12/1/13

                                  

(Note: I have a lot of grammatical or spelling mistakes, so bear with it! =) )

My Martial arts teacher's teacher just came to Singapore a week ago and I was taught how to use move using sticks and knives in ways I never thought possible. The Filipino Kali system uses a lot of Triangular movements, oh yeah, do not mistake Kali for the indian god, Kali is a Filipino term which means "to Cut". I don't worship any God except Jesus Christ. Kali was created by the Filipinos when Conquistadors invaded them, this system practices a lot of drills and movements which are imminently transferable, meaning; The moves I use in sticks are the same as the ones I use with a sword or blade, same movement patterns but refined for each tool/weapon. I feel quite fulfilled when I am able to execute the moves well as I found out that I have low "body iq"/Kinematic awareness. I cannot catch or recognize movements unless I do shit loads of it! =)

My teacher's teacher is a man call Mark Edward Stewart, his 52 but moves like a 16 year old! Fast and deadly! All the moves he showed were deadly but so attractive to me! =) Making me a full blooded combat soldier! Kali is scary because they use a lot of techniques which amputates or slashes the arteries, completely putting the threat to oblivion. I know that in Singapore, it's quite hard for me to use them as there are not many threats where I come from, I won't destroy anyone's limb in Church...duh! HAHA!

Had a fruitful discussion with Sifu Mark, I'm glad I was able to clear some thoughts he had about Christianity, though not completely but some of the questions asked. I guess God is putting me in places where I hang out a lot with people in the fitness or combat industry, and I hope that I can bless them wherever I can. Oh and Sifu said something interesting! Sifu :"Elvis, you like Martial arts and you do Engineering, why don't you do Security systems, it's a lot of money in there." A church elder also shared about that a few months ago so it's like a Dejavu. I like business, engineering and martial arts, it seems God can use whatever knowledge I have to bless me and His people, so at the end of the day; I don't know what I am going to do in the future but I know I can have a prosperous future in Jesus!

After the Martial arts sessions I had with sifu, I went to watch a movie call "Young and Dangerous Reloaded", it's a remake of the 1996 version. In the Young and Dangerous series there are many scenes where Christians were involved, apparently there's Pastor whose daughter was one of the gangsters and he condoned to it.

I do not know why but it seems to me that Christians are displayed through the Media in 2 ways:
1) Party popper or 2) Worldly. They are either the people who are old fashioned and hypocritical or they are showed to be the same as the world, claiming to be godly but doing all the wrong things.

To me, Christians are supposed to be wise like Jesus! Having God's wisdom in settling matters and yet have Godly values. But, how difficult is that without His grace? Very!

I think somehow, we have lost the idea of how a Christian show be like. The only way to get it back is to read His word. By examining the life of Jesus Christ, we can know the expectations.

I will expound on that at a later time, I am going to sleep now! =)

Regards,
Elijah Wan.

2013

In the past, when I read Ravi Zacharias' books, I just thought that he was able to write subjects in a very personal manner. But, recently I started to see how the things he wrote was accurate in real life basis. I believe that many of us heard of atrocities committed in 2012. The most recent one being the case of the Indian medical student. I see that without God, there are seriously no incentives to remain moral. One could kill, rape or steal without any conflict of conscience and one does not suffer Spiritual consequences. However, I'm not saying that Atheists are killers, rapists or thieves, I'm saying that there aren't good reasons for them not to. A lot of prominent Atheists and Evolutionists are using other types of reasoning for Morality, but I think it can't hold water without God. By stating reasons to be moral, one subliminally acknowledge a moral law giver; I know that it's wrong to beat the red light because there are traffic laws to keep things in order.

 I saw a video posted by a brother from church after the shooting in America, it's heading:"Where was God during the killing?" The host replied:"Where was God in all these? For 50 years we have systematically have God removed from the institutions...etc, we escorted Him out of our culture and was shocked when we found out how our culture became without Him."

I see the world degenerating and the importance of God. I also started to see how important our roles as His children are. Again I'm not claiming superiority, but rather I'm showing why there are adequate reasons to believe in  God. 

The progressive question to ask is:"So which God should I follow?". The wrong type of beliefs produces detrimental effects. For me, I worship and serve Jesus Christ Son of God. Father,Son and Holy Spirit 3 in 1! 

There are various religions in the world, but I find poly-syntheism to be immensely popular. These type of religion claims that they have Jesus,buddha,muhammad....etc mixed into one. 

But, Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, English Standard Version). Jesus claimed to be God and He could substantiate it, like the old saying:"Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk!"

Well, with my views with regards to morality and God strengthened in 2012 I began think of other things. I share similar humanistic views as Erasmus who was a great Bible translator, oh do note that the definition of a humanist in the past is different from modern interpretations. 

A humanist in the past was someone who believe that God has endowed gifts to each individual, who by cultivating them could also glorify God. With that, I'm constantly on the look out for what I display talent in, so that, I can develop it to the next level.

In recent years, I stop reading "self-help" books, what is there to help? What is there to build? I rather get my help from the Holy Spirit.

 I prefer books which teaches me how to think, not what to think but rather; How! I believe that elites in their field, be it sports, math, science...etc have a certain framework or way to process information. If I could replicate that, I am able to achieve succinctly similar results, though not completely but to a certain degree.

If I know how Bruce Lee trains, I know I could never be like Bruce Lee, but I SHOULD be able to replicate a neat level of skill! WADAAAA! I want WADDA Water! Oh yes, I still train in Martial arts, primarily Filipino Martial arts! Who knows? Maybe I will go to the Philippines for missions.

The thing is; I want to know what God wants me to know and what the situation demands. I know that in 3 months time I will be enrolled in an Engineering school, so, I'm meeting up with all the brothers from NS ministry to learn maths. I interviewed many of them to learn how their brain process data from the questions they see. I find it super helpful, as I "copied" them, I was able to figure out how to solve the questions! 

I don't know how well I'll do in Singapore Polytechnic, but if God allows, I want to go up on stage, to the highest place and say :"Today, I stand here because of God's Amazing Grace!"

Even if I don't do well, I know God is with me! If I do well, I know God is with me!

AMEN!