Ten Things I Dislike about life @ Regent College

In alphabetical order,

1) EXPENSIVE photocopying [esp when journals cannot be checked out]

2) LACK of chairs and tables in the atrium

3) MICROWAVESplutter [people who do not clean up after their food splutters all over the microwave interior]

4) NOISE in the construction [esp when attending lectures in chapel]

5) PEOPLE who do not clear up their mess after spilling or eating

6) PRAYER room being used for other events other than prayer

7) RISING tuition fees

8) TABLE/Chair Monopoly [When one person uses 2 tables and 4 chairs!]

9) UNSAFE to leave things lying around in the building esp laptops

10) UNWASHED Dishes in the Sink

Rank them if you dare! I will be coming up with another list on things I like about life at Regent. Stay tuned.

kianseng

Liverpool Does It!

Now, that's more like it. After 85 years, Liverpool finally beat Man Utd in an FA Cup match. Crouch scored again in a game that really matters, after a long goal drought. Even Ferguson agreed that his team could not penetrate Liverpool's resolute defense. Congrats Rafa. Well done team! Rejoice scouser fans. Let's get ready for Wednesday's big game with Benfica. [how do you like my scorecard graphic?]

One thing about living in Vancouver is the lack of TV coverage on soccer ('football' here refer to the oval shaped ball game). The other soccer-friendly places are pretty far for me to go to. One of them is the Library Pub cafe downtime at W Georgia which charges a whopping $24.95 per game. If any of you know any soccer cafe or pub in Vancouver near to UBC, let me know, especially when the world cup is round the corner.

kianseng

Of name Changes + Retribution Theology

CHANGING NAMES
Abram was 99 years old when God changed his name to Abraham. Jacob was wrestling with his fear of meeting Esau but met God instead. At Peniel, he wrestled with God and was given the name Israel. Saul was approaching Damascus, armed with plans to persecute the Christians but was blinded by God, being questioned on why he wanted to persecute not the Christians but God himself? He was given the name Paul.

Name changes often come about that marked a significant turn in the lives of people in the Old Testament. It is indeed a big thing, a humbling experience indeed to surrender the name that one has always been called. That is, if there is no significant changes to one's own life, changing the name will be most difficult. That is certainly not true of Abram, Jacob or Saul. Their willingness to accept their names represented a significant openness of heart and desire to obey God. Abram was given a larger promise, from being a father of a great nation to a father of multitudes of nations. Jacob was given a name change after the most incredible wrestling match with God. Saul was struck completely blind until his faith in Christ opens up his eyes, and more importantly his heart to God's purposes.

However, their faith is far from perfect. Abram/Abraham repeatedly doubted God, despite being credited for righteousness the faith he had. Jacob/Israel is a shrewd trickster, trying to scheme his way to achieve his ends. Saul/Paul is a modern persecutor of the faith, but still possess weaknesses in his 'thorn in the flesh'.

Reading the passages in Genesis and Acts, there seemed to be no significant progress in their pre and post-naming accomplishments for God, in the eyes of the people at that time. However, one point is evident. The act is not of themselves. The naming process is from God. It is God who initiated and empowered them to be who they really are. Another significant point was, they did not live long enough to see all the results of their labour and efforts. God is seen as one who is more than willing to bless them, despite their weaknesses. That is GRACE.

RETRIBUTION THEOLOGY
In stark contrast, today I read the news that a Pakistani cleric has issued US$1 million bounty to kill the cartoonist of the cartoon caricatures published. Where is grace in that action? Where is peace in that? Does that hurt to their 'feelings' justify them in their continued violence and hurting others in return? Is Islam a religion that is 'tit-for-tat'? Are their actions due to a theological interpretation of Islam? Is grace a part of the Islamic vocabulary? Will there ever be forgiveness? Perhaps their actions ought to be corrected by Muslims in the moderate camp. Otherwise, these people will only serve to tarnish their religion even more.

Another report today indicated that the large violent demonstrations are symptoms of a deeper problem: Poverty and social discontent. For people who have little to lose, any reason is good reason to retaliate against the rich and the establishment. If Christians are under grace, we ought to show grace. Jesus has taught us to put aside 'an eye for an eye' or a 'tooth for a tooth' behaviour. Instead, we should offer the needy any extras we have. Like if we have two coats, keep one and give one away. Christians should begin to act positively in the light of negative situations. That is what being a salt and light is all about. We should be angry at the rising poverty level and the lack of willingness of the rich to help the poor. However, we do not show our anger by breaking windows and throwing stones. We demonstrate our anger by breaking our self-centeredness and throwing messages continually to wake up the conscience of the rich and powerful.

Theology is critical. In Christ, we are under grace of God, not retribution. Because of Christ, we live under grace. 'Vengeance is mine' says the LORD. We should not think it is our right to play God. Take heart brothers and sisters. The Lord our God understands our weaknesses.


kianseng

Regent "Taste of the World 2006"

Welcome to Taste of the World 2006! 


Proudly Malaysian. Alas, no other flags or posters were available at the table. Would have been nice to have more posters of the other South East Asian countries. 


The Malaysian posters and flag prominent at the South-East Asian table. Malaysia Boleh! 


BEFORE THE EVENT: This Year's Specialty: Hot-pot combo with a choice of TomYum, chicken or vegetable stock. 


Bowls of hotpot noodles piling up almost like Mt Kinabalu. 


Nuts and Kachang Puteh on the other end of the table . Some people worked hard, some give directions, some supervise while others simply try to peep into boxes of goodies like a child opening Christmas presents.


No singing, no eating. "I'm singing for my food, everywhere I go". 


Saying grace before the start of the event 


THE USA table. Long queues too. Full buffet indeed. 


The Latin American singing event 


A side view of the packed Chapel. 


Lots of different choices. Makes choosing which bowl a difficult choice. 


The Swiss table is empty by now. No more food. 

So the event came and went. The memories for many of us stayed. It would have been nice if the SEA group have organized an item for everyone. Heard that the highlight was the Korean item. Anyway, I only had one response for the Entertainment item. Even that one response say 'might not be coming.' Guess this year, we just focus on food and makan lah! Let's see what happens for 2007!

Oh Boy, The Media

Sometimes it is hard to understand why the press delights in adding fuel to fire. Now that demonstrations are taking place all over the world about the cartoon caricatures, we have been mostly focused on the West and the Muslim world.

As I begin to notice the way the media is covering the event, apparently it is being used like a body which breeds the virus. Major media tends to cover 'news-worthy' events like violent demonstrations by a minority of people. It is making things look like the WHOLE Muslim world is aflame, or the WHOLE of Denmark is against Islam, or the ENTIRE Western press is at fault when it is only the few vocal minority that is causing all the violence, and also a few mischievous Danish and French press that continues their mischief by RE-printing the offensive cartoons.

This caused us to look at the ethics of news publication. It is one thing to publish the news and say people have a right to know. It is yet another to blindly cover sensational events. I wonder if the situation will be different if these same media covers acts of peace and reconciliation MORE than any other violent events.

I suppose the evergreen saying is still correct: "No news is indeed good news."

kianseng

Preaching on John 1

After turning on my stopwatch, remembering that I have only 20-25 minutes to speak, I started the Scripture reading. As I read verses 1-14 from my outline, a strange excitement wells up in me. "I am preaching God's Word! What a privilege. Not a normal Toastmasters speech nor a motivation speech. It is pure and simple an exposition of God's Word!"

After verse 14, I prayed that God will prepare all of us to receive God's Word. It was amazing when I spoke the Word, the normal Toastmasters fear do not arise. I had prayed that whatever glory, mine be the smallest and God's be the highest. I believe that was the reason for the lesser fear in me. Thus I spoke going from God as Creator, to God as Community to God as Co-equal. Careful to vary my voice and make sure I am audible, I went ahead verse by verse. After 22 minutes, I ended with 3 exhortations. "Let us shine" "Let us be with the people." "Let us be humble in all we do."

During feedback session, when probed where did the text say it? I kind of forgotten to add in a transitional phrase that "Because God has done so, we should . . ."

That will clarify most of the questions pertaining to "Where did the text say?" The exhortations were indeed truths I had gleaned from the texts but did not explicitly state how it led to my conclusions. I had forgotten again that I had the privilege of living in the text a much longer time than the rest in the room, hence were able to see the deeper implications at that time. By bringing out the conclusions without explaining in detail how I got it, (I was trying to keep within time), the audience were struggling to find the link.

Feedback forms were however very encouraging, and one even said that he can now read John 1 in a new and fresh light. What made me most glad was that people were rekindled to appreciate John 1 even more, a supposedly difficult passage.

I went home, took a quick Lasagne bite and slept from 9.30PM to 8AM the next day. My body needed the rest after a gruelling 4 days of non-stop classes and counselling and stress.

kianseng

Praying for students

Down. Depressed. Despairing.

The peak of Winter's cold is here and along with it comes the depressing mood all around. Add to it the cold and intense expectations the whole College is brimming with stressful students struggling with writing papers and preparing for exams. I am upset with my first Hebrew test. After so many hours of study, still there are mistakes with my vowel points. My grades are now at an all-time low. After talking to a few fellow students, I realised that depression is a real thing and it is far more distressing to suffer it alone. Here is where theology and doctrine becomes acutely important.

Thankful that the emphasis on community is attributed in a large way to the Trinitarian doctrinal emphasis. Because God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit living and existing in community, if we say we want to be more like God, we need to behave and live in community. Bearing burdens must never be done alone, for the burden can break one down pretty hard. Doing it together becomes a mysterious uplifting experience. We should not be so naive as to think that when God said "It is not good for man to be alone.", God is only thinking of Adam marrying Eve, fullstop. God has a larger purpose. Yes, 'not to be alone' is not only marriage but more importantly community. Especially so when this period, everyone is prone to depression. That is a big prayer item for all at Regent, and for my family, and me.

Two is better than one. Three is even better.

Eccl. 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.