Labour, for what?

The message from yesterday's church preaching...

Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psalm 127:1

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5

Each day we labour for many things in life, and get ourselves occupied with many things big or small. I admit, I am one of such people.

How about taking a little break to evaluate our labours in the light of the verses above. They're in old English, KJV style.

My house is small

Quote of the day...

Everyone is doing it, but my house is small.

Part of my tax money (probably yours too) goes towards sponsoring this small house through the Never Ending Policy and Never Enough Policy because he is considered the "marginalised" people group. He never even say thank you.

I wonder who are the "everyone" he's talking about. Everyone is breaking the law, I am just a small fry la.

A Bible for your computer and PDA

I just came over from Uncle Tony's blog posting about the Word.

Are you looking for a digital Bible for your computer or PDA? Or maybe your high-tech handphone can handle a digital Bible?

Check out this site: E-Sword

It's FREE. It's WONDERFUL. You can download not just one Bible, but also Bibles in Mandarin, Bahasa Indon, and many other languages, if you can understand that is. Moreover, you get Commentaries, Daily Devotional readings, Topical write-ups, Dictionaries, Maps, e-Books, and many more goodies.

Well if you don't have a broadband to download all those good stuffs, send Rick a little donation and he will mail you an E-Sword CD with more goodies than you probably need. I tried, it worked! If you need more stuffs, just download the extras (there're too many goodies, he couldn't pack everything in one CD).

Just do it, like Nike said.

Values

I never quite got to learn about economics during my school days. Nowadays there are so much talk about par value and market value in the news, I thought I could learn a bit. However, those things still sound quite complicated. I find this illustration particularly helpful...

My parents own two cars... a Proton Wira for dad to use, a Perodua Kancil for mum to use. The old Honda 100cc kapchai doesn't count la, it's a vehicle but not a car.

So, let's say my rich nextdoor neighbor owns a shiny Mercedes Big-Small-Eye for the driver to bring Datuk to office and functions, while Datin sits at home and summons the driver whenever she wants to go somewhere.

According to my limited understanding, by par value calculation, my family is richer than our neighbour... we own 2 cars, they only 1! Gosh, they need help! And I guess we're even richer coz we own 3 vehicles, they only 1. Those poor folks.

So, according to policies that are in place, we need to help our poor neighbours.

We should therefore
... give them a big discount on buying properties, including their million-ringgit bungalow,
... sponsor their children to study in college and then scholarships for overseas universities, using our hard-earned tax money,
... give the poor Datuk a directorship in the company, even though everybody knows he knows nuts,
... give him easy contracts, tenders etc even if it means turning down better offers from people who can do the job well,
... the rest you know I know la

Malaysian economics, true and amazing. I got my lessons HERE.

Shut up, no please

More interesting comments...

“This must be about the sixth time we've been told we can't talk about something this year,” said Kota Baru MP Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

“I would have thought that, if the CPPS bumiputra equity figure of 45% is accurate, the government and Umno should be pleased that their policies have succeeded and take credit for that.

“The irony is maybe they don't want to reveal the actual figure so that they can keep on asking for more.

“I just came back from Prague where we were discussing something more 'sensitive' – co-existence among Jews, Muslims and Christians.

“It was a shock to come back and hear we aren't supposed to discuss or dispute the government’s equity figures.

“What will it be next time – no discussion on the haze and the API because it would affect national security?” asked Zaid.

Here is someone who has seen what the world is talking about at the Prague (today I googled and learned that it is the capital of Czech Republic; now to google-earth... hehe), and came home shocked to see his country's top people are still at the mud-playing phase.

Quoted from Avoid gag orders, governmet urged

Mid Autumm Festival

Who says Chinese forget their traditions when they become Christians?

A group of Christians here celebrated the Mid Autumm Festival, or more affectionately known as the Mooncake Festival last week.

The night started with praise and worship session. Then an elder told a story about the origins of the festival, followed by a simple Book quiz. There was even a colouring contest open to all ages. And of course, lots of good food!

Mooncakes are expensive these days. Somebody should organize a mooncake-making class next year. Any willing teachers out there reading this?

To see more photos, click HERE.

Transparency, integrity and honour

Two interesting comments from the latest squabble in town...

Mr Toh

The government's rejection of the report on bumiputra corporate equity published by Asli's Centre for Public Policy Studies, which challenges the official data, has sent the wrong signal that dissent is not tolerated and honest pursuit of knowledge discouraged, says state executive councillor Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon.

Toh, a University Malaya-trained economist and Gerakan central committee member, said this was a sad development and seemed at odds with the government's professed aim of wanting to make the country a more open, transparent and liberal society.

"This is because the expansion of democratic space, and the strengthening of the right to dissent and challenge, are so important in moving the nation forward," Toh stressed.

"Dr Lim disagreed and stood by his methodology. Being the honest scientist that he is, he took the honourable way of resigning, rather than meekly comply with the views of his president."

"His stand is a very refreshing departure from the culture of compliance and subservience that the ruling elites in our country attempt to cultivate," Toh said.

Mr Najib

"The government will continue to insist on the official data. We hope this will be accepted and will not be questioned by anyone."

"Initially, it could be seen as intellectual discourse but once it touches on sensitive matters, it can incite racial feelings," he said.

Which one them do you think displayed more maturity and intellect? For a mention, the "official data" is but a single number given (does it qualify to be called data?), without telling exactly how it came about. And they expect it to be "accepted" and "not be questioned by anyone", with the usual threats of "sensitive" and "racial".

Dear sir, why not just say you think that we are all fools?

When reading journals, I am taught by my teachers to evaluate the validity and credibility of any research data/study by looking at its Sample Size and Selection, Research Methodology, Statistical Analysis, Results, Conclusion and Discussion, any declaration of Conflict of Interest etc.

A single number produced by a research clouded in secrecy, with somebody having a conflict of interest blaring thou shalt accept it, thou shalt not question it, thou shalt not even discuss it... is probably worth only a place in my dustbin.

Next year we will be celebrating 50 years of National Independance. Society is moving forward, embracing knowledge and going for global competitiveness. Sad indeed, people in high positions are still stuck such backward mentality.

Let's choose a better team to move forward, the next time round.

If you wish to read more, click below...

Rejection of Asli report sends wrong signal: Toh

Brickbat for Asli, bouquet for Dr Lim from DAP

Citizens of heaven

In the midst of recent squabbles over Bumi non-Bumi issues, first class and second class citizens, the chosen race and the marginalised race... I found a refreshing verse in this morning's reading.

We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven.

Phi 3:20

I am glad that the Book says that our life on this earth is but just a little passing phase on eternity's timeline. Our final and definite citizenship, is in heaven.

If things down here do not look good, try looking up.

The apostle Paul, born into the chosen race with all it's birth-right privileges, adhered strictly to the chosen religion, a member of the elite circle, a zealous scholar and an exemplary model of excellence... clearly understood the futility of boasting about his worldly achievements.

But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ's sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him.

Phi 3:7-9

How do we fare?

Hat trick

The stork has been really busy these days.

No they're not mine.

The mum could not differentiate which is the eldest, the middle, and the youngest. Could you?

Triple the joy...
triple the midnight cries,
triple the soiled diapers,
triple the suckling times,
triple the laundry,
triple the infant formula purchase,
and everything else...

... we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:3-5

So that's what parenthood is about huh.

The interview with God

Mr PenaRajawali sent me a link to THIS site, which has a presentation with the beautiful poem below and wonderful landscape photos.

THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.
“If you have the time” I said.
God smiled. “My time is eternity.”
“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered... “That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.”
“That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health.”
“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present nor the future.”
"That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked... “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.”
“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.”
“To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.”
“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.”
“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.”
“To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.”
“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.”
“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"
God smiled and said, “Just know that I am here... always.”

-Author unknown