Jesus Christ- The reason for Christmas

Jesus Christ born in Manger,  not in a palace.  His friends were poor and so does himself.



Great short article to read about a man, a God who transformed the World and defeated death itself.



Blessed Christmas to all.



Joshua

Standing the "test of time"?

Time has gone by extremely "fast" this year eventhough the fact is time is constant and never changing since the dawn of Creation.

However, the feeling of time "flying by" is directly related to events that are happening around you. Country, work, relationships with family, friends and colleagues, health ...etc are always in a "struggle" for your attention in addition to things we totally have no control over.

Things that means dearly to me seemed to be changes but it doesn't mean it has never been this way before. As a get older and older, I do pray and hope that I get wiser as well. I realize more and more that life is a "marathon" and not a "sprint".

Just like "blogging", everyone seemed to have lots of enthusiasm to blog about everything that happens around them and dear to them but as the years gone by, the enthusiasm dies down as well and it is even evident in my very own blogging patterns.

Perhaps, there was not enough "views or likes" on my blogs to feed my enthusiasm to blog more frequently but that's a the very nature of human beings - seeking attention always. Then I realize, perhaps one day after I am long gone, my thoughts would still be around on the Web and who knows someone else may be encouraged by some of the thoughts and words.

Nevertheless, many things that are dear to my heart remains there, only that they are sometimes and more frequently be buried by "worries", "material possession", "power/fame"...etc but we must give up in "spring cleaning" of our hearts and minds or we will be sucked into idleness, ignorance and one day our spirit and mind will not stand the test of time as like our physical body.

From the ancient past during the times of Egyption Pharoahs or Chinese Emperor, the idea of "standing the test of time" is synonymous to immortality and scientists are still looking for that "path of immortality" till today.

So, how do we really stand the "Test of Time?"

1. Building wealth? 

- (How many generations can it lasts?)

2. Building a statue? 

- (How to make sure it is not teared down after you are gone?)

3. Have many sons and daughters?

- (How do you know if your great-grandchildren can even remember your full-name?)

In fact everyone of us have a desire whether hidden or not to be able to "Stand the test of time" and majority of the youths today that would be a equivalent to "beauty, energy, smooth and fair appearance" and majority of senior citizens today it would means "health and energy" but these desires are pretty much just a delusion given the present logic and nature of life. This very "desire" alone reflects and in agreement with what C.S. Lewis has said that we were created with "desires" which "there are fulfillment" for those "desires".

“The Christian says, 'Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex." ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

This explains why humans are in constant pursuit of "anti-aging" (also known as "immortality" in ancient civilization). So if this desire cannot be fulfilled, C.S. Lewis said the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. "― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

So, this desire of "anti-aging" or "immortality" whatever  you would like to call it can only be fulfilled in another "world".

"If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that country and to help others to do the same.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Therefore, I would like to encourage all readers to pause for a moment and think about life and of our loved ones, are we really made for another "world"?  Or should just carry on with our lives with our endless pursuit of material possession, wealth, power, fame which can never ever satisfies our desires?

Do have a great week ahead.

May God's blessings be with all of you always.

Joshua

Malaysia mourns one of its true son - Karpal Singh

Karpal Singh 

You'll be forever missed and your legacy and integrity will stand the test of time

The Economist: Karpal was rare gem of Malaysian politics

APRIL 18, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Since his shocking death yesterday, the late Karpal Singh has been called “friend” by many that others would have thought to be irreconcilable foes.

At an emotive scene at the lawmaker’s home in Penang hours after his death, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin consoled a distraught Gobind Singh Deo, Karpal’s second son, when he went to pay his respects to the family.

Before that, contemporary and regular rival Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had described the Bukit Gelugor MP as “good friend”, despite regularly crossing swords with Karpal when he had still been MIC president.

“Karpal Singh, who died in a car accident in the early hours of April 17th at the age of 74, was a rarity in the venomous world of Malaysian politics: a man respected by many of his opponents as well as those on his own side,” according to an obituary by The Economist today.

In the tribute titled “Burning Bright”, it noted that once-bitter rivals have lined to honour the man known as the “Tiger of Jelutong”, even those who tasted the acerbic sting of his tongue.

The business weekly pointed out that this included Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was among the earliest to offer his sympathies to Karpal’s family.

“In politics, he was an implacable leader; in law, a committed advocate,” the prime minister said in a brief statement issued by his office.

“At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the families of those who have died in the accident. I extend my deepest condolences to them. We pray that the other passengers make a full recovery,” Najib added.

Karpal’s popularity was also not solely due to his courage and tenacity, The Economist said. Instead, it was the veteran lawmaker’s dignity, modesty, humour and courtesy that turned foes into friends, begrudging or otherwise.

But the weekly also made pains to point out the outpouring of sympathy and friendship now was as rare as the man receiving it.

“It was also a reminder that, though his death has been greeted with respect and regret (some nasty political jibes notwithstanding), that is not how Malaysia’s opposition politicians are treated when alive.

Karpal, 74, was killed after the Toyota Alphard MPV he was travelling in crashed following a collision with a lorry along the North-South Highway near Gopeng, Perak at about 1.10am yesterday.

Karpal, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was killed on the spot together with his long-time assistant, Michael Cornelius.

Karpal will receive a state funeral in Penang this Sunday.

Congratulations to Disney's Frozen for bagging two Oscars Awards.

Jimmy Fallon, Idina Menzel & The Roots sing "Let It Go" (featured in the animated film "Frozen" and won the Oscars Academy Awards for Best Original Song)

It's been ages since I last blogged. The song "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen animated film captivated since I last watched it. Frozen also recently just past the USD 1 Billion world wide gross, making it the second-highest grossing animated film after Toy Story 3. 

Notable animated-films which Frozen surpassed include The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Shrek 2, Ice Age...etc.

So, have fun watching it :)

God bless.

Joshua

Hope everyone's 2014 so far so good :)

The original version from the film.