Reflections of a passing year

A creative guy (didn't get his name) put up this tag which I find quite interesting. It's has a short message with a sexy little twist! I hope he wouldn't mind me showing it off to you guys.

Incredible, but that's the INTERNET WORLD we now live in! First we have the WEB (www) then came WINDOWS, YAHOO, YOUTUBE, GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER and SKYPE to name a few. Does an APPLE or a BLACKBERRY mean anything to you? Following that we have the i's and the e's as in iPOD, iPAD, iTUNES, iROBOT, eBAY, eTHIS or eTHAT.

You might ask what's in a name anyway? Privately between you and I they don't mean much but in the business world, these simple names command millions if not billions (of $). Ask anyone.

They have become household names and in a short span of time made their inventors or creators extremely wealthy. I am not jealous but what they did can make a mockery of one's lifetime of hardwork as an employee if you can see what I mean! The world /market place certainly isn't fair, is it?

Whether you like it or not, Cyberspace wherever that is, billions of people around the world are using or flocking to it. For study, work, blog or play and socializing (networking); even shopping and personal banking are possible at the tap of a mouse, without leaving home! It has become a convenience that many of us cannot live without. But is it safe? Everytime I get on to the Borderless SUPER-HIGHWAY, I get an eerie feeling that I am being watched. How about you?

Now, did you know that the 1st web page came into being on Christmas day exactly 20 years ago today? It was Sir Tim Berners-Lee (British), then a scientist at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, who is credited as the man who invented the world wide web.

Sir Tim's work led to the creation of HTML - Hypertext Markup Language - a coding language used to describe how to present text and images in an electronic format. When combined with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), a framework was built that would enableusers to access electronic documents in a standard way.

The web has revolutionised the way we live, work and communicate. And now the internet is on the brink of a second transformation, as technology experts search for new ways to make the web more "intelligent". The famed American architect Frank Llyod Wright noted, "If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push button finger". There is a real danger indeed that this could happen.

Can you imagine what the future holds for all of us if the current trend continues? I dread to think but in time humanity could literally loose not only its limbs but its face also. Is God going to be forgotten with all this technology, I wonder?

I beg to ask but is humanity better off today than before the WEB came into being? Didn't Albert Einstein (no introduction needed) warned us and said not very long ago, "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." Isn't that true today?

Let me ask you: Is humanity acquiring all the right technology but for all the wrong reasons? Guess what? But can you imagine what life could be like if man did not invent the INTERNET? Think on it as a reflection of a passing year.

Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes to you all.

Yours truly,
DC

Changing times

There has been so much news circulating about politics of late, aren't you tired of it? Read something different, something that I've cooked up especially for you like this one which follows below. Hope you'll find it refreshing, informative, and stimulating as you wish it to be.

Times have changed and indeed it has. If you don't believe me, try calling 999 for help and you'll see what I mean. Sad but I think what this fella said is true which is this and I quote, "We live in an age when pizza gets to your home before the police!" Indeed that's an often overlooked fact of life, incredible you might say but who's kidding?

You might not recall but another guy had once said, "As far as I'm concerned, progress peaked with frozen pizza." On hindsight, we now know how wrong he was! Like what Bill Gates said in his infamous quotation about computing not very long ago which was this: "640K ought to be enough for anybody." That fooled many of us at that time, didn't it?

Modern technology is literally driving the pace of living at break-neck speed and this is frightening! For instance, I dread to think what the latest stem-cell research could be taking us to. And even in this generation, mechanical robots not only can walk and talk, they are beginning to be able to think like humans too!

But closer to home and to things that matter in family life, we have probably heard that "single motherhood" is also on the rise nowadays. Talk of changing times, I sense that the modern woman is no longer quite the same as her role-model mother of the yesteryears! I ask you what's wrong with our young, the well-educated yet unmarried women folks of today? They don't want to get married!

For instance, when her instinct or biological drive to reproduce heightens what does she do if she can't find Mr Right? Thanks to "science", I am told she can at least find Mr Perfect Sperm Donor and have the baby she's always wanted, quickly, efficiently and without a man in her life. It's amazing but that is exactly what is already happening in the West and soon expected to arrive at our shores.

Would you believe it but there's nothing to be ashamed about being invited to an "insemination party", where "getting labelled", "exchanging bio-datas", "reviewing semen specimens", and callously "matching orders" are the agendas of the night. The likes of such new forms of extrovert social behaviour which were never heard of before would be considered extremely outrageous in our culture but are catching on with our "liberated" women of today.

She goes about finding the right sperm-donor in a so-called "insemination party"... OMG no marriage as we know it or tie-ups are necessary! Mr Right gets a modern makeover literally! But believe that or not, I put it to you.

Now, it's becoming real at least in America, what defines a modern day American family is no longer this: "A traditional mother, father, two children and a dog named Spot" and that the new norm of "single parenthood" can be just as fulfilling if not more so than married couples are in life today. However, I wouldn't bet on that!

True to Hollywood style, all those "astounding stuff" which I mentioned above have been made the subject of a latest comedy movie just released in the USA subtly called "The Switch" where "single parenthood" is put to the test. Catch it, as it too is coming to our big screen soon.

If you want a preview, click here. It makes an interesting read, a preview pehaps of things to come; a future made for youths, one that's unfazed but quite scary. I don't know about us the "elder generation", what's our response? A totally new and disturbing future beckons, but are we ready? Think on it.

Meantime enjoy this beautiful song from Celine Dion sung in French meaning "Let's talk about love" or "S'il Suffisait D'aimer". Thanks to "CelineDionBRA" for sharing.

What women say about men

Women have played important roles throughout history. They have been responsible for the rise and fall of nations, sustaining families, and have been the focal point of worship in many religions.

I think it’s not wrong to say that the women of today never had it so good; I mean of course, society’s treatment of our women.

In the earliest of times women were mere slaves to men. But with the dawn of the Modern Age, the treatment of women has improved dramatically. Today, women are near equals to men in almost all fields.

I think it is not wrong to say that at coffee shop gatherings men talk a lot about women and vice versa, the same could be said about women on men.

But does each side know what the other side is saying?

On this occasion, it might be interesting to hear what women have been saying or have said about us, men.

Here are some interesting examples.

These quotes are actually quite harmless though they might raise some eyebrows or set your heart and mind abuzz!

Nonetheless true or not, you decide. Read on...

“God made man stronger but not necessarily more intelligent. He gave women intuition and femininity. And, used properly, that combination easily jumbles the brain of any man I've ever met.” ~Farrah Fawcett

“The male chromosome is an incomplete female chromosome. In other words the male is a walking abortion; aborted at the gene stage. To be male is to be deficient, emotionally limited; maleness is a deficiency disease and males are emotional cripples.”~Valerie Solanos

“Men are generally more law-abiding than women. Women have the feeling that since they didn't make the rules, the rules have nothing to do with them.”
~Diane Johnson

“The trouble about man is twofold. He cannot learn truths which are too complicated; he forgets truths which are too simple.”
~Rebecca West

“Men are like a deck of cards. You'll find the occasional king, but most are jacks.” ~Laura Swenson

“If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” ~Margaret Thatcher

“Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”
~ Charlotte Whitton

“Behind every great man, there is a surprised woman.”~Maryon Pearson

“The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness and kindness, can be trained to do most things.” ~Jilly Cooper

“A man can be short and dumpy and getting bald but if he has fire, women will like him.”
~Mae West

The old theory was "Marry an older man, because they're more mature." But the new theory is: "Men don't mature. Marry a younger one."
~Rita Rudner

“A gentleman is simply a patient wolf.”~Lana Turner

“Women speak because they wish to speak, whereas a man speaks only when driven to speech by something outside himself - like, for instance, he can't find any clean socks.” ~Jean Kerr

“They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men.”
~Clare Booth Luce

“If men can run the world, why can't they stop wearing neckties? How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck?”
~Linda Ellerbee

“When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.”
~Elayne Boosler

“Men can read maps better than women. 'Cause only the male mind could conceive of one inch equaling a hundred miles.”
~Roseanne Barr

“Give a man a free hand and he'll run it all over you.”
~Mae West

“Men are like a fine wine. They start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd like to have dinner with.” ~Author Unknown

“Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.”
~Katharine Hepburn

“To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.”
~Helen Rowland

“Marrying a man is like buying something you've been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get it home, but it doesn't always go with everything else in the house.”
~Jean Kerr

“Why are women so much more interesting to men than men are to women?”
~Virginia Woolf

“The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think.” ~Author Unknown

“Can you imagine a world without men? No crime and lots of happy fat women.” ~Nicole Hollander

"An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have: the older she gets, the more interested he is in her."
~Agatha Christie

“A retired husband is often a wife's full-time job.”
~Ella Harris

“Whether women are better than men I cannot say—but I can say they are certainly no worse.”
~Golda Meir

Wow women, I wonder what we men would do without her!

Cheers!

Let's listen to Elvis Presley sing "Take good care of her". Thanks to "Jackiej61too" for bringing to us this beautiful music-video. Enjoy.

Tips on happiness

Do you know what makes you happy?

Well, that’s not an easy question to answer. Neither is this one: Is happiness closer than you think?

To some, maybe it’s a loving family, spending time with friends, or a walk in the park; to others maybe its money, position and power, and all the materialistic things that this world can offer.

Of course if you know the secret to happiness that’s a real advantage. You’ll be one of the luckiest person alive if you know what I mean.

There is really no magical formula to be happy and because we are all made differently I think one size doesn’t fit all. Surprisingly on this issue, there are social scientists who beg to differ. See this rather interesting BBC report.

Anyway here are some tips on happiness which I believe everyone can take up, either to do or to be. Worth trying if you’re not already there.

1. Live simply.

2. Don’t carry debts.

3. Be content and don’t envy others.

4. Connect with God (i.e. make peace with God).

5. Connect with Nature too (e.g. have your regular walks in the park, see and take time to appreciate the flowers, the birds and the trees; travel, go to places you’ve never been before).

6. Smile often and laugh much.

7. Accept change.

8. Be positive and self reliant.

9. Cultivate a passion, a hobby. Be part of something bigger than yourself.

10. Help needy people; volunteer your service in charitable works.

11. Give more and expect less.

12. Read a good book and listen to your favorite music often.

Indeed a good book stimulates and enriches the mind and music soothes the soul. And we all need these often to live life happy, don’t we?

The above are just a few, there are probably many more than I care to list. But it is enough; all you need to do is to make the effort to cultivate at least some of the above, the more the better and I am quite sure the happiness in your life will increase.

However, don’t worry even if you don’t get there. None of us can be happy all the time. God made us this way so that we’d know whom we might to turn to when we’re down in the doldrums.

There is a Jewish Proverb that says, "God is closest to those with broken hearts." Yes hearts, those that are most broken and contrite. Seek him and be surprised by what you’ll find.

We all know there are no guarantees in life. So my advice is this, “Do the best you can and trust in Almighty God to do the rest,” believing always in this that it’s going to be alright when God is on our side.

There is a season and a reason for everything. When things don’t go right, just ask your good-selves in the end will it all matter?

Someone did say, “You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough!”

Cheers!

Here's a beautiful song for you. It's entitled "It's a Miracle" sung by Debbie Reynolds in the 1966 oscar-winning movie, "The Singing Nun". Thanks to "Camiletc" for sharing. Enjoy.

Reba McEntire revisited

I am a fan of Reba McEntire, the great reigning Queen of Country Music. Her voice is just fantastic. I wrote about her in my blog of 30 September 2009 which you can back-track and go read.

Thanks to “kingmojopin0” here’s another number from that great artiste. If you like good old country music, I am sure you’ll like this rendition entitled “You Lie”.

Follow the lyrics given below. You might just fall in love with Reba’s beautiful great voice like I did. Cheers!



Lyrics:
We lie in the dark I know you're awake
The only sounds are the sounds this old house makes
Oh, how I long, I long to hear your voice
Desperate to talk, yearning to touch
Burning inside 'cause I want you so much
So I say I need you and leave you no choice

You lie, you don't want to hurt me
So you lie, buy a little time, and I go along
What else can I do, maybe it's wrong
But you know how much I love you
So you lie, 'til you can find a way to say goodbye
You lie

How long until you just can't go on
And the urge to break loose is just too strong
You should let go that's what you want to do
Oh but you don't know, you don't know
If it's the right thing to do

So you lie, you don't want to hurt me
So you lie, buy a little time, and I go along
What else can I do, maybe it's wrong
But you know how much I love you
So you lie, 'til you can find a way to say goodbye
Oh, You lie
You lie
Oh, You lie...

On blogging

Blogging or writing a “blog” on the Net is fun but it can be stressful too.

When you open up your “blog” and you have nothing to write or say the fun can suddenly stop short.

It’s quite a common experience, an affliction which is known as “writers’ block”. Once afflicted you can’t write. It smacks at you literally in the face and it won’t go away.

What do you do? What else could you do but to take five? Do a walkabout even if it’s around the house or go read a book or something.

If the thoughts do come back in a flash, the key is to jolt them down quickly before they disappear.

One or two key words at a time or a phrase in broken English perhaps but that don’t matter as you can always edit and/or modify them later.

You’ll be surprised how quickly words become lines and lines become paragraphs and the story slowly unfolds before your very eyes.

It’s really fun to capture your thoughts and to write them down.

I totally agree with what one William Makepeace Thackeray had said and it is this, “There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes”.

What I like best about blogging (or any form of writing for that matter) is expounded by Norbet Platt. This is what he had said, “The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.”

On another occasion someone had this to say, “The wastebasket is a writer's best friend.” Unfortunately, this may be true for many a budding writer or would-be blogger. The hand is willing but too often the mind is weak.

You try and try but somehow you just couldn’t get the hank of it but for heaven’s sake don’t give up!

Come to think about it, it’s not just on blogging. I would say the stress of “a thousand attempts” also goes for almost anything in life that has value or of significance that’s worth pursuing, isn’t it?

They say whatever is worth doing is worth doing it well and you really can’t deny the truth of the often quoted saying, “no pain, no gain”, can you?

On writing, Enrique Jardiel Poncela had put it this way, “When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing.”

And I’ll say it again echoing the words of Nathaniel Hawthorne which are these, “Easy reading is damn hard writing.”

I know because I have gone down that road but I tell you fellows that keeping this blog alive and interesting has been an exhilarating experience both to my body, soul and spirit.

Somehow you’ll feel good when you see your piece (of writing) finally in print and is posted for the world to see. Try it yourselves some day and you’ll see what I mean.

I think a regular exercise of the brain cells isn’t going to hurt anyone. In fact the “stress” which if I may call it, is good for everyone young or old.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope I’ll see you back soon. You light up my life!

Cheers!

Here's a lovely song for you entitled "Let's keep it that way" by Anne Murray. It's one of my favorites. Thanks to "elitewowmacho69" for sharing. Enjoy.

On feeling grumpy

Hi folks, can feeling grumpy be good for you? Yes it can says a BBC report.

Believe it or not but in every negative there can be some good, even if that negative is "feeling grumpy".

You can actually think better in a bad mood than in a good one. I don't know about you, but that beats me!

Quote from a BBC report.

"An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly. In contrast to those annoying happy types, miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed."

Unquote.

If you want to read more of this rather extraordinary article, click here.

So the next time you're down in a bad mood, don't worry you can actually articulate better in such a situation than when you're not!

Cheers!

On friendship

When we were young we had many friends, in fact too many to count but as we grow older and moved on in life I find that the number of our friends has actually shrunk, dwindled to be exact. Wonder why?

And for those who have retired the number of friends you have is probably less than a handful.

The irony seems to me is that when you were busy crafting out a career, friends of all kinds flock to you like bees to flowers in bloom but now when you have plenty of time on your hands (in retirement), how come you have so few friends to spare?

I guess when we retire we retreat from the social circle of life. For many of us, we shied away from the public life that we once had.

We spend our days with family more than anything else and I would say like it or not, the time may have come when our spouse has actually become our best friend.

Henry Brooks Adams said this a long time ago and it’s probably still true even today, “One friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, and three are hardly possible. Friendship needs a certain parallelism of life, a community of thought, and a rivalry of aim.”

If I might say most of our friends are superficial; they all put on a mask of some sort and often are not there for you when you needed them most. I dare say that there are a few who will even take advantage of you if you are “not looking”. So be warned.

Now I can see why Charles de Gaulle, the great French general (who later on became President of France) had this to say about men and friendship, “The better I know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” How pathetic?

But as we grow older we actually need friends more than anything else. Honest and sincere friends to spend time with, to roam together and to talk about almost anything under the sun. Indeed friends that we will not be bored with one another even until the cows come home. Is that too much to ask?

The famous modern day English philosopher C S Lewis had this to say, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” I wonder what he really meant.

Can we survive without it (i.e. friendship)? Of course we can if we must but I like what Lois Wyse had advised which is this, “A good friend is a connection to life, a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.”

Question is this, how do you find a good friend if you have not found one already in your senior years?

Well, an easier way out is that there’s no need to go about finding it, just be one and you could be surprised by what you’ll get.

To tell you the truth probably no man ever had a friend that he did not dislike a little. It’s a fact of life.

But that doesn’t mean friendship has no meaning or value.

Now, let me ask you this, if you were to sum up friendship in one word, what would that be? Think on it.

To all my friends out there I have this to say, thank you for being my friend. You’re simply the best!

Here's a lovely song entitled "The Friendship Song" or more aptly put "Friends are quiet angels" sung by Molly Pasutti, the music-video courtesy of "Musiconcepts". TQ for sharing. Enjoy.

Temptations Men Face - A Christian Perspective

I have put together this piece for delivery to my cell group which meets on Friday 21st May 2010.

Tonight’s lesson is based on a book written by Tom L. Eisenman.

“Temptations Men Face”

A Straightforward Talk on Power, Money, Affairs, Perfectionism, Insensitivity
(Available in paperback)

By Tom L. Eisenman

Contents
Preface
1. Set Free
2. The Temptation to be Macho
3. The Temptation of Sexual Lust
4. The Temptation to Have an Affair
5. The Temptation to Wield Power
6. The Temptation to Love Money
7. The Temptation to Be Perfect
8. Deliverance
9. How Can I Help My Man? A Chapter for Women.

In his book, Eisenman offers general strategies for all of us on how to oppose temptations and find freedom from the evil that binds us. He even has a chapter for women entitled “How can I help my man?” presumably to do just that. A good book to read, try it.

Before I dwell on the text given in our study let’s take a hard look at “Temptations” in general and if we could take some time to try to genuinely understand them; what they are, where they come from, who are affected and are there practical ways to overcome them? Let’s see.

What they are:
In his book, Eisenman listed at least 6 major temptations that men generally face. What are these? (See above). But of course there are in reality much more temptations in this world than one would care to list.

Where they come from:
There are three primary sources of temptation:
The world, the flesh and the devil.

First of all, temptation is precipitated by the world. What I mean here is that the world albeit in all its splendor is a major cause of our temptation. The love of Mammon and the love of the World as a whole versus the love of God, now who do you think wins? What does the Bible say?

Second, temptation is rooted in the nature of man. Consider the temptation of David /Bathsheba, Samson /Delilah, Judas who betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver (?), Ananias and Sapphira (?) The weakness of man is evident in everyone. When tested, we often succumb to this weakness. Without the help of God we really cannot overcome temptations, can we?

Paul’s advice to Timothy is highly relevant even today and it is this: “But you, O man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (I Tim. 6:11).

The third source is the devil (Satan himself), dubbed the Greatest Tempter. Consider the 2 most outstanding temptations the world had ever known, the temptation of Eve (in the Garden of Eden) and the temptation of Christ (in the desert). We all know what happened in each of these cases, don’t we?

A common question is “Why doesn’t God just kill the devil and remove the attraction for sin?”

But if that were to happen, then you and I would lose the ability to be over-comers in Jesus. Without opposition, there is no victory! God has not called us to a life of ease, but to one of victory, a victory that we cannot enjoy until we have faced evil and overcome it.

Notice that when temptation came to Christ, he met every temptation head-on by quoting from the Scriptures. After that the devil fled. Truly then the word of God is a very powerful weapon against the devil. The advice is to use it often.

Who exactly is affected?
THE SUBJECT OF TEMPTATION,
All humans are subject to temptation.

Man is made in the image of the triune God. Man is a triune being, he possesses body, soul and spirit. When you are tempted, it will always be in one of these three areas.

Body is the “flesh” the physical being, temptations of the flesh (laziness, lust, over-indulgence, sexual sin, etc.);

Soul speaks of your mind, your will and your emotions (The world always appeals to the ego, or pride. A worldly person is one who is given over to the pleasures of the world, sin of selfishness, greed, etc and a host of temptations associated with that);

Spirit: If the soul is our self-consciousness, then the spirit is our God-consciousness. Our spirit is what sets us apart from the animals. Man alone can know God! It is in the spirit that we can know God. The spirit is the realm of worship, and it is our spirit that worships and communicates with God. (John 4:24 says: “God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth”)

Temptation can strike any person, at any place and at any time.

Sometimes temptation comes just after graduation or after some other notable achievement, while man is enjoying his new triumph. At other times it comes when man has just faced failure or disappointment and capitalizes upon man’s weakness and discouragement. Satan comes at moments of indecision, influencing the decision his way.

How to overcome?
OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

On the night of his betrayal, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. After he had poured out his heart in prayer to God, he returned to his disciples and said, “Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matt. 26:41).

2 Peter 2:9 says, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.”(KJV)

“…And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:13)(NIV).

DELIVERANCE
There are three words to remember when facing temptation: (1) Flight, (2) Faith, and (3) Fight.

To Overcome The Flesh We Need Flight - The key to defeating fleshly temptations is to flee from them. (see 1 Cor. 6:18 - “flee fornication” i.e. flee from sexual immorality; 1 Cor. 10:14 - “flee idolatry”; 2 Tim. 2:22 - “flee youthful lusts” or flee from evil desires of youth).

To Overcome The World We Need Faith - Faith that Jesus will take care of us when we willingly give up the attachment to worldly things. If we are “loving the world”, we are not loving God (1 John 2:15; James 4:4). Worldly pursuits and godly ones generally don’t mix.

If you really want victory over the world, then love Jesus more, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). It is our faith in him that offers us the victory (1 John 5:4) (“for everyone born of God overcomes the world”).

To Overcome The Devil We Must Fight - If we stand up to him and fight, he will flee - James 4:7 (“Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”). You cannot run away from him, but you can drive him away from you. You must face him in the power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t fear you, but he trembles before the blood of the Lamb! Fight Satan and he will flee! (Eph. 4:27 “and do not give the devil a foothold”; 1 Pet. 5:8 “resist the devil, stand firm in the faith”).

NOW let’s get back to our Study Text, specifically the one on “Temptations that Fathers Face” and take a look in the area on “Deliverance” as suggested by Eisenman; a method Eisenman endorsed using the acronym “HEALED” which application I am told was quite successful with Alcoholics Anonymous.

First, what are the 6 Top Temptations that fathers will face which this Study has revealed? Go read Tom Eisenman's book "Temptations Men Face". See contents in brief on top.

In this respect what are the FEARS, EXPECTATIONS and REALITIES of the fathers’ and of Society at large?

Are they legitimate? What goals are we seeking? Are we realistic? Question: Can one size fit all?

Is this achievable: a family life that’s united, responsible and balanced? Can we free ourselves, i.e. our body, soul and spirit from all worldly and evil addictions? What must we do?

The Apostle Paul tells us that with God’s help we can be OVERCOMERS, Amen?

Discuss H.E.A.L.E.D. What it is and how can it help us? Refer to Pages 39-41 of the Bible Study.

Be encouraged by what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

As Christians we are repeatedly told to live as Children of Light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth), be imitators of God and live a life of love, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. Chapter 5). Let’s keep on doing that, Amen?

In conclusion I urge you to:
“Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matt. 26:41); And put on the Armor of God as described in Ephesians Chapter 6:10-18.

God bless.

About retirement

My advice to young people who have just entered the work force has often been this i.e. to plan for your retirement at an early age because financial security at retirement which is inescapable is so crucial in this modern time and age.

The financial status and security of seniors in retirement can significantly influence the success or enjoyment of the retirement experience.

First, those with higher incomes are likely to have more opportunity to pursue recreational and leisure activities, provided they are in good physical health.

Second, being financially secure increases the likelihood of a comfortable, safe, and accessible housing.

Finally, receiving quality healthcare and support services is more likely for those from higher income brackets.

It is important to note, however, that financial affluence does not guarantee an enjoyable retirement experience AND is not required in order to be happy in retirement.

Because the average life expectancy in our country is about 78 years, those retiring at age 60 on averages can now expect to spend some 18 to 20 years maybe more in the role of a
Retiree!

Just how much does one need in those retirement years to live that seemingly possible comfortable and enjoyable life is something that one has to work out on one’s own self and in one’s own time?

Of course the merits are that the earlier the homework is done the better. I think the longer the span of time that we allow ourselves to achieving our retirement goal (in pecuniary terms) the easier it will be in our arriving at it.

I am afraid just like success in life, in this pursuit there are no short cuts either.

But don’t despair if you couldn’t make it even with all of your planning. You are probably not the only ones. Life will go on regardless but I guess without the frills.

Adjusting to retirement is a process that is not always completed immediately after leaving the work place.

In essence, it takes courage and humility to accept what it is indeed your lot in life.

As someone had put it, “Once a peacock but now (literally) a feather-duster!” and if that’s what you were or have been you should now accept the regression with grace.

Once the reality of retirement has set in, it is important to remember to set goals for yourself or find activities that provide a sense of purpose and meaning to your days.

Whether it's working in the wood-shop or on the computer, setting out a garden, or spending more time with grandchildren, it is important to feel useful and productive.

As the saying goes, a man’s got to do what he has to do. Indeed, he must even in retirement.

And while at it my advice is now is a good time to seek after God and make peace with your Creator if you have not already done so. Not only for your body and mind but your soul needs nourishment too.

Go to a church and find new friends, honest friends that you can relate to and fellowship with.

It has been said, “Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul,” (quote attributed to Henry David Thoreau). That’s very true but you’ll have to make the time and the effort to go after it.

It is also good to have your regular walks in the park and coffee-shop talk with your peers; travel with your spouse and see places especially those you have never seen before or indulge in food adventures as you like it.

Now who says there isn’t a life after retirement? I am quite certain there is but you’ve got go find it.

I guess the best part of retirement is often doing nothing and not worrying about being caught at it! No pressure, no stress, no heartache except and unless as one fellow had put it, you play golf!

Did you know that golf is played by some twenty million mature American men whose wives think they are out there having fun? Are they really, you tell me?

By all means if you can afford it and had enough, retire from work but remember not ever from life.

It’s my belief that in one’s retirement years the best of life is yet to come. I like to think that life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth and if I might add to that which is this, you ain’t seen anything yet!

Cheers!

Let's listen to Ricky Nelson sing this beautiful old favorite entitled "A Wonder Like You". Thanks to "marieren" for sharing.

Is computer technology our slave or master?

Nowadays we have the Internet, knowledge for whatever its worth has by and large been digitalized and millions if not billions of people are hooked onto the “Net” on a daily basis!

We have become a people very much dependent on information technology for our almost everything.

Indeed, someone had said that the “Internet” has become the world’s largest library and very soon, the largest shopping centre too.

Imagine, you sit at home, lock onto a computer and you can search or buy almost anything under the sun with just a click of a mouse, which was not possible at all less than thirty years ago.

Even the old-timers are doing what most people say, just yahoo or goggle it but you could be surprised by what you’ll find.

The data-base is incredible! Ever wonder how they are able to put up so much stuff in there?

You can’t help but think that when something can be used so effortlessly, surely great effort must have gone into its making. It’s incredible but true, man’s genius knows no bounds!

The power of technology is sweeping the globe and like time and the river it waits for no man.

Either you tame it and make it your slave or it traps and enslaves you. I think the power that’s been unleashed by computer technology has gone beyond even its creators’ wildest dreams.

Questions that come to mind are: Can we live without computers? Are we enslaved by this technology or not? Can business move, can the world tick without it?

Someone once said, “Technology is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand and it stabs you in the back with the other.”

Karl Marx had this observation and said, “The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.”

Indeed, now we have machines to work for us literally at the push of a button.

It’s no wonder our working week is shrinking and very soon it might be down to a 4-day working week instead of 5! But is that good for us or not?

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom”, so said the famed social scientist Issac Asimov in 1998. And I think he isn’t wrong at all.

Indeed as Albert Einstein had put it, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”

If it keeps up, man could be endangering the very Earth he calls home.

You know one guy puts it this way, “The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers.”

And if we are not careful that day may come sooner than we think. How pathetic!

I will close with this thought.

Buckminister Fuller, the founder of the Geodesic Doom, an architect by profession and a renowned 21st century thinker had posed this challenge some years back which I think is still relevant today.

The question he had asked is this: “Does humanity have a chance to survive lastingly and successfully on planet Earth and if so, how?”

Is computer technology our slave or our master? Will it kill us or can it save us from impending disaster? Think on it.

While doing that let’s listen to Slim Whitman sing “North Wind” (live concert) a rare oldie (not often heard) of the sixties brought to us courtesy of “mgbay”. TQ.

Happiness is when Irish eyes are smiling…

You know someone once said, “Happiness and sadness run parallel to each other. When one takes a rest, the other one tends to take up the slack.”

About unhappiness one Don Herold had this to say, “Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.” I find that very true even today.

We generally know what brings on unhappiness but it's pretty hard to tell what actually does bring happiness. I think poverty and wealth have both failed.

To paraphrase John Barrymore, “Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.”

Every day may not be good, but there's always something good in every day. The secret is to find it and you’ll be happy.

Mark Twain had put it this way, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” And that’s what I am trying hard to do here.

When I am sad or angry, I take a break and listen to my collection of old hits. They not only bring back memories but they cheer me up quite a lot.

This one in particular by Joni James entitled “When Irish eyes are smiling” is very mind-soothing and heart-warming to listen to.

Here it is courtesy of “itscalang”. The advice is: "Smile always, laugh often and much and why not just be happy." Enjoy.

Library, a great place to go

Library, a place for mind enrichment & scholarship? And books are like windmills of your mind? Yes, indeed.

A public library is very much like a big bookshop. On the outside it seems cold and dreary but you might be surprised by what you’ll find going on inside.

Inside, you will of course find books of many kinds; little books on life’s instructions and big books about successful men, politics, philosophy and economics.

Books of history and the sciences, of human relationships and novels; indeed the variety is as many and as endless as the length and breath of human endeavors!

There is a quietness and an air of “scholarship” in a library which you will probably not find in any other place.

The view is serene. You’ll find that all the books are nicely stacked up in their proper places and each has been sorted out according to its category.

Indeed, there is harmony in variety and beauty in simplicity! I wish that our world could be like that.

Yet a library is more than just a serene place to keep books and records of all kinds. It does more.

For instance, we all know it facilitates reading and teaching; it promotes knowledge of many kinds and not forgetting, the enrichment of minds as well.

Perhaps what we don’t know is this that it is also a place that enriches world class scholarship thru’ the pursuit of definitive learning, serious study and deliberate research.

I dread to think where humanity would be today if not for libraries? Indeed, knowledge seekers cannot do without them.

When was the last time you paid a visit to a library? If you haven’t done it, isn’t it about time you visited one?

Believe me the time spent browsing inside a library (or a bookshop for that matter) is never wasted. Try it otherwise you’ll never know what you have missed!

Thanks to "lettermen1" for sharing this beautiful song entitled " The windmills of your mind" with us.

Beautiful Ireland – A call to Galway Bay

I haven’t been to Ireland which country I have been told is well-known for its natural beauty, rustic charm and interesting people.

However I just love Irish songs and this one in particular which you’re going to hear is entitled “Galway Bay”. If you’re of the baby boomers’ generation, most probably you would have heard it in your childhood years.

It has a nostalgic appeal and to me the melody lingers long after the song is sung.

There are many versions of it but the one I have for you is sung by Joni James. She has a beautiful voice and the pictures shown in the accompanying video depict just a touch of Ireland in its natural beauty.

When you have the lyrics it's quite easy to sing along with the song; so here it is. The tempo is Celtic and typically Irish folk. Try it.

If you ever go across the sea to Ireland,
Then maybe at the closing of your day,
You will sit and watch the moon rise over Claddagh,
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.
Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream,
The women in the meadow making hay.
Just to sit beside a turf fire in the cabin,
And watch the barefoot gosoons at their play.

For the breezes blowin' o'er the sea from Ireland
Are perfumed by the heather as they blow
And the women in the uplands diggin' praties
Speak a language that the strangers do not know.

And if there's is going to be a life hereafter,
And somehow I am sure there's going to be,
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven,
In that dear land across the Irish sea.

Yet the stangers came and tried to teach us their way.
They scorned us just for bein' what we are.
But they might as well go chasing after moon beams,
Or light a penny candle from a star.

Thanks to "itscalang" for sharing this video-clip with us.

Cheers!

Old age ain't no place for sissies

There is an old song called STONEY made famous by a guy named LOBO. When it was released it was a big hit with people of my generation! You know good old songs have a knack of bringing back happy memories of the past.

For instance I grew up in the country and I remember that my teenage years were wonderful and happy.

I bicycled all over in the country-side and chased the wind; caught “fighting spiders” and flew kites; went fishing even when I didn’t catch any and spend much of my leisure on my stamp collection and would you believe it, writing to pen-pals all over the world.

As I grew up and fell in love, memories like the time of our first date, our first kiss; the strolls we took in the park, the little crabs we dug up on the beach, and all the silly things we did, they all keep coming back. And you feel good as you recall your past.

How true is the saying (attributed to Nikita Ivanovich Panin), “In youth the days are short and the years are long; and now in old age the years are short and the days long?”

Victor Hugo was reputed to have said, “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.” I wish it were so.

I would like to think that age is all in the mind. Someone did say that one is as old as one’s heart is and not on how one looks, didn't he?

Isn’t it true that no matter how old we are, we are always the same age inside?

However, I would like to think that old age is at least 15 years older than what I really am.

Nonetheless for most of us I think with age comes wisdom and wealth, well at least a good measure of each.

I hope by the time we have money to burn, our fire inside would not have burnt out.

As Mark Twain had put it a long time ago, “Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.” What an ingenious thought! Think on it.

I will close with this quip, “A woman is as old as she looks, but a man is old when he stops looking.” Believe it or not is up to you.

Cheers!

Here’s the song STONEY from a music-video courtesy of “kingduplicate”. If you will, sing along with it in karaoke fashion. Hope you like it too.

A happy life is a healthy life

There is a saying which carries a lot of truth and I think we should all be constantly reminded of it.

Simply put it is this: “If you don’t want to be ill, do not live life sad.”

Good humor, Laughter, Rest, and Happiness. Lest we forget, these are the very things that replenish health and bring about long life.

The happy person has the gift to improve the environment wherever he lives. Happiness is health by itself and a sure therapy for long life isn’t it?

The beautiful thing is that happiness can be contagious since it is an attitude, a frame of mind, a choice. Not only can you catch it, you can spread it too!

You know it has been said that when you smile the whole world smiles with you but when you cry, you will probably cry alone.

Haven’t you heard that good humor saves us from the hands of the doctor? Indeed, there is an old Irish proverb which says, “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book” And isn’t that true?

So my friends if you don’t want to be ill live life happy!

However if sadness should come your way for one reason or another, don’t ever let it linger or fill you for too long. The advice is let it go and be done with it if you don’t want to be ill.

“Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world. Don't go through life creaking”. That’s what H.W. Byles advised a long time ago.

And Joseph Addison had said, “Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are (1) something to do, (2) something to love, and (3) something to hope for”.

If that’s going to make us happy, why... let’s get on with it. There’s nothing to stop us from doing all three. And even when everything else fails, there is always hope.

In closing let me quote Hazelmarie Elliott (Mattie) who wrote these delightful words:

“Every now and then,
when the world sits just right,
a gentle breath of heaven
fills my soul with delight...”

So let’s pray for that gentle “breath of heaven” to fill us as often as possible.

My wish for all of us is this: All the days of our lives, may we stay happy and healthy.

God bless.

Here's a beautiful song from Neil Diamond entitled "The Story of My Life". Thanks to Brando0307 for sharing it with us. Enjoy.

The Discernment of Abigail

Again it’s my turn to lead in Bible Study in my cell group and I have cooked up this message for delivery this Friday, 19th March 2010.
Lesson for tonight: The Discernment of Abigail (1 Samuel Chapter 25).

First a quick recap of what we did last week.

At last Friday’s home fellowship meeting, we learnt a little about what “character” is.

I think we can agree on this: Regardless who we are or where we come from, “a man or a woman of character” would truly stand out in our midst and command much respect.

There are many great men and women in the Bible as well as outside of it whose character really stood out.

To name a few: William Wilberforce, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and perhaps not forgetting Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Esther, Daniel and his 3 friends also. They stood tall in our history because they all had outstanding character.

How about one modern day contemporary nearer home?

Ralph Waldo Emerson had said, “Character is higher than intellect.” Indeed, I think it is.

And as we have heard, “Talent or intellect will get you to the top but its character which will help you stay there.” (Heard the Tiger Woods story?)

Often in public life we all wear a mask, but our real character is revealed in our private life, when none of our friends or business associates is there watching. Question therefore that we should ask often is this: Do we like what we see, the real you or the real me?

The good thing is that we can go from our failings to rebuild or re-shape our character if we truly want to. The choice is really ours to make, yours or mine.

Who says that we cannot change? We can but only if we truly want to. Remember, God allows U-turns.

I have a magnetic tag on my fridge that says, “The Will of God will never lead you...where the Grace of God cannot keep you.” That’s a comforting thought and I believe one that’s true.

As Christians we are repeatedly told to display “biblical character” in everything we say or do.

The challenge is don’t just be a nominal Christian, try to be a good, authentic Christian.

The Bible is certainly not short of role models which we could follow or emulate. Jesus is the perfect example.

Tonight we have the story of Abigail. It’s found in the Bible, the Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 25.

Let me start by telling you this story.

In the time when David (the man who would be king over all Israel) was a renegade and as you know he was on the run from King Saul who had wanted his head; living with his ragtag band of followers of about 600 fighting men in the wilderness of Paran, there lived not far off a woman called Abigail.

She was a beautiful woman and wise too but was married to a bad guy named Nabal, a wealthy farmer no doubt (he had a vast herd of sheep and many servants) but a man who had a character which was very much the opposite of his wife’s.

He was selfish, greedy, angry, stingy, not a kind man at all and not very smart too. Even his servants considered him to be evil and worthless.

So you can just imagine what kind of a life, his wife Abigail had with such a guy. Tough, isn’t it? Pretty much like Cinderella waiting for a prince to ride in and rescue her from a life of drudgery and unhappiness.

The story goes on like so...

Living on the run for their lives, David and his men began policing the area they settled in, protecting the farmers and their flock in the hopes of being able to scratch out a living.

At shearing time the farmers would gather the sheep to shave off their profits. The farmers would also share food and profits with the sort of volunteer police that David and his men were, to pay them for their services.

When the time came, Nabal being the selfish and greedy man he was, refused to pay.

Nabal’s stubborn refusal hit David’s short fuse of frustration (remember here he was dirty, hungry, tired and definitely not living the kingly life he imagined he would when Samuel appointed him king over Israel).

David felt like being snubbed terribly and Nabal’s throwing of insults at his men was too much for him to take.

Revenge was on David’s mind so he rode out with his men with a burning desire to kill Nabal and all his males. In those days when you took revenge by yourself that was the norm to take.

Have you ever felt like that in your life, when you did well (or do good) to somebody but were paid back with evil?

Now Abigail, the good wife had heard from a loyal servant about Nabal’s foolish action and the impending disaster.

Without hesitation (it was said in verse 18, Abigail lost no time) she made plans to defuse the situation. It was a decision that altered the course of history.

She had to confront David and to intercede on behalf of her husband before the situation got out of hand. With courage and faith she rode out to meet David. You can read about all this in Verses 20-31.

She got what she wanted, didn’t she? Indeed, here’s a brave woman and a successful mission accomplished; and because of what she did, a near massacre was averted; innocent lives were spared.

David’s anger was appeased and there was no bloodshed on that day. Praise the Lord.

David said to Abigail in verse 33, “May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.”

The rest of the story well I guess you know how it ended, much like a fairy tale!

Abigail’s story is a story about “discernment”. Not just about discernment but I think to some extent of courage, faith and of the grace of God as well. One could say she was a peace-maker, and a successful one at that.

Because of the faith, courage and the timely discernment of this woman, David (who was in his early kingship) was saved from making a huge and terrible mistake.

By the grace of God, the bad guy Nabal (Abigail’s husband at the time) was dealt with severely. It was said that when he heard what his wife had done, his heart failed him. Why do you think his heart failed him?

Probably the cost of what his wife gave to David and his men in the form of 200 loaves of bread, 2 skins of wine, 5 dressed sheep, 5 seahs of roasted grain, 100 cakes of raisins and 200 cakes of pressed figs were too much for him to take!

As we were told, the confrontation between David and Nabal never took place. Aren’t David and Abigail glad that vengeance was the Lord’s and not theirs to take? So it should be.

When you are angry or mad with someone I think it’s good to remember, “Vengeance is mine, said the Lord” and not yours to take.

The story is quite romantic too; Abigail was widowed soon after her action in preventing a clash between David and her wicked husband.

In a twist of fate, call it God’s grace if you will; the story ends with Abigail becoming David’s wife!

And did you know that Abigail bore David a son (Kileab, 2 Sam 3:2) and she lived happily ever after presumably with David in Hebron.

There’s no word recorded about mother and son after this unfortunately.

Now what’s so special of Abigail?

Other than being born pretty, Abigail had a discerning heart; one could say a good heart or a heart of gold. She showed qualities of diplomacy, tact, courage and her faith in God was extremely strong.

That’s why I am not surprised that she literally occupied a whole chapter in the Bible (more than 42 verses, 1 Sam 25 where she is remembered). It was enough, relatively speaking.

Now in contrast, how many great women of the Bible can you think of? Not many; names like Rahab, Ruth and Esther come to mind and some don’t even have names to go by.

Interestingly, only 4 women were included and mentioned by Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1:2-17), can you name them?

It has been said that Abigail may be one of Scripture’s lesser light but without her actions one of Scripture’s greater light, David may be dimmed forever.

Now what lessons can be gleaned from the story of Abigail?

Abigail is best remembered by the character trait called “discernment”.

It will make better sense if we understand what its real meaning is.

So if you will, can anyone define “discernment”?

To me, “discernment” is a combination of many things in a person such as (1) intuition, (2) gut feeling and (3) a sense of urgency to put things right.

“Nip the problem in the bud” is a common expression and often I think a wise decision to take. What is your opinion?

In simplest terms, discernment is the ability to read people and situations and then to act according to what’s best.

In short it is an ability to show good judgment. A close synonym would be “wisdom”.

Although people (men & women) who achieved greatness seem to a lot of people to be lucky, the achievers tell us it was not luck.

It is creating your own "luck" as a result of discernment. Mostly they tell us it’s 10 % inspiration, 90 % perspiration! How lucky can one get without working hard for it, whatever that maybe?

The lessons that could be gleaned from Abigail’s story are these:

1. Discernment can avert a disaster.

2. The advice is to “Nip the problem in the bud”. Don’t allow it to build up steam.

3. Revenge is not always as sweet as the world thinks.

4. Leave vengeance to the Lord.

5. In confrontations or difficult relationships, resist the use of force.

6. A soft (diplomatic) approach is always better.
Often a soft approach (a tactful one) can move mountains.

7. A soft approach will definitely soothe pent-up anger.
Remember, nothing good can spin off from human anger.

8. Faith and trust in God will bring relief /blessings from above.

Let’s pray. May God bless you all.

The Will and Grace of God

I have a magnetic tag stuck on my fridge which has these words on it:

“The will of God will never lead you…where the grace of God cannot keep you.”

The words are comforting and I would run to it in times of trouble to find the comfort that only God can give.

Funny how this simple “truth” when absorbed can lighten one’s burden and bring about a peace that’s beyond human understanding! It’s like a balm that takes the hurt or pain away.

If we live life with a lot of guilt (of sins past and present) we will never be happy. You know, it has been said, “Real happiness comes from inside, nobody can give it to you.”

Always remember that we are all but human beings, we make mistakes and nobody’s perfect. I guess God made us this way so that we can turn to him whenever we are down for the peace and happiness which we seek but in our living find they so often elude us.

Let me give you another of Reba McEntire’s songs and this one is one of my favorites. It’s entitled, “One promise too late”. There is so much fire in her voice, and the lyrics wow so much meaning. See her live (performing), she is awesome!

Let the streaming finishes in full then replay to appreciate this beautiful song. Thanks to “SinginPrincessLaura” for bringing it to us. Enjoy.

The Power of Love

This picture speaks a thousand words. Look closer and you’ll see what I mean.

I think it is Martin Luther King Jr. who was reputed to have said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
Indeed, I think love can still do that.

I wonder too, if this is what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44)

To say that we humans are not capable of doing that is to accept defeat in our face before we even try, isn’t it?

You know, the glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness and love. There is nothing unlawful about it.

In fact I think that is good and any religion which ignores it has no future.

This piece which describes the power of love came in the email from a friend. It is an interesting read, so let me share it with you.

The Power of Love

Intelligence without love makes you perverse.
Fairness & Justness without love makes you inflexible and stern.
Diplomacy & Tact without love makes you a hypocrite.
Success without love turns you arrogant.
Wealth without love makes you mean and tight-fisted.
Poverty without love makes you capricious.
Authority & Power without love leads to tyranny.
Labor without love turns you into a slave.
Naivety without love deprives you of values.
Prayer & Worship without love turns you into an egotist.
Faith without love turns you into a fanatic.
Bearing your cross in life without love becomes a terrible burden.
Life without love loses its meaning!

The Bible tells us further: Love is patient, love is kind…; it is not self-seeking, it keeps no record of wrongs... (In fact) Love never fails.(1 Cor 13: 4-8)

Here’s Celine Dion with that great song, “The Power of Love”. Enjoy.

Grandchildren quips from all over

1. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 63. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then he asked, "Did you start at 1?"

2. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, "Who was THAT?"

3. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard.. We rode our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

4. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

5. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not sure."

"Look in your underwear, Grandpa," he advised, "mine says I'm 4 to 6."

6. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother, "Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today." The grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool "That's interesting," she said, "how do you make babies?" "It's simple," replied the girl. "You just change 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'."

7. Children's Logic: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked.
"Sure," said the young boy confidently. 'It means carrying a child."

8. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck.." A third child brought the argument to a close."They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants."

9. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. "Oh," he said, "she lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then, when we're done having her visit, we take her back to the airport."

10. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but I don't get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

11. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks, and they blame their dog.

12. Who is a grandfather I asked? The answer: A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.

13. You know the best place to be in when you're sad is grandpa's lap!

In conclusion my advice to you is this: "Have children while your parents are still young to take care of them and enjoy them."

God bless.

God blessed us with grandchildren

Oh, I forgot to tell you that I was in Singapore the week of Christmas and how I enjoyed my days there; my time almost totally engrossed with my three grandchildren. There was never a dull moment.

The kids and I played chess, fixed puzzles, took strolls in the park and I bought them some old-fashioned ice-cream. The elder one’s favorite is chocolate the younger strawberry of course and baby Sam’s just too young to have any!

You know the time spent with your grandchildren rejuvenates you. When I see the dimples in their faces and the crooked smiles you’ll know they get those from whom. They got them of course from their mum and their mum got them from me naturally!

Where were you, where was I when each of my 3 grandchildren arrived? Yes, I was there in the hospital during each and every one of her delivery, so I know how it felt to be a pa and grandpa all at the same time!

Thank God every bundle of joy came beautifully and I pray that they will grow up gracefully too and serve their purpose well according to whatever God had intended them to be in life.

Today as I reflect on life’s precious moments my cup overflows with gladness and thanksgiving…I couldn’t be more blessed than this, I think! Praise the Lord.

Here's Reba McEntire with that beautiful song entitled, "He gets that from me". Hope you like it as much as I do.

Dealing with difficult relationships - Speak the truth

I have prepared this piece actually for delivery to my cell-group that’s scheduled to meet on 29 Jan.

Thought I’ll post it here and share it with you. Your comments if any are of course welcome.

The subject matter for Bible Study this month is on “Dealing with Difficult Relationships” but tonight’s topic for deliberation which is Part 2 of our engagement is entitled “Speak the truth” and I am to lead.

Now one may ask what has the topic “Speak the truth” got to do with “Dealing with difficult relationships?” How do they sync? What’s the connection? How to apply it?

These are some of the thoughts I want you to focus on this evening.

You know, many of us grew up in the country from ordinary families and from young we were raised to “speak the truth”. I was anyway. I remember quite vividly that if I ever lied and was discovered, my mother would cane me severely and I would retreat to my little “corner” of the house and cry. That was a long time ago but it left an indelible mark on me.

Truly then to me “honesty is the best policy and it begins at home”. I believe it still does, agree?

When we are honest (with ourselves as well as with others), I tell you we stand tall among our fellow men.

Question is why do our parents want to teach or rather to instill in us this trait, the character trait of “telling the truth”? Now I know why, because in life I believe the character (as in integrity) of a person is everything.

(1) Speaking the truth builds character, agree?
(2) Not only that, “speaking the truth” is the very foundation for building and sustaining good and long lasting relationships.

And the whole of life is about relationships, isn’t it?

So let’s talk a little about “relationships”, yes of the human kind. What is it that makes a relationship tick or stick, and what is it that sours it as in a difficult or broken relationship?

When we know the causes for failure or success in a relationship, then we would know how to deal with relationships, don’t we? This is of course easier said than done.

It’s okay to have difficult relationships, who doesn’t? The important thing is when things go wrong we should ask ourselves, can we do something about them? The answer to that of course is plenty.

The Bible tells us, anything uncontrolled can harm our relationships.

Some of these things are: Anger (Pr 29:11), Drinking (Pr 23:29-35), Lust (Pr 6:26), A Reckless Tongue (Pr 12:18), Ambition & Worldly Desires (Pr 23:4), and even Spending or Over-indulgence (Pr 21:20).

So if you don’t want to harm or spoil a relationship what would you do? We must learn to control our anger, our tongue, and a host of sinful human desires. I think you know what these are.

Proverbs 25:28 says, “A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken down walls.” Note in the time this was written, cities were safe only because of their walls. The moment we lose self-control or self discipline, we are actually a city without any protection already.

Self-control, as Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22 is a fruit of the Spirit. Ah, how do we catch it, that’s the problem? But mind you, not one fruit but there are 8 other very useful fruit of the Spirit to catch on too. I think you know what they are.

I think it’s true to say and that is this, we can live “an incredible life” thru’ the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit if we can catch it that is, literally speaking.

God’s spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-disciplined.

It’s no secret people who live by the “fruit of the Spirit” are among other things, more victorious in life including relationships than those who live by the “fruit of the flesh”. Agree?

If you live by the “fruit of the flesh”, you will soon discover that it doesn’t help in building up relationships. In fact I think the opposite will be true.

Let me ask you what then are the “fruits” of the flesh, you know those things that God detests or hates the most? Let me tell you from the Bible,

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Of the traits or sinful human desires which are the “fruit of the flesh”, the Bible tells us clearly to shun or abandon, see 2 Timothy Chapter 3 what Paul had envisaged:

"People will be lovers of
themselves,
lovers of money,
boastful,
proud,
abusive,
disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful,
unholy,
without love (hatred),
unforgiving,
slanderous,
without self-control,
brutal,
not lovers of the good,
treacherous,
rash,
conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Can you see the contrast between the two kinds of lives: (1) lives that are lived by the “fruit of the flesh” as opposed to (2) lives lived and led by the Spirit and what each can do to relationships? Think on it.

Now let me ask you 2 simple questions about another character trait which is “to speak the truth” or in essence “honesty”. (1) What does the world say about “honesty” and (2) What does the Bible say?

You all must know the stories of (1) Napoleon and (2) the story of late of Tiger Woods. What lessons can we learn from them?

Let me ask, what is the cause of each of their downfalls? I think a lot has got to do with “character”, more so than with circumstances or people.

“People”, “circumstances” and “self” govern our lives, don’t they? Of these 3, I think “our own-self” is our greatest enemy and most destructive, true or not?

Too often it is our pride, our stubborn ego, the “I must win attitude” which is the stumbling block to what could otherwise be a good and happy relationship.

Let me ask, “Of all the people you come in contact with, who gives you the most trouble?” D L Moody (one of the greatest evangelist of the last century) had said, “Actually, I have the most trouble with myself.” Any surprise?

Napoleon was reputed to have said, “Able was I ere I saw Elba” and these:

“If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing.”
“Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.”
“History is a set of lies agreed upon.”
”The surest way to remain poor is to be an honest man.”

Do you believe him? Hope we don’t go “bonkers” thinking about it. Many people in the secular world of course agree with him. That I think is the world’s view of “honesty”.

Napoleon was a sort of “hero” in his day but his success didn’t last long. The momentum of power, of greatness was not sustainable. I think he died in exile, a failure? So was Hitler, to name another world “hero”. Why?

You know, worldly success (wealth, fame and power) acquired or achieved out of deceit or dishonesty or vide ungodly means the Bible tells us, can never last. What God has not sanctioned, God will surely scorn or frown upon. The end result is always disaster, tragedy or disappointment.

So as Christians be careful when pursuing or gathering up your so-called “nest-eggs” while going up the ladder of success. In the end, God brings all the arrogant and dishonest men down on their knees, agree?

The Tiger Woods story - Another lesson about character?

This is what the good Pastor & a famed Speaker & Trainer in Leadership, Dr John Maxwell had said recently and I quote:

“Tiger's story is a cautionary tale about character. All of the momentum you build through decades of hard work and dedication can be erased if you do not craft the character to support it.

Character is forged daily through the decisions we make. It comes from within and cannot be purchased.

Be diligent about working on your character so that you become a person worth following and someone worthy of harnessing the momentum of success.”

They did a survey of 1,300 senior executives in America, asking what was the most important characteristic in a person. Out of 17 options, integrity was chosen by 76 percent as the top quality to have.

Indeed, integrity or an honest character is everything. Without it, all is lost. Honesty of course breeds trust, and trust is very important in a relationship.

Now, let’s see what the Bible in particular what the Book 1 Samuel teaches us on how character, and in particular honesty and integrity can literally make or break a person.

In the Book of Samuel is the story of 2 men, i.e. Saul and David, the character of each, so diametrically different and how they played out.

Saul was tall and handsome, the 1st chosen king of all Israel but he was not a good king. He glorified self more than he honored God. He heart was full of envy and he couldn’t stand anyone better than him. He disobeyed God and when things went wrong, he blamed others. He made promises he could not keep. He succumbed to living by the “fruit of the flesh”. The Spirit of God left him. The Prophet Samuel had to confront him on a relationship that had gone bad.

On the contrary, David was a man of faith in God. He wrote Psalm 23. He knew who his God was and what his God could do for him if he trusted in Him. Remember how he slew Goliath single-handedly with only one sling-shot.

David was a humble and quite insignificant shepherd boy, the youngest among the 8 sons of Jesse of Bethlehem. Small in stature, young and innocent, but God saw what He could do. Why chose him and not anyone of his bigger and physically stronger brothers? His character and integrity must have stood out for him. It was said that when he was called and was anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be the next king, the power of the Spirit of God came upon him.

Despite what Saul did to him, David had always respected Saul while he was alive as the rightful king and never once did he retaliate. That spoke loudly to me of the power of “self-control” and what it could do. This greatness is a virtue, a virtue I believe that was entrusted to him by God.

Obviously God liked David. Why, because he listened and obeyed the voice of God and that made him a very important person in the history of the Bible. One could say he is a giant amongst God’s great heroes, more has been written about his life in the Bible (other than our Lord Jesus) than any other person of God that we know of.

You know, one of the reasons why I believe the Bible is to be believed, the inspired word of God, is this fact that God has been dead honest with us in his word.

Look at how the great men and women of the Bible, the so-called “heroes” of the Christian faith were portrayed in the Bible, from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob to Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon; they were heroes alright but their lives were not lives that were lived without sin. On the contrary we can probably recall the times and name the event that these “heroes” have grieved God’s heart.

God could have with-held all those incidences of wrong doing from us, incidences that didn’t augur well for “heroes” and their like, but he didn't. Why is God then telling us all these?

I can think of 2 reasons. (1) That we learn lessons from them. More importantly (2), it reveals to us a side of God, a trade mark of His character i.e. an honesty and integrity that’s beyond reproach, that’s God’s character. He had to tell, no matter how hard it was.

Aren’t we glad that we have an honest God? So then if God is honest with us, it is natural that He expects us to be honest with Him too, see?

“Honesty” or as a whole, “integrity" has the power to build trust, and “trust” is what fuels a relationship. I ask you if no trust exists, what relationship does one has.

Trust is the very foundation for every (good & long lasting) relationship that we are going to have in life and honesty breeds that trust.

I am re-emphasising what you all already know. It’s good to remind ourselves every now and then, lest we forget what honesty can do.

Speak the truth. Transparency breeds legitimacy.

Someone had said that credibility is a person’s currency. With it, he or she is solvent; without it, he or she is bankrupt.

Whether we like it or not, this life is actually a life of relationships. Why, because I believe that no man (or woman for that matter) is an island.

Therefore, how we handle relationships is very important. You can say our happiness and success in life depended very much on it.

In conclusion, let me say this, let us always have the courage to speak the truth even though the truth hurts, but speak it with a loving kindness and show it, i.e. with a love and a kindness that's genuine.

Last but not least, my advice is: “say what you mean, and mean what you say always”.

You know what Billy Graham had said when asked how he wanted to be remembered.

“That I was faithful to what God wanted me to do, that I maintained integrity in every area of my life, and that I lived what I preached.”

May that inspire us, God bless.