To live simply .. or otherwise

People everywhere seem to be walking around with a message on their forehead "Life's getting tough. Am I tough enough?" The Pen wonders ...

No doubt the world is facing great weather of change, storm of tribulations now. But, isn't God is still in control of everything. Matthew 6:33 already metioned on this clearly. We are not to worry about tomorrow. What being humane, we still do.

Thus, do we want to simply live our life? Or do we live our life simply?

To live our life simply actually means that we live as a wise man building his house on the rock.
To simply live our life actually means instead of building on the rock, we build on sand, because is faster and easier. Now which one will stand when the flood comes?

So, live our life as simple as it can be, yet we are contended and God's willing, we shall survive the storms of change. So The Pen signs ...

The ABCDE of BB

Well.. yesterday was a day of hectic. All of a sudden, we have become one of the largest. The company is growing so fast. I really can't believe it to see that our Officers' strength stand at 25. Members base is 150++ .. We really need leaders to rise to the challenge. Indeed it is back to ABCDE of BB - Accountable Bold Christ-like Discipline Effective Boys Brigade..

We need leaders, we need members .. now when we are back to square one, I hope it is not square zero!!Commitment is required of you, guys. Dedication is expected of you Officers.

High Tech Living vs High Tech Teaching

Living in an era of high technology, sometimes we tend to forget that we are after all humans. The world has now become a village... thus the term global village. Some people say this is even the fast food era. Every thing moves at such a pace that only those strong in knowledge will survive the rat race.

Come to think of it; are we really living in high tech era? Are we really enjoying these so-called high tech facilities? The world should be a better place to live in - no doubt on that - but is this all we have or imagine that we would ever have? If the world is such a better place compared to ages and eons ago, why we still struggle to earn a decent living? Why the streets are no longer safe at night? Why families are being torn apart? Alas the Pen sighs ...

Think of it this way... Isn't there something that we can do? The rhythms of the song "Heal the world" seem to be heard in the heart's core. There is one verse that reads "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11-16). These are the peoples that God has given to us to equip and train His people.. especially so in this k-era.

People need to be taught using high tech facilities. However, we still need that human contact. We still need that personal touch. So the battle between high tech living and high tech teaching begins. The question is how much personal touch we need to have in high tech teaching. The Pen wonders ...

Simply do? Do simply?

During one of my night classes at BCM, my lecturer was committed to get us to do assignments that will follow her requirement. After much explanation, as this is just a crash course, things may not be that impossible to accomplish.

"Well, you all don't have to worry so much. Just do it simple. Just don't simply do"

The whole class went high in laughters. A sweet reply came, "Pastor, don't you worry. We are simple people. So we will simply do it simple. But we won't simply do it"

Jaws dropped big? Anyone reckon?

I.G.U.A.N.A - I Got Up-close An Near-death Accident

Today I went for an appointment at my friend's condo. As we were discussing halfway, his friend noticed that an iguana had fallen from on high. We rushed out and saw a beautiful, exotic four legged pet. Later we found out that iguana actually fell from the as high as 11 floor .. and landed outside of the balcony of my friend's condo which is at the first floor. We thought it was dead. It was still alive, but suffered injuries. All we could see was its tail and front left leg was broken. I suspected there might be internal bleeding.

Almost 20 minutes later, the owner came. We had a small chat. She actually reared it since 4 years ago. "It was tame. It fell once when it was still small. I wonder why it jumped again this time after so long." To me, the iguana seemed to be saying "I Got Up-close An Near-death Accident".

The Wedding that's MAD - FBH

Some say that wedding is made in heaven. What's more a perfect wedding? Now, how many would want to see real people getting married twice? Getting married twice? Am I hearing correctly? Well, they just kiss twice .. one on screen .. one in public.

At times, I can't help to think that the one they did on the screen is just a real rehearsal for the real ceremony due in just a few months away. How many would want that kind of life? Just by getting married twice in a year is already a news on its own. Now what does the wedding really mean? Anyone reckons ... The Pen still inks on hard ...

It is matrimony uniting not two individuals, but two families of totally different backgrounds into one big happy family. It is a time where two hearts supposedly to come as one, thinking as one mind, one heart, one soul to fashion a better tomorrow. It is also a time where one would leave his/her singlehood and enter into parenthood, preceeded by adulthood. It is a wedding that's Making A Difference.. Families Become Homey ..

One fact remains, for richer or poorer, in health or sickness, till death do us part.

Now isn't life sweet? The Pen signs ... Happy Wedding !! ^^

Thinking out of the box

Ever heard of the phrase "Please put on your thinking hats, everyone" ? All of us are born with one or two thinking hats. The Thinking Hats basically was Edward de Bono's model of exploring different perspectives.

These are the hats being used for problem solving.

• The White Hat (Observer) will focus on information available, objective FACTS, what is needed, how it can be obtained. It is a neutral hat.
• The Red Hat (Self, Other) will present his/her views without explanation, justification. Most of the time, the thinker is full of EMOTIONS and FEELINGS, basing views with intuition, hunches.
• The Black Hat (Self, Other) is like a stern judge wearing black robe; judgmental; critical; asking why something is wrong. The thinker presents LOGICAL NEGATIVE view.
• The Yellow Hat (Self, Other), on the other hand, is presents LOGICAL POSITIVE view, looking for what's good and beneficial. The thinker is optimistic in nature.
  
• The Green Hat (Self, Other) promotes CREATIVE thinking; exploring possibilities and hypotheses; new ideas.
• The Blue Hat (Observer) is cool looking at the overview; having the CONTROL of PROCESS, STEPS, OTHER HATS. He/She is the chairperson, organizer; thinking about thinking, the steering wheel of a ship.
  

So, this is where we use the phrases "Thinking out of the box" and "Blue Ocean Strategy" hand in hand. I reckon that it is merely Thinking Out of the Box; Blue Ocean Strategy.