I got this off xialanxue.blogspot.com earlier today.

She got it off reuters.

So Im crediting both of them right now.

This is NOT my own work. My arguments aren't so astute. Afterall, I'm not an elite *guffaws*

Here goes:

Income gap tears at Singapore social fabric (Reuters).

Saw this article by Geert De Clercq from Reuters... Something to ponder about (and something you won't read in the local papers)

SINGAPORE, Dec 18 (Reuters) - When Wee Shu Min, the teenage daughter of a Singapore member of parliament stumbled across the blog of a Singaporean who wrote that he was worried about losing his job, she thought she'd give him a piece of her mind.

She called him "one of many wretched, undermotivated, overassuming leeches in our country" on her own blog and signed off with "please, get out of my elite uncaring face".
Wee was flamed by hundreds of fellow bloggers, but when her father Wee Siew Kim -- an MP in Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's constituency -- told a Singapore newspaper that "her basic point is reasonable", the row moved well beyond the blogosphere.

The episode highlighted a deep rift in Singapore society and was an embarrassment for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and prime minister Lee, who has made the reduction of the income gap one of the priorities of his new government.
"Coming from an MP in the prime minister's constituency, these comments really were political dynamite," political commentator Seah Chiang Nee told Reuters.
"If the political arrogance and elitism get any worse, the PAP will lose more electoral ground," he added.

Singapore is Asia's second-richest country after Japan with a gross domestic product per capita of about $27,000, ranking between EU member Italy and Spain. But in terms of income disparity, Singapore is in altogether different company. Singapore's Gini index -- which measures inequality of income distribution among households -- of 42.5 puts it between Burundi and Kenya, the UN Human Development Report 2006 shows.

"Yes, the gini coefficient is very high. Through housing, health care and education, we have tried to narrow the income gap, but not through wages," National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told Reuters in an interview last month.

"WELFARE AS A DIRTY WORD"

Singapore pays no employment benefits, no pensions and has no legal minimum wage, but education is cheap and excellent, health care is subsidised and the government gives subsidies to first-time buyers of government-built flats. Last month, Singapore's first parliament session since the May 6 poll was dominated by the inequality theme. PM Lee ruled out the introduction of old-age pensions, a minimum wage or European-style welfare.

"We have treated welfare as a dirty word. The opposition, I think the Workers' Party, has called for a 'permanent unconditional needs-based welfare system'. I think that is an even dirtier five words," he said in a speech on Nov. 13.

But he acknowledged that since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the income gap had widened, and said that his government plans to "tilt the balance in favour of the lower-income groups".
While Lee's ruling PAP is in no danger of losing its stranglehold on parliament -- where it has 82 out of 84 elected seats -- the growing income disparity has hurt its credibility.

In the May 6 poll, the Workers' Party scored its best result in years, with chairwoman Sylvia Lim winning 44 percent of the votes in a multi-seat ward. Lee lost 34 percent in his ward to a group of unknown candidates in their early thirties.

"They (the PAP) are concerned about the fallout if they don't do anything about the income gap," Lim, who entered parliament as a non-voting MP under a best-loser provision, told Reuters.

In parliament, Lee said he plans to improve healthcare and boost housing subsidies for low-income families. He added that he wants more "workfare" schemes, under which the state tops up low-income workers' pay. On May 1 -- five days before the election -- the government paid out S$150 million to about 330,000 low-income workers, and Lee promised a similar package for next year. Details would be released in the 2007 budget on February 15.

"MARIE ANTOINETTES"

Critics say that much of the outrage about the teenage blogger's comments is due to a perception that Singapore is ruled by a privileged elite that's out of touch with the people.
The road to a top job in the Singapore government or civil service leads through elite junior colleges and prestigious government scholarships for university studies abroad.
While access to these schools and scholarships is open to all and based on academic grades, critics say the children of the elite are well represented. Wee Shu Min attends a top school, Raffles Junior College, as did her father, an MP and a top executive at state-owned arms maker ST Engineering.

In a report about "elite envy", the Straits Times daily quoted official data showing that in the last five years, one in three students on government scholarships came from families with incomes of more than $$10,000 ($6,500) a month, while such families make up just 13 per cent of all Singapore households.

Students from households on incomes of less than $2,000 made up only 7 per cent of scholarship winners, the paper added.

Colin Goh, founder of satirical website TalkingCock.com, said that while the first generation of post-independence PAP leaders was seen as close to the people, this is no longer the case.
"The source for much invective in the Wee Shu Min case is that there is a real sense the PAP is composed of people in ivory towers; that they are a bunch of Marie Antoinettes," he said.

Things have never been more obvious to me.

In a sense I am ready to depend on the Lord now more than ever.

Sometimes it's a matter of looing at ourselves first before critisising others.

Symbolic-interaction perspective.

That's what I learn in Sociology. I prefer the fuctional perspective actually, because it actually focuses on what works.

Unfortunately people tend to prefer symbolic interaction, because we are singaporeans. How your society is like always spills into your organisations.

We are such a guarded people I don't think the gahmen needs to put those social awareness ads about the MRT bomb anyway. Who will put the bomb? They will probably be so kiasee that they disarm the bomb and run away.

Today after class, two classmates (Maelle, a French girl and Rahmat, a malay guy) were talking outside school when this caucasian guy with a strong accent came up to us asking,

"Is there anyplace here I can get some food, like a burger, or a beer..."

Maelle helpfully directed him to Cafe Cartel and off he went. Within a minute though he was back and this time he said,

"You guys look really nice and all, could I have your phone numbers? I'm here all alone, at least I can go out with someone for a drink"

Like all guarded andcautious Singaporeans (Maelle is french by birth but a Singaporean by Nationality), the three of us were slightly taken aback. The caucasian looked disappointed and said,

"I'm so sorry...maybe it's not your culture to just talk to people...in Spain we talk to everyone."

I asked him at that point,

"I'll give you my email address, is that ok with you?"

He looked so happy and agreed. So I keyed it into his phone (nokia 6820 haha). Maelle and Mat took their leave and I started to talk to this guy as I walked to my bus-stop. Turns out that his name is Daniel (pronounced Danielle) and he's from Madrid, Spain. He's an engineer sent here for 1 and a 1/2 months to learn from the local branch of his Spainish company here. He's been to many countries and simply likes making friends all over the place. But he's been disappointed that Singaporeans are so guarded and they all speak "our language", which is Mandarin. And he cannot understand, therefore he did not dare to talk to anyone else.

There were a few more things we talked about but hey, now I have a Spanish friend too hahah.

I hope we become more open and more sociable. I'll update you guys if I talk to Daniel again =)

YZ

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.

Just read Joash's blog and his views on "what's our purpose for studying."

I agree with his post. Interestingly, the exchange of opinions on his tagboard has prompted me to write this entry.

First of all, let me credit the contributor. Thank you Ken for your views as shown below:

k ?: i don't agree with studying for the sole purpose of glorifying God. i study for myself and my future also. and i think that's kinda important? glorifying God can come when we get results and jobs

k ?: religion/God just creates a better purpose of studying, that's all

k ?: well, is it virtually possible? we can all say it's act of worship and all but the sole and real purpose is really, for selfish reasons. that's a downright fact, surely.

k ?: exactly, thanks for the reinforcement, Jeremy. which will still bring me back to the point that religion is just a reason to make studying have a better purpose.

And also Jeremy's (I don't know if it's Jeremy Lim becasue there are 342187283750 Jems out there) views:

jeremy: I don't think its a matter of worship or self-advancement, or at least I don't think in starts out that way

jeremy: I think we study because society and out parents in particular expect us to. Can any of us truly say that we wanted to do homework or studying in primary school?


My take is this. There is one clean simple answer which everyone knows: We are here on this earth because God put us here. Life on earth is a preparation course and also partly a dress rehearsal for heaven.

Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Psalm 39:4 Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah

We all know that God has a plan for us. But because I am not a Kelvinist (someone who believes in John Kelvin's theologies of pre-destination, among a host of other things), I believe we have the freedom of choice to accept or reject God's plan. Therefore if we go along that logic and apply it to our studies, we have a choice to accept of reject the need to study hard or even study for that matter.

Sometimes, like what Jeremy says, it's out of our own hands. Our parents make us study, even the law makes us study. But the concept remains the same, and that is accepting or rejecting God's will, even if it is someone doing it on your behalf.

The question is then "What is God's will?"

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, [ Or his only begotten Son] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

or more specifically "what is God's will for us?"

Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

God's will is to reconcile everyone. Whether we want is is our business. God's will for us ie. the saved, is to be His tools to perform His will.

Paul says in Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Meaning we are better of dead on earth and alive in heaven. But we are still here on earth to minister and try to get as many people into heaven with us as possible. In all of our reponsibilities on earth, we are to show people Christ in us. Therefore it is STILL about dying on earth and living in heaven, only this time it's dying in the flesh and living in spirit and in truth.

The word "reponsibility" is a powerful word. Now let's examine this case study of Judas.

Matt 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."
"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
5So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Judas being a disciple of Christ gave in to greed and betrayed our Lord. When things turned out much worse than he had ever expected, he tried to make things right by returning the money. But look at what the elders said! The poor dude hung himself in the end.

Now let's parallel it to examples we often see and hear.

"We study because of social forces. In fact everything we do on earth cannot totally be for God. It's just not practical! How can we say we don't look out for our own future? Maybe now I study hard and work hard. When I've made it on this earth then I can use my success to glorify God. That's what God wants anyway right? That's kinda like..hmm...God's will for me?"

God's will is often summarised to "all the chrisitans are blessed materially, then they use their riches and success to spread gospel"

If it were really true then I think Paul can balek kampung already. James also should go home and sleep.

When we are SUPPOSED to be fulfilling out reponsibilites in studying, it's not about the grades. It's about trying hard and doing your best. However we must also concede, when we study hard, we tend to do well in our exams! It's almost shocking to see how some people can justify not doing well as God having a plan for them. If God is not telling you specifically what He wants you to do at a certain point of time in your life, then simply do your best at what you do! To justify otherwise will be like Judas. And we will be responsible for what we say and do. God doesn't create a better reason. God creates the ONLY reason for us to study because "to live is Christ, but to die is gain" God gives us the only reason for EVERYTHING we do here on earth. And let me say again, that includes our reasons in fulfilling all our responsibilites.

So let me put it this way. If we believe that our purpose of studying is to satisfy everything else, with God being a bonus; we are very wrong. That is a belief that has been put into our heads by this world that we are living in. I have said this before many many times: You will die for your beliefs. It could be more twisted than it seems this way no? We all die eventually. How we die is an entirely different matter. When the time comes, we will know if we have simply been another Judas: Betraying our faith for convenience.

The crux of the issue is not to debate what is the true purpose of studying, or anything else for that matter. The real case is to address the fact that we, as Christians live in this world and have been LIED TO continually about what we should chase after and why we should compromise on our Chrisitan values given by our Lord. Here are but a few verses I can quote from the Word on this:

1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
1 John 2:15
[ Do Not Love the World ] Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16
For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world
1 John 4:3
but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Please, please do not believe the world. In our studies, it should never be about the grades. It's about how hard we study and try so God is glorified. In every situation, even when our results are bad after we tried hard, God can still be glorified. See below:

2 Corinthians 1:12
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

1 Thessalonians 2:8
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

If we want to glorify God, it goes beyond an action; it becomes a sharing of our lifes and more importantly, our beliefs! That is how we encourage and correct each other to edify the Lord.

If we are resigned to what the world feeds us with, we have already lost a big part of the battle. We have already lacked behind in the race towards the ultimate prize.


"that's a downright fact, surely." Ken my bro, I'm sorry you can't say that. Saying it is as good as proclaiming your beliefs.

"jeremy: I don't think its a matter of worship or self-advancement, or at least I don't think in starts out that way

jeremy: I think we study because society and out parents in particular expect us to. Can any of us truly say that we wanted to do homework or studying in primary school?

Yes, Jem, we all start of as spiritual infants, but please remember:

Heb 4:11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Looks like today we are still like poeple from those days eh. We OUGHT to be mature and on solid fod, yet most of us aren't. We ought to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. But by the things we say and the way we live our lives....are we really?

I would urge anyone reading this to take it as a serious refliection, on how a seemingly small and insignificant issue can affect your relationship with God and your outlook on your life as a Christian. And when we come together, with the same beliefs and the same goals, we are strong. A strand of hair is easiy broken but if you put three togehter it is not as easy.

Finally I would like to encourage everyone with these two verses. As long as we find our security and identity in God, nothing can shake us. We will not be moved.

Phi 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

1 John 4:4 NIV
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Now all we have to do is to claim the promise. Don't just know it.

BELIEVE it.

This is the first update since 30 march.

Things have been happening so fast that I had not been able to organise my thoughts well enough to blog anything at all for the past 6 months.

To all who see this, I wanna say that this blog will be semi alive again. It will be a place where everyone can see how I think and what I believe in, from the things I type.

I hope to do up a podcast soon and put it or a link of it here.

In the meantime, God bless everyone reading this.

YZ

There were six, no seven, of them walking towards the table now. Quentin wondered what they'd do next, or what he'd do next for that matter.

"Get down on your knees now! Get down! Get down! All of you, get down!" ordered one of the ladies. Victor reckoned she was the "leader" of the pack - perhaps a gang of some sort.

"What on earth is going on? What's up with you lady?" Wesley questioned in amusement.

"What's up? I'll tell you what's up. I'm Taylor Livingston, FBI. Mr. Wesley, you're under arrest for the rape and murder of Liv Stiller, Yvonne Green, Regina Ivans, Ellis Robertson, Audrey Ruso and Kristen Walters."

"What the hell."

"You, as you may already know, have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to hire an attorney, and in the case you can't, an attorney will be provided for you by the judiciary department should you require one. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I understand enough to know that you're a woman too."

"This is where I kick someplace you'll regret me kicking if you continue being stupid. Now get up."

Quentin glanced at Victor. So Wesley was the psychopath who killed the six young girls in the Los Manigurs area over the past weeks as the news had reported. Wesley shot a cold stare at Quentin.

Victor was stunned by the sudden twist in the events.

--

And so were the readers of the above. Haha, I felt bored. Alright, who's next?

Sk.

Quentin looked away. He just lost his first love, and this bunch of girls just walked in. what could be worse than this? maybe....is this God's way when they say when God closes a door, He'll open another? nah.. can't be.

He was an easy prey to infatuation, so he decided to keep himself away from temptation, and control himself. Victor knew what was going on in his friend's mind, so he decided not to do anything. Then Wesley, the 'popular' guy, walked in. He spotted Quentin and Victor and walked to their table. Before they could say anything, the girls got Wesley's attention, and he HAD to do the annoying kissing sound.

the bunch of girls walked over to their table...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------joAsh.!