Getting Around Theologically

Chinese slowdown to occur?

2011-09-04T01:42:00.000-07:00

In one year, the Chinese economy will perform poorly. That is, they will have a recession This could be a technical recession from a gross rate of say 10% per year to 3% per year, then it is a recession. You also shouldn't believe in the gross GDP that China reports. If you adjust for the real rate of inflation, then true growth is even slower.

See report at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Cz45S5Bos

But the question to be asked are:-

a) will u be putting in money into the American market and the possible decline in dollar.
b) Eurozone issues such as Greece is still not resolved and Spanish home loan defaults are rising rapidly.
c) Najibnomics to occurs after GE13? Massive inflationary pressures?

What would be a sustainable/growing economic system for the next 5-10 years?

Jameson Whisky

2011-09-04T01:30:00.000-07:00

A short infotainment regarding Irish whiskies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFwVDaCedlc&feature=related

Incidentally, whisky's creation was credited to Irish monks as a medicine!!!

Reading Habits of my Students

2011-05-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

I have 5 business students in Life College.

They have very weak reading habits - their absorption of technical info is slow

Water of Life - Glenmorangie 10 year single malt.

2011-03-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Meet an excellent guy called Johnny Chew at a whisky shop - he's a Malt Wizard. He has I think about 50 types of whiskey at his home. Go on rocking dude..

Basically, Johnny spent a half hour of his life teaching me a few things re Scotch whisky (English)/ whiskey (Irish). Scotch whisky is actually 'water of life'. Scotch is made from Barley and is dried using peat to give it a smokier taste. According to Johnny, some Scotch whiskey is chill filtered in order to remove its impurities (and hangover). Downside of chill filtering : some of the taste is also removed - ohh well. Whisky can only be called Scotch if it uses ingredients from Scotland UK (barley, water, etc.) and is manufactured there. Indian whiskey i.e. Amrut cannot be called Scotch. Incidentally, most single malt distillery uses American oak casks to mature their products (God Save American Oaks)

Ended up getting to know a few new Scottish friends.

a) First of all, let me say that I AM NOT AN ALCHOLIC. Yes, I am addicted to Bak Kut Teh and that is a historically known medical fact about me. I drink like 2-3 times a year and almost always after a run/hill climb. Helps with the sleep.

b) Dont drink and drive - let's not spill 10 year or more expensive Scotch on your car seat. It is sacrilege.

c) Mixing Coke and Scotch is a sin if especially it is a single malt whiskey.

d) Am going to taste the Glenmorangie soon - maybe over a dinner with da parents.

e) Googling malt madness website now to update myself re single malts.

Go on rocking Scotch (and Johnny)

Food prices surge in China.

2011-02-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

Grim news from China:-

a) Inflation rate is at 4.9% (Jan '11) compared to 4.6% (Dec'10)

b) Jan'11 : Surges include

Eggs up by 20%

Fresh fruits by 33%

Sugar up by 80%

High grade rice more by 65%

c) What this means is that millions of the poorer Chinese households which spends half their income on food will experience severe economic setbacks - 50% spending of income on income might translate up to 70%.

d) Remember also that crude oil is now at USD$100 and standing by. The Chinese folks still needs to pay for transport somehow.

e) Food prices hikes were recognised as one of the catalyst in bringing down the governments of Tunisia and Egypt.

ACE INA of the USA acquires Jerneh Insurance Berhad

2011-02-10T02:20:00.001-08:00

a) ACE USA has total assets of USD 78billion/RM 245billion.

b) ACE has 15,000 employees in 50 countries around the world.

c) Jerneh is one of the two listed insurance company in Malaysia - higher standard of transparency to both Bank Negara and Security Comm.

d) Two good brands make a stronger whole. 'Nuff said.

TIN PRICES ESCALATING AGAIN.

2011-02-07T15:15:00.001-08:00

Why is it that a world economy with the US, bulk of Europe and Japan in recession, our bulk commodities prices are still on the rise?

When a strong wind comes, you can either build windmills or windbreaks!

China in 2011?

2011-02-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, China should make the move to tighten their grip on inflation.

See Mssr Rogers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja9qC0tYW2Q

Copper, Tin, Anyone?

2011-02-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Traditionally, copper has been used in the electrical industry and closer to home, the as the plates in the humble but crucial car batteries.

http://lite.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/copper-soars-to-us10000-supply-fears-dominate-mood

But let us look at the fine print regarding such a shortage, shall we?

Remember the earthquake in Chile a while back? I recalled reading something which said that the quake affected the transport links to the mines itself.

I wonder how long this trend will continue. Mines are really expensive to start and those existing ones are definitely looking at the law of decreasing returns.

The effects of such price rise also has a spill over effect in Malaysia itself. I wonder which of the areas or properties near the tin mines in Perak as going for a song right now?

WHY CHINA ? PLUG IN NO 2

2011-02-01T17:09:00.000-08:00

Greedy guy writing again.

Today (Jan 2011), China purchases more cars and mobile phones than the US and soon will buy more computers.

Nomura Securities estimated that by 2014, retail sales in China may surpass that of the US.

China has also announced that it will spend USD 1.5 trillion on high speed rail and nuclear power. Not all at once but normally within 5 years (the basic 5 year plans mah!)

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/china-plans-to-spend-big-on-nuclear-power-high-speed-rail/

Simple language folks :

China's infrastructure currently is a BIG MESS and yet there are still hitting low double digit growth rates (due to FDI).

There are insufficient rail lines for their own citizens to get back home for CNY that some ppl are resorting to wearing diapers as some have to stand 17 hours on a packed cattle class train. In addition, certain rural areas in China, overloads occurs when people more than 5 households switches on their air-cond/chandelier/ etc.

But what happens when China upgrades its infra and fully capitalises on 1.4 billion of its own internal market?

FDI + Huge Market internally = >10% growth (current growth at slightly over 10%)?

Using simple maths, China's market growing at 10% annually will just DOUBLE after 7 years!!!

Folks: Another thing? China will be buying raw materials and consumables in order to manufacture USD 1.5 trillion worth of infra - what will be the effects of this buying binge on commodities prices?

Buy some Chinese based unit trust + commodities funds!

Inflation fears - PLUG NUMBER 1

2011-02-01T16:58:00.000-08:00

Both NST and Malaysian Insider shows this:-

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/2infdeepens/Article/index_html

I understand that the prices of raw food commodities (there goes my banana leaf rice budget) and oil are now increasing - some by 20% for the last 6 months alone re Paul Krugman (Nobel prize winner for New Economics).

Marketing wise, does this show that the 'powers-that-be' are hinting that inflation is to be expected especially after the sudden increase of RON 97 to RM 2.50/liter post-Tenang? Are they preparing us mentally to be hit in the most sensitive location for all men and women : our pocketbooks?

A good friend remarked that after every by-election win, the prices of cooking gas, RON 97, sugar, evaporated milk, etc. seemingly rise almost the very next day.

My shameless commercial plug? Buy some commodity related unit-trusts frens!

HOW TO KILL A WOMAN LEGALLY.

2009-12-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

There is actually a legal way to kill a woman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtfi0LGvYR8&NR=1

I find it a bit difficult to believe - gulp.

2009-12-09T19:55:00.001-08:00

TEE Courses for 2010 is out !!!!!

2009-12-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Just follow this link to view the new TEE schedule for 2010.

http://www.stm.edu.my/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=663&Itemid=87

"Bible Scholars ...."

2009-12-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

You ever saw in the movies how the good guys or the bad guys were being ambushed?

Experienced it recently.

So, a friend invited me to visit a talk, one evening, and there I was hunkering down in a meeting. Unfortunately the meeting coordinator was not very welcoming in a sense with genius remarks such as:-

a) ' ..... there are other things you can do besides being a bible scholar ....',

b) ' I have seen the best and the worst of the bible seminaries ......',

c) ' While Europe burned to the ground, the monasteries were busy shutting themselves out ....' (SORRY, THAT PERSON DID NOT SAY THAT - just a another genius remark from a different person).

Well, excuse meeeeeeee............

Some points to note :-

a) This is my first time in your meeting - thanks for your warmth and tact.

b) If Bible scholars were so unwelcome or their works are so underappreciated, we should at least follow up on it with these actions :-

i) Burn the books written by seminarians - Herr Hitler performed somthing like that.
ii) Uproot the intellectuals aka seminarians - both Comrade Mao and Mrs Mao - been there and done that.
iii) Better yet, kill the intellectuals aka seminarians - Khmer Rouge Comrade Pol Pot did it in Year Zero.
iv) Disband the church structures - the Books of Discipline are one way or the other written by the seminarians at one time or another.

But let's not be so negative about things shall we. Let's see what some other jokers are saying about Bible scholarship (?)

Future of Christianity depends on theological education. says report

Proper theological education is of strategic importance for the future of Christianity. So is ecumenical formation for the future of active Christian cooperation, says a world report on the future of theological education.

The key issues were highlighted by Dr Dietrich Werner, coordinator of the Ecumenical Theological Education programme of the World Council of Churches (ETE/WCC), and expressed in a World Study Report on Theological Education released in Nairobi recently.

The 90-page report subtitled "Challenges and Opportunities for Theological Education in the 21st Century – Pointer for a New International Debate on Theological Education" was produced by an international study group as part of the Edinburgh 2010 process during the last 12 months.

The report was released at a meeting of the newly created Advisory Committee on Theology, Ecumenical Formation and Interfaith Issues of the All African Conference of Churches which brought together around 20 key representatives of theological education and regional associations of theological schools in Africa.

Their goal was to start a new initiative for cooperation in theological education in Africa and for the production of new theological textbooks on crucial themes for African Christianity. The report has been published in a Joint Information Service of the World Conference of Associations of Theological Schools (WOCATI) and ETE/WCC.

The world report on theological education – as well as accompanying papers – is available in a shorter and an extended version. It includes case studies on various regions of the world and key recommendations for the future of theological education.

The report states that "theological education is the seedbed for the renewal of churches, their ministries, and their commitment to the unity of the church. If theological education systems are neglected or not given their due prominence, over the following decades the church will experience a decline in the competence of church leadership and in their capacity for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue and for dialogue between church and society."

It has become clear, say the authors, that ecumenical learning "is not just the addition of elements of ecumenical theology into the curriculum, but the key question is whether and to what extent the basic orientation of theological education reflects the fundamental relational nature of being the church, its vocation to live with other Christian communities and with the wider human community."

See the World Study Report on Theological Education, short version:http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p5/ete/E2010_summary_World_Study_Report11_2009.pdf

Conclusions :

Stop bible scholarship in order to stop church growth. What a brilliant thought indeed.

On the usage of the word 'ALLAH' (1)

2008-01-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

Centre for Public Policy Studies' (CPPS) views on the use of the word "Allah"

The Centre for Public Policy Studies applauds the decision to renew the publishing permit of the Kuala Lumpur-based "Herald – The Catholic Weekly" newspaper, which was previously under question. However, it is disappointed by the decision made by the Cabinet to disallow the use of the word "Allah" in reference to "God". In a released statement (Friday, 4 th January 2008), it was stated that the word "Allah" is restricted to Muslims in Malaysia and that Cabinet would restrict its use because "it has long been the practice of this country that the word Allah refers to God according to the Muslim faith".

The Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess and practice one's religion in Malaysia. The freedom to practice one's own religion includes allowing communities to use their own language as a medium of instruction in their respective acts of worship and scriptural study.

The Arabic word for God, Arabic Christians have used the word "Allah" for centuries. Similarly, East Malaysian Christians have used the word "Allah" in their worship of God for generations, whilst their Malay Bibles have included the word "Allah". If it is the constitutional right of any Malaysian citizen to profess one's own religion, then allowing them the freedom to use the language in which they are most conversant and comfortable falls under the same jurisdiction.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Abdullah Mohd Zin also said that use of the word Allah should not be made a public debate that may give the impression that there is no freedom of religion in the country. The CPPS would like to point out that it is precisely for the preservation of freedom of religion that such issues should be discussed in an open and rational manner. Living in a multi-religious country, these issues of contention should not be swept under the carpet but instead confronted honestly and bravely, with equally sound solutions in hand. The approach to public policy should be increasingly consultative and constructive, as opposed to one in which any commentaries are silenced under the illusion of false unity.

The Centre for Public Policy Studies therefore proposes that the decision to use the word "Allah" in any Christian material should be left to the court, at which cases are currently being presided over already. The CPPS urges the Cabinet to consider carefully the sociological, cultural and historical aspects of the use of the word "Allah", as these dimensions are equally important within the public policy decision-making process.

We need to build national unity, and as the Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi has repeatedly stated, to be fair to all Malaysians regardless of race or religion. The important principles of Islam Hadhari could be compromised by the Government's present stand on this sensitive matter and its credibility would be impaired.

Therefore the CPPS appeals to the government: To review its decision which could be now interpreted, at home and abroad, as narrow, insensitive and contrary to our rukun negara and our Federal Constitution which aim to strengthen national unity, which is paramount to our nation's peace and progress in the future.

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam
Chairman

Centre for Public Policy Studies
Kuala Lumpur
Friday, 4th January 2008

A Visit to Bro T Raja - New Ark Mission of India, House of Hope.

2008-01-05T23:43:00.000-08:00

Warning - Powerful video not suitable for children and faint hearted

What Where and When

Date : Sept 2006
Location : Bangalore India.
Purpose : Fact finding of Street Ministry cum Rehab Centre

Who : Pastor Phua ST, Ai Swee, Jenny and HW.

Ministry :

Street People : Homeless, drug addicts, very old, etc.
Ministry compound known as the House of Hope. Roughly 80 odd souls within the compound.

Brother Raja collects them from the streets and then houses them.

When we arrived Day 1, an elderly person died. Another person expired during the last day that we were there. A very demanding ministry to house these people.

Pastor Phua ministered to them. Most of them finally become friendly after 5th day by shaking hands with us or hugging us when we left.

Powerful ministry. Did not write about it until now - too many heartbreaking memories.

Saw Bro T Raja Sunday b4 Christmas Day 07. Felt that this would give testimony to Bro Raja and to the Lord's goodness in India.

My hats off to Pastor Phua and Bro Raja!

TEE Schedule for 2008 is out.

2008-01-04T09:42:00.000-08:00

Seminari Theoloji Malaysia's (STM) TEE programme for 2008 is finally out!

Click http://www.stm.edu.my/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=446&Itemid=87

What is TEE?

No it is not a new brand of shampoo nor is it a type of weedkiller (DDT, etc.) nor is it a type of beverage (tea). Rather, it stands for Theological Education by Extension (TEE) which is a part-time programme for theological education.

For more explanations see below

http://www.stm.edu.my/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=83&Itemid=49

Hello, my name is Hoong Weng.

2008-01-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

This is my first time in initiating a blog.

I am trying to take a few theology modules under Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (STM) in Seremban.

I think the other reason that I take up studies in STM is that every once in a while I have to go to Seremban for some modules there.

There are a few killer curry houses there which I would like to frequent. Hence my stomach actually rules my brains (and cholestrol levels).

Anyway, I have to go to sleep. Got to go to work tomorrow.

God bless