Mathematics

Was very inspired by the Maths Olympiad students during weekend service.

Sometimes, I blame our educational system for instilling a rote learning behaviour in students that stifles creative thinking. However, exploratory learning can be acquired.

I was stumbled by a number puzzle that my sister-in-law posted on her blog, and being unwilling to admit defeat, I tried to google for the answer :p
During my search, I came across this "Ask Dr. Math" forum website. I was really amazed by the elementary questions that were posted to the forum. Some of the questions I only encountered when I got to Secondary and JC, whereas they had the chance to try them out at elementary level. What's interesting was that these rules and formulas were not handed down to the students as learning mantras. Instead, they got to try some interesting "simple" questions from which they themselves later derived at those formulas unknowingly, which will help to make the connection between exploratory and understanding when they later progress to higher levels of education. Of course, some effort was also required on the students part to bring the questioning spirit further enough to ask and know more :p

I was particularly intrigued by this question that an elementary student posted to the forum : Chessboard Squares :)

At the forum, I also came across this fun game called the Polar Bear Club :
The game is in the name of the game, invented in the days of Genghis Kahn, polar bears around an ice hole. Like petals around a rose, you can count each bear's nose. (Toss a handful of dice -- about 6.) How many polar bears do you see?
Once someone guesses the riddle and can say the right number of polar bears for three consecutive tosses of the dice, he or she takes an oath not to reveal the secret and becomes a Certified Polar Bear.

I'm now a certified polar bear :D Took a long time before I managed to see it though... My colleague was much much faster... maybe I gave too many clues =p

This is the number puzzle that my sister-in-law posted : Using these numbers only once- 5, 5, 5, 1. Form a total of 24 using +, -, x or %.

Have fun :p

Detoxification

Some time back, Jinhong shared with me this revelation on my face: What's manifested in the physical is first manifested in the spiritual... What's manifested outwardly is first manifested inwardly...

That was during the time when we made up after another of my mood swings. I was then getting really frustrated with my work, with my face, with myself, and was virtually like a dynamite that exploded into dark clouds and thunders at any inclination of getting probed.

Jinhong also shared with me that God loves me, and He misses talking with me. The series of events finally drove me to action, to overcome the flesh and make a decision to do quiet time at 7.30am daily. Quiet time in the morning wasn't easy. Most of the time, I (still) find myself speaking in tongues in half-sleep mode.

My spirit is happier nowadays. Jinhong said I am more cheerful visibly, even during work. Any hatred or bitterness that I used to have is just gone. People do not annoy me as much. I'm more forgiving. My capacity also increases. I find myself more alert these days. Yesterday during choir practice, my mind didn't drift into distracted/knockout mode during prayer. I could speak in tongues the whole 15 minutes. And I was focussed on the prayer the whole time. Thank you God for giving me focus, for helping me overcome the plague of tiredness! :)

Ziwei shared during cg on Saturday that God gives 2nd chances. It takes tremendous conscientious effort for me to forgive people and not ever bring it up again. I'm glad God gives me so many 2nd chances.

Jinhong had been praying some time for my face to get better. Ever since the outbreak in March last year, my face condition had further worsened since marriage. I had tried many products, but my face just kept worsening. I even recently got antibiotics from the doctor, but the improvement was slow. God is very timely. Xiaowei recommended Avalon, a vitamin for detox, and I started taking it this week. PTL! My face condition improved tremendously.

My face got better, so I'm more cheerful. What's manifested outwardly is first manifested inwardly. I'm more cheerful, so my face got better. So Jinhong told me to be more cheerful. Haha :p

God is good all the time! :)

Morning Clock

Been waking up at 7.30am for quiet time these 2 days. And the amazing thing is I didn't set my alarm clock. Jinhong shared with me his testimony, so I decided to try it for myself, asking God to wake me up in time for my meeting with him, and He has been doing it since! :)

It had been a long time since I had long individual prayers like this...

Clouds marbling the clear blue skies
Hope peeks at unexpected moments
Heavenly grandeur, awe inspiring
Gratitude and thanksgiving
Spiritual conversation
Peace

Praise God for a wonderful morning! Praise God for peace, for taking away burdens of the previous day, and for refreshing me with joy and love! :)

Been bogged down by unhappiness for some time. It's difficult to be bitter in some areas and be innocently joyful in others. My work was a major cause of the depression. Kept wondering if I was underpaid, especially after I heard of the salaries of my fresh grad male peers during class gathering last week. Also, there's a persistent resistance to go back and continue on the enhancement project that I had been doing since last year. I'm getting really sick of facing the same stale code and the same old clients for these 3 years. I was so happy when I was posted to help out part-time in another project last month. The next phase of enhancements are coming soon and I guess I will soon be posted back again. I'm having pre-blues at the thought of it.
The colleagues are the major pull-factor, but I guess I've reconciled myself. Even when I change jobs, we can still go on outings together during public holidays.
I was having really serious mood swings, and Jinhong bore the brunt of my outlashes. Sorry dear... I'm glad we reconciled. If the job is making me so unhappy, it's really time to move on.
Been feeling this peace within for the past 2 days. Really glad that I'm starting on discipled quiet time again.

God is good, all the time ^_^

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Rambles

I wish I'm a bird, for then I would soar over the oceans
I wish I'm an eagle, then I would be able to circle the highest mountains
My soul longs for comfort and love, but my mind longs to be free from the mundane
To be free from joys, sorrows, endless meaningless communication
To be on an island alone, yet I writhe at the thought of endless solitude
Imprisoned in my heart, Rapunzel?
What does it mean to love? What does it mean to hurt?
I derive enjoyment at hurting, yet I hurt at hurting.
I'm tired. Words no longer make sense.
Yet I'm afraid of dying. I love my life too much to die.
What is flying? An orbit around something?
Will I cough to death?
Dead?
The mind knows but the heart is unwilling to yield.
What does it mean to yield? What rewards does it bring?
Vision?
Laughter?



The tormented tears at the joyful
Unable to live in harmony
It refuses to remain in hypocrisy


Confused...