Post-JesusCamp Post.

urm.. yeah.
so i watched Jesus Camp yesterday. it's mindblowing to say the least ^^
for starters, there's CHRISTIAN TECHNO! i mean.. how cool is that!! =D i so wanna grab some of that haha! i'll be dancing all day and all night! XD
well, aside from that, the documentary is focused on evangelical christians, and no offense, they're cool in the way that they are; but as much as i believe that everyone should not be ignorant of politics, i do not enjoy either the indoctrination of political views into religious teachings. the reason quoted was that America is God's nation, or rather, "a Nation under God", but i'll have to read up on that. *oh boy.. american history.. shudder =p but seriously, major turning points in american history are sooooo interesting! declaration of independence (thomas jefferson), gettysburg address (lincoln), i have a dream speech (martin luther king jr), .. ... and many others! ^^ (i quote these coz these r the ones i've actually read up a little =,='")*

but honestly, how many of you believe that the war we're meant to fight, being God's army, is to be fought on this world? raise your hands so i can see you! no? none? good.
coz the battle we have to fight is not the battle without, but within. we fight sin. we fight temptations. we fight ourselves, and satan. we fight in the spiritual realm, and our short lives (despite rising life expectancies.. yad-dah-yah-dah-day.. =p) is but a stepping stone to prepare ourselves for the world beyond. call me moderate, call me conservative, but heh, though i'm not sure i can do it now, i'm working towards the day when i can say i WILL die for God, and i believe all men of faith (and women. fine. damn gender discrimination laws =p) will be able to do so too. to stand up to others for your faith.

that doesn't mean we should take a confrontational stance. John15:18-21, and John16:1-4 (yes i found the verses! so happy!). basically, we WILL be marginalised, for who we are. but we must stand strong, and faithful, for we are the truth-bearers. there was no talk of fighting, conflicts, aggression.

and back to politics. if the founding fathers of America were to see modern America, they'd be turnin in their graves. America was not meant to be a global peacekeeper. America was supposed to be a sovereign entity, proclaiming liberty and prosperity to the world. and to hell with earthly conflicts like those of the balkans, like those of the taiwanese. they're neither a vital interest to america, nor are they a threat to the liberty of the country. as for sept 11, usa can only blame themselves for inciting it. it was precisely due to their global interventionist (read hegemony) policies that churned up osama bin laden and his never-ending production line of extremists. it has to stop somewhere, so either you go all out and take over middle east for your own, or you defend what you can and leave middle east alone, as cruel as it sounds.

but that's american politics, and i'm a singaporean, so lets talk abit more about matters closer to home.

have you realise something amiss in the recent years? do you feel that singapore society is moving towards a foreign direction? you know, you might be right. more and more, developments are shaping towards the construction of a new elite class, that of political clout, and an immunity to all threats, both militarily, legally, and financially. increase pay, laws that prevent slander and transparency of politicians, shifting contituency.. what we're seeing are attempts in preservation of power by the majority political power, and because it's so subtle, no one in singapore is making a genuine attempt against it! we're giving concession to them because 1) they're the "founding fathers of singapore" 2) they're bringing in the moolah 3) they're efficient. a little too efficient i say. where's the heart?

socialism is quite a dirty word, so is welfarism. even our dear LKY doesn't call himself a socialist-democrat anymore. i believe the label now is dictator, tho i'll be sued for slander haha. nah, in honesty, he's no more of a dictator than bush is, but he does hold considerable influence, and his ideals are not necessarily best for the people of singapore. good for singapore, yes; for the people of singapore? i'm not so sure.

what we're seeing is statistical growth, but broken down in sectors, we see singapore's growth being propelled by the top 20% of the population, with the growth of the last 20% less significant. i'm not quoting facts, so do not take my perspective for truth, but if i recall, the growth of singapore's last 20% is slower than the growth of the top 20%, and if that's the truth, that's bad. real bad. not sure if singapore stats board has the details, and even if they do, they probably won't release them =p haha.

so sue me for caring for singaporeans. the opposition are working with the heartlanders not because they'll get propelled to electoral victories on the back of a majority class, but because it's us heartlanders that'll bear the brunt of the eliti-cising of the PAP political class. don't u feel the vibes? even the "middle-class" is starting to feel anxiety, feeling insecure. there's a reason for it, and i assure you it's not just paranoia =p

i watched bourne ultimatum yesterday too! nice =) tho i missed the 1st 15min =,='"
... ... and that was out of point haha =p that, and i lost my train of thought after shutting my comp down =p i'm picking up this post from where i left off 10hrs ago =p

i'd like to bring to attention the lyrics of "Hanging by a Moment" - by Lifehouse. quoted from http://www.lifehousefans.com/lyrics/nonamelyrics.html.
it goes..
"Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
Closer to where I started
Chasing After you

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with You"

About what is holy and what is not holy, in the eyes of God. Of what practises in a church is right or wrong.. who are we to judge? we are but humans, mere mortals. we may feel strongly for something, or against it, but don't let worldly cares hold sway of your heart. 1Thessalonians5:19-22. "Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good and avoid every kind of evil." yes indeed. who else knows best, but God himself? put all things to the test. spiritually, for we cannot attest to it's being good or not except through God's judgement. Amen.

to Jo, with regards to our debate about gay and homosexuality. I am not anti-gays, neither do i attempt to change their lifestyle. I respect their decision. but at the same time, I'm Christian. so though I do not discriminate and judge, neither should I condone "heathen acts". Romans1:27. "In the same way the men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing."

I am not a holy man, but that doesn't mean I should sink into despair. For I am saved, and I can repent. So can you :)
p.s. all Bible quotations are quoted from New Life Good News Bible.