Manna In The Wilderness

"We humans tend to have a rather exalted opinion of ourselves, and that attitude can color our perception of the biological world.  In particular, our attitude about what is higher and lower in biology, what is advanced organism and what is a primitive organism, starts with the presumption that the pinnacle of nature is ourselves… Nonetheless, other organisms, if they could talk, could argue strongly for their own superiority.  This includes bacteria, which we often think of as the rudest forms of life"

(Darwin’s Black Box, 1996)

help…my gum hurts

very bad…

bad..

bad…

bad….

so bad…

ouch…….

pls help….

oh god…sigh

bye

~cal

"Lawyers ask the wrong questions only when they do not want the right answers"

THE X-FILES

~Nothing happens in contradiction to nature, only in contradiction to what we know of it~

THE X-FILES

~The fiercest enemy are those who have nothing else to lose~

THE X-FILES

How does one live a life filled with problems?  How does he react with them?  Is he to deal with them and receive either accomplishment, or dissapointment, or is he to leave them as they are and continue to live as a heartless human being?  What are problems?  What is a predicament or an obstacle?  Who is/are behind them?  Who ‘created’ problems?  Where the term ‘problem’ came from?  Would there be any chance back in the past where problems could not have existed?  Have you ever wonder, what are problems actually?  How did they came about in our lifes?  Has it very much to do with humans’ emotions and desires?  Is a situation called a problem if it hurts us, or if it does not suit our desires?  Or is a situation labelled a problem if that situation threatens our survival?  What is a problem to you?  What is a solved problem to you?  What should you feel when you so called overcomed a problem?  What would a life without problems be?  Can you imagine that?  It would be a terribly difficult task to determine a world that is problem-free.  Would there be less problems if humans are emotionless, if we cannot differentiate between good and bad, if there is no such thing as human rights, democracy, having a heart, sacrifice and all these ‘human characteristics’?  But still, we are called ‘humans’ because of these characteristics.  We are who we are, and because of who we are, we are to have problems, probably they serve us as a survival tool, probably the realisation of the existence of ‘problems’ reassures us what is it like to be human, a being that is created to love, not hate, to learn when to trust and when not to trust, to be able to connect with one another, to know motivation, inspiration, innovation, encouragement, curiousity, education and many others.  It is through problems and how we deal with them that introduces the above positive elements.  But what if we make mistakes - something that aggravates a problem - what will the consequences be?  How hard is it to be human, for we face problems each day.  Have you ever wonder, what a slight glitch can do if we are not careful enough…   

Royal Rangers - after 8 years

Royal Rangers is a ministry that provides numerous outdoor and indoor activities and the study of God’s word to bring young boys and girls and the youths closer to God. I have joined and served in this ministry for more than 8 years and in this 8 years I have learnt and gained so much.  The bonds between me and my friends and commanders had grown tighter over these years through this ministry.  "This ministry does not only run activities, but it changes the lifes of the youths" said our camp commander Mr Peter Wong during the closing ceremony of our probable final camp for this ministry.  How true this is…

I would have missed so much if Royal Rangers had not exist.  If RR was never introduced to me, I would not know how to love the outdoors, nor would I know how to prepare a camp fire, to compose yells and songs, build towers, handcrafts and banners, make bolo ties and sew badges, maintain a bicycle, learn about space exploration, apply first aid, use toolcrafts, shoot a rifle, pitch a tent, to canoe, perform absailing, flying foxes, obstacle courses, river crossing, rock climbing, mountain hiking, lead a patrol, join bible quizes, cook outdoors, marching…and many more.  In this year itself, I was made a commander to guide and teach the younger Rangers of age ranging from 8 to 12 years old.  Because of this opportunity, I have learnt to have little kids as my dear friends, to love them as I would love any of my peers, to care for them as much as I would care for my closest companions and to understand and pay more attention to them as how a loving parent would do to a son or a daugther.  More importantly, this ministry had taught me how to cherish and appreciate each and every one of my friends and commanders, and most of all, to always live a life in Chirst.

How much I am going to miss this ministry if it closes down next year.  I do hope and pray that God will make a way for this ministry that has blessed many youths to continue to flourish instead of what has been planned earlier on. 

"Oh Lord, you have kept us going for more than 8 years, you have blessed and encouraged so many people, both young and old through Royal Rangers.  Surely you would not want such a great ministry to die down due to circumtances that hasten its fall, which none of it you cannot overcome, my Lord!  We pray with all our heart, mind and soul to you that you would continue to keep us going, always to your direction, your ways and your will.  It is not by might, nor by strength but by YOUR SPIRIT that hope and help comes to us, and right now we ask that you sustain this ministry through thick and thin, brings us over the deep and wide valley of discourgement over to the other side of determination, encouragement and success in the name of Jesus!  You are our Jehovah Jireh, our provider!  Provide us O God with all that we need to push forward and persevere, to keep the fire burning, the fire which lies in the Royal Rangers ministry that touches, transforms and changes the lifes of our society!  O Lord, the battle is yours. Help us to do all we can and leave the rest to you.  We are nothing without you O Lord, and there will be no eternal accomplishement if we press on by our own strength.  How earnestly we pray for your guidance and grace for we believe that every time we pray we move the hand of God!  Continue to mold and use us for your glory, and use our lives as a blessing and testimony about your goodness to other people.  But most importantly O Lord, may your will be done.  Whatever your plans for the Royal Rangers may be, we accept it with a surrendered and faithful heart, for we believe that you see from the end to the beginning, and that your plans is always the best for us.  Amen."

I will surely miss you RRangers and the 8 years you have blessed me with.  Always strive for the best for the Lord, and continue your mission to touch and transform lives for the glory of God!!

ps:                

To my commanders :

Eddy Chong, K.G. Tan, Wai Kin, Peter Lim, Soh Meng and Bro. Lim.

Thank you for all you have done for me, the time and petrol you have used to send me for hikes and trips, the teachings, devotions and games you have prepared, the camps you have planned and most of all your encouragement to me to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Always the best from our Lord,

together serving Jesus,

-cALVIn-

Dear CA seniors,

The time has come for you to sit for your final exams, and after that it would be time for you to fly to your respective destinations.  How fast the 4 1/2 months pass since I came to join you here.  Surely God is going to use you to bless many other people, just as you have blessed me.  Go with God. 

Thank you for being such a great blessing to me, especially during the early days. 

Thank you for even introducing yourselves to me, letting me know that being in INTEC is not that bad after all, and that I am not alone to face all the challenges that awaits me. 

Thank you for acknowledging me, calling out my name and shaking my hand when you see me around. 

Thank you for the hours you have spent just to invite us to CA meetings, the effort to drive us all the way to church and back, and the fellowship you have brought us into. 

Thank you so much for giving us something to look forward to every week, although how lonely, depressing and messy situations may be.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, to know and love Him more.

Thank you for all that you’ve done here.  May God bless you everyday and guide you all the way. 

GOD will be ABOVE you to PROTECT you

                  BELOW you to SUPPORT you

                  BEFORE you to GUIDE you

                  BESIDE you to COMFORT you

            and INSIDE you to SUSTAIN you

All the best to you.

I will miss you.

-CALVIN LIM-