VirtuaLife

Previously, I distinguished between perception and reality. Perception is a personal experience whereby a 'form' of reality is created based on what inputs we have at our disposal. Reality is an impersonal rendition of the absolute truth as exists at that point in time. I've introduced a contrast between personal and impersonal becasue I wish to state that perceiving THE reality as opposed to A reality is impossible for any human. It's simply not in our capacity to do so and even if it were, bias would influence our inputs.

I'm bringing this up again in relation to the existence of an absolute truth. Obviously I believe that truth lies in the life of a certain character called Jesus, and the book adopted by his followers, The Bible. Other people believe in different truths. That we are descendents of apes. We were created by lightning striking some structurally condicive surface clay in a promordial earth. That we were deposited here by aliens who once lived on Mars.

I'm not making fun of these people. No, far from it - don't get me wrong. Many of these people are intelligent, progressive, forthcoming individuals, and some of them even have more integrity than the sort of character I see at an average church! By virtue of the fact that I continue to talk to these people, you can infer that they have some sort of 'value' to me.

So why do we see everything differently? Why, if we are all intelligent (hypothetically) and curious individuals, do we end up with different opinions on the Big Questions? Like, what is the meaning of life? Or, is there a God? Or, what is the origin morality and ethics? Its seems that the questions that would most affect our lives, we have agreed to disagree on.

Firstly, I would like to say that (1) absolute truth exists, and (2) absolute truth is not relative. The implications if this were not true are as such: if absolute truth does not exist, there would be no such thing as fact. Also, no yardstick would exist on measuring how 'true' or 'false' our beliefs are, since there is no definable endpoint for truth. The second statement merely highlights the mutual exclusitivity between absolutism and relativitism. It follows, despite the existence of numerous popular quotes claiming otherwise, that perception is NOT reality.

If an absolute truth exists, then this is the logical origin from which all theorising should spring forth. In this instance, truth acts as an anchorpoint to ensure that theorising is still grounded in the reality of the truth it is trying to discover. Let me give you a silly example. An elephant is found by itself on a desert island. How did it get there? Some might say it flew there. Others might say it swam. Others yet might say it was offloaded from a beleagured ship passing by. Others say...

Many theories. Some sound more absurd than others. But what makes it sound absurd? Truth, as we understand it individually, makes anything that does not fit the criteria, absurd. For example, the person who thought the elephant flew there arrived at that conclusion because he nows certain animals such as birds can fly. and the elephant is also an animal. He also knows it is physically impossible for an elephant so swim through an ocean, so the possibility of it arriving by sea is impossible. We can see that his assumptions are partly true but also partly false. But he can still reach a conclusion that suits his understanding of truth!

In the same way, when it comes to these big questions, it really depends on our grasp of truth. It also depends on our psychological needs, because just as many people are accused of having a psychological need to believe in a God, so to do many others have psychological needs to NOT affirm the existence of any God. You see, regardless of how these Big Questions are answered, they ultimately affect one thing. Our lives. My life. Your life. Our lives. And, ultimately, our lives are the most precious thing we can humanly comprehend. Every treasure that we can possibly accumulate is achieved on the premise that we are alive. Life. It's foundational.

Challenge the foundation and the building shakes. It can be a pretty traumatic experience. Yet, some people don't even know what foundation they build their houses on! Who is to blame then when the house collapses? Is ignorance truly bliss? Only if you believe that truth is relative, yes.

As far as i'm concerned, there are only two competing views that relate to the meaning of life. Everything else is a variation or derivative of these two. So lets have a bit of a look into it.

Evolution. As far as the scientific establishment is concerned life on earth evolved spontaneously billions of years ago. Popularised by Darwin in the last century and furthered by biochemistry research in the last 50 years, evidence is still scarce to support the theory of evolution. And thats precisely what it is, yet it is TAUGHT AS FACT in every biology curriculum in Australia. If faith is mutually exclusive with knowledge (if you know something, you don't need to have faith to believe it) then convictions on evolutionary science are built upon faith. And that is hardly a scientific process.

Another observation about evolutionary science, or perhaps just science in general, is what while it is very good at positing HOW things came to be, it is comparavitely bad at understanding WHY. Proponents of there being no why essentially state that there is no meaning to life, and they state this in the face of very obvious dissimilarities with the world as it is at the moment. Among scientists who believe that there is a why, there is almost universal agreement that the causative agent is based on a metaphysical assumption. Therefore one has a choice about hte metaphysical assumptions they can make, but they cannot escape making that choice.

Prescribing to an evolutionary viewpoint, for all intents and purposes, is a step of faith. And I invite any pro-evolutionists to challenge me with groundbreaking, earth-shattering and life-changing (puns intended) discoveries about abiogenesis or the like (it is technically true that abiogenesis is not evolution, but procedurally, they relate to the same continuum and use similar supporting evidence). After all, if you can prove me wrong I am obliged to accept your point of view, right?

Creation. The Bible declares that evidence for a God is found all about us in nature. That is the ongoing, daily miracle that we are subjected to. It is interesting to note that more and more scientists who seek to challenge this account of creation are actually finding reason to believe in an Intelligent Designer.

Among the Bible's strongest declarations apart from the contrasting account of creation is the authenticity of the historical Jesus Christ and his exploits. It finds its strongest detractions to natural science in the area of supernatural occurences, or the miracle-working ministry of Jesus Christ and his followers. I neglect to mention other religions here because a careful look through their holy books finds a paucity of evidence that can be validated or supported in our current circumstances. The Bible however (as I pray you will find) has a whole lot more substance than just a nice story.

To successfully challenge the Creation viewpoint, evolutionary theory must become evolutionary fact. To challenge the Christian viewpoint (which I will assume is synonymous with the Creator), one must debunk the existence of Jesus or the meaning and validity of his ministry on Earth. And once again, I accept any challenges on this.

And this is the note that I am going to leave you with to ponder about what I've written. In respect to the circumstances that caused me to write this, it doesn't matter whether you think that life once existed on Mars. It doesn't matter whether you think that having multiple sexual partners is the way we were designed to be. It doesn't matter what you think about genetic predisposition. All of that is wasted, accessory thought. Because once you question the absolute truths, you will find that your conclusions carry through to the PERSONAL TRUTHS (perceptions) that you have built your house upon.

I think this saying (made by me! copyright!) nicely summarises the topic. We (humans) can always shape a reality that embraces our needs. Be we cannot always embrace a reality that shapes our needs. Because the truth hurts.

In Faith, Hope and Love!

PS> I did mention in a previous posting comment that I would do a posting on my findings about the deity of the Trinity. This is still in the works, however, I did not anticipate the complexity of the issue. That will still happen, but not in the near future.

I recall these words from the song prelude to What If, by Christian Band DC Talk:

" The greatest single cause of athiesm today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out of the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable."

That is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable

One of the things that has been firmly impressed upon my heart is this notion of a 'sovereign' God. Let me say to the Christians among you that understanding the sovereignity of God is ABSOLUTELY AND UNCOMPROMISINGLY FOUNDATIONAL in understanding His character. However, the problem with many Christians is that they only want God to be in control to the extent that there is some advantage conferred to themselves. Let me phrase it another way... many Christians want God to be in control of their own lives, but not so much that they don't lose control of their lives, themselves.

Sounds familiar?

Without proper grounding in understanding the scope of sovereignity, the Word (or Bible) as it relates to God becomes essentially meaningless. Do you get what I"m saying? To ignore/disregard/miscomprehend His sovereignity is to undermine the very fabric of what makes us Christian. Or should I say, what really entitles us to be call ourselves Christian?

And for those who understand sovereignity, do you speak with CONVICTION over it? I talk to alot of people - socialising is something that has been built into my daily lifestyle. And that exposes me over and over again to people's convictions. Conviction comes in many flavours... the loud trumpet it, the quiet show determination, the bimboey show unerring focus... many, many permutations. But if there is one universal component of conviction, I believe it is intensity. You can't be intense if you don't have conviction.

Guesswork does not constitute conviction. Academic thought does not constitute conviction. Acceptance and belief are components of, but not the whole substance of conviction. So why, when I hear my Christian friends speaking, do they say 'I think this what God wants me to do' ... or 'I guess God wants me to do this,' .... or ' I believe God wants to show us his love' ... repeat. ad nauseum. I've listened to many good speakers, some great ones, and many funny ones and guess what? 'I think' is not in their vocabulary. It just doesn't cut the mustard.

When involved in a mildly spiritual discussion with some friends a week or two ago, I counted the number of topic sentences that started with 'I think'. There were nine of them. Out of ten topics. For those of you who find an 'I think' hard to visualise', there's normally quite alot of hesitation accompanying the sentence. I don't really want to ask WHY, because I"m scared of the conclusions I might reach.

Therefore I would like to make a pretty, decently desperate plea to anyone who reads this. CHANGE. Acknowledgement is the first step towards change. I know, because I've been through it before, and I am STILL going through it. But if you fail to change, or don't see the need, remember...

That is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable

Find the song with its opening monologue here on youtube if you haven't heard it before. Disregard the video that goes with it - i'm not sure how it relates.

In Faith, Hope and Love!

From the not-so-tender age of 11 until now, over a decade later, I've observed many guys come to shits and giggles when the topic of men and make-up is broached. It is the subject of many dares, various homophobic discussions and general chauvanistic derision.

The simple fact of the matter though is, models wear make-up. Whether you are a girl... or a guy.

I do have a hate, and thank God it is not people. However, sometimes the attitudes I see are so superficial or inexcusably ignorant that I do feel like knocking out a few teeth, just to make people think long and hard about exactly what it means to live a life WITH other people who may not necessarily be the same as them. And the same goes for people who perpetuate such behaviour (inadvertently or not) because that is what 'love' is. No, love knows when to rebuke as well. Doesn't the mother scold her child when he does something naughty?

Anyway, I thought I'd take the less daring (I was going to say cultured, but that would just be rude of me, wouldn't it? :)) through the steps of applying some very basic make-up, for men.

(Up until STEP 5, all make-up was applied to the left side of my face only, so you can try to pick the differences)

STEP 1


Buy some foundation. It should be pretty cheap, and the most expensive thing you'll lose is your pride when the make-up assistant laughs at your sorry arse! But then, you might make some unexpected friends and admirers that way too. I know I did!

STEP 2


Take a sparing swab and spread it under your eyes where the eyebags come out. The whole point of make-up for guys is to smoothen the appearance of the face but not to take out the angles (this is where the make-up philosophy between genders diverges). Spread the foundation outwards across your cheeks so that the colour blends in to your natural skin hues. I have to try a little harder with mine because the colour is a shade darker than my skin. In this instance, use a little bit of water when putting it on to dilute the colour.

STEP 3


Once the foundation has been blended properly (proper blending should follow the contours of your face, not some arbitrary amount like, fade to 0% at 5cm from eye) You should be able to step back and notice that the effect of any existing blemishes has either been softened or negated. Good! That is the effect we're looking for.

STEP 4


Now that the base has been applied we move to powdering. Powdering plays a very important role in photoshoots (especially long ones) as it absorbs any trace sweat and stops the skin from shining. Photgraphers do NOT want shiny skin. It's horrible to work with. Powdering also assists in softening the appearance of or tonal variations in your skin.



STEP 5


When applying the powder, once again do NOT use liberal amounts. A very sparing touch of the brush following by vigorously dusting the face at ALL angles. The brush is pushed into the face; its not like painting a house, as many guys think. If you want to laugh at someone, go check out a guy that's just painted his face with powder. It looks quite amusing.



The finished product! The changes may be subtle, but that's the whole point of men's make-up - if you can notice that it's been applied, yukk. Reduce the blemishes, clean up the appearance and don't detract from any angles... and thats how a good model presents themselves to a client. Plain is good.

- - -

Anyway I thought that since I'd prettied myself up, I might as well make use of my newfound beauty. Here I'm trying to pull off some predetermined expressions without using the mirror to assist me.

PIC 1: Surprise



PIC 2: Boredom



Enjoy!

In Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~

I think I've had my first ever REVITALISING exam block. Wheeee!

Exams were so cruisy. Technically it wasn't exams. Try exam. That's right, I'm grounded in the singular. Compared to the trial-by-fire monotony of physiotherapy's six to eight exams per block, that's something I should be able to do in my sleep!

But that wasn't what made it revitalising.

I remember arguing to myself the merits of taking urban planning up at a time when I could have gone the other way and enjoyed myself for the better part of the year. I remember justifying my final decision on the grounds that the long-term benefits though upskilling and extending my friendships and networks was the weight that tipped the scales in planning's balance.

For the better part of this semester I missed, or stuffed up opportunities to stay in touch with the peeps. My own scheduling with Honours, biology tutoring
and ad hoc work arrangements meant I was sent all over the placewith no semblance of a routine. Was is it the 'new' experience I had been asking for? Yes. Did I like it? Uhhh... no?

Planning eventually became a bit of a (tedious) grind. I don't mean to sound elitist, but at an elementary level it's ridiculously easy. Easy enough to rock up at each lecture, take the required notes, spend an hour in the library doing extra reading and then switch off. Oh, there were some hard bits, if you consider hard as something that makes one stop and do a double take. But I do know people who struggled and I empathise with them, for I was blessed to have situations in which to apply my learning almost instantaneously. However, it wasn't particularly my idea of fun. Admittedly I had a ball (by myself) running around West End collecting info for my project and doing my sketches and just generally being a nuisance to anyone who didn't understand what I was doing, but in that respect it wasn't 'different' to anything I could have done without planning.

The last week has been much more fortituous, however. With the looming nastiness of exams I just decided to drop the diplomatics and do a phone number grab. And I'm so glad I did! The peeps I ended up studying with coming into this home stretch are a wonderful bunch of colour and personality... and you know how addicted I am to new people, right? I'd been talking to people so much about chicken soup for their soul that I forgot to reflect on why I was feeling so good myself. But God is indeed good, and He looks after each and every one of us who lives for Him.

So, exams are over, now what? Well, I'm just starting to get excited, really. New people. New lives! Even in exams I was anticipating my reward (hahaha) for diligent study... that being multiple cino chats and memories to cherish.

And dreaming up the ways in which those sorts of memories get dished out is, in a word, revitalising.

I'm so excited about this holidays! (Even though it won't really be one for me) Got planning peeps to meet, modelling peeps to meet, party peeps to party with, church peeps to know and grow with... peeps peeps peeps!

People! Gotta love them :)

In Faith Hope and Love!
teDDe~

She asked me, slightly perplexed, "How do you know my name?"

I told her, "Err, I heard it mentioned in tutorial classes." (actually I looked up the tutorial list and deduced her name using insanely complex derivation functions only known to me, and even then, only temporally ^^)

*cough*

Later on she asks me, "So why are you doing planning if you're in physiotherapy?"

I should have asked her, "How do you remember something I mentioned for all of 5 seconds 3 months ago?"

. . .

Oh, the stakes of adult networking, when second-guessing others' intentions is no longer an option, and folly to those who don't.

But it's still (very) fun!

In Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~

"Behaviour reflects personality."

John Douglas, psychological profiler for the FBI.

What do my actions say about me?

In Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~

What sort of things do you do when you're stressed? Here's my selection from today:

1. Typed in incorrect websites. Eg. www.facebook.uq.edu.au (correct site www.facebook.com).
And www.caradvice.uq.edu.au (correct site www.caradvice.com.au).
And www.mobileburn.qld.gov.au (correct site www.mobileburn.com).

2. Walked into the university toilet and sat down when I meant to go down the stairwell in Chamberlain (Building 35 at UQ)

3. Called tried to borrow out my own notepad using one of the library scanners (the book was underneath it).

And still, it’s been a lovely day =).

The sun shines upon my face and truly I know His hand is upon my life. Exams around the corner? Meh. =)

In Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~

Envisioning the future… where would we be without it? Better or worse? Greater or lesser? If we look to the Bible, it tells us in Proverbs 29:18 (NIV) that where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. (KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, blessed is he. So vision, biblically at least, is linked with our continuing intimacy with God.

Humor me as I reflect on what it means to have vision. Let’s have a look at two quotes:

“Why, the world’s mine oyster, which I with sword will open.” William Shakespeare

‘The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork.” Oscar Wilde



I like these quotes because they demonstrate two different but equally crucial aspects of life. If you’ve ever shucked (read: opened) oysters before, you will know it is not a pleasant business… there’re finger cuts, slippages and the inevitable lost morsel. Shucking an oyster is a time consuming process, but it is one in which the final reward is greater than the interim investment. Herein lies supposition #1 – life is a long term decision.

There is also mention of the sword as a utensil to open the oyster. I think it is an interesting choice, yet it demonstrates perfectly the struggle one will encounter when trying to wrest their life from the boring certainty of meaninglessness. A sword is a fighting object often with a keen edge used for slashing or piercing opponents (the one shown here is a flamberge). It was crafted to maim and kill, hence the person who uses it must be skill in its use to control its effect. And that person must be reassured in their ability to wield it properly in order for their swordplay to be effective. Historically, the (long)sword was often used only by the aristocracy. Coincidentally, in ancient times, only the aristocracy who had any hope of receiving an education, let alone a future. Thus I reach supposition #2 – the fullness of life can only be unlocked by informed and convicted decision-making.

And how about the unforgettable use of a wrong fork? Indulge me with some imagination for a moment. You have shucked your oyster, cutting your thumb in the process, which is throbbing from the ingress of natural sea salt. But you have it! You scooped the soft silky body out of its shell, transfer it to your mouth and then… whoops! It fell on the floor. You see, unlocking opportunity is only the first step in a multiphase process. For the purposes of today, the phases number two, the second phase being learning how to embrace the opportunities one has been blessed with. Leading me to supposition #3 – without proper preparation, all opportunities count for nothing.

All of this leads to a single conclusion – I need to make long-term decisions about my life that will only come about from informed and convicting decisions. These decisions will open up many meaningful opportunities that necessitate my being ready in order to maximise them to their fullest potential and thus completing the process from which they were borne out of. Not only that, but these decisions will help me stay my course with God.


Education takes time. And while the lazy person never has enough time for anything, the busy person will always be able to find time for something they love

It’s a bit of a mouthful but can you see the process that is at work?

As of 3 hours ago, I am now 22. Wow! Getting old. According to my original 10-year plan, I will own my house in a year, be married in two years time, and have made my first million dollars in 3 years. Let me tell you how I am going on each of those fronts. 1) I know where I want to live, that’s about all. 2) Haven’t fused with anyone yet and I can’t marry myself, so… 3) Since I started working in 2000, I have made approximately $38,000. Therefore I am roughly 4% towards my goal.

Unlike my 20-21 year gap, I didn’t set myself many goals this past year. Well, actually I did, but I lost the piece of paper that I wrote them on so I can’t hold myself accountable ^^. So I won’t dwell on that aspect (which is lost, anyway,) and just go straight into what I see for me and my future. But to understand where I want to be, one must understand where I am NOW. So, sit back and grab a pillow as I invite you calibrate yourself with my life.

Right now I am a part-time university student studying physiotherapy (Honours) at the University of Queensland. I am part-time due to failing an essential hospital component that has excluded me from final year clinical practice. I am an Honours student because I believe that there is no value to any profession unless one aims to pioneer new ground in it or become an outstanding example of best practise. Due to the dubious credibility of my ‘fail’, I 100% believe that I failed my exams not due to inadequacy on my behalf but because my God made a divine appointment with me. He did so that I may transfer the excellence I have fostered in other applications to working for the good of His commission – that is, reaching out to people who are lonely and hurting because their life lacks substantiated meaning.

I am the son of a Filipino Chinese father and a Singaporean Chinese mother who are now divorced. My father has business interests relating to tourism, hospitality and property in Southern Philippines. My mother works with aged care, and is engaged in taking care of homestay students after hours. I currently work as a L1 sports trainer with a Brisbane-based soccer club and perform additional contract work to primary and secondary schools around Brisbane. I also have an interest in modelling, currently.

I believe in truth, which might sound strange to you but I feel the need to say, because the lifestyles of MANY people in this world deny truth a place. Truth is, by nature, exclusive. It excludes all the things that are not truthful. Because I acknowledge the persistence and underlying capacity of truth to act as a motivator, I am convicted of my obligation to pursue truth in all forms. Spiritually, professionally, socially, personally… the list goes on.

I am a Christian. I believe in one God, who is present in three distinct manifestations and who is active and personal in my daily life. I believe there is no greater power than He and that it is through His unconditional love that this world is still blessed, despite its fallen nature. I acknowledge that my God is mysterious and I will never be able to fully fathom His ways, but as an expression of my love I will keep on pursuing understanding that I may more fully live into the character that He has created for me.

I currently attend Hope Brisbane Church at the UQ St Lucia campus. My attendance was also divinely mediated through a convergence of extraordinary circumstances that have left me beyond doubt as to its nature. Similar to the way I found myself contributing to OCF, I will aim to serve Hope, until He calls me once again. To something new. Something relevant. But until that time – whenever that may be –, I submit to the authority of the church, strive for its goals, and thus come under the protection of its leaders.

I have many secondary passions in life, so much so that I’m not even going to list them here. My passions entertain me, keep me active and engaged, and give me a reason to wake up every single day with too many things to do but 24 hours to do them in. I therefore believe that boredom is a fault of oneself, an indicator of the consumerism that covers society like a plague. I don’t believe that all lives were created equal, but this does not mean that I think life is unfair. There is nothing in my life that I am ashamed of because I recognise that every single part of it works for the glory of God in me. Therefore, I harbour no secrets.


No secrets? That's right. You get to see me when I'm silly (pictured), happy, serious, cranky, or blonde, as well as every other permutation in between. Don't get me rong though; I wear my heart on my sleeve, but it's clothed with diplomacy

Because of everything that I am, everything that I am not but want to be, and some things that I am not and do not want to be, I have a vision that will be further updated and refined as the circumstances in my life have advised.

HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, MERCY
These three aspects were last talked about on my XANGA site, in reference to Micah 6:8. Humility so that I know my rightful place in what I do. Integrity so that there is unity between all aspects of my character. Mercy so that I learn to die to self, for the sake of others.


ENVISIONING EXCELLENCE
Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude. In fostering an attitude of excellence I aim to pioneer new ground in every thing I do and for the benefit of those around me.

ENVISIONING PASSION
Clarity of mind loves clarity of passion; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves. In remaining passionate, I live in the hope of achieving my vision, for I know that without passion, I will not complete my race.

ENVISIONING PURPOSE
There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. In being purposeful with the greater vision, I am liberated to act spontaneously on the minutiae of everyday life.

Perhaps not the best example of excellence, passion and purpose... community sleep session in (admittedly) very nonsensical physio lecture. Hah!

THE ENVISIONED MILESTONES

Given that I’m 22, I thought that it’s pertinent to do an 8-year roadmap. In the fine tradition of applying knowledge to reduce redundancies, I will not log any uncertainties (such as marriage), concentrating instead on the milestones closest to my heart.

23 – I want to graduate into a well-networked job paying at least 20% higher than industry average and offering me with many opportunities to increase my clinical skills. I want to be serving in a ministry where my actions directly impact the lives of those around me, spurring people onward to focus on our God.

25 – I want to be recognised within the physiotherapy industry for 1) commitment to best practise methods, peer-nominated excellence in treatment, and specialisation in a commercially and socially viable area of practise. 2) Undertaking research on evidence-based practise, changing the way that physiotherapy is delivered not only in Australia, but the world.

26 – I want my own fully-owned (that means paid-off) house within proximity to my parent (or parents). This house will be used to further extend my ministry as a place of caring, encouragement and empowerment.

27 – I want to achieve financial stability. I will be earning above $120K a year from physiotherapy and above $50K a year from extracurricular activities such as share trading, sports medicine and guest lecturing. The portion of my finances not reserved for supporting my family, church, and other charitable causes will be locked into an investment account, accruing interest for the purposes of generating financial equity should I ever find myself in turbulent financial times.

28 – I want to set up my own business. This may be in conjunction with my father or as part of my own desire to create cutting-edge applications of physiotherapy. The purpose of this is to create greater flexibility in my work hours in order to free up time for a predicted upscaling in social and personal activities.

29 – I want to own four investment properties in at least two countries based at university campuses around South-East Asia. These houses will be used for rental but also as ministry houses for students to meet together and spend time in fellowship. The houses will be specifically designed as such in order to accommodate these needs.

30 – Coinciding with a predicted increase in volume traffic across the Northside of Brisbane, I want to renovate the existing premises at 818 South Pine Road (or any other sizeable block of land) to create a suite of subtropical-themed apartments that will be leased out to a primary population of young couples. This will also be used as a ministry tool to outreach into the community, done through monthly newsletters and social gatherings held with the tenants. 50% of the profit after tax from this investment will go towards charitable causes.

30 – ...I think I’ll want a very long holiday =)

I'm not saying these things for show. I don't mean to intimidate or inspire you with my vision. If that happens, it's incidental. No, what I write down here is a declaration of my faith in what I believe I am equipped to do. And as you are my witness, so to is God my signatory. Join me as I make my dreams a reality!

in Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~

FOR FULL DETAILS PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS POSTS

Hehehe... To be quite honest, I don't know what car I would be stepping into for this new phase in my life. It's not like I need anything more accelerative - my life is already fast, perhaps too fast. Nor do I need anything more flashy - with the current selection I can just nicely handle the attention I attract. I would like something bigger though, with more seats, more luxury. Something that allows people to sit beside me and experience life from my point of view in comfort and security.



Nothing flashy in terms of looks yet it carries itself well and feels... well, capable (the rear lights are horrendous but were partly fixed with the 2005 model upgrade). This is an exercise in simple elegance. This car walks more than it talks!

In keeping with the intent of purposefulness, I would like to propose the car I am thinking of buying, the Nissan Skyline 350GT (V35). Why? Because I believe that what I buy is a reflection of my character. I have already considered how this car would affect my ministry. I have already considered how this car would affect my career. And yes, I also considered how this car would affect the environment. And, well, I believe the Skyline will let me do everything that needs doing without restricting me unnecessarily.


Interior shot. Quality material finish, real woodgrain, practical buttons and honest styling. All in a $20,000 package (imported second-hand). That's good value, right? Just like my life...

But that's just speculation. I'll let you be the judge =)

In Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~

FOR FULL DETAILS PLEASE READ PREVIOUS POSTS

If the essence of life could be captured in a good drive, what would my last three years have been like? I’d like to think it was in a Lotus Exige. Exige? Isn’t that the alien-looking car that looks more at home on Martian soil than the roads around university? (Answer: Yes and Yes). Compared to its more popular cousin, the Lotus Elise, the Exige is a profoundly physical machine – it is a race car through and through. It is light, aggressive, is arguably beautiful and pretty exclusive. Primarily known for its agility; this car can hurtle through corners that would send most other cars – sports cars, even – belly up. What it loses in outright speed, it makes up for in sheer driveability and tractability.


Is any car more deserving than the Subaru Impreza of 'bug-eyes? Perhaps...

So why the Exige? If you recall, I exited my last phase feeling rather disenchanted with the investments I had made in my own life. I had met most of my objectives (snaps for me?) but failed in the overall narrative of living a meaningful life. In seeking peer acceptance, I sacrificed my integrity and life philosophy. If you asked me back in the day, I would have told you that I was undergoing ‘renovations’. Today, I reminisce that my renovations were probably like a monster truck madness event – hilarious and exciting, but completely pointless and excessively wasteful on so many other levels.

In coming back to my roots, I realised that while my ‘house’ had been all but wiped out of existence the foundations were still there. Thank God for that! However, I wasn’t satisfied with my foundations anymore. If they weren’t able to stop me from backsliding all the way back in 2001 (well, it began then, I think), for what reason could I have remained content with them? So, I bit my lip and began the arduous task of expanding my foundation… the result of which you witness in me today.

You see, I’ve lived in quite a few houses in my life (metaphorically and literally). Big ones, small ones, tall ones, short ones, cramped ones… the list goes on. In the literal world, moving from a small house to a big house is EASY… you just pack your bags , move in, and let your personality overflow. Before you know it… wollah!... in no time at all you’ve filled out the new house with memories of YOU. The same goes with moving from a shabby house to an immaculate one. It’s like a breath of fresh air. But, have you ever tried to move the other way? And feel that it cramps your style? That was what was happening to me, spiritually. I wanted to BUILD my house… the single story, 1-carport 2-bedroom 2-bathroom inner-city apartment was insufficient for my awakened ambition. I wanted more. I wanted 6 bedrooms. I wanted two stories. A swimming pool. Indoor gymnasium. An expansive granite tabletop kitchen. And a mini-auditorium to mix my own beats in. I wanted a house that would be !happening! every single night. The problem was, I‘d run out of foundation to achieve this vision.


God promised Abraham descendents as numerable as the stars in the sky. I have my vision too, and promises made to me. And I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING

Without going into the nitty gritty, I built upon my foundation and got it to the size I desired. In emphasising the Exige’s supreme manoeuvrability, there were many tasks, both small and big that I had to juggle, but praise God I was able to cope. And I began to notice improvements almost immediately. Work was suddenly enjoyable… after 3 years of treating it as my cash cow and being disenchanted with bad workplace practices, it finally began to have meaning again. I began meeting new and exciting people who liked me not because I was a controversy, but because I had character (small but important difference there!). My relationships with existing friends reached new levels of intimacy and understanding. People’s lives began to open up to me…. Even as I remembered what it meant to be able to open up to other people.


physio physio physio! remember me in first year? and the change in second year? hahaha

The numerous transformations are too many to list. Instead I want to thank those people who have stood the test of time with me, those people who have seen me both at my best and also at my worst, because true friendship is measured by how we battle it out in the hard times. I want to thank the people who were brave (or stupid) enough to get into my cramped little cabin with me while I worked the clutch and throttle around the racetrack of my life. For the times these people had to put up with my bad hair days, bad mood days, or just plain bad days. When I used to come to university or work with a face so black that I spoke thunder and crucified people just by staring at them. But, also remembering the good times; like when we laughed so much I choked from asphyxiation, or over our little cino-chats, bowls of unfinished noodles, or were in the movies busy having numerous accidents with popcorn. For the times when everything was going so to-plan a I didn’t just feel like I had my finger on the pulse; I WAS the pulse. Every single moment… was a manifestation of this new foundation. Every single moment… that would not have been possible had I not made the hard choices when they needed to be made? And that’s a scary thought to contemplate – the curse of inactivity.


kette and tookyface - so near yet so far

Now for the not-so-positives. Having the agility of a blowfly and the velocity of an interstellar comet isn’t good when, well, I’m just a 21yo (not for long!) guy stuck here on Earth. It gets stressful running around at breakneck speed trying to achieve my vision only to realise I’m moving so fast that this world sometimes seems like a parody of life,... in still motion. The Exige is like that, too; engine noise on the inside is loud and uncensored, and would probably give deafness if you don’t wear earmuffs during extended usage. The steering wheel, while incredibly responsive, is so incredibly tactile that too much playing with it would probably give you RIP (repetitive input pathology – I made up that term myself). So yeah, the Exige was fun while it lasted, just like the last three years have been an absolute, kaleidoscopic blast of personalities, events and circumstances. But now I’m getting a headache and seeking a different refuge. A different drive.


Looks purty, but it does damage-over-time (DoT)

What’s in store for the future of me? Find out in the next post! (Tomorrow – I promise... the future always captures my special days, hehehe)

In Faith, Hope and Love!
teDDe~