Creation Church announced the amount it raised to its members on Feb 22. However, when contacted, the church declined to comment.
New Creation Church-goer Angelique Lee, 26, a full-time student, said her donation was a form of thanksgiving and appreciation "for all that God has blessed me with".
'Attending church has helped to transform my life and make me a better person over time,' she explained.
Graduate student Huang Wei Hsuan, 26, who is not a member of the church, felt that part of the funds could be used to "help those who are really in need, instead of being fully used to construct a new building".
'Is it really a good idea to build a new building now? Should the church members be advised to keep more for rainy days?' he asked. But many others who are not from the church were heartened by the congregation's generosity.
'I feel it's incredible that such kindness, empathy and generosity can be shown in such bad economic times,' said Mr Shawn Chin, 24, a civil servant.
-------
Kindness? Empathy?! I really do not know what the heck Mr Shawn Chin is smoking. Does he even have the slightest idea how bad the economic conditions are now? And the church can even have the cheek to channel really valuable money into building a mega-plex complete with gourmet supermarkets and beauty outlets?
And to do it all in the name of God?! I know a lot more ways 500m could be put to better use. Ok, maybe the megaplex is actually Keynesian stimulus in disguise.
Well at least someone spoke up.
Church funds could go towards helping the poor
A reader is urging New Creation to donate the money raised to charity instead of spending millions on an Integrated Hub. -myp
Thu, Mar 12, 2009
my paper
I REFER to the report, "$19million in the kitty in less than 24 hours" (my paper, March 10).
Some people may have forgotten that a church is meant to be a centre of spiritual teaching and worship. It is a place where one can seek calmness and spiritual guidance.
The plan by New Creation Church to build an Integrated Hub with a "gourmet supermarket, restaurants, fashion and beauty outlets" and a 5,000-seat auditorium with "world-class acoustics" appears contrary to the principles of faith preached by churches.
Instead of spending millions of dollars on the complex, how about building a church with an attached world-class library that houses Christian writings, which can be used to spread the word of God?
Alternatively, New Creation could have chosen to build a clinic and offer free consultations to the needy. After all, Christianity is fundamentally about helping the needy. Such a clinic could help hundreds, if not thousands, of needy Singaporeans.
Of what use to Singaporeans, Christian and non-Christian alike, would a new shopping centre be in an already-saturated retail scene?
In the same report, it was stated that NTUC Income's charity drive, Project Love, raised only $375,000, compared to New Creation's $19 million.
I urge New Creation to reconsider its plans and to perhaps donate the money raised for the hub to charity.
Alternatively, the church could use part of the funds to send its members on a religious pilgrimage. They could use this chance to learn more about the religion, bond with each other and perhaps use their new knowledge to help others who are in need of spiritual guidance.
Mr Ong Yong Shun
Friday, November 28, 2008
Asking the Correct Question
I refer to Dr Teo Ho Pin's STForum letter dated November 28th, 2008 .
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_307666.html
The town councils' maintenance of sinking funds is clearly necessary as Dr. Teo spelled out in his letter. Sinking funds help finance major restorative works in the estates among other uses. And I wholly agree that any surpluses in the funds clearly should be invested in appropriate instruments to maximize their use. That the funds suffered losses is unfortunate but I am confident that the town councils did their best to make sure the money is well invested.
However, why sinking funds are needed or how the funds are invested, are not the right questions. The correct question that should be directed to the Town Council is, why do the town councils need to draw more conservancy charges from the residents, when there is enough excess that it could even be used for investment purposes? Or perhaps could the charges be reduced when clearly they are actually producing surpluses?
I am confident that Singaporeans are generally mature and cognizant of the need to maintain reserves, and that these investment losses are unfortunate. However, the level of the reserves is the real question.
http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_307666.html
The town councils' maintenance of sinking funds is clearly necessary as Dr. Teo spelled out in his letter. Sinking funds help finance major restorative works in the estates among other uses. And I wholly agree that any surpluses in the funds clearly should be invested in appropriate instruments to maximize their use. That the funds suffered losses is unfortunate but I am confident that the town councils did their best to make sure the money is well invested.
However, why sinking funds are needed or how the funds are invested, are not the right questions. The correct question that should be directed to the Town Council is, why do the town councils need to draw more conservancy charges from the residents, when there is enough excess that it could even be used for investment purposes? Or perhaps could the charges be reduced when clearly they are actually producing surpluses?
I am confident that Singaporeans are generally mature and cognizant of the need to maintain reserves, and that these investment losses are unfortunate. However, the level of the reserves is the real question.
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Poor in Singapore
This is really a great video.
Sobering.
In our pursuit for that elusive GDP growth figure, who have we left behind?
Sobering.
In our pursuit for that elusive GDP growth figure, who have we left behind?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
i hate myself
i hate myself.
my closest friends, i confess to you, i hate myself.
i hate myself for my lack of courage. i hate myself for living life according to the standards set by the capitalist society. i hate myself for the inability to see past material goods and wants, and follow my heart.
its insane.
its driving me to new lows. whenever i hear of news that someone is getting this high pay, or this excellent job, it drives me mad, the sense of regret that i paid such a huge sum to get out, only to experience the rubbish here.
and i am not sure now if i dare to pursue academia given this, i wonder if mentally i can take it.
this is bad, really bad. i know this is probably nothing compared to the problems of you guys, so i do apologise if its inappropriate.
my closest friends, i confess to you, i hate myself.
i hate myself for my lack of courage. i hate myself for living life according to the standards set by the capitalist society. i hate myself for the inability to see past material goods and wants, and follow my heart.
its insane.
its driving me to new lows. whenever i hear of news that someone is getting this high pay, or this excellent job, it drives me mad, the sense of regret that i paid such a huge sum to get out, only to experience the rubbish here.
and i am not sure now if i dare to pursue academia given this, i wonder if mentally i can take it.
this is bad, really bad. i know this is probably nothing compared to the problems of you guys, so i do apologise if its inappropriate.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Barack Obama
This part from Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, moved me to tears.
"We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500," he said, "but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job — an economy that honors the dignity of work."
How true! Obama for President!
"We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500," he said, "but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job — an economy that honors the dignity of work."
How true! Obama for President!
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