Filed under after thought …

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 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 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 15 2012
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after thought, religion, society

Necrophilia

This term “Necropholia” looks too much like those SAT exam I need to go through so many years ago. It means sexual attraction to corpses, way too Tim Burton this idea. I cannot believe there is such thing on earth and there are places in this planet  which are trying to legalize this act. Muslims in Egypt are attempting to legalize this idea and allow husbands to have sex with their dead wives within 6 hours after they die. This is by demand as the “farewell Intercourse” law, and the country is also seeing the minimum age of marriage lowered to 14 for girls. I have no concept about Muslim at all, and I started to wonder what other laws or principles do they live on? Where is the basic human rights and values their God propose? I feel completely bad for some women in elsewhere of this world where they are helpless and in despair. God has made man all the same but the happening to all of us are just so different, what can we do?
Daily Quote
But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
1 Timothy 2:15
I pray to God that one day all people are really equal with the same rights and respect!

Postscript Quote 
You don’t have to be anti-man to be pro-woman. 
Jane Galvin Lewis
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May 11 2012
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after thought, business, concept, environment

B1G1

The place we live in is full of acronyms, there is another one which I am sure is not new to you, but it’s relatively new in the retail scene. B1G1 meaning Buy 1 Give 1. It’s been studied that people nowadays tend to purchase or even switch brands which would support a good social cause. TOMS shoes are well known for its policy that for every pair of shoes being bought, one pair will be given to the need child in the under-developed countries. It’s indeed encouraging to know that the society has become more conscious about everything they do, especially bringing philanthropy into their daily life action. I recall something similar I saw is the Red Rope program when I visited the Philippines earlier this monty. Red Rope is a certified co-op for women who have escaped prostitution and provides a great opportunity for these women to harness their life skills for a better life with their hands! There are many ways we could help the society besides giving money – but also by giving a second chance. God encourages us to give – give water to the thirsty ones is as helpful as saving lives because that is encouraging and that gives hope to the others.
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 always be conscious to help in every way we could.

Postscript Quote 
Don’t say that you want to give, but go ahead and give! You’ll never catch up with a mere hope. 
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 
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May 10 2012
2 Comments
after thought, Christianity, concept, politics, society

Another first about Obama

Obama is the 1st president of the United States to publicly announce the support of gay marriage. And this brings even further the thoughts and discussions that almost the States are now divided into half on this topic. The latest Gallup poll reflects that “fifty percent of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages — down slightly from 53% last year, but marking only the second time in Gallup’s history of tracking this question that at least half of Americans have supported legal same-sex marriage.” This is indeed a sensitive topic as the Bible is very clear and strong that homosexual relationship is against God’s will. I personally know many gay people and many are great close friends. As time evolves, there are a lot of things that people do could go against the teachings of the Bible, and sticking to them might be interpreted as following the rules literally. I am glad that I am not an American and do not have to be torn between this tough choice of electing Obama or Romney. But deep down, this does not excuse me from thinking further about this issue – it’s really hard, if we are loving everyone – what’s wrong with the gay? Why does God not allow this to happen if some men really feel this tendency in their bodies? I know this is about fundamental value and something about the basic should never change disregard where you are and when it is, thus I believe a lot of homosexual Christian would be under the pressure. I pray to God that He would bless this group of people with His love and grace and let them hear His voice.
Daily Quote
If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.
Leviticus 20:13
I pray to God that the society will evolve around the values that God has been teaching, but we don’t set up our own set of rules and concepts. Let Him rule.

Postscript Quote 
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? 
Ernest Gaines 
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May 09 2012
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after thought, concept, religion

seriously religious for a month

Monk for A Month is a cultural exchange program founded by Ben Bowler to give people a chance to understand a religion or something spiritual in a more in-depth way. Besides Monk for A Month, there is Muslim for A Month, and Sufi for A Month, Christian For A Month is under planning in progress. This is hugely interesting to me as I believe there are more people who now travel beyond just visiting the place to do sight-seeing only. They are looking for more in a trip, they want to know the history, the lifestyle of local and something further. And learning something spiritual and with a chance on application is quite amazing. I consider it as an advanced level kind of retreat. And Bowler is offering an opportunity to enable people to experience with their own eyes and bodies. It’s commented by some people “Who wants to become one of them?” responding to the establishment of the Muslim for A Month. I am not surprised to see how negative one gets about certain religion in view some of the large scale terrorist activities are backed by people who claim to be holy with a mission. But that could always be a twisted interpretation of something better. I just think it’s a great thing to try things out, and God is good that He gives us free will and choice – to choose Him or not, it’s up to us. And no matter how late we become aware that we need to turn to Him, God still accepts us, and that is the true great love.
Daily Quote
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6
I pray to God that I will embrace all chance to experience life and pray to have God’s grace and love on the way.

Postscript Quote 
A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.
Oliver Wendell Holmes 
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