Does Capitalism breed selfishness?

A reflection of Strait's time, 280608
Pg 12:
' Teachers' new duty:
To protect students '

The last time I did a Newspaper reflection
Was in P6 and I hated doing it.
How ironic that I'm doing one now.

It talks about a teacher, 'running' Fan
Dashing out of his classroom when the
Earthquake in Sichuan took place.
He did not protect his students.

After all, its all about oneself
And our Love ones- spouse and kids
In this Capitalistic society.

Why should he protect his students?
They may not grateful towards his actions
And may even be a thorn in his flesh in the future.
Why should he expect his students to be grateful towards him
If he isn't even thankful for his parents who brought him up
In a harsh pre-Deng era. Running Fan wouldn't even save his
Parents if they were with him during the earthquake.
The temptation of wealth and glamour in Capitalism can easily
Cloud one's perception and allow him to do even the most
Hideous crimes to reach his selfish goals.
Well, who can stop you from sending a mob to beat up your son's
Bully if you control a huge share of your country's GDP?
Like all things of this world, it changes.
The person who just thanked you may back stab you years down
The road. Why risk that by lending him a helping hand now?

The moving away from a People's economy to a me-for-myself economy
Has resulted in the selfiness of the people.
I belong to myself, not the state.
Will the state protect me if I lose a limb saving someone else?
The answer is probably No since he doesn't belng to the
People and hence the people has no responsibility to take care of him
Or his family members when he is unfit to work.
I'm afraid to say that he may even be lablled a busy-body.

I salute his honesty posting his thoughts on the world wide web.
And the government has judged him as having done a shameless act.
He was fired.

The earthquake did not only produce shamelss honest people but
I'm proud to say that they have produced brave heroes.
The teen who stood hours under rain and scorching sunlight
Holding a drip for his classmate. He has obviously made himself
A people's citizen from his statement to the media demanding
Answers from the people's governemtn.
The People's liberation army has also responded well to the disaster
Judging from what I see on CCTV's camera footages.

Its sad but I do think that these selfless people are the result of
Socialism which is being endangered in a country experiencing
Exponantial growth.

My most humble reflection.
Pardon me for the so many assumptions I made.
I can even find some loopholes in what I wrote.
But yeah, I have to admit that I am a pro-socialist.
Its biased. Haha.

I'm sure many people are most willing to die for your
Loved ones.
But are you willing to die for your friends, your co-workers
Your students, total stranges, your neighbours?

After all, we are told to Love our neighbours like how we Love ourselves.
Are we able to die for others like how Jesus died for us?

Praise God for the People's Government.

Eternal sin

I just read this article from
The Methodist Church website
http://www.methodist.org.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=298
The conclusion of the article goes like this:
We should always seek God for forgiveness
When we sin, if not we won't be forgiven
Those who doesn't believed in God will
Not have their sin forgiven and hence,
Have commited Eternal sin.

I was actually reflecting on some other
Incident when this article came to my mind
And I do really believe that
God will only helps those who help themselves.
When we run into trouble, we usually seek help
Some people run to their family members, some to friends
And others to God.
God is usually the model answer for who we should go to
In times of trouble and I do hope that the family members
And friends do give credible advices that will help one
Get out of trouble.

However, there are some people who refuses to seek help
When they are in trouble.
THey know that God will help them, help them get out of
That deep mess that they are in.
They just need to open their hearts, pray to God,
Seek God for help.
They may need to seek for forgiveness too.
These people would rather dwell in their own
Sorrow, in their own unfortunate circumstances
Yet, blaming no one but themselves for their plight.
Maybe they are too stubborn to want to seek help
Maybe they are too arrogant to want to seek help.

I don't know.
I'm just confused
What do I want?
Jesus, help me!
Its Ok, if I am still stucked in this mess.
It can go on forever, I don't mind.
But Lord, please tell me what my next step should be.
O Lord,
I miss you so much.

Seek and you shall be given
Seek forgivenss and you shall be foriven
Seek for help and God will help you.
God, do I want your help?

Spiritual pause

I knew someone will ask me
This question one day.
But I never knew that it will
Be so soon.

It was the alter call.
The Pastor, Glenn Lim had invited
People who are willing to submit their
Lives fully to God to step out and allow
The Church to pray for him.

I just made my way to the back of the hall
And kneeled down in silent prayer.
Why did this question come so soon?
Why can't God ask me only when I am
Ready to answer him Yes, My life is yours?

I want to Trust God.
Yes, I do have Faith in God, but I have
Not yet trust God enough to put my life
In his hands.

Is Knowing that God is Big and God Is Great
Suffcient to convince us to commit our lives
Into his hands?
Maybe, seeing his physical manifestation may
Allow me to believe in him.
But then, we have seen so many phenonemums in
Our lifes, yet we do not fully believe in all
These things which has happened.
What makes me think that I will believe God
Even if I see him, face to face?

The Bible says that God has a good plan for us.
Yes, we all know that.
And I claim that fact from God and I know that
My life will be good in God's hand,
Hence, I should commit my everything to him.
But I still dare not put it into his hands.
Well, I guess, there is a conflict between
God interest and my interest.
What I want and what God wants of me.
Yes, its the best for me, but
What if I'm the small pawn in his plans
To Glorify God, will I be contented?
Will I be willing to even accept God.
Maybe its not so good to know God's mysterious
Plans for me after all.

I remember making a Birthday resoultion this year,
Incase you don't know, it was in July.
I told myself that I am going to find trust in
God this year.
Indeed, 'It's so sweet to trust in Jesus'
Became my theme song for the 18th year in my life.
I just need more time to learn to trust our
Sweet Jesus.
But why? Why? WHy?
Did the speaker have to ask the question when
God obviously, unfortunately knows I won't
Answer Yes?
Why can't God give me more time to say Yes?
Maybe God wants to remind me of my
Birthday resolution
Maybe God wants to speed up my progress?
God knows. How mysterious.

The sermon made me feel rather annoyed with
Myself, pissed is another word I can find.
I wonder why God created such a whimp like me.
A sense of Fear literally travelled down my spine.
My hands, than my legs.
The blood vessels felt like bursting.
It was pain, but there was no strength in it.
I continued to copy the sermon notes.

I wonder weather I will still have the faith
To stand by God when persucution comes.
I wonder weather God will take me with him
When the rupture comes.

I Pray that our Lord God will not give up on me
As I continue to find trust in him.

Our God is Faithful, always faithful.
Let me be Faithful in him too.

Lord God, give me more time.
I promise that at the end of the day,
I'll find trust in you.
Don't give up on me Lord!

Thank you Lord.
Amen

Thursday, Morning Devotions

The following is a copy of this morning's devtion
Thank God for the opportunity to be able to do it.
:)


Morning Devotions
4th October 2007


Good Morning ACJC, I am Tan Jiajun from 2SD2 and I will be giving today’s morning devotion. I would like to touch on the topic of making choices,

More and more choices are available to us in this increasingly globalized world. We now have many opportunities to choose from and we cannot simply follow a prescribed route to achieve the final outcome. Which subject to drop? What H3 to take? Which University to go to? What course should you enroll into? All these will lead to different outcomes

I have already made up my mind to be an engineer when I completed my O Levels. After my First Three months here, I had to choose between going to a Polytechnic to do my Engineering course or stay in ACJC to complete my A Levels. I chose the latter option and reaped the rewards AC offered to me. However, I constantly struggled with my H1 subjects. Sometimes I wonder weather I have made the right decision to come to ACJC as taking the Poly route might have been easier and smoother.

It is not about making personal decisions for every choice we make can affect a third party, either positively or negatively. We should instead strive to make Godly decisions although we as fallen human sometimes fail to do so. We are not left alone to make important choices as the Lord wants to be involved in our decision making too.

Firstly, you should ask God to speak to you and tell you what choice is the best for you. God wants to bless us and he has a good plan for all of us. Jeremiah 29:11 says ‘”For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God has already prepared a goal for us. We should persevere towards it.

Secondly, paths that God has asked us to take may not be a bed of roses, but he will help us overcome the difficulties. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, The Lord said to Paul, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my Power is made perfect in weakness.” You should not doubt the decision you have made no matter how tough the journey is. God guides those whose hearts are close to him, for Isaiah 30:21 says ‘Weather you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”’

Lastly, we should avoid placing too much focus on short term problems. We should commit them to the Lord. Psalm 23 is a Psalm which speaks close to my heart. It constantly gives me comfort and never fails to remind me that the Lord is in control of all things for the Psalm begins with these 5 words ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’ Our God is indeed in control of all things and he has prepared something good, albeit different for all of us here.

The most beautiful thing the Lord has given me in ACJC is to allow me to get to know him. I would like to tell the college over the decision I made earlier this year. I accepted Christ on the 8th of February this year. Praise God.

Let us pray,
Lord God, Blessed is your name for you Love us so much, you gave us life and you gave us the Freedom of choice. However Lord, at times we choose not to follow your promptings and your commands. Please forgive us Lord.

Lord God, I pray for the J2s for they will be graduating in 6 days time. Lord, look after them always. Give them the wisdom as they make their decisions on what Universities to go to or what courses to take. Let them make decisions that will glorify your name Lord. Bless their A Levels and give them strength to study hard for the remaining one month. Lord, cast away all fears and anxieties within them and fill them with your peace and a quiet confidence. Grant them concentration and allow them to glorify you Lord in the exams. Lord, be with them always as they enter the next phase of their life.

Bless the J1s for their paper Lord and Bless the staff of the college. Bless ACJC.

Thank You Lord
Amen

The Best Is Yet To Be


End of devotion

Happy Friday
:)!

Wednesday Kick Balls

Hi Everybody,
Thank You for your faith in
My that one day,
I'll finally return to update
My Blog.

Life has changed tremendously
Since the last post.
For 1, prelims are finally over
YEAH!

And the results is rather atrocious.
Physics-B
Bio-C
Math-C
GP-D
Econs-S

I kind of regret taking Econs.
I've never been good at it since day 1
Of school. Why didn't I seize the PAE
As an opportunity to get rid of this
Fearsome, irritating stressful subject?
Grrr!

On a happier note, this exam was the
1st time I managed to obtain a D
For GP. I was quite used to getting E.
Praise GOD for his abundant Grace.
Essay ( Politics )-32
Compre-25.
Man, I got to keep up my good work with
My essay and seek improvement in my compre.
Aim to get lesser Grammer mistakes and I
Am darn sure my language marks will sky-rocket
:)

I managed to jump 1 grade for both Physics
And Biology after moderation added at least
5 marks to both papers.
As for Maths, my grades remained at C,
Despite the fact that I am in the top 30%.
Well, only 30% passed the paper.
On a happier note, my good buddy Wen Hua,
Who got 38 for maths managed to obtained an
E after severe moderation. I do hope and Pray
That he will do much much better for his As.
Hes been mugging real hard.
Hah.

Don't worry Wenny, God will reward you when
The time comes. :)
Hes get an ABCDE by the way.
Hah.
Congrats to him for making into the list of
Consistent top scorers in our cohort.

Congrats to PT, Deanna and Chin Hwa for making
It into the top 10% list for this prelims.
I'm sorry, I may sound jeolous, but I dare deny
It. I'm just pissed at myself doing Econs and
Messing it up big time.

Only God knows why I took it...
Yep and he has got great plans for me...
One day, perhaps those tools will come into handy
But I really need God's Grace to pass it during
My A Level.

This year's service award list was published on
Teacher's day service and celebration.
I caught a glimpse of it and noticed that my name
Wasn't on that list.
I'm still pissed and sour at the unfairness of it.
I've done so much Sai Kang for the CCA and I am
Not even recognised for that effort.
Well, relatively,
(Yes, evidence requires absolute proof but since
This award is Merit based, Relativity is a justifiable
Tool to show why I treat this award as a joke)
Indeed, back to where I was...
Well, relatively, I don't think people in the list
Do deserve the award. Frankly, what have those people
Done? Its sad that I've got juniors coming up to me
Expressing their shock that certain CCA members got
The award while I didn't.
(I told him to do a good job so that when he gets
The award next year, he won't have juniors complaining
That he doesn't deserve it)
Furthermore, there seemed to be a biasness towards
The people in the IT department of SMC.
Nobody in the Logistics department clinched any award
Whereas the It department clinced 3 out of the 4
Service awards granted to SMC.
I was told by one of the awardee that Mdm frequently
Made the team stay back and work extra hours.
And it was unfortunate that I replied him in this manner
'I frequently meet up with my team members outside CCA
Time to discuss with them about the Logistics planning
For upcoming events without any prompting by the Mdms'
Point proven, I had more initiative then the IT
Department.

I am very very very dissapointed but I know God has his
Reasons for me not getting the award. It took me quite
A while to swollow the fact that it was God's will and
I should just let it be. Besides, God is the ultimate
Judge and not humans. No point of me fussing over such
Trivial stuffs. So forgive me and pardon me for the
Long ratings above this pragraph.

Congrats to Wen Hua, Gloria, Merilyn, and many more
In my class for getting the service award.
Congrats to Deanna, Chin Hwa and Stephanie for
Getting onto the list of Principal's Honour's Roll.
May God Bless them as they take their upcoming A Levels
And my God's Blessing walk with them through their
Life after the graduate from College :)

My studies have been placed in serious jeopardy.
I'm currently attempting to complete
All the Math's textbook's Miscellaneous questions
And the Physics's TYS's questions.
I need to read up on my Econs notes and I need to
Polish up my grammer.
I also have to read my Bio and Physics notes and
I need to memorise Processes as well as definations.
Oh Heavenly Father,
Walk with me through this valley of death yeah?
:)
I know he will, he is always faithful.

Its now 6a.m on Wednesday.
I've decided to skip school.
My wallet has gone missing.
Only God knows where I've misplaced it.
I am skipping school today and will be
Cylcing around Bukit Batok's neighbourhoods.
1st stop, bus interchange. I've got t check
If they have my managed to retrieve my wallet.
2nd stop, the Neighbourhood police post,
That is if my wallet cannot be located.
I need to make a police report and get them
To make me a new IC as well as an EZ Link card
Before the 30th of Octobeter,
The official comencing date for my A Level examination
I do hope I can Seize this oppournity to put
Another photo on my IC,
Probably one with me in my ACJC uniform with the
ACS Tie.
Haha, ACS FOREVER!!!!! :)!
And probably also make some changes to my
English name.
I Shall now be called:
Jiajun _____________ Tan.
I've yet to come up with a suitable middle name.
Grrrr!

My dad is on his way to Britain for a company
Trip. God Bless him on his trip and look after him
:)!
Work is important, do it well...
But remember to have Fun in Britain too! :)!
Muahahaha.

Right!
I've been playing the computer for the whole night.
I am now a Winning Eleven 9 addict. Oh well.
Time to return to Mugging TYS.
Haha!

God Bless my Friends :)!

'Coninue to work in your salvation with Fear and Trembling, for it is GOD who works in will and to act according to his good purporse' Philippians 2:12-13

Happy September,
Happy October
:)

Monday Chronic Burn Out

Hmm...
I think the hate column on the
Left of my blog should be removed
For I hate no one :)!

I am suffering from Chronic
Burn Out...
Bleh.

And Therefore,
I've decided to give myself
A day of from school:
Today :)!

And I pigged in all the way till
3p.m.
Gosh!
Haha.

Ok.

I got to go read up on my
Physics stuffs later.

I've finally packed up my room.
Haha!

Happy Tuesday
:)!

Monday Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Elizabeth :)!
Happy Birthday Kelly :)!

Haha!
30th July is such a wonderful date!

Never before do I know of anyone
Who has the same Birthday date as me!
And now...
To my suprise!!!!!
I've got two wonderful sisters whose
Birthday falls on the same date as
Me!
Haha!

Never in my life do I know of anyone,
Really.
Until my last year in mainstream education
A.K.A JC2 :)!

Its so funny,
Its so hilarious!
My goodness!
I had such a joyful day :)!

Praise the Lord.

And now, for the presents:
Thank You JQ Mei Mei for the wonderful Bisuits!
Shernice for the book ' Enjoying your Walk with GOD! '
Helsa for the book ' Travelling Light! '
And last but not least:
Wen Hua and Gloria!
A Black T-shirt from Rip Curl!
Woohoo :)!
Haha.

And Countless Thank You to those
Who came to wish me a Happy Birthday
And those who sang me the Happy Birthday Song.
:)!

Well, I can still remember shaking
Elizabeth's and Kelly's hand while
Simultaneously wishing each other
' Happy Birthday '
Woah!
It really really really is
Funny!
Haha! :)!

Well, indeed, God has planned this
16 and 15 years ago on this wonderful date :)!
Well, maybe, 5000 years ago actually.
How Great Thou Art!
Indeed :)!

Have a Blessed week ahead
Brothers and Sisters :)!

Happy Tuesday
:)!