Apparently, this message about the Bible (author unknown) was found posted in a shop window in Winchester, England:
THE HOLY BIBLE
"The Bible reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are unchangeable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practise it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the travellers' map, the pilgrims' staff, the pilots' compass, the soldiers' sword, and the Christians' charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is it's grand subject, our good it's design, and the glory of God it's end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.
Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of plenty.
It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgement, and will be remembered forever. It imputes the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labour, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents."
Note : The Holy Bible is one of the world's top ten best seller year after year and holds the record as the most widely read book in the world.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Redeemer, Saviour and Friend
It's wonderful to know that Christianity preaches a God of love, not a god of hate; a God of compassion, and not a god of retribution.
Indeed, no other religion that I know of teaches us that in Christ Jesus, we have a God who is not only our redeemer and saviour but is also our friend.
Let me ask you what greater love is there than this that a man is willing to lay down his life for his friends?
And did you know that the greatest commandment in the Christian faith is love: i.e. not just to love God only but also to love our parents and to love one another, just like all good neighbours should.
If we had practised the above, I am sure what a wonderful and different world it would have been!
The wondrous love and amazing grace of God is played out in this song entitled "Redeemer, Saviour, Friend", which is one of my favourites.
I hope it will inspire you too.
Indeed, no other religion that I know of teaches us that in Christ Jesus, we have a God who is not only our redeemer and saviour but is also our friend.
Let me ask you what greater love is there than this that a man is willing to lay down his life for his friends?
And did you know that the greatest commandment in the Christian faith is love: i.e. not just to love God only but also to love our parents and to love one another, just like all good neighbours should.
If we had practised the above, I am sure what a wonderful and different world it would have been!
The wondrous love and amazing grace of God is played out in this song entitled "Redeemer, Saviour, Friend", which is one of my favourites.
I hope it will inspire you too.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Point to ponder
On "Loyalty", a point to ponder by Albert K. Hubbard:
"If you work for a man in heaven's name,
work for him, speak well of him,
and stand by the institution which he represents.
Remember an ounce of loyalty is worth more than a pound of cleverness.
If you must growl, condemn, or eternaly find fault, why?
resign you position and when you are on the outside, damn to your heart's content.
But as long as you are a part of the institution do not condemn it,
for if you do, the first high wind that comes along
will blow you away and probably you will never know why."
Think on it.
"If you work for a man in heaven's name,
work for him, speak well of him,
and stand by the institution which he represents.
Remember an ounce of loyalty is worth more than a pound of cleverness.
If you must growl, condemn, or eternaly find fault, why?
resign you position and when you are on the outside, damn to your heart's content.
But as long as you are a part of the institution do not condemn it,
for if you do, the first high wind that comes along
will blow you away and probably you will never know why."
Think on it.
The Master's Call
I find this cover version of Marty Robbins' cowboy song with a spiritual message, entitled "The Master's Call" very good and I want to post it here for our listening and viewing pleasure.
The accompanying video is fantastic. Thanks to Dan Boyles who did a great job!
The accompanying video is fantastic. Thanks to Dan Boyles who did a great job!
A White Peacock
Talking about peacocks, a proverb says, "As proud as a Peacock" and I believe it's so. But people say if you see a White Peacock, it will bring you good luck. Really?
So, while you feast your eyes on the above beauty, let me wish you good luck in everything you do. Not just good luck, but good health and God bless you too.
Cheers!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Retiring or in retirement
They say retirement is no fun.
Once you don’t have a 9 to 5 job anymore, your brain cells could shrink due to prolong inactivity and you could end up pretty soon with all kinds of health problems, and that’s not considering your social life could well be literally dead, as working people may shun you. Is this the reality?
I don’t have the statistics to show what have become of the people who for all purposes and intent have retired for good. Maybe the government should conduct an in-depth study before an ageing society which is fast developing in our nation, sets in.
Looking back, for many of us (retirees), we were once a “peacock” and commanding many “troops” but now after retiring, I would say literally, we have been reduced to a “feather duster”. One may ask, is that all to life?
Not so, because I can tell you, there is indeed a life after retirement.
If you believe in yourself (which you must do), you get up every morning and try to live life somewhat differently from before, deliberately taking on new challenges which you never thought you could or would do.
Now is the time to do those great things you always wanted to do but didn’t have the time to do them before. It’s never too late.
We find new friends, and new things to do. Like a regular walk in the park and breakfast with our buddies, maybe even have weekly “Hi-tea fellowships”.
The thing to do is to give more of yourselves and your time to joint outings and worthy causes.
Take on “reading” as a hobby, start a book-collection (much like a stamp-collection you made in your younger days), and nothing to stop you from compiling a photo-book too.
Write and start a blog (as I do), and if you have the money, travel the world before it’s too late. There is so much to see and do and yet if you look at it, there’s not enough time to see and do them all.
In your free time alone read a good book or listen to good music from your old collection, it soothes the soul.
If you haven’t got a religion, I believe that now is the time to find one. You’ll be surprised how many new friends you will find once you get into it.
Like me, I chose to go to a neighborhood church every Sunday morning. There is still so much to learn, both socially and spiritually.
Actually, you can pick up a good thing or two just by listening to sermons, and some of the hymns they sing are so sweet and lovely not only to our ears but also to our soul. The good thing is, it’s all free.
If we have “baggage” from the past, make peace with one's own self is the one thing we must do, and make peace with our God is yet another. Ultimately, the way forward, you alone must decide.
In conclusion I would say, a retirement that’s free from debt, at peace with one’s self and at peace with God is truly a great way to retire.
I can tell you, it’s fun and invigorating just trying to make the last years of my life the best of my life! Try it.
Once you don’t have a 9 to 5 job anymore, your brain cells could shrink due to prolong inactivity and you could end up pretty soon with all kinds of health problems, and that’s not considering your social life could well be literally dead, as working people may shun you. Is this the reality?
I don’t have the statistics to show what have become of the people who for all purposes and intent have retired for good. Maybe the government should conduct an in-depth study before an ageing society which is fast developing in our nation, sets in.
Looking back, for many of us (retirees), we were once a “peacock” and commanding many “troops” but now after retiring, I would say literally, we have been reduced to a “feather duster”. One may ask, is that all to life?
Not so, because I can tell you, there is indeed a life after retirement.
If you believe in yourself (which you must do), you get up every morning and try to live life somewhat differently from before, deliberately taking on new challenges which you never thought you could or would do.
Now is the time to do those great things you always wanted to do but didn’t have the time to do them before. It’s never too late.
We find new friends, and new things to do. Like a regular walk in the park and breakfast with our buddies, maybe even have weekly “Hi-tea fellowships”.
The thing to do is to give more of yourselves and your time to joint outings and worthy causes.
Take on “reading” as a hobby, start a book-collection (much like a stamp-collection you made in your younger days), and nothing to stop you from compiling a photo-book too.
Write and start a blog (as I do), and if you have the money, travel the world before it’s too late. There is so much to see and do and yet if you look at it, there’s not enough time to see and do them all.
In your free time alone read a good book or listen to good music from your old collection, it soothes the soul.
If you haven’t got a religion, I believe that now is the time to find one. You’ll be surprised how many new friends you will find once you get into it.
Like me, I chose to go to a neighborhood church every Sunday morning. There is still so much to learn, both socially and spiritually.
Actually, you can pick up a good thing or two just by listening to sermons, and some of the hymns they sing are so sweet and lovely not only to our ears but also to our soul. The good thing is, it’s all free.
If we have “baggage” from the past, make peace with one's own self is the one thing we must do, and make peace with our God is yet another. Ultimately, the way forward, you alone must decide.
In conclusion I would say, a retirement that’s free from debt, at peace with one’s self and at peace with God is truly a great way to retire.
I can tell you, it’s fun and invigorating just trying to make the last years of my life the best of my life! Try it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
A beautiful love song
This love song entitled "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill is simply awesome. It's one of my favorites.
Sing along with it and let the lyrics and melody sink into your heart, mind and soul; then you'd know what I mean when I said how simply awesome it is!
Sing along with it and let the lyrics and melody sink into your heart, mind and soul; then you'd know what I mean when I said how simply awesome it is!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fiddler on the roof
Isn't this every man's wish at some point of his life?
"If I were a rich man..."
The lyrics are great, and so is the song by Topol taken from the award winning movie, "Fiddler On The Roof". If you haven't seen it, I would say, what a miss!
Listen and be inspired.
"If I were a rich man..."
The lyrics are great, and so is the song by Topol taken from the award winning movie, "Fiddler On The Roof". If you haven't seen it, I would say, what a miss!
Listen and be inspired.
Who Will Buy
Remember the classic novel "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens that's made into a movie? If you do, you are in my generation. Welcome!
I am posting a number here entitled "Who Will Buy" from that musical which I have enjoyed very much.
In these tough economic times, many will ask (like in the song) who will buy my sweet red roses, any milk for today and how about my strawberry pies...?
Yes, who will buy this wonderful morning...? And who will buy this beautiful feeling...?
Indeed, memories are made of these.
Relax and enjoy it.
I am posting a number here entitled "Who Will Buy" from that musical which I have enjoyed very much.
In these tough economic times, many will ask (like in the song) who will buy my sweet red roses, any milk for today and how about my strawberry pies...?
Yes, who will buy this wonderful morning...? And who will buy this beautiful feeling...?
Indeed, memories are made of these.
Relax and enjoy it.
Food for thought
I list below 5 great quotes with some obvious points to ponder. In each one, a contradiction or controversy, you decide.
(1)"If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing."
(2)"History is a set of lies agreed upon."
(3)"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."
(4)"The surest way to remain poor is to be an honest man."
(5)"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools."
Interesting thing is, do you know who said all of the above?
Quick take, is it (a), (b) or (c)?
(a) Napoleon Bonaparte
(b) Charles de Gaulle
(c) Mahathir Mohamad
How did you score?
Answer: a-b+c-c+b = ?
(1)"If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing."
(2)"History is a set of lies agreed upon."
(3)"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."
(4)"The surest way to remain poor is to be an honest man."
(5)"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools."
Interesting thing is, do you know who said all of the above?
Quick take, is it (a), (b) or (c)?
(a) Napoleon Bonaparte
(b) Charles de Gaulle
(c) Mahathir Mohamad
How did you score?
Answer: a-b+c-c+b = ?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Page from my Scrapbook
When I was younger and my daughter was about 11 years old, I started to work on a scrapbook with a compilation of clean jokes, inspiring words and wise-cracks, which I thought I would leave it as a joy with my child in her growing up years.
The opposite seemed to be true. My child has since grown up and moved on in life but the book is still with me. In fact, it is now a joy to me as I turn its pages to have a look.
The work is of course not finished, but there is enough material there to make you laugh, and sometimes, to make you cry a little too.
In the early years, both my daughter and I would spend many happy hours filling it up with all kinds of interesting writings which we find in books, newspapers, magazines, other people’s speeches, well almost from any source that literally we could get our hands on. The qualification was that it should be unique or at least appeal to us in some special way.
It now contains more than 600 pieces of a variety of all kinds of what you would say are “trivial” but to me, it is an awesome treasure trove of wise-cracks and funny short stories which I think one would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. I never thought that it is to become a wonderful literary companion to me for life.
The very first funny short story found in my scrapbook is this one (courtesy of Readers’ Digest, way back in the 80’s, attributed to a guy named Leo Gossett) which I shall share with you. Let me hear from you what you think of it.
“The Browns were ecstatic when a longed-for child was born to them. They agonized over a name for their son, and after rejecting all the common ones, settled on Fantastic.”
“Fantastic Brown had a wonderful childhood, except for the kidding he took over his name. He hated it. He grew up, married, had children and continued to hate his name.”
“He enjoyed a successful professional life and, in his old age, finally became critically ill. On his deathbed he begged his wife, “Please, please, leave Fantastic off my tombstone. Just put Brown.”
“He died, and as he had asked, his wife left Fantastic off the stone. But Brown seemed too plain, and she wanted something about how wonderful a husband he had been, so under Brown she had these words engraved: “During his marriage, he never looked at another woman.”
“And now, everyone who passes the tombstone murmurs, “Fantastic”!
Hope you like it. Cheers!
The opposite seemed to be true. My child has since grown up and moved on in life but the book is still with me. In fact, it is now a joy to me as I turn its pages to have a look.
The work is of course not finished, but there is enough material there to make you laugh, and sometimes, to make you cry a little too.
In the early years, both my daughter and I would spend many happy hours filling it up with all kinds of interesting writings which we find in books, newspapers, magazines, other people’s speeches, well almost from any source that literally we could get our hands on. The qualification was that it should be unique or at least appeal to us in some special way.
It now contains more than 600 pieces of a variety of all kinds of what you would say are “trivial” but to me, it is an awesome treasure trove of wise-cracks and funny short stories which I think one would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. I never thought that it is to become a wonderful literary companion to me for life.
The very first funny short story found in my scrapbook is this one (courtesy of Readers’ Digest, way back in the 80’s, attributed to a guy named Leo Gossett) which I shall share with you. Let me hear from you what you think of it.
“The Browns were ecstatic when a longed-for child was born to them. They agonized over a name for their son, and after rejecting all the common ones, settled on Fantastic.”
“Fantastic Brown had a wonderful childhood, except for the kidding he took over his name. He hated it. He grew up, married, had children and continued to hate his name.”
“He enjoyed a successful professional life and, in his old age, finally became critically ill. On his deathbed he begged his wife, “Please, please, leave Fantastic off my tombstone. Just put Brown.”
“He died, and as he had asked, his wife left Fantastic off the stone. But Brown seemed too plain, and she wanted something about how wonderful a husband he had been, so under Brown she had these words engraved: “During his marriage, he never looked at another woman.”
“And now, everyone who passes the tombstone murmurs, “Fantastic”!
Hope you like it. Cheers!
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