May 30 2012
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after thought

Stay truthful

It’s getting really near to the 4 June Memorial and a lot of press is showing what the people in HK are doing to keep this incident afresh in our heart. Very young colleagues yesterday were telling me they saw a book of Chen XiTong, the powerful former Mayor and Communist Party boss of Beijing has just been published and released. In this book Chen will probably confess how much he has not been part of the massacre and my colleague laughingly said publishing a book is too easy nowadays as no one really need to be responsible of what they say and what they proclaim. I have no concern about Chen’s positioning of himself whether he is innocent or guilty of being the lead of the cruel incident. The bigger thing is about if the truth being reported or not. My colleagues told me they were like 4 years old or have not even been born on 4 June 1989, and they asked me where I was during that very day and afterwards. I was super glad and feel privileged to be able to explain to them what I recall! They listen with the greatest interest and attention because I don’t think they have heard of that from someone they know at all (except their parents…not sure what they think). We aren’t the most political alert part of the population, but my colleagues just exclaimed why people couldn’t get real and admit what they have done. We have no idea how the China government could deny that just like they could never excuse Japan denying the Nanking Massacre decades ago. God clearly states that if we want to be forgiven, we need to repent and part of this repentance is definitely be true and real about what wrongs we have done, and not repeating the same doing. I am going to attend the 4 June memorial next Monday just for the hope that China would advance and improve in their mentality while their economy is blossoming like never, wish their hearts could be purified.
Daily Quote
and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’
2 Chronicles 6:37
I pray to God that our country China could truly rise up as one of the biggest country amongst all not only with their economic power, but by giving people their natural rights such as freedom to speak, freedom to think and freedom to religion.

Postscript Quote
Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences.
Francois de la Rochefoucauld 
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May 28 2012
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after thought, charity, society

What keeps you afloat?

Yesterday my church’s sermon is about kindness, and my church started off playing a video done by Life Vest Inside – watch it here, the video has gained over 5.2 million views. Funny that 350 people dislike the video though… The video and pastor’s sermon actually reminded me what I read before Rick Warren – Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church has helped paid a guy’s supermarket item like a bag of ice and the good deed just become viral and it spreads.  And I read that the CEO Tony Hsieh of Zappos (the greatest online store in the States) has gotten helped by a stranger I think again it’s a supermarket time LOL, that this stranger asked for his return that the CEO would do the same to another complete stranger. Kindness is a simple smile, a simple gesture, I was reading further the mission statement of Life Vest Inside, it says “By creating an exciting and accessible kindness experience, we will become more aware of the opportunities that surround us and recognize our potential to change the world, simply by changing ourselves.” It’s so true, that when we create something for the others, we are re-creating our life and what could happen to us. When you are given a glass of water when you are thirsty, you are staying Godly.
Daily Quote
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Proverbs 25:21
I pray to God that we would keep kindness in our heart and in our action.

Postscript Quote 
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.
Plato
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May 25 2012
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after thought, business

floors

I was waiting for team member at client’s building lift lobby as I was a bit early yesterday. The building is one of the newest in Causeway Bay and it looks pretty well managed as they have staff traffic-ing the people going in and out of the elevators, and I noticed a westerner was getting into the building with her wheeled-baggage which she pulled relaxingly and one of the staff quickly approached her and picked up her baggage! I was thinking, Wow! That is really what you call service as I thought the guy was gentleman and wanting to be helpful. Then after a few seconds, then I notice the foreigner raised her voice at the building staff and saying something “the floor is dead, we are people…” and pointing at the ground and get into the lift in a angry dissatisfied mode – then I realize the building prohibits people to have stuff rolling on their floor! I was shock and not 100% sure if the observation was right, then my team-mate strolled in, he’s a photographer, and he has a wheeled-luggage with him coz he was doing a photoshoot! WHAHAOO – immediately he’s being ‘advised’ to pick up his luggage and not wheeling into the elevator – since he is not a foreigner, he has not been ‘assisted’ like the foreign lady was and just been told to observe the rule. I cannot believe this – how can a building not allowed people to wheel on the floor – and their floor was marble with pattern like those Italian design not that they are carpeted or fragile, it’s quite ‘flowery’ and if you drop something you wouldn’t even find it!  Imagine if I wear my roller-skate and want to return to the office? Do I have to take off my ‘shoes’? I just don’t think this building is treating people right with the basic respect, empathy and generosity. I almost want to speak to the staff and explain or request that their rule is unreasonable, but I don’t want to be such a drama as the staff probably do not find the rule reasonable himself and he’s just a staff, I guess I have to practice Godly thoughts and manner in a more constructive way, maybe writing to the management?! Peace is the key now.
Daily Quote
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves
Romans 12:10
I pray to God that instead of finding fault in others, we should try to bring peace to each other’s lives as much as we could.

Postscript Quote 
You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
Chinese Proverb 
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May 24 2012
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day to day, event

wait for the late

Last night I was meeting up friend to attend a percussion performance at the Arts Center, so we decided to grab something quick to eat before the show so that we won’t feel distracted! We meant to meet at the subway station and by the moment when I arrived Wanchai and heading to the relevant exit, I got an whatsapp message from friend that she would be late. All good, at least she took the time to let me know she couldn’t be on time. But she didn’t say for how long. No big deal, I just stood there and waited up…I was listening to radio, reading news, checking out different apps. Time does pass quite quickly in the beginning, but not as quickly as I have wanted it to be maybe because I was starving. 15 min, 20 min, and it’s half an hour. She still has no update about her whereabout. I almost feel asleep at the station exit..And it’s 45 min then I decided to call her up but it’s not turned on. Hmmm…what should I do? A while further, she rang! And she’s still at the office! She apologized and I answer her: “you must have a reason for this, see you at Arts Center!” and I have to dash to the venue! On my way, I stopped over McDonald for SOS rescue and I bought something for my friend. When I got there – my friend arrived already. It shocks me coz I thought it’s gonna be a while as her office is at Causeway Bay and Wednesday night at Causeway Bay is hellish. The moment we met, I showed her the McDonald paper bag, she was super happy and was indeed grateful as she did not expect that from me I guess! Deep down I thank Lord for motivating me to stay patient coz I usually would have been fuming and gotten upset about other people being late, coz they are wasting MY time. But I keep telling myself she must be in difficult position and stay calm, even if we would be late for a show, it’s just a show. I seem to have more empathy for situations, but I know this is tough for me to behave like this no matter who, where and when. But at least I manage to be composed at this situation last night – there is a long way to go ahead!
Daily Quote
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
James 5:7
I pray to God that I would feel for others just like God stay patient for me.

Postscript Quote 
Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering.
Paul Coelho 
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May 23 2012
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after thought, business

Résumé

Is it Resume or Résumé? Scott Thompson, former CEO of Yahoo! I believe he would hopefully interpret the word as ‘resume’ rather than just a CV as a documentation of his academic to professional background and track record. Scott has to resign his role as CEO because of the discovery there is a descrepancy between his corporate biography and CV on paper. He claims he double major in Computer Science and Accounting, which in fact he has an Accounting degree only. Why did someone of his experience and expertise would report something untrue? I guess he was feeling insecure about his entry to such a huge IT company where he was head of Paypal, his Accounting degree seems to be adequate. Is it greed is the cause of the issue? I recall many times when prospect client ask my studio about our experience and at times we pitch in on projects which we don’t have experience before and we would be honest about the situation, and that could be disadvantageous in fact. Once a client said they like our honesty of admitting our limitation but we respond saying that is not a limitation but just a fact and we won’t feel any less capable at all. It’s some kind of peace at heart that makes us able to say what we said, and we know we need to keep our integrity if we want to be the top player one day. God is very clear about this – being honest!
Daily Quote
You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 25:15
I pray to God that we would be honest no matter what is ahead of us.

Postscript Quote 
Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. 
Franz Kafka
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May 22 2012
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after thought, social-economic, society

driving ferrari

Recently a rich mainlander who drove a US$1.4million Ferrari crashed his car killing other 3 people in 2 cars stirred great emotions, and this wealthy businessman was going through the process of applying for permanent residency in Singapore. For this reason, locals demanded the government to review the policy of foreigners’s application to live in Singapore. There were banners in the street proclaiming “Throw Chinese out of Singapore”. I find this very weird that when an accident happen, people would blame the race, the money they own, the cars they drive. By looking at this incident, why don’t they ban Ferrari? This tragedy happens because of reckless driver, but not because he is Chinese. Even if this rich Chinese man is not in the process of applying for residency, Singaporeans would still run in the street saying drive away the Chinese, and might as well just say drive away rich people?! Aren’t they Chinese by traits in Singapore afterall.  Reckless driving is everywhere in the world, different kinds of accidents or crime is everywhere. The roots of the problems are not the colors of people or the materials that they own, but the people’s mentality. The USA has for the first time in their record less than half of the total population who are white, and the country is now ‘dominated’ by the colored people. By statistics, I guess one day, the crime rate would be ‘led’ by the colored people and shall we drive them away? The world is multi-colored and will forever be – God as the creator of all is mixing colors with His palette and we should embrace this big picture to be evolved with love and harmony. Stop blaming but be tamed.
Daily Quote
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought
1 Corinthians 1:10
I pray to God that we stay united and wholeheartedly to follow His guidance.

Postscript Quote 
Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.
Henry Emerson Fosdick
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May 21 2012
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politics, social-economic, society

eggs

Taiwan during this weekend has more than 120,000 people protesting against the presidential inaugural of Ma Ying Geou. The Democratic Progressive Party who is the key force behind such act has prepared 10,000 eggs for their protesters to throw at the huge image of Ma Ying Geou. I remember there was once I watched a documentary filming the malnourished children in Africa and was told that so many of them has never tasted proper meal not to mention food like meat or eggs have never been part of their diet even when they are a few years old, so often they just appear like kids at 1 year old or less in our societies’ definition. I have huge disgust and disappointment at how some people treat the resources of the earth and they only seek the grumpy ways to voice their minds and wants. My pastor this Sunday preaches about patience: one of the most widely preached topics ever, the reason we are being taught about this topic so super often is that we are still lacking it. Do not grumble but stay calm even when things don’t turn the way we want it to be. Pastor said planting is probably the easiest way to see patience as the key thing to see a harvest. We never know how soon a seed would bloom and blossom. We just have to wait – waiting with hope in joy is the Godly way to live our lives. We city people just have been disconnected with the nature for too long and we forget how to wait – and understand everything has its cycle.
Daily Quote
Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
James 5:9
I pray to God that I would not only find fault of the others but pray for power and always stay hopeful in God – who is the creator of all.

Postscript Quote 
Grumbling is the death of love. 
Marlene Dietrich
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May 17 2012
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after thought, Christianity, fashion

if you parents are ministers

London based fashion designer Jonathan Saunders is the rising star of the fashion world. Johnnie’s origin is Glasgow, Scotland where he grew up in a Christian family and parents are ministers preaching in the community. The Saunders are very traditional and Johnnie is taught to live a highly Godly life as much as he could where his weekdays would be concentrated in school work, and the weekend would be religious-centric. No after school hang out with friends, no pop-music as most of them are considered immoral, and Johnnie is groomed to be a carpenter as that is the best most practical way to serve the Lord in his parents’ eyes. However, Jonathan’s heart is full of creativity in design and fashion is where he aspires to be, and anything materialistic or frivolous would be frowned upon. When his parents discovered that Johnathan wants to be a fashion designer and gay, he was then “disfellowshipped” when he was 18 in an official ceremony that forbade anyone in the faith from speaking to him. From there onwards, Jonathan went to London and graduated from Central St. Martins, and in his own words, he started to see the most amazing people such as the talented but dying young Alexander McQueens, Phoebe Philo. Now Jonathan barely speaks to his parents and in his own words he said “It’s just a shame, isn’t it, that the lifestyle you lead is not acceptable. It’s the realisation that they’ll never be happy or proud of what we do,” he mused.”  This story or incident again demonstrates the conflict and tension between homosexuality and Christianity. God does not permit or encourage homosexuality but I don’t think something like what Jonathan’s parents did is totally Godly as well. Of course that is only one side of the story narrated, but I do feel that to confront situation like that, love and patience is still the key which reminds me of the parable about the lost son, the lost coin and the lost sheep. On and off, we lost track and got stuck, and we don’t want to be deserted, and God never forsake us.
Daily Quote
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Luke 15:4
I pray to God that we don’t judge but forgive and love.

Postscript Quote 
Innocence isn’t ever lost completely;
we just need to maintain our goodness to regain it.
Jewel 
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May 16 2012
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performance, sports

Further lesson for world champions

My colleague is crazy about boulder climbing and thus not only does it during his free time but also taking classes to sharpen his skills. One morning, he asked me if I know this guy called Lai Ji Wai, I said  no. He said he won the Cheung Chau Bun Festival Bun Snatching competition 1st prize and he is Champion in many world climbing games and he is only 29 years old. WOW.  Colleague told me in his weekend climbing class Lai actually is his coach! But this coach is not quite like the usual coach, coz Lai is actually in his wheelchair teaching verbalizing his personal climbing experience. Lai got into a car accident which paralyzes his body from his waist down this January. His legs now could not function and shrunk to just like a wrap. Lai during the teaching constantly need rest to recuperate and he needs to be shifted away from his wheelchair and laid half flat on the ground to breathe. This happened for a few times during one teaching. I can’t imagine how it feels for someone who has given all his time and heart to climbing and his only passion and success now is taken away completely. Absolutely completely. Lai’s wife is 7 months pregnant now and Lai reflected his sorrow of not able to take care of his wife and the future kid. This is such a classic case and demonstration of a situation when people would ask, if God so love His people, why does He do this? I asked my colleague, sometimes we learn more when we have nothing. He gave me a rather helpless stare, coz he is so into this sport and he now understands that nothing is in our total control and we just have to do our best in everything to cope with different situations – God wants us to learn and He gives us only challenges which we could bear.
Daily Quote
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

I pray to God that we could understand truly that He gives us things when He takes things away from us.

Postscript Quote 
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
Nelson Mandela 
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