Pindah Alamat Blog - New Blog Address

Rekan-rekan sekalian, blog saya sudah pindah ke : http://sautindo.wordpress.com (Bahasa Indonesia)

Dear Colleague, my blog has moved to a new address: http://sautsagala.wordpress.com (English)

Get Focus!

Having watched Naga Bonar Movie last night, I was reminded on the jokes Naga Bonar stated to his adjutant, "Hei, jangan terlalu banyak berpikirlah Lukman" Kalau kau terlalu banyak berpikir, nanti aku juga ikut-ikutan berpikir". "Jangan-jangan tidur pun kau berpikir," said Naga Bonar.

Anyway, Am I too much thinking of a lot of things? Hehehe, not sure about it but just can not totally focus on my research and here and there my agile fingers keep clicking on some favorite internet sites of mine, i.e.: youtube, pandora, eurosport, detiksport, kompas, etc.

What an alurement that I have had around me. This internet facility, which sometime or everytime I have missed if not connected for a single moment, is consuming my time. I remember on a question: Do we use the machine or does the machine consume us (our time)? Who holds the control?

Again now I should ask those questions. Why? I have to come back and focus to read, summarize and write down before my time running out. Still I have sometime to write a blog, though :P.

But the message is clear, get focus!

Back to Blog

Come back to this blog and consume the bit and bytes.
Losing scratches, memory and moments that have been left behind
Yet others are on their way coming

From yesterday to now and to tomorrow, still other scratches, memory and moments to be shared and come along

Just take a minute, think of them and write them down

Yes only this little blog faithfully waits for me to reveal them down

Celebrating Christmas?

My reflections on the center of Christmas

Many people celebrate Christmas around the world. Christians and others share the joy and take the chance to have warm cheers. It’s good. I do not argue on this.

So far which I may witness, we may all see the glorious of all happiness during the Christmas. But do we truly understand the meaning of Christmas?

Let’s come back to the word “Christmas”. Having this word in mind, we can clearly distinguish the word “Christ” is in Christmas. When we say “happy Christmas” it has another meaning that we have joy in this Christmas time. Therefore many of us would share the happiness by sharing warm food, normally for winter time, such as stampot (dutch potato soup), nabe (Japanese soup), sup ayam (Indonesian :p), etc.

But do we really know or extent the meaning of Christmas? This is my personal opinion. Today I was reminded that the center of Christmas is Christ. Christ has nothing to do with religion. Therefore the essence of celebrating Christmas for anyone is also valid. No doubt for this.

For some western cultures, where Christians were widespread for many centuries, celebrating Christmas is part of occasions when extended family get together. It is also in Indonesian Christians. They celebrate Christmas. Some go to church together. Some go for vacations. The others prepare food and other activities.

This is year will be the 3^rd Christmas I celebrate abroad. Away from my extended family. Is the Christmas that I have today or the last two years different with others Christmas that I had or that I will have? Coming back to my argument about Christ as the center of Christmas, then it should be the same. Why? Christ is not as our national heroes or our football idols or other charismatic people. Those people can die, can be forgotten. Of course they may have big influences to large society. But it stops there. No eternal influences.

What about Christ? He is alive. He was the one who were born in Israel more than 2000 years ago. He had been alive long long before that. He will alive eternally. We don't see his graveyard. For that reason we celebrate somebody who is different. Let's pay the tribute to Christ alone. It is more than joyfulness, warm foods, new clothes, gifts, etc. It is the time when Christ came to the Earth, or especially it is the time when Christ comes to our heart. Happy Christmas!

Disclaimer:

This article is for author's reflection only. No distribution nor copy of this article is allowed without permission of the author. Nevertheless, comments and discussions are appreciated.

Our Old Songs

Today I listen to our songs. Not old songs but songs which we used to sing together.
Songs which used to really touch my heart.

Are these songs still being played in my heart? Am I driven by the vision stated in these songs?
I don't know. Frankly speaking, I can not answer certainly as I used. I am even afraid
that I will not listen it that much in the future. So sad to say that.

I have been overwhelmed with a lot of imagination, dream, ambitions which are totally different
with I used to have. It would not be such a realistic dream for me to pursue all of these things
up to this level nor I even dared to think about it. I had just been amazed with those who achieved such level
and I admired them so much.

I remember that I was really happy to be with you all guys. Singing our songs together, chatting and praying.
Where are they now? Do not ask me. I have been away. No one watch me here.
I should take this consequence myself.

No no no....The songs remind me again. Why have I listened to this again. Can I come back to our old place? A place where we used to call it Jerusalem.
Hey, I am now at the corner of the Earth. Didn't we use to say "go to the end of the Earth"?
Now I am here. Some of use are also on the other corners. I don't know what and how are they doing there.

No no no. Why all your voices are so clear in your singing?
I miss it all know. I miss our place. I miss our community. I miss you guys.
That we used to say that only prayer could bridge us and make us one.
But it is truly difficult. To be away from you make me singing the songs alone. The voice is becoming so slow even I can't here it. I am sure that i have not followed our vision.

Today the songs are here. I increase the volume of my player. Your voices are so clear. But I have almost forgotten the songs. Not the lyrics nor the melody. But the songs in my heart are almost gone.
But since I listen once again to these songs, I recognice your songs. I can imagine your faces.
As if that you're singing in the front at our rally time.

Now I slowly remember the songs. "Let's heed the call let's kneel and pray for this faithful man today". That we can still hand in hand to pray each other as we used to.

Please pray that I will again remember the songs and get the vision.

@oubaku

Very thankful

I am very thankful for the existence of internet.
Without which I will not receive a lot of incentives and life would not be easier.

I am very thankful to my teachers.
Without them I would not have gone that far with knowledge and science. Thanks for those who have spent their time to be of worth for many individuals.

I am very thankful to my friends.
Without them I would not have cheers around. Where sorrows and joys are shared together.

I am very thankful to my parents.
The absence of their presence would have made me lost. And foremost, without them I would not exist.

I am very thankful to my spouse. Whose love and care make the distance between oceans make as if it is only a narrow aisle.

I am very thankful for love. With the existence of love, winter seems like summer and a night seems like a day.

I would be very thankful to My Creator, the Creator of all those I mention above. Without Thy care I would be nothing.

@DRS Lab

Room, a comparison between NL and JP on winter perspective

This is not an academic article. Instead, it is just my comparison of how a room has been designed to overcome winter season based on my experience between NL and JP. Winter has not fully come yet here.

But let me tell you my experience here..

"I felt the sign yesterday morning. Brrrr, so cold! It was only 5 degree but how come I was feeling very cold!"

Well, winter is coming...

Based on my observation I realized that a house (room) in NL is better isolated than a house here. Therefore a house in NL is warmer and really good in winter time. Here I felt it was already cold though winter has not fully come yet.

I heard from my Japanese colleague, winter and summer time here take longer than that of spring and autumn. In fact, spring and autumn season is the best weather in Kyoto.

Back to room comparison, in NL is on the other hand having a problem in managing summer time. Summer seems quite hot and room is not designed to be air conditioned. In Japan it has no problem. That's what they told me.

So, which one you choose, room in NL or JP :P?