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Victor N's Blog Full Post View | List View

A Christian perspective on contemporary policy debates may not prevail. It must nonetheless be argued.

Our National Conscience and dependence on God
"For years, even during the Second World War, we prayed and we didn’t forget our dependence on God.

We can’t afford to allow God to disappear from our national and political conversations, because to do so, we will lead us to a place where we won’t be able to be grateful to anyone but ourselves, and that would lead to arrogance; ... because that would leave us to be accountable to no one but ourselves, and that would lead to more injustice, erode our civil right, our national conscience, and lead to moral ambiguity.

The most sensitive thing we can do for people who don’t believe in god is to keep god in the centre of our national and political conversations, because it’s his presence and it's our intuitive accountability to him that enables us to create a system where everyone who choose not to believe to always have the freedom not to believe."
Wednesday April 29, 2009 - 04:44am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
re: Tim Flannery in "Now or Never: a sustainable future for Australia?"

Julia Marshall "There is one problem facing humanity that is now so urgent that, unless it is resolved in the next two decades, it will destroy our global civilisation: the climate crisis", Tim Flannery in "Now or Never: a sustainable future for Australia?"

Victor Ng at 4:27pm April 26

Tim has made his comment on climate change in a number of occasions in the past, including on Q&A (ABC). An dedicated fellow.
In the government and NGO sectors there have been lots of people working towards a more sustainable future. A number of businesses in social enterprise and sole private sectors have begun to take steps too. We need the ... Read Moreleadership from government, because our capitalist market does not currently provide any incentives for businesses to change the way they operate.
In my opinion, the ideological war between the neo-liberals (and their advocates such as Tim Wilson by the institute of Public Policy) and the social democrats in the midst of the economic downturn has hardly helped the policy to move forward.
This market under our mid-right captialist system may need to provide strategic incentives for businesses to adopt more environmentally sustainable business operations, which fundamentally implies disbandment of neo-liberalism.
Saturday April 25, 2009 - 11:39pm (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
Entry for April 11, 2009
Hi Wing Sze,

I have been away in Darwin for about 8 days. I had been preoccupied by a number of things in life too. My apology for not making the time to write to you after reflecting on your thoughtful sharing.

Thank you for asking me about my life. I am still single and I have always been travelling a bit. I have found giving to a friend is much easier than to dedicate myself to a relationship. I am big on social justice, and often it takes a lot out of me. What it means is that I have no energy to pursue girls that I am interested in. Ultimately I am complete in the eyes of my creator. I have not had a girlfriend since 9 years ago, so yes that's a long time for most people. I refuse to settle anything less than God's arrangement. And if that means staying single for my life, then so be it. Anyway, that's only my take on this issue.

From your past emails, I am presuming that you are a Christian. If I am correct, I hope that my sharing below will strengthen you and encourage you to rely on God day by day:
I am always grateful that it was never too late to make amend with God, who has provided us with opportunities for solitude and peace. I remember God used a knee injury from soccer a few years ago as a reminder that nothing is certain and that everything in life is meaningless without Him(as King David said). Please allow me to reaffirm you that, though God never promise us healthy and trouble-free life, He did promise us that we can find peace in Him. I have been prompted to pray for you, and I hope that you have a regular prayer partner who can support your spiritual life, as it is crucial for everyone. God often use circumstances in our life to draw us closer to Him. Though I can never claim to understand any of your difficulties, I have no doubt that He can touch you in an unique way that no-one else can.

In knowing your situation, I found it extremely difficult to encourage you with any words, given that suffering is probably the most difficult subject in Christianity. Having said that, Bible talks about pain and suffering more than any other religious literature, and we see the character of Jesus through the shortest verse in Bible, "Jesus wept". The fact that God is in touch (through his crucifixion) and full of compassion with our feeling and suffering does tell me a lot about how He rightfully expect me to respond to His love. It is through this that I have found encouragement through bad times in life.

Take care and I hope I hear from you soon.

Victor Ng
http://360.yahoo.com/ngchito

"We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship."
"100 per cent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased." (C S Lewis)
Saturday April 11, 2009 - 06:32am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
Being still vs being rebellious
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Hi Rach,

After a dinner at home, I am now back to the office trying to get a few things done. You get so much more done when you are by yourself I guess. I am looking forward to the new role in May as I suppose as a Strategic planner, I wouldn't have to be around to take phone calls all the time, which would leave me more time during the working hours to complete other tasks and do more interesting research hopefully.

I have heard only briefly about seventh day adventist school. My understanding of the school was their holistic development, which in Hong Kong wasn't so different from Catholic and Anglican schools. Interestingly I had always been going to Baptist church. Yet even in Baptist there are some individuals who believe that God's laws in old testament such as prohibition of eating pork still apply today, to which I cannot be convinced of. If I am wrong on this, I will be dependent on the Holy Spirit to change me. Talking about rules and interpretation of Bible, it is interesting to see how some people are put off of them whilst the others are suck in to them. I think discernment is impossible and all wisdom comes from God. I feel compelled to remind you not to simply rely on feeling as we as sinful beings do deceive ourselves and often make decisions and judgements that we regret so much later.

I haven't prayed for a partner, as I always wanted to wander around and just see where I would end up to be. Gradually, though, I came to understand this free spirit is so much like a rebellious spirit who doesn't want to commit into God's plan. And that's my challenge in life I guess.

It seems to me that there is no coincidence that the sermon was used to speak to you. I cannot agree with you more so your point that it's so hard to make right choices In life, maybe that's exactly what it means to bear the Cross of Jesus.

It's very true to say that our future is out of our hand. Isn't it far more honest to acknowledge that we are not in control while we dedicate ourselves to God's callings for us? God has used failure to stumble my pride and shown me humility and a servant are what I need.

Just want to share with you a great reminder of who I am and who God is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8horRi3_E

"When the oceans rise

And thunders roar

I will soar with You

Above the storm

Father You are King

Over the flood

And I will be still

And know You are God"

I hope you have a good sleep tonight Rach. Imagine how God looks at us when we sleep, like a father looking at his small baby in the dream. Always hopeful.

Regards,

To

Tags: still, rebellious
Monday April 6, 2009 - 04:30am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments
Being still vs being rebellious
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After a dinner at home, I am now back to the office trying to get a few things done. You get so much more done when you are by yourself I guess. I am looking forward to the new role in May as I suppose as a Strategic planner, I wouldn't have to be around to take phone calls all the time, which would leave me more time during the working hours to complete other tasks and do more interesting research hopefully.

I have heard only briefly about seventh day adventist school. My understanding of the school was their holistic development, which in Hong Kong wasn't so different from Catholic and Anglican schools. Interestingly I had always been going to Baptist church. Yet even in Baptist there are some individuals who believe that God's laws in old testament such as prohibition of eating pork still apply today, to which I cannot be convinced of. If I am wrong on this, I will be dependent on the Holy Spirit to change me. Talking about rules and interpretation of Bible, it is interesting to see how some people are put off of them whilst the others are suck in to them. I think discernment is impossible and all wisdom comes from God. I feel compelled to remind you not to simply rely on feeling as we as sinful beings do deceive ourselves and often make decisions and judgements that we regret so much later.

I haven't prayed for a partner, as I always wanted to wander around and just see where I would end up to be. Gradually, though, I came to understand this free spirit is so much like a rebellious spirit who doesn't want to commit into God's plan. And that's my challenge in life I guess.

It seems to me that there is no coincidence that the sermon was used to speak to you. I cannot agree with you more so your point that it's so hard to make right choices In life, maybe that's exactly what it means to bear the Cross of Jesus.

It's very true to say that our future is out of our hand. Isn't it far more honest to acknowledge that we are not in control while we dedicate ourselves to God's callings for us? God has used failure to stumble my pride and shown me humility and a servant are what I need.

Just want to share with you a great reminder of who I am and who God is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk8horRi3_E

"When the oceans rise

And thunders roar

I will soar with You

Above the storm

Father You are King

Over the flood

And I will be still

And know You are God"

I hope you have a good sleep tonight. Imagine how God looks at us when we sleep, like a father looking at his small baby in the dream. Always hopeful.

Regards,

To

Monday April 6, 2009 - 04:29am (PDT) Permanent Link | 0 Comments

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