Cortana: ".. It's finished" Master Chief: "No, I think we're just getting started"
The Common Test 2 is finally over for me. Okay, it was actually quite fast, they packed in all the papers in one week. Stress? I felt some, and that's good, but it did drain energy.
Thus I am spared from further examining, for now. Chemistry today was 'okay', relative to how everyone thought the paper was. Unusually I feel better about my physics than math, but that could be due to Wednesday being a totally grueling day, what with 6 hours for geography +math. I got nothing much to say about G.P. or geography, just that I only hope I did alright.
Anyway, I've gone to Evil Sudoku already, that is, Evil difficulty. My best time right now is 9 minutes 55 seconds, and it's in the top 35%, although just behind the mode. That was also the first time I broke past 10 minutes.
XD Just went thru' some games of Bridge. More like speed-bridge.. and oh my mind feels so slow now. I should sleep, there's things to do tomorrow.
My bruised knee seems better. I'll try to go jogging soon.
and so the time comes.. when all you see now will stall, giving way to a new beginning, and I shall no longer be afflicted by the Cold
Yesterday I visited the garden to gather some cuttings from the Cananga Fruiticosa. I have plans for this particular plant, but I will not make them known here. Apparently I took five cuttings from branches exhibiting vegetative growth (not flowering); I doubt all will take root. Another plant I have targeted is the sugar cane.
While at the garden I was quite distracted by the numerous snails sliming around. It had just rained heavily after a few dry days, so it was some fiesta. Stepping on some, I realised that there were so many snails that I might as well put them into a line-up for execution. Ya, call me a snail nazi; I smacked them one by one with a stone and threw their bodies into the compost bin. Altogether maybe about 20 snails were destroyed, interestingly I saw one with eggs (after cracking the shell, of course).
My bruised knee seems to be taking a while to heal. I have refused to bandage it, and pure scabs aren't forming all over yet. It seems then that I cannot practice 2.4km, so I'll take this opportunity to focus on working my arms. Perhaps I can reach 7 pull-ups by August.
Church camp is just over, and I did not attend it. I'll may end up missing the next 2 years' too, being in NS and all. I should be able to take leave, though, but the 'when' part isn't guaranteed. However, I've a feeling that all one may do on leave is sleep and recuperate..
Most of us have heard of the story of the Tower of Babel. In it was the first recorded instance of a massive concerted effort at rebelling against the Lord God. The builders sought to rival the Most High by constructing a monument to their name, displaying their pride by desiring to give themselves a great place in history. In addition, the people refused to be scattered across the continents, despite the commandment to 'replenish the earth'.
As the construction of the tower proceeded, God saw that the people were not about to repent of their work, and judged them. God did not destroy the builders, but in his wisdom struck their unity, that their wicked ambitions may be disrupted. With new languages, people could no longer comprehend what a person from another community was speaking. As a result, not only was the tower abandoned, but the people of the earth finally moved off in groups to colonise new areas and develop civilisations. By this impact the nations were created, and God's sovereignty demonstrated.
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.(Genesis 9:1)
Such was the first line of command given to Noah and his children. This was indeed partly accomplished, for the generations of people recorded in the chapter 10 show the people had grown in number. However, simply producing much progeny serves little to fulfil this command if all the generations remained in one location (that is, a valley by the name of Shinar). Disobedience was then found in the hearts of men when they desired a unity that would prevent them from distributing themselves across the post-flood world.
This idea of unity was probably compounded by the actions of Nimrod, a mighty man who went forth and became the ruler of the first kingdom after the flood, either by politics or conquest. In order to maintain his seat of power, he would have gathered the peoples to his land of Shinar, while promising them safety from beasts. There, the Lord would gradually be forgotten while they sought to feed their pride, in councils devising a plan to prevent their scattering. Yet, despite that, the Lord confounded their tongues, forcing them to scatter in a harsher manner than Noah might have intended.
In our times, we as Christians have oft behaved like unto these people. Although we have no empty planet to repopulate, we are commissioned to go forth into all the earth, preaching Christ. Yet, enjoying the comforts of present fellowship, most of us feel little compulsion to spread the light to our non-christian friends. Now the history of the young church has seen it grow quickly as the early saints were persecuted and thus scattered - must God so send tribulation so that we may be kept from slumber? Indeed, it will happen before the last elect is gathered, but let us be ready and working in obedience.
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.(Psalm 55:9)
Alright, the above verse is somewhat taken out of context, but it was written by David in reference to what the Lord had once done at Babel. Doubtless the wicked pride of men in the city would lead them to work further wickedness, without the fear of the Lord. The increasing evil would then threaten to wipe the elect from off the earth, thereby breaking the Lord's promise of the Seed of the woman. To preserve his people, and yet quickly replenish the earth, the Lord chose not to destroy all the builders, but by confounding their speech forced them to stop work.
Thus when the people realized that they could no more work together as one, they gathered into their families and departed for the land which was allotted them. Most probably Noah had previously given his descendants the directions they should move towards, so that they may claim land for themselves. This was finally obeyed, as in a measure of mercy the Lord made the language of a man to be the same as his relations and generations, allowing them to maintain a patriarchal format of leadership instead of falling into anarchy. Thus were the origins of the nations, as each tribe moved to occupy their territory.
Now were the peoples not only separated physically one from another, but effective communication was sundered for a long time, and only in our years have been restored somewhat through globalisation. Language is indeed one of the greatest problems one faces when spreading the gospel: one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit was that of tongues, in order to overcome the language barriers. By this were many gentiles brought to Christ, as recorded in the New Testament. Although we are no longer given divine means of circumventing the confounding of languages at Babel, let those of us who are given the talent seek to learn other languages.
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and forever.(Jude 1:25)
By the impact of the punishment wrought at Babel God shows he is lord over the nations, for by this act were the nations formed. All the children of man lost their former languages, and were given new ones. We can presume that the faithful line of Eber were not partakers of the iniquity that was at Babel, and therefore retained the original language (and hence the proper knowledge of God was lost to the other nations). Nonetheless, the point is that ungodly unity was confounded, and the Lord's will done.
It is also worth noting that Nimrod's attempt at world domination was cast down by the Lord. Instead of setting a name for himself through a tower, the site of the construct was named babel (confusion): a humiliating example to those who would rise in pride against the Lord. Since then, Jehovah was made known to the remnant, maintaining his covenant with Israel. Despite scattering the peoples, the Lord held sway over the nations, using them to punish the wicked, or allowing Israel to conquer them: many examples were recorded in the Old Testament.
Though the scattering at Babel has increased the difficulty of spreading the gospel unto all the elect, with Christ's resurrection and ascension he claimed the title of King of kings and Lord of lords; and all power was given him in heaven and in earth. Therefore we should not fear to serve such a King. When Christ returns to judge the world, elect from all nations will gathered together from the ends of the earth, fulfilling the legacy of Babel.
This gave meaning to the phrase 'stumble and fall'..
I sustained an injury yesterday while walking. Partly due to a lack of sleep and substantial baggage, I stumbled, fell, and bruised my knee. (and I just recalled it was Friday the 13th XD). In the meantime I've to recover from insect bites (probably because I slept without air-con during the camp).
Anyway, I think my vastus lateralis muscle is really large compared to the rest of the quads. I'm still not sure what function it serves (relative to the others). Though, it don't seem to be helping me pass standing broad jump, so maybe I have to train the others.
Besides all that, the only camp I have during this 'holiday' is over. I managed to re-familiarize myself with most math topics. The coming week will require me to turn to Physics, and attend Geography lessons twice.
I was told to enjoy my last June Holiday. However I cannot, for I did enjoy the school term slacking away, and now I must make up for it. Alas! I wish I would quickly reach that state where I enjoy doing papers! I did that at least once, but the prerequisite is to absolutely know the syllabus. Then I can comfortable fill papers with answers.
Somebody suggest a song so that I may place it's tune on the KS blog! Somebody volunteer to do up the photos too!
Days draw nearer. Plans effect. Success? I do not know. Define 'success'. Or forsake plans? The value of confidence. Yet incompentent. 'Trust'!
"When the Blue Night is over my face, on the dark side of the world in space. When I'm all alone with the stars above, you are the one I love" (and I though I did say my deposition forbids me from missing anything, it seems I was wrong)
I'm losing momentum just as I gained it. I think I need to clear non-syllabus tasks first, then I can focus. Actually, I should really just work on discipline. XD God grant me the grace I need.
It seems I'm posting far too often. I hereby declare a hiatus, which will last until my next post (duh). Soon after, I shall launch not one blog but two. A replacement (to the current) at Blogger will continue to be my general log, while a page at WordPress will function for articles.
Anyway, I've missed the e-Balloting for NDP tickets yet again. I must record it here that it was from 16 May to 25 May, and perhaps I'll not forget in the coming years. Nonetheless, here's a video. I've long been trying to get the songtrack, but perhaps it's copyrighted.. here's the next best alternative:
