Another Book Down

I finished yet another e-book of Brandon Sanderson's, The Alloy of Law, a stand-alone continuation of the Mistborn trilogy (and tonnes of other library books besides).

The thing that made this new world interesting is how it originated from the Mistborn world. Characters have interesting limited Allomantic/ Feruchemical abilities. None are Mistborn (possess a combination of all such abilities). And unlike Sanderson's usual fantasy world, this one is a bit more evolved. They actually have electricity and railway tracks, and instead of fighting with merely Allomantic/Feruchemical powers, they have guns and pistols and grenades. This changes the condition of the playing ground more than ever.

Anyway here's a summary of the four main characters for my own amusement. I love how characters in games and books have special abilities that give them an edge over others, and the abilities they lack provide their own limitations.

1) Wax. Forty-plus, supposedly main character in the book, but a little too boring for me. Still can't get over the fact that he accidentally killed his lover many many years ago, and is emotionally traumatized by the event. His Allomantic ability is to be able to push around metal objects (or be pushed backwards by them if the objects are heavier than he is). His Feruchemical ability is to be able to store up his weight in metal-minds (able to decrease weight at will), and use the stored up weight to dramatically increase his weight later. Logical and cool thinker.

2) Wayne. Also around the same age as Wax. But far more interesting. Cheery and optimistic. Has a talent in picking up and imitating accents of people around him, and to him, accents tell exactly who you, what you do and what you've been through. Master of disguise. These two points (and his witty snide remarks), easily makes him my favorite character in the book. His Allomantic ability is to be able to bend time bubbles, dramatically slowing down time for himself and those within his bubble, in which he can change disguises, create private conversations or move around. His Feruchemical ability is that of healing, he can store up health in his metal minds (thus making himself weak at the moment), to use the health for instant healing. However, the amount of health he can store up is very limited, and can be used up very quickly.

3) Marasi. Young girl, a bit of a nerd, fan of both Wax and Wayne, and crushes on Wax. I'm glad they didn't get together though, I didn't think they'd make a good couple. University student who studies criminology, blurts out random quotes from professors, psychological behavior justifications, and statistics from time to time, which can be quite useful. Quite good at using firearms. She is not a Feruchemist (cannot store abilities in metalminds), but is an Allomancer. Her Allomantic ability is opposite of that of Wayne's - letting her speed time up for those within her time bubble.

4) Mike. The Villian. Almost invincible because both his Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities come from the same metal (gold), allowing him to draw vast amounts of health into himself automatically; letting him heal instantly from any wound and regrow body parts, no matter how large the wound is. He plays the part as the good guy gone bad. Also quite a smart guy.

With those characters - there's so much potential for a good story in The Alloy of Law, and Sanderson has crafted it well. For once the love story is not overly cheesy (although I wish Marasi wouldn't blush so much, it's annoying); and I was actually glad she and Wax didn't get together despite their attractions for each other. It ended with a cliff hanger, and if there's anything I wish could be change in the tale - it would be getting Wayne a fun and witty girlfriend.

New Year Wedding

This is my first post in 2012. Today our beloved Wai Pheng 大姐 is married. I like this picture of her taken from Tirza's blog (suddensongdelights.tumblr.com). Other pics have not been up yet so far. But she makes a very beautiful bride. And I think the bride is especially beautiful when she's someone dear to you.

This wedding is a lot more simpler than one I have witnessed last year. Usually when I watch brides being led by their fathers down the aisle, I feel very happy. But I almost cried when Wai Pheng walked down the aisle with her dad. I don't know why, but I was just very moved by the fact that she's getting married. May Mark and Wai Pheng have a blessed union and meaningful marriage life.

Last Day of 2011

This is kind of a lame title for a post, but I do feel like I want to blog during the last day of the year. I wonder if this is one of those days where blog entries suddenly peak (apart from 1st of Jan).

Swee Yee and Lin Zhi are coming over to my house to count down with myself and Jerome. There's a lot lesser of us than expected but then again it's not always about numbers. I hope we have end the year and start a new one in a meaningful way together. And tomorrow - it's hello 2012! Come to think of it a whole lot of chemicals in my lab are going to expire when the new year comes in.

Next year campus is going to lose Simon around mid-year. He's going to study theology and serve God in a different way from now. Personally I think I'll miss Simon a lot. He really made a difference to my campus life. I always look to various people at different stages of my life for someone whose light I can follow, and I'm thankful I've always met such persons. And I think in Singapore I've always looked to Simon the most. How he loves the Word of God and has sacrificed so much time and energy to prepare Bible Study for us. How he lives the Word of God by relentlessly serving, and loving, and by just being there. How he is so passionate and so serious when he delivers BS messages. And even his FB wall posts is a daily reminder of how I should not stray from the Word of God, from my responsibility to share the gospel, from living a life of love, from admiring the bigness and awesomeness of God as who He is.

I'm really thankful for Simon and thankful to God too, for having big plans for him elsewhere where he could touch the lives of others too.

Wai Pheng is getting married in around two weeks time. I think I'm really blessed to have time to attend both her wedding ceremony and the dinner. It was Wai Pheng who brought me (and many others including Jon) to GLCC, and I am glad I came to this church. Wai Pheng has a special place in my heart - and I sincerely hope that she will have a wonderful marriage life.

Last night during our Romans Bible Study we discussed on how people are reluctant to talk about sin when preaching the gospel. They always preach about love, joy, peace in your heart when they talk about Christ, but that's not all what God is, and when you're not describing God as a whole, you're not describing Him as He is. God is also a righteous God, a holy God who abhors sin. And God's righteousness and holiness is part of who He is, making Him beautiful, magnificent and beyond compare. That's why if we do not deal with sin properly in our lives, we are in great danger - for God desires Christians to pursue after holiness.

So many times we tailor the gospel for listening ears in hope that it will be easier to accept. We blur out the uglier parts and emphasize on what people feel that they need in their hearts. But the gospel is for a listening heart - and I believe if we preach the full gospel as it is, the Spirit will grant understanding; and blessed are those who accept God in His terms, not on their own.

There are still many big and little issues I will have to spring-clean in my life and my prayer for 2012 is that I pursue holiness, pursue love, and have steadfast faith in Christ at all times.

When I'm Still Officially 24 This Year

Last days of 2011 whereby I have not officially reached mid-twenties. 2011 flies. Not the whole of it, but parts of it. The months just zoom by. I date day after day at work, then month after month. Now I've already been working for 5 months. No longer a newbie (but still clumsy and blur).

Many has said 2011 was a good year. Mine was full of blessings, full of grace. But I wish there could be more joy. I think the reason for this lack of joy is that I have not really savoured and tasted God to His fullest. He was there for me, but I was not always there. In fact you could say that I was instead always just 'half-there'.

How true it is when you take away God, nothing can truly satisfy. Family, boyfriend, friends, housemates, colleagues. All wonderful people I've been blessed with. I've enjoyed their companionship, been loved, guided, helped, and taken care of by them. And I am infinitely thankful towards them. But there's this gap that only God can fill. He's there, He's never given up on me. But I'm not always there to remember Him, cherish Him, and just be delighted in His presence.

So this is my earnest wish for 2012 - that I will always be close to God, that He will always be close to my heart in every thing I do and say. That I do the right things and think the right thoughts because I fear Him. That I love others because I love Him. That I strive to be righteous because He wants me to be holy. I don't think I need to break down what I want to do for different aspects of my life - home, work, friends, love. As long as God is in all these, it doesn't matter any more.

Been struggling in work in ways not everyone can understand. Been struggling with apathy at other times with my spiritual life, with my service towards God and others. Been struggling to preserve holiness in both my actions and thoughts; which is probably the most difficult of all. But the joy of the Lord is my strength. I pray for this strength in the remainder of this year, and the whole of future ones.