Mai luan chu seh!

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Yesterday, I got a call from the chairman of a prestigious swimming club in Penang. The Penang Inter-Club competition is 3 month’s away, and she’s already making plans. Her agenda is to beat a rival club to the championship cup. By roping in USM swimmers to swim for her club under the Open Category, she hopes that her club will turn up tops in the state.

Her club has been known for its attempts to entice swimmers with incentives. Being a rich club, it is able to employ foreign coaches to satisfy ambitious parents. It gives luxurious benefits to its swimmers, such as good facilities, free attire, cash incentives, and what nots. The club has also been known for causing riffs when swimmers changed clubs because of what the club is able to offer.

As for us, should we choose to swim for the club, they are offering to sponsor our entry fees. They will give us their attire, pay for the competition’s dinner function, and invited us to a celebration dinner if the club wins the title. Sounds like a very good deal, for them to extend such an invitation us and treat us so well if we will swim under their banner. I’m supposed to relay the message to the USM Swimming Division.

As for me, I personally feel that my allegiance is to my university. It may not be legally wrong to bite at a better offer, but I’ll not let my swimming go to another. I’ve been in Penang all my life, and I’ve never been associated with that club, or felt the need to join it in any way. Therefore, I don’t see why I should strike a connection with that club now, just because it is offering me incentives.

When I stand in my lane, and they call my name, I want it to be known to whom I really belong to. I am Joshua Hooi from USM. That club is a foreigner to me, and I cannot be identified as one of them. If I win, I will win it for USM for no incentive. If I lose, I will only lose the race. I won’t lose my honor or my integrity. I will not be bought over, or be labeled with a price tag.

Some things in this world cannot be bought with money. Things like honor and loyalty.

Being bought at a price brings many implications to the one that has been bought. When we are bought, we do not belong to ourselves anymore. We belong to the one who bought us. Our life and actions will either bring glory or shame to the one who has bought us.

Brothers and sisters, we have been bought with a price. God has set his seal of ownership over us. Our every word and action will either glorify our Father in heaven, or bring shame to His name. Do not trade your allegiance for another, regardless of the tempting bribes that the world may offer. Some things cannot be bought by perishable things such as silver or gold. Our sonship has been bought by the imperishable blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us “glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Let us compete in this race of life under no other banner, but Christ’s alone.

Shaggy’s Angel

Now that I’m done with Saleem’s Suci Dalam Debu and Michael Jackson’s silly song with Paul McCartney, it’s time to do an exegesis on a new song. New target picked is Shaggy.

Why Shaggy, and why Angel? Because I remember watching the music video once. It’s wreaked with sexy black ladies! I mean... Wreaked! Yeah… that’s the word. Wreaked. There's one line in the song, which I think it says: “Life is one big party while you’re still young. Who cares what will happen in the long run?” Thought that it was “hilarious”. But an exegesis on the song gave some new insights. Lyrics in bold italics.

Shooby dooby dooby doo woi
Shooby doo
Oh Shooby doo dooby doo boi oi
Yeah, ah

What’s this thing that black artists like to do? Vocalizing meaningless mumbo jumbo. They just like to do that, don’t they?

Girl, you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel
Girl, you’re my friend when I’m in need, lady

Shaggy’s angel is “closer than his peeps”. What does peeps mean? I think it’s a slang for his pals. Probably his boozing, womanizing pals.

Life is one big party when you’re still young
But who’s gonna have your back when it’s all done
It’s all good when you’re little, you have pure fun
Can’t be a fool, son, what about the long run

Eh, check this out! Looks like I’ve got the message twisted! Contrary to what I thought I heard, Shaggy is actually saying “life is one big party when you’re still young, but don’t be a fool because what about the long run?” Hmmm… I guess I must have misunderstood him.

Looking back Shorty always mention
Said me not giving her much attention
She was there through my incarceration
I wanna show the nation my appreciation

What is incarceration? I looked up the dictionary. Guess what it means. It means masuk penjara! Hahahaha! It took so long for Shaggy to realize. He had to be thrown behind bars until he can realize who is a real friend to him. His boozing pals must’ve been too drunk to visit him. His womanizing pals must’ve been too busy with the ladies (probably 10 years younger) to care about him.

I bet Shaggy must’ve met Iklim’s Saleem who was thrown into prison also. Saleem must’ve complained to Shaggy how his long time buddies like Amy Search and Mamat Exist did not visit him also. That will make Saleem a perfect emphatic buddy for Shaggy.

One day, in steps one of the ladies Shaggy used to toy with. She pays him a visit, and now Shaggy is so grateful to her, that he wants to make a public service announcement to “show the nation his appreciation”. He did it by writing this song.

Girl, you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel
Girl, you’re my friend when I’m in need, lady

I wonder why he calls his girl “Shorty”. Would you like being called Shorty?

You’re a queen and so you should be treated
Though you never get the lovin’ that you needed
Could have left, but I called and you heeded
Takin’ a beatin’, mission completed

Am I reading it correctly? Shaggy? A changed man? In repentance? I once read in the newspaper that Shaggy is actually a church-goer. He was interviewed for his controversial song, Wasn't Me.

Mama said that I and I dissed the program
Not the type to mess around with her emotion
But the feeling that I have for you is so strong
Been together so long and this could never be wrong

Notice that the first and second lines don’t rhyme. Shaggy just rhymes it with bad pronunciation. He always does. You can never tell what he’s really saying unless you check the lyrics.

Girl, you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you’re my angel, you’re my darling angel
Girl, you’re my friend when I’m in need, lady

Uh, uh Girl, in spite of my behavior, said I’m your savior
(You must be sent from up above)
And you appear to me so tender, say girl I surrender
(Thanks for giving me your love)

Ok. So although the video is still quite umm... the song is actually quite "sane" la. But still I wonder. How in the world can someone with a voice like Shaggy become so hot in the music industry? I mean... come on!

One, None, Or Many?

Is there just one person meant for everyone, or is there really no such thing?

One school of thought believes that there is just one person meant for everyone. That one, right person is not a fictitious character. It is not a concept. It is not a theoretical personality. It is a real person. There can only be one right person for each person.

Three categories of people find themselves in this school of thought:

The first category fails repeatedly until they finally find that one, right person. And when they do, everything is bliss.

The second category keeps failing repeatedly, and never finds the right person. Therefore, the right person eludes them for the rest of their natural lives.

The third category finds the right one, and then blows it. The third category type will just pine away and die, because there will never be another.

The alternative school of thought believes that there is no such thing as just one person for everyone. That one, right person is a fictitious character. It is merely a concept of the mind. It exists as a theoretical personality. In fact, there may be many right persons who exist in the conceptual realm, as well as in reality. This means, more than one person may possibly have the characteristics of that right person.

Two categories of people find themselves in this alternative school of thought:

The first category fails repeatedly with many people. Some of the failures may have involved some of the right persons that existed in reality. When they finally find one of the right persons and don’t fail, everything is bliss.

The second category keeps failing repeatedly, and never succeeds with numerous right persons who have come into their lives. The right persons have not eluded them. The fault lies not with the right person, but with self. The fault lies with self, because there is something inherently wrong in his/her life that still needs correction before a relationship can work with one of the right persons.

What do I think about those two schools of thought?

The first school of thought is an idealistic one. The alternative school of thought has a more redemptive feature. It gives a chance for recovery, improvement, and healing.

If the first school of thought is true, I wouldn’t want to be in the first category. It leaves a destructive trail. I wouldn’t want to be in the second category either. It’s too idealistic, bordering on impracticalness. I wouldn’t want to be in the third category too. It leaves no hope, and reduces a person into a sad wimp.

If the alternative school of thought is true, I wouldn’t want to be in the first category. It’s almost similar to the first category from the first school of thought. It leaves a destructive trail. If I had no other choice, I’d prefer to be in the second category. It is a more humane perspective. It puts no blame on others. After a period of healing, it encourages the self to improve itself. It gives room for correction. It offers hope.

What have I done, what have I done…

I’ve learnt the hard way about the foolishness of meaningless pursuits. I’ve chased after the wind. I’ve started a endeavour that turned out to be too great a cost.

Why did I let it drag on? Why did I let it continue, when I knew that it was already meaningless the day its first objective failed? Why was I so stubborn? Why did I not let it go? Why did I have to keep finding alternatives and means to squirm my way to a solution? Why am I so reluctant to give it up?

I am guilty. Guilty of falling into a trap. Guilty of failing to distinguish the line between wise perseverance and foolish stubbornness. Guilty of trying to carve a name for myself. Guilty of building my own tower of Babel.

I should’ve known better. How much more satisfying and fulfilling will it be if I had pursued things that really mattered. Of what benefit is all this to me? For all the time and effort invested in this endeavour, how much greater will the returns be if I had invested in eternity. I deeply regret for even conceiving this idea. I should’ve acted with eternity in mind.

I can deal with it if I am guilty on my own account. But I’ve led 8 people along to suffer with me. I’ve dragged 60 people to build Babel’s tower with me. God help me to clear my conscience.

What can I do now? I’ve led them to go too far, that there’s no turning back now. There is nothing left I can do, except to beseech the mercies of God. To plead His mercies, just to finish what was started.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days
Because Christ lives

I don't know why this stanza was “omitted on purpose” in the songsheet today. Perhaps there is some theological mistake in this stanza. I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with it. But I can guess which part is the “unacceptable” part. It’s not really a big deal. Brethrens are always weird anyway.

Nevertheless, it’s true that life is filled with uncertainties.

I used to take part in art competitions. My mum was crazy about it once, and she got me into the craze too. She brought me places, even as far as Johor and Malacca to take part in national level competitions. I remember how it felt like to wait for the results to be announced. There was always an air of uncertainty. Would I win? Would the judges take notice of my piece? Wouldl it be good enough? Would I have fared better if I had done my piece a little differently?

The air of uncertainty was present in swimming competitions too. I remember how it felt like to wait for the results to be posted up officially on the board. Did I really break the record? Who touched the wall first? Did I win, or did I lose by a whisker? What was my time? Was the official time accurate?

I guess I was trained early to bear uncertainties. I grew more and more confident as the years rolled by. I also became less and less afraid of uncertainties. I became less anxious about things that are yet to come, and became more receptive to whatever comes my way.

In mathematics, the subject of probability is a science of uncertainties. You use a set of theorems, accumulate data, and try to predict the most plausible outcome in an uncertain circumstance. You can calculate the degree of certainty for a particular occurrence by punching in the numbers on a calculator. The knowledge of uncertainties can help you to make intelligent, calculated risks.

The worst kind of uncertainty one can feel is when it involves laying down your cards. The kind of uncertainty you feel when you show the cards on your hand..... Excruciating.

Abortion

What is your stand on abortion? I know what mine is.

Definition war: Don’t argue about the definition of life, or when does life really start. Taking that road will only lead you into a never ending argument. Don’t go technical and miss the point. Getting into the technical trap is one of the best ways to get confused, miss the point, and lose the case.

Point 1: Sanctity of life.

Scientific definitions will only serve to be technical. Philosophical definitions are esoteric in nature. Whichever way you want to define “life”, the act of stopping the birth of an unborn living being is equivalent to desecrating the sanctity of life. I’m not talking about stopping the act that starts the existence of an unborn living being. To do that, I’ll have to stop the act of sex. But sex is not the issue here. I’m talking about the act of stopping the development of a fertilized ovum that will, in its natural course, lead to the existence of a living being.

Point 2: The teleological argument.

In a circumstance that involves cause and effect, the circumstance must be viewed along with the acknowledgement of the will of a sovereign God. If the baby was not meant to be born, the process of its conception could’ve been stopped in many ways.

Just to illustrate a point:

1. The couple is separated by time and space, so conception is impossible.
2. The couple is not separated by time, but they are separated by space, so conception is not possible.
3. The couple is not separated by time nor space, but the couple did not consent to sex. So conception is not possible.
4. The couple consented to sex, but did not consent to unprotected sex, so conception is not possible.
5. The couple consented to unprotected sex, but it occurred during the wrong timing of the woman’s menstrual cycle.
6. The couple consented to unprotected sex, but there’s something wrong with the man’s fertility.
7. Or maybe the couple is so plain stupid, they just can’t get it right.

There could’ve been many other ways where conception could not have happened. But when the cause has happened, the effect cannot be treated as though it never happened. The effect must have a reason for being.

Point 3: The ethical argument.

There are 2 views in the ethical argument.

The pro-science view: Science and ethical issues are two separate issues. Ethical issues arise only when science is applied into technology.

The pro-ethics view: Science and ethical issues cannot be separated. Scientists have a responsibility to fulfill to society, even if science is only in its theoretical stage.

The pro-science view is against abortion. A serious ethical issue is definitely raised when medical science is applied into making abortion possible. We will be using science to play the role of God.

The pro-ethics view is also against abortion. The idea of making abortion possible is, in itself, ethically questionable. Even in its theoretical stage, the potential of abortion already rings an alarm in the ethical faculty before it becomes applied in technology.

Point 3: The message to the public.

What message are we sending to the society if abortion can be an option? Sanctity of life will go down the drain. Sanctity of marriage will mean nothing. Teachings against premarital sex will lose its gravity. Selling the idea of abortion as an option will degrade the values of the society.

Rebuttals to the pro-abortionist view

Definition war: I’ve ended it before it even started.

Point 1: Protecting the welfare of parent. The woman does not have to throw her future away because of an unwanted pregnancy.

Rebuttal: Ethical argument. It is not ethically correct to throw away another person’s future away in order to protect your own future.

Point 2: Protecting the welfare of the family. It is for the best interest of the family to do an abortion than to have a child without being able to support the child.

Rebuttal: It is hard, but not impossible. Abortion is a convenient and unethical way to alleviate economical issues at the expense of another person’s life. It will be harder to support a family with many children, but it is not impossible.

Point 3: Protecting the welfare of society. Abortion is a policy to combat the population boom. Social ills arise when families becomes poor. Poverty will affect society.

Rebuttal: Question the message of such a government to the public. It is the responsibility of the social welfare department to come up with policies to protect unwanted babies and single parents. Doing away with unwanted babies is not an option. Neither should abortion be seen as a solution to lessen the department’s burden of single parents.

Point 4: Abortion helps society to cope with rape victims. It gives the victim an option to have a new lease in life.

Rebuttal: How does one define rape? If rape is an acceptable cause for abortion, there can be many other cases where abortion can be made permissable.

Just to illustrate a point:

1. A rapist rapes a woman. Abortion is permissible.
2. A boyfriend rapes his girlfriend. Abortion is permissible.
3. A husband rapes his wife. Abortion is permissible.

In other words, if rape is one of the permissible means to obtain an abortion, it opens a whole new world of possibilities to get a license for abortion.

A boyfriend can have sex with his girlfriend, and make her pregnant. The couple can say the sex was not conscientious, and claim the cause of “rape”. The couple can get away from shouldering the responsibility of raising the child. The couple can get away from the responsibility of marriage. Pre-martial sex will have no obligations on the couple.

The husband can commit marital rape as well. Does that mean abortion is also permissible under that circumstance? Who can really define rape?

The bottomline is, once the effect of conception has taken place, the cause of that conception is not as important as how we deal with the effect. The cause of conception may not happen in the best possible way. But that is not a reason enough to get rid of the effect. Regardless of the cause of conception, abortion is not an acceptable option. If we allow abortion for one "unfortunate case", we will have to open the abortion gate for many other "unfortunate cases".






I always saw abortion as a debate topic. It is a good acedemic exercise.


























But I never knew it could strike so close to home. I could've had the brother I never had.

The Disgruntled Prayer

Father in heaven
Halo, what's Your name?
Can I come? Will You be done?
My earth is not a heaven

Give me money... so I can go buy bread

Forgive me of my sins...
Because other people always sin against me!

Save me from times of trial...
Because all the judges are evil!

Don't let them in Your kingdom
Show Your power, take the glory
From that fella and that fella
Amen