If life's a game, what are the rules?

They say "life is a game" or "it's a rat race out there..." Sounds familiar?

Well, but if life is really a game to some extent, then there's probably some kind of game rules. No game proceeds without rules. Yet what kind of rules should we abide by?

It's so easy to announce - I play by my own rules and no one else! But all too easily, we may just realise one day that this is a statement made in ignorance, if not arrogance.

If God is the creator of this world and of mankind, surely he will have certain rules that mankind must live by - as opposed to living as the world dictates, when we know that the world has turned against God right from the start of mankind.

So then, we can look at "Game Theory". This theory has been investigated by the best minds over history. The brilliant mathematician, John von Neumann, inventor of the modern computer and co-developer of the atom bomb, investigated the case of Zero-Sum games, where one person's win is another person's loss.

In zero-sum games, gains and losses balance out to a final sum of zero. For example, chess is a zero sum game. There is always one who wins and the other who loses. The world's rules is like a zero-sum game. It is all so logical - for the rich indeed do get richer, while the poor get poorer. In business, one man's win may be another man's loss. Or, you might have heard of the familiar concept of maximising our gains and minimising our losses.

But if life were to be based on that principle, wouldn't it be sad if you happened to find yourself on the losing end? There's no way out. Stuck in your rut. Your fate. or so it seems...

On the contrary, there are another kinds of games --- the "non-zero-sum" games. For example, Monopoly is a non-zero-sum game: All participants can win property from the bank. If all players cooperated, they all can get richer although this is not the true intent of the game.

God's game rules are like that. It's no longer the winner versus the loser, but whether we want to play by his rules for a win-win solution.

God's rules are actually so simple. Love God. Love your neighbour. Yet we don't. He has already has given us the 'manual' - the bible - all we have to do is read it and do what it says - yet we don't.

God is already the overcomer against the devil. All we have to do is follow Him.

His statutes for living a holy life is stated in the bible loud and clear. If we cooperated with it, we would be winners. We would gain the ultimate prize of eternal life. But do we?

Most of the time, we are happy just playing by the world's rules. One that is all so logical. And you have winners and losers. Sometimes we settle into acceptance of our 'fates'. People comment - ah, its ok, i'm going to hell anyway.

But didn't they realise, that all they need to do is turn around and seek God and they won't have to be 'destined for hell'?

Playing by the world's rules is not easy. We struggle because most of the time, we never have enough, are never satisfied, are never totally successful... there's always more, more, more...

Even more, it seems all the more difficult playing God's game and by God's rules because we've been so accustomed to this world's rules! God's rules seems only fit for the super-pious people. Yet, it is meant for all humanity!

When we could have been overcomers with Christ in a win-win situation, alas, we have settled for a win-lose situation. Is this the life we really want?

People say, I can get on in this life without having to believe in Christ or follow what the bible says. But we lose out on the eternal because we've been so short-sighted!

For this I cry in my heart.

Yet, I also know that my heart is not strong. My faith wavers. I realise, how I need God's light and guidance so much, every day!

Galatians 5:17 (New International Version)
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Final note:
There's a notion that we are all zeros, while God is the number 1. With Him beside us, we multiply easily to a ten, a hundred, and even millions. But without him, our lives are empty. So then, what makes us all winners - is when we are together with God.

Quotes that inspire

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.
Ralph H. Blum

At the centre of your being you have the answer; You know who you are and you know what you want. Lao Tzu

The meaning of life is to give life meaning. Ken Hudgins

A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
Walter Bagehot

The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Knowledge comes, but wisdom stays.
Alfred Lord Tennyson

There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why. William Barclay

Planning for happiness is rarely successful. Happiness just happens. Robert Half

Keep your face to the sunshine and you'll never see the shadow.
Helen Keller

Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time.
Arnold Glascow

Learn to think like a winner. Think positive and visualize your strengths. Vic Braden

Don't go through life, grow through life. Eric Butterworth

Lazy Sunday and Some perks

It was good today meeting up with my dear old friend Yumin. *waves hello* Of course, dear Prisci too... chatting about movies, anime, books.. haha.. certainly a pleasure amidst a dreary day of trying to get everyone together. In the end, what works best is still small meetings, small groups, one-on-one chats.

We watched Charlotte's Web earlier. Nah.. simple story. I wasn't too impressed... Even Sinbad and the legend of the seven seas on TV the day before was more exciting... Not to mention.. Pauline slept! heee..

Can't wait for DeathNote 2... and well.. i was saying to Prisci that I'll watch a show if Takeshi Kaneshiro is in it... and hey.. there's one.. confessions of pain.. coming up.. maybe should catch that too!

I look forward to Christmas eve on 24th to meet up with Marlene, Jac, James, Michael, Daniel & Joyce,... it's been a year since our last X'mas & New Year gathering... oh so wanna meet up with them and be crazy again.. heh..

I so do not look forward to work tmrw.. It's just 5 more days..!!! HANG ON!!

When I have passion

Excerpt from a poem by Vivienne Yeo

"When I have passion I have strength,
My energy is boundless;
When I have passion, I know no failure,
My lows lead me to my highs.

When I have passion, success is always believable,
Trying hard is a joy rather than toil;
When I have passion, I am happy,
Doing is no different from being.

What fires my soul is the magic of passion,
A melding of belief and single-minded focus -
Noble goals and lofty dreams,
Talent and opportunities....

... "

But today I have no passion...

Tuesday Ranting

I'm on MC today again... I lurve being sick... hahaha... ok well.. it's a really good getaway because, I can just check my emails, and sleep... and dream...

I think I've had lots of dreams these two days. And lots of time with God. It's a wonderful time. Sometimes, God has to get our attention and therefore, allows certain things to happen to us (like falling sick).

It has allowed me to see the sunlight throught the small crevices in my so-called Cave of Discouragement and open me up to the infinite world out there where HE is Good and wonderful.

Nevertheless, it does not change certain facts, that I am tired. I am really tired. of many things. People. Planning. Doing things. Just doing and doing and doing... I don't mind doing many things but I think sometimes cynicism sets in.

Doubt. I wonder if ultimately what I am looking for in doing all these things is some kind of approval, benefit, companionship... yes, I do feel sometimes that it would be great if there were someone I can lean on. I feel sad that there doesn't seem to be any. Or I wonder if i'm too proud.

I told God.. If this is all a matter of will, then I will "WILL" myself to cling on. There is definitely a purpose and a reason why I have this desire to serve God and yet find myself frustrated by the lack of support and passion around me. And I wonder again, whether I'm just blind myself. Maybe there is, but I didn't ask? Didn't take time to find out? Was too self-absorbed? Could be too. So nevertheless, I shall just trust in God and not be too harsh on anyone and myself.

Last but not least,.. I have a dream of going skiing in Japan!

I have a minor fascination with japan... makes it wonderful to know that my friend from campus crusade, Dorothea, is in Japan as a missionary reaching out to people via music. She sings and plays the keyboard i think, in a small band. Wow.

Hip Hoppie Week

The past week was a hip hoppie one... had to finish up my classes with Studio Wu.. 6 lessons of hip hop. I did four... 2 on Fri and 2 on Sunday. But am sick today and so won't make it by Wed to do the last 2 classes. So that's it for my studio wu stint. I guess won't renew it already... it's way beyond me -- hip hop -- I don't look good and don't bounce well.. guess the ballet foundations doesn't prove one too well in these days where hip hop is the new language of dance. The instructor was cute though. But I guess, that's it for now.

Perhaps, the Gym package would suffice. Still haven't' gone to the gym yet. I always hear pauline's voice in my head saying "So sam... have you gone to the gym yet???" ARHHH no.. no no no !!!!

Anyway, I went to the National Library first time yesterday and had a good time browsing. Borrowed some books on Drawing and Painting and also one on 'The Birth of Europe'. Nice to get down to some good history once again.

Talking about books, I read my FIRST NOVEL in years! This one is from my colleague at office... The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini -

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons?their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

The first Afghan novel to be written in English, The Kite Runner tells a sweeping story of family, love, and friendship against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, bringing to mind the large canvases of the Russian writers of the nineteenth century. But just as it is old-fashioned in its narration, it is contemporary in its subject?the devastating history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years. As emotionally gripping as it is tender, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful debut.

Man.... I cried while reading the book. Cried at the end of the book. Gosh.. What a book to start the reading habit once again. TWO THUMBS UP!

And it's nice being sick.. i'm on MC today and tmrw. But it's so good coz i have more time to do all these,.. blog... and catch up on my emails. My computer crashed last Sunday and since then, i haven't had the luxury of checking emails! Maybe God is trying to tell me not to be too addicted to them. Seesh!

SCI Minstrels at the Launch of the new school name

Last night was the launch of SCI's new name, the "Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information".

It was really fun for (R - L) Elaine, myself, Prof Chris & Prof Chu Keong.. the time spent learning new songs and harmonising together was worth every minute of it. And so now we are the SCI minstrels...It's a funny nickname we called ourselves but it also makes a very likely name for the future!



The event was large, corporate. I won't say it had a particular theme such as classical/modern.... There was really serious classical music from us and the NTU Band, and then the laser display was electronic sounding. In between, light jazz tunes were played. And at the end was a teeny boppy cheerleading display by NTU's cheerleading team - apparently the best in Singapore.

But theme? none.

I felt it could have been classier.

But classy? maybe just Corporate.

Certainly it was the wrong place to play classical music. What's more, our pieces were quite serious. NTU Band's one took it one step further by playing serious BACH music.. Gosh, i wonder if the audience listened at all.

I think they did. But I don't really care...

My major peeve... the event didn't quite make any highlight of Prof Chris or Chu Keong as SCI professors playing at this event. I feel it was truly meaningful being there because we were SCI people - Prof Chris / Chu Keong are SCI Professors while Elaine and I are SCI Alumni.

-- If we are all SCI alumni/faculty members, all the more there should be a special mention because we were doing this simply for goodwill. And wasn't it so meaningful?

I guess, MY notion of goodwill is truly being tested here.

Ah well.... am I just being petty?

But the fact is that we get relegated to being a NTU student/alumnus/faculty... and for the undiscerning public eye, we are simply one same big music group playing during the dinner with NTU Band. Not that I don't want to be associated with them.. but that I wished at least organisers would have made it even more meaningful.

It's not as if we volunteered to play just to busk at one corner...

And well, it's not so much of me being mentioned - but rather, prof Chris' efforts should have been highlighted. (He did take a lot of effort to choose and scout for scores!)

Still, he took it all with a smile at the end of the day.... He's really too nice :) Makes it hard to get angry at all... :)

So then, this was the effort of 1 almost full day rehearsal, and about some 3 to 5 practices or so before this... quite some effort for NO pay and NO mention.

Maybe this is the price for our resume that says --- "played at Istana"!

Anyway, here's more pics:

Welcoming President S R Nathan, guest of honour:


Official Launch of Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information:






Diana Ser is host for the night..


And lastly, for all the peeves, (yes it also poured at the start of the event and I drenched my shoes).... I did have fun after all. :) Of course! Where music is concerned... it's pretty exciting to be at the launch itself - regardless of my critical comments ( i had more but enough for now!)


Cheers! (and it's back to work after this well spent 2-day break... )