FOCUS team

Okay. I just enrolled myself into a christian ministry training(FOCUS team). I didn't do this last year because of my tight schedule. I wonder, would I be able to keep up with coursework as well with this training?

There are times when architecture could be very tough. I pray that I could practice self control and good time management skills. I need to limit myself from too much time on facebook and Youtube. Afterall, time never stops for anyone, and once it's lost, you can never gain it back again. Goodnite!

What's tomorrow gonna be like?

So, today was really BORING! Seriously, why does every design studio lecture have to be so boring?? It's like they purposely added all those crap descriptions just to fill the time. I never understood how these architects, or lecturers, think. They can be so abstract to point I actually believe they are treating architecture as some sort of religion. For example, they say points, which could have been straightfoward, that are long and exhausting. Argh, maybe it's just first day sickness. I spent most of the time either sketching on my notepad or take quick glances at the people around me (most of them not paying attention anyway).

However, that doesn't mean there wasn't anything useful out of the lecture. Some of the points stated by the lecturer, I actually agreed. We, students, are still learning how to 'read' architecture. We are bestowed the gift/ role that makes us unique from our non-design counterparts. We can visualise in 3-D just be looking at a 2-D plan. We have the ability to have foresight, the ability to imagine how space is used by used. Moreover, I agree every single architectural detail that we encounter... is never random. I'm looking forward to the exercises tomorrow.

Let's hope tomorrow will be worth my time. Let the analysing and designing begin!

Love for all seasons

As I was cleaning up my hard drive, I discovered this old piece of art. I made this piece of artwork for my married cousin some time ago.

However, it made me think about love. What is love? Is it solely reserved for two opposing sexes? I realised I have been rather selfish lately and all I could think about is me. I wanted to please my desire to have the 'other person'. But in reality, I couldn't even be loving to the person next to me. Oh dear Lord, teach to be more like You. Teach me to love properly as I continue on my journey on this plane of reality.

When Time passes you by... (Part 2)

Tumblr is just a waste of time and for those who are so lazy to write what's exactly on their mind (Sorry Tumblr folks!). It's just not for me. Aside from that, I am making 'blog writing' as one of my new year's resolution. Writing helps my brain to get ideas flowing. This sort of thing doesn't come natural, instead it requires practice and commitment. 

Now then, what did I left hanging last time? Oh yes! My understanding of God.

After roughly 7 months attending bible studies at FOCUS, I learnt that God is sovereign. What is sovereignty? Well, it basically means to be in control. God being in control is quite essential to the His character and at the same time - controversial !

Let me first explain why it is essential. God needs to be in control because if he's not, then He's not worthy to be taken seriously. And adding to that, he should not to be a god with a capital 'G' ! Hahaha... seriously~ He won't be a big deal if he wasn't.

This leads us to the next bit: controversial. Having a, usually unseen, divine being in control over us is really an unsettling scene for most of us. What happens to free will??? Are we just puppets of some unseen forces. What about suffering in the world? If he is in control, why so many disasters, wars and famine has happen through the course of history?These questions are commonly raised by christians and atheist alike. I'm sure there are more, but I won't dwell into the all the other questions as you can see.... I'm not writing a book here!!!

Q1, do we still have free will? Yes, God gave us a choice to follow His ways or just go about with ours. A good example would be our ancestors, Adam and Eve. They weren't forced to obey God, instead they were to make decisions as they please. However, they chose to follow a perverse decision: to be like God.

Q2. what about suffering in the world? The answer is pretty much a follow up to the previous question: Sin. Yeah, Creation is cursed by God since mankind first rebelled against their Creator. Thus, the punishment for Sin is Death. For God is Holy and Just. He could not tolerate our insolence.

I know. Sounds harsh. But that's the truth. We deserved it. Is that it?! Fear not, for God is still in control. He foresaw everything. Hence, he has executed a plan. A plan to save humanity from the punishment that is Death. A plan to restore what was tarnished by Sin.

That plan is JESUS. The name Jesus literally means 'God saves'. How comforting is that? Our God is not a one dimensional character. He is sovereign, holy, just, wrathful, jealous, loving and merciful!  That's a mouthful, and yet there's so much more to him if you read the Bible. We have a God who's willing to be a human, so that he could redeem us. Thus, I would end with this note:

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16