Hmm. Previously, on Ian's update time, Millions of people gather around the world to pester 1 poor boy to update his blog. Alas, I do believe it is time.

My next topic will be on: Jigsaw puzzles

I have been requested by a close friend to write my next topic on it, I do believe that she, in her hopes to bring me down as the world renown vocabularist, might see me speechless at such a strange topic, but rest assured, I remain undaunted. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the thrill.

The dictionary defines jigsaw as:

A usually power-driven saw with a narrow vertical blade, used to cut sharp curves.

But to EVERYONE's great surprise, this is definitely not the idea of a jigsaw. I mean, come on... A power-driven puzzle? Used to cut sharp curves? Hahaha, to my continuing great surprise, the dictionary even continues:

A portable power saw with a reciprocating blade.

Right. Getting too far of myself.

The correct term for a jigsaw puzzle is:

A puzzle consisting of a mass of irregularly shaped pieces of cardboard, plastic, or wood that form a picture when fitted together.

However, the dictionary neglected to mention its purpose. The picture, from which the fixer of the jigsaw puzzle derives the most pleasure, as the esctacy of his/her hard work is finally realized in a wonderful piece of art.

But firstly, I believe that a jigsaw puzzle, akin to life, holds many secrets behind it's painfully innocent covers.

The dictionary describes the puzzle itself as 'irregular', similar to life, nothing is ever regular, and nothing ever goes the way it is planned. Somehow, one way or another, a twist of circumstance, will often change a situation in life. However, a change in situation is not always detrimental, as it not only adds a certain zest to life, but also continues to build character. Character in the aspect of adaptability, that it forces a man/woman to adjust according to the circumstances around them, changing as swiftly as the winds do.

Irregularity often holds many secrets yet to be uncovered, and in most circumstances, it is frowned upon by man. In the program-orientated context of sunny Singapore, most often, programs that are swayed by irregularities are met with disdain, hate even. However, one must realize that the purpose of programs is for people, and that by concentrating on the people itself, a program, needless of a sudden change in circumstance, will not be altered. Akin to what my pastor once said, people is much more important than the task itself, for the task can always be redone, but people, once changed and set in their ways, are hard to revert. So like one wise man said:

What can go wrong, will go wrong.

But yet again, the question left unanswered :'Is that necessarily harmful?'

The definition ends rightly by stating 'when fitted together' meaning the after completion, a picture if form, something that was not whole is now made whole. Something ugly by itself now forms a mosaic of colours and ideals, one that holds more meaning than each individual piece, whereby every piece is different and unique, no two pieces alike. However that means nothing to us, and in every piece of text we read, we try to find the meaning behind it, but also try to find the application for it in our lives. I believe that a puzzle speaks truly not only for people in the church context, but people in the whole world. The increasing trend of globalization begins to weave the world into a state of interdependency, where everyone is dependent on each other more and more, for the sake of survival, but also, prosperity. Like a puzzle, to form a truly effective group, no one piece can stand alone, even if it is the most important piece in the whole puzzle, the one that gives the entity a symbol of perfection. Akin to a building, what good is a cornerstone if there are no other stones to be built around its foundation?

Even in the church context, the Church has been fragmented into so many small little groups that even squabbles and wars have broke out between the fragments. Catholics fighting against Protestants, although all groups believe in the same God, just different doctrines. The Catholic group, probably the biggest and most influential in the world goes one way, while the Evangelists, Methodists, Protestants, go the other. But what good is a church, an organization if it is not united? God desires a Church as a whole. The Bible describes the Church as the bride of Christ, and would Christ desire a bride missing a limb? Nay. So we must strive to unite, remembering the purpose, which is the true purpose of a jigsaw puzzle, to look and be united, unified for a cause worthwhile, something to be proud of, lovely enough to shine, and dezzling enough to show the skill and greatness of the maker of the puzzle, which is God himself.

That is a jigsaw puzzle worth doing.

The Uchiha has spoken at 7:24 AM

End.

Okay. Since I've been pestered by so many people, I've finally decided to step out and update this blog. Everybody should now go to the tagboard and type 'FINALLY...', come on, go do it. I want to see how many people do it. I dare you. 

Before I start, I just want to say that many people, most of whom I see everyday have begun to take not only notice of the contents of the blog but has began to insult it, not that I'm not already used to it, but phrases such as 'bloody condescending', or 'stupid arrogant chew' have started to come up in many of my coversations. So I guess my blog is finally doing its job bringing all THE most CONTROVERSIAL topics ever...woohoo. I think I'll go celebrate my drinking a six pack of beer. But seriously. If you want to call me names, that's GREAT but don't do it in my face. Nobody, and I mean nobody wants to be insulted right in their face. Do it in private, you can curse me in the bathroom for all I care, but do it on YOUR OWN PRIVATE TIME. 

Now that I've let it all out, let's start.

Today's devotion is taken from Romans 10:14-15 and is personally my favorite verse.
'How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how then can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

In today's modern society, the multiple denominations of churches, Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Charismatic, Evangelical, Bible Methodist, Methodist, Roman Catholicism, all argue about whether the Great Commission is the first and foremost thing that Jesus wanted us to do. But in all the midst of all the arguing, they never get any work done. Did you know that there are only about 800 million Christians in the world out of 7 billion? And these 800 million might are only Christians by name. The real Christians probably only number what 300 million?This ultimately relates to Jesus's analogy, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.'

'HOW then can they call on the one they have not believe in?' Believe it or not, it's your job, and mine, to spread the message of Jesus's salvation to the lost. While we comfortably built up our churches, strengthen our bonds with each other, there are thousands, millions of people dying without Christ. A pastor once said that every Christian's job should be to 'Plunder Hell, Populate Heaven', If that is true, then what the heck are we doing? In Singapore, we are near a place whom anthropologists call the 10/40 window, and this window contains 2/3 of the world's population, major centers of other religions, and 85% of the world's poorest people. In this small window exists our mission field. When we're in school, do your best to reach out to your friends, because it could be your last chance. Seize every chance you have. Plunder Hell. Populate Heaven. Do what Jesus has told you.

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth have been given on to me, therefore, go and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. For surely I am with you always, to the end of the very age." - Matthew 28:18-20
Okay, today's topic is no doubt going to be the most CONTROVERSIAL ever, probably more so than the BGR topic but first and foremost I'd like to say that I'm going to be extremely direct in this. For this topic, I'm going to allow ANYONE to air their opinions, EVEN insults, and I sincerely apologize for any ego damage I may inflict.                                                      Hehe.                                                                                                                                                              
Oh yeah, for those who know how to mak archives. Please call me. I need to know to make more posts.

Okay, beginning on this topic which I'm sure all of you are dying to find out, I'm going to talk about the vast differences between MAN and WOMAN, other than the more obvious physical differences, I prefer to talk about the mental and spiritual differences, so if I'm wrong girls, please correct me. Oh yeah, and no vulgar talk on the tag board about this topic.

Firstly, a woman thinks extremely different about a man, I mean face it, if we all thought the same, then marriage would be boring. So here therein lies the first difference, women tolerate sex for marriage, while men tolerate marriage for sex. Haha. Nah. Just joking, but if you look at it one more time, you will realize that this has some truth to it.

Lesson 1: Man craves physical pleasures(Don't think dirty), while women craves the emotional or communal things.

Women gossip. That's just the way it is. And don't tell me you guys don't. Even we guys gossip. Just that you girls gossip MORE. Now I'm not condemning gossip because gossip is actually a very good thing to make friends, but it turns dangerous when it has the potential to hurt someone. So girls gossip, big deal right? Now let's think about it again, if women gossip, where in heavens are they getting their information? So here lies the link to women's great weakness, they overreact, or they take small things out of proportions and blow it up.

Not convinced? Let's say a woman is a housewife and stays in a HDB flat. She constantly spends time with her neighbours and only take a break when she collects her children from school or collect information for her morning gossip. So one day, she sees her neighbour's husband leave his house and gets into the car with a ravishingly beautiful lady. The woman holds him and kisses him on the cheek before this astonishing lucky devil drives off. The next day, the same thing happens. And again. Until one day, the ravishingly beautiful lady, let's call her lady B, doesn't even come to the house anymore, the husband leaves sneakily. So what do girls think about this scenario? Hmm?

Haha. Not going to give you the answer, there was a poll done on this question so I want to poll it on the tagboard. Type in girl as your name and write in your opinion of this scenario...if you're a girl.

I'll continue this topic the next time.

If I actually bother.






The Uchiha has spoken at 7:18 PM

End.

Continuing on my blatant point of view in which MANY people seem to have rejected, I would like to assert one more little item.

Please do not blatantly criticise my opinions on the tagboard, email BLATANT criticism to me. A little is appreciated but too much is obviously abusing the tagboard. The purpose of the tagboard is to voice your OPINIONS, not insults. These are my opinions, if you want to trade insults, send them to my email. Please.

This week's devotion I've decided to use Matthew as the focus Scripture.

"Come unto me, all those that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
-Matthew 12:28

This should be a familiar verse to most Christians and I strongly recommend you to memorise this passage. It'll help you in your spiritual walk with God and continuously remind you of his promises.

Okay, moving on to the devotion.

This verse reminds us of God's never-ceasing, never-changing and never-ending promises. Not once has his promises been not fulfilled nor denied. We always think, "Why is God so distant? Has he forsaken me? Has he given up on me? Have I done something to displease him?" but have we ever wondered that it is not God that has forsaken us, but WE that have forsaken him? God never changes. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. In our spiritual walk, or at least mine, I realised that God is not the one that leaves me, but I that leaves him. He is always ready to meet with us at a new level of our relationship, the matter is whether WE are ready to meet him at that new level.

So I just want to urge most of you that are having your school holidays now, it doesn't mean that just because you have no school and have no problems that we can just push God out of the way. In fact, the more time we have now, all the more we should give time to God. Don't neglect him just because it's the holidays. Play hard, study hard, but also give to time to the Lord. He doesn't deserve a part of you, he wants and deserves ALL of you. So continue reading the Scriptures, dwelling into his presence and revealing his glory.

That was a good devotion. Or at least a shorter one then the previous which was my intent.

As promised in the tagboard, I think I'll talk about my...experiences with boy-girl relationships.

Now I just firstly like to say that I'm not absolutely right about the opinions I'm going to voice out here but I have actually been through a relationship, so whoever wants to criticise me again, do it via email.

let's see, for those who know me very well, they probably know that I've been in about 3 relationships so far. Yes, me, the guy who writes spiritual blogs has been in a relationship before. And not all of them with another believer.

For those who don't know me that intimately, don't go spouting all this stuff to other people, I'd appreciate it if you just keep it to yourself. I'm not proud of what I did, and that's why I'm giving a warning to those reading. Maybe 'warning' is too harsh a word, I'm giving 'recommended advice'.

You know most of the stuff you hear at church or from your parents that getting into a boy-girl relationship when you're only a teenager is wrong? They're wrong.

Yes, they're wrong. It's not ONLY wrong, it's absolutely STUPID. You must be an idiot to have a relationship when you're only 16, 17, 18, let alone 14, 15. So yes, I am an idiot.

Let's take a look at the pros and cons first, let alone the moral side of the issue.

Benefits
Hmm. There are none. Would you look at that?

Detriments(Means the bad stuff.)
1.Wastage of money.
2.Skips the friendship stage of relationships.
3.It NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER Lasts.
4.The purpose of having a BGR is marriage. Are you guaranteeing yourself that your partner is one of the candidates that you have for marriage?
5.Time is a commodity which cannot be wasted, by having a relationship, you are effectively WASTING.

Now would you take a look at that list. Impressive isn't it?

The first and foremost purpose of having a relationship is marriage. If you do not have the remotest thought of marriage in your head, then do not consider BGR. Do you think that when you're 16, your relationship will last at least 8 years before you're married at the age of 24? Use your brain. It's NOT going to happen.

Furthermore, for those who have been a relationship, you WILL understand that when having a relationship with a friend, especially someone CLOSE, you ruined practically every aspect of that friendship. You no longer treat each other as friends anymore. You may say that even if the relationship deteriorates, you'll still be FRIENDS. Trust me, it never happens. For my past 3 relationships, I have almost NEVER spoke to them again. Never.

Okay, so let's say you're still NOT convinced. Let's take a more logical look at it again.

You're a regular teenager who has CCA's, 2,3 times a week? That takes away 3 days effectively from having a healthy relationship. Then let's say you ARE a Christian, Sunday is out of the question. On top of that, you still got remedial classes, tuition and homework to catch up with. That takes away another 2 days away. So let's see 3+1+2=6. 7-6=1. Congratulations. You have one day to spend with your partner. You'll get very far in your relationship. Then also consider your OTHER relationships. Your parents, your family, your friends, GOD himself, will they be SECOND priority to your partner. No! And they shouldn't.

This is getting pretty long so I think I should conclude now. But please, for the sake of yourself and your FUTURE partner, don't get into a relationship until you're at least 19 and above. That's AT LEAST. Please, please. It's a stupid mistake which you can't afford to make.

If you have further queries or criticism, please do email them to me at brokenbones00@hotmail.com.





The Uchiha has spoken at 10:32 PM

End.

Welcome to the first lesson.

Before I continue, I recommend a dictionary in front of the computer as well as a very open mind.

I'll also be having a bible verse before each blog so for those whom are Christians, use the verse for your quietime with God.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight."

Mini-Devotion:

Never once has the Bible been proven wrong. Not once.
The Bible is known as the great comforter, the Word of the Living God, and it's true. It really is. Maybe people have been touched by it, most have been changed. Whole lives remodeled to fit the purpose and calling which God has given to each and every one of us. People quit jobs which pay them 5-digits salary just to serve to God of Wonders.

Why?

Because it's TRUE. Evidence is all around you, read in Revelations and John which states that at the end times, the fig tree will be made whole again, which is the symbol of the nation of Israel. Israel was made first made a nation in over a millenia in 1948. Coincidence? I think not. Try another one for size. John said that the earth will be burnt by the elements at the end times, and what he means by elements is not the mystical 'earth, wind, water and fire' we're all familiar with. What he means is the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb. Accident again? I think not when you consider the fact that John lived almost 2000 years before the atomic bomb was created and tested in Japan.

The point is...The Bible is real. It's not a fairy tale. It's not a book compiled by a group of people who thought that starting a religion was GREAT fun. It is not a storybook. It is a compilation of books written by ordinary people whom were controlled by God, the one and only true God. It's the Word of God.

Can you imagine that? The Bible is written by the God that created you and everything. For the atheists, don't tell me that there is no God. Do you really believe that a world can be made from a single cell? That the world that we live in can be manafactured? No. It was created by someone so powerful that we can't even fathom anything about him. If we were 3-D, he would be a gazillion-D, but that's a different story.

What I'm trying to say is that, the God that did all the miracles with the power of his word, his speech, actually bothered to help us 'puny', yes 'PUNY' little human beings. And that act of redemption was in the verse above. (Although his love was MOST exemplified in Jesus Christ.)

So what does this have to do with the verse? What can YOU get out of that verse? Obviously, you get that most glaring meaning and that is to cast your burdens, your problems unto him. That does NOT mean to just expect God to solve your problems. Don't take it too literally. You just have to trust God that whatever you do in your problems, YOU realize that no matter what, God is in control.

Secondly, what I realized is that you can always rely on God for whatever you need. Whether it's the most minute detail or the most important thing of your life, he will be there to guide you. ('And I will keep your path straight')

Lastly, God is in control. You are not in control of your own life. Deal with it. If God decided he wanted you dead (which he won't.), you'll be dead. But the brighter side of things is that God is perfect, if he is in control, you can expect that if you obey him, you'll probably lead a perfect life too. But PERFECT does not mean $$$. God's idea of perfect is not materialistic things like wealth and fame, it's obedience.

End of Devotion. Wow. That is VERY long. I've got to start cutting down.

Okay, the first perspective in my blog, and my first outlook on life.

1. Friendster is evil.

Nah. I'm just joking, but it IS on this topic of online friendship services.

Friendster, Zorpia, GIrlfriendster, Gangster, all these are online 'friendship' services. (Except for the last two.) But what do these things have in common?

If you guessed 'fun', i'm sorry, *DAH, DAH, DAH, DAH*...wrong. They're all open windows for the *bad stuff*. Now, most people think i'm a bit too fatalistic about this stuff but if you think about it, these 'services' are really just windows for temptations to come into your life. Look at it this way. Do you find it necessary for you to have Friendster? Does it give you a certain sense of satisfaction? Is it fun to receive a 'testimony' from a person who probably doesn't think about you as you, and all the stuff that he/she says are probably fake. It all boils down to whether it is necessary or not? Would it be worth it?
If you want to get a testimony, ask the guy directly, that way, he doesn' have the time to sit at his/her computer and think up some *good stuff* about you. He tells you face to face, nothing barring him from telling the truth. If you want friends, don't use an ONLINE service, go out and make friends. Church is a good place if you're a christian. For those not, your school or even workplace would be a good place to start. To put the worse case scenario out, I would rather have NO friends at all, then some internet guy who looks like Brad Pitt in a photo but is actually a serial rapist of sorts.

So if you want my advice, which you probably won't. Attempt to keep away from these 'services', not only are they addictive, they could have some serious repercussions and consequences.


The Uchiha has spoken at 8:16 AM

End.

My very first post. Oh my. Everybody please give me a clap.

I bet you didn't clap.

Anyway, for those whom have just arrived to this blog, please go to the 'Favorites' bar at the top of your screen and click on it. Make me a favorite. If not, turn back now.

Seriously, you don't want to put me as a favorite? I'm mortally insulted.

Nah. Just kidding.

Okay, now going to the real meat. This blog is not going to be any of these things.

1. 1001 recipes on how to roast goat.
2. A dummy's guide on how to live.
3. Someone's account of their daily lives filled with slang like '4eva' or 'kewl' (Ugh.)

No. None of these. If you want those, have a nice day pressing the back button. Thanks for stopping by.

One thing to note before I continue.

If you are in anyway offended by minute little details about life and my 'sometimes' biased perspective, then press the back button. I'll be missing you.

What this blog will be:

1. My perspective on life. (Deal with it.)
2. Little tips on life.
3. Spiritual help. (Yes, the word is spiritual, not to be confused with tarot cards and demons. I'm a Christian)

If you have any problems whatsoever with this, oh...I'm sorry. The last time i checked, this was MY blog.

Now that that little bit of information was cleared, my first 'lesson' will be in the next topic.

Also, my email is brokenbones00@hotmail.com (don't ask.) so if you have any questions or queries that YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY ask, this email is always open.

Remember, spam is bad.





The Uchiha has spoken at 2:32 AM

End.