Father, please, may You have mercy and grace upon me.
Amen.

Was walking out to lunch with the 2 interns, R & E. We usually have techie conversations, with today’s conversation touching on programming (E having just coded a small application). A few days ago E wondered how computers/applications calculated randomness. I posited that it should be quite simple (having learnt a bit about it before); some of the ways:

1. To include a certain percentage in which a certain event happened.
2. In RPG games, a certain ratio was assigned to each tile your character stood on, determining whether you would ‘randomly’ face an enemy. The ratios in each tile changed every second or so, so it was rather time-dependant.
3. The use of the math.random function, as in languages like Java.

E debated that even with percentages and ratios, it’s not really random. The programmer still preassigns certain ranges of values. And we really didn’t know how the math.random function worked. “How does the computer know how to generate random numbers, even with the math.random function?”, he exclaimed.

Flash back to today.

Having researched on randomness, E revisited the topic. What we thought to be random, was not random at all. Obviously human beings could come up with random numbers, but computers, although having artificial ‘intelligence’ would have to base that randomness on something. It turns out that certain computers/applications base it on a long string-ed number. E.g something like 2348923048902348902348909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909090909023481394891057
1907591375901759017219830123893284902384890849084902384902384908329048390284092384903284902384902384902
3849238401849018490389014890134890384290489008.…

You get the idea. It’s a fixed, pre-determined long of digits. And I guess the application will pick a certain portion of that number at a certain point in time to work with and generate that random number.

But my main point today is not about computer programming. E’s next statement is the main focus of today’s topic. He said that even whatever happens in life is not random. There’s cause and effect. As seen in computer programming, random events or numbers are not really random. There’s something out there that decides, causes things to happen. It’s quite heartening to hear that from a pre-believer.

So I call out to my brothers & sisters who already believe. Whatever happens in your life… know. Know that nothing happens by chance. They can be caused by your own, and others’ actions. Know that Our Father, the great programmer of life, is in control. I quote from one of my older blogs(25 Dec 2005!):

“God is the creator. Therefore He knows all the variables. He knows all the possible permutations and combinations which will lead to the fulfillment of His perfect plan.

So we might see things as being bad, or we question why certain things have to happen. Through my current walk with Christ, I have realised that God allows certain things to happen. When you’re ‘in it’; i.e the ‘situation’. You won’t be able to see why it happens. But one day God will let you see why it happens. Be it 1 month after, or years after. But only then will you acknowledge that, ‘Yes, God has everything in control’. And He is able to use our mistakes and failures for His glory.”

I end this entry by saying that for God to make the best out of it, we must desire to be obedient to Him, to be set apart. Oh what bountiful blessings flow from the grace of God when we are right with Him!

“There He stands with arms outstretched and
He runs toward us when we arrive.
He throws His arms around us and all that He is fills our spirit.
For this day He has waited and no greater joy could possibly exist.”

Those were James’ lines toward the end of the musical yesterday. It reminded me of the song we wrote at the workshop early this year.  It is based on the Parable of the Lost Son/Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11–32. (Click ‘continue reading’ for the song)

Live recording (Poor quality).

Music & Lyrics by Ian Wong, Wei Yong, Gaius Liang and Joshua Sim

Verse 1
Lost in the desert, Found by Your grace
I was alone, Then I saw Your face
Into Your arms, I gladly come
Put your robe around me, And set me free

Chorus
I wanna run to You
Into Your arms wide open
I wanna be found in You
And embrace Salvation

Verse 2
With tears on Your face,
You welcome me home
My sin You have forgotten,
My shame you have removed

Though I dont deserve it,
You called me Your son
Was dead but now I am alive
Was lost and now Im found

Verse 3
Wont you draw me deeper,
Than Ive ever been
To trade the treasures of this world,
For treasures unseen

Wont you fill me up Lord,
More and more each day
I want to know the power of the cross

I’m not giving much details here, but I’m slowly working on … stuff.

Going to bed early, waking early. Hope to make it habitual.

11.28pm

I’ve been ill all week nursing an on & off fever for 5 days. Yes. I wonder how many brain cells were fried in the process. Prior to the illness I was raring to go and give ‘it’ my best, whatever ‘it’ I’m referring to.

I spent most of my week sleeping, wasn’t able to do much. I just couldn’t focus and concentrate. I guess what I experienced can be summarized as “the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak”.

I’ve learnt to really appreciate good health and time. I will do my best not to waste away my life any more. For Your glory, my Lord, let me live.

Let me live.

So today I  am making a statement. I am determined to give it my best. I want to be transformed. Lord, I allow you to do Your work in me. From this day forth, I don’t want to ever be the same anymore. This is my prayer, this is my life. Use it for Your glory. Amen.

*如果机会只有一次 我要如何拥抱
如果生命只有一回 我将如何奔跑
哦主！让我趁着还有今天
哦主！让我为祢燃烧

假如时间绝不留情 我该如何珍惜
假如风光不能久留 任我奋力辛劳
哦主！让我看清 数算代价
哦主！我愿任祢陶造

*献我的灵为祢焚烧 我的心被祢融化
我的手 我的脚 全顺服引导
献我的口为祢高唱 我的盼(爱)宁静等待 竭诚为主一生摆上

我的眼睛已经看到祂将临到 祂的怒气必诚实如海浪惊涛
我的耳朵已听见祂亲切呼唤 邀请我与祂携手今朝 一同开创未来

He has heard my cry,
He has answered my prayers,
He has delivered me.

The following is a song a friend recommended to me, and now I share with you…

All things work for our good
though sometimes we can’t see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what’s best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So, when your pathway grows dim,
and you just can’t see Him,
Remember you’re never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

He sees the Master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don’t live as those who have no hope.
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly,
but He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry, He’s weaving you and me
to someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don’t understand,
when you don’t see His plan,
When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.