Thanks for the replies, Winnie and Ken.

I believe, I have addressed part of Ken's issue in my blog entry.

The question is indeed "how" rather than "why".

For Chrisitians, the trials we face in life has always been Us vs The world. It was, still is and will continue to be until Christ comes back. Therefore the answer of ""How do we even reach a stage whereby we seek God in whatever we do, especially studying?" is very simple.

Use The Word.

God's Word in itself has inherent power. This is the reason why JD and I have been emphasising on leading you guys to be grounded in His Word. Now that you guys are mature enough to observe and analyse phenomenon around you, the next step is to realise that God has the power to do ANYTHING. And for us we do too. Remember that identifying the problem is only step one. Step two is to claim God's promises in His word.

Our good friend James says:

Jam 1:22 ...be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Jam 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
Jam 1:24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Jam 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Jam 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

He even talks about religon here! Pretty much what you're saying Ken. James says that if we believe in something and doesn't proclaim it, instead becoming cynical and BELIEVING in our hearts "Siao liao. So difficult. Sure cannot." Then that person's religon (note James doesn't use "beliefs") is worthless.

"Of course, that's when the other purposes - religion, please mother please father, compete to be the best, blah blah blah - comes in." is not the best proclaimation of God's Word I've heard in recent times.

My aim here is not to discredit you or say you know nothing. What I want to do is to CLEARLY REINFORCE and convince you that God's word is our food and ammunition.

How do we deal with all these negative influences in the world? How do we conquer our culture ("Brought up in an environment whereby money is taught to be earned and valued") with our faith?

Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Eph 6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

1. Truth
2. Righteousness
3. Readiness
4. Faith
5. Steadfastness
6. The Word
7. Pray

8. PERSERVE

And most of all

Eph 6:19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Paul says he "opens his mouth". So must we. When we confess and say out our beliefs it is very powerful. God works through that.

"In the first place, for those who proclaim it, do they really achieve such a stage of holiness?"

Well, Paul said it. And I believe Paul achieved it when he was persecuted and passed with flying colours.

Christ certainly did it. The devil tempted the "fully man" that He was with food and material wealth. But He did not succuumb. He too stuck to His beliefs and REBUKED (ie open his mouth) the devil.

In between these guys, there are some Christians who have consistently put God first in their lifes and their studies. Out of the millions who have not, it is their loss. Who are they for us to be inspired by them?

Sometimes it is important to remember what we believe in and WHO you believe in. I asked you guys before and I know the whole point of the group times flew over your heads. But now is a good time to revisit the topic and digest it a little more as you all grow in wisdom.

Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Measure of faith. Think about it. A measure of faith. If the word says Faith like the size of a mustard seed moves mountains, that means we don't even have that much faith.

It is not surprising that we find it hard to get out of the world's culture. But we must and we CAN.

It is not delusional and self-deceiving. It is simply proclaiming the TRUTH.

Shengkai's blog has a good poem and I will reproduce it here. I don't think he will mind haha.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.