Thanks

Friends, they make your life complete ; they emit in you the glow of belonging, comradeship. It is to friends, we owe part of life's wisdom,it is to friends, we owe part of life's direction. Their hands and spirits help to steer and keep afloat the ship in stormy waters , they bring in the warmth, the fun, the glee , the meaning of living and the resourcefulness to face another day fruitfully, ,Thank you Friends and God Bless

Basic Home truths

Human behaviour is predictable and very often controlled by emotions and feelings. Every action, every word uttered are products of these two element and mechanisms of the human being- the  brain sending out .powerful messages to act.....if you are happy, happy words flow out..if you are angry..negativeness ..passion, (either positive or negative) tears, depressive feelings, love, joy etc..etc..Complex, is the name of Humans beings and  the balance very often comes from some form of powerful  belief =Religious  or otherwise.  Feelings and emotions are what makes a person tick or sick. The people you associate with in life, either makes or break you. Deceit -white or black makes up a huge composition of  human life . What makes a person fragile and open to attacks are also feelings and emotions..And words very often are a person's undoing...so it is good to be reserved sometimes. But it is also good to stand up for one's right, and not be cowed by the ploys of others and goodwill does indeed emits  peace and friendship .

Thanks my two friends S & C who gave YT this wisdom.

AGE

Appearance in  relation to age is a subject close to this writer's heart. She has been doing her own little research for some time now and always took pains to conduct  little interviews with women who looked very much younger than their age. Their secret ? Many agree that besides eating plenty of greens and fruits.... not thinking your age actually keeps a person young and if you keep on visualizing yourself as someone very much younger, your brains will think young, your cells stays young, your limbs maintain their strength and agility and ultimately, your appearance and body structure maintain their youngish looks. So PEOPLE!!!!please do not think old or GRAN. Age is a MERE figure. And don't you man scoff! It applies to your gender as well!

UNITY

The Unity word  got Marie thinking. How wonderful it would be if all the churches of Christ, unite and stand as one, same practice, same do's and don'ts....The Person and God in the Lord Jesus, has never been an issue, we are after all , members of his Church, and as Marie's  newly  found relatives puts it " all the same, we are all the same..we all believe in the same God, the same Christ and we all follow the same path"....it is the practices, the interpretations and the extra, extra, extra..... we are concerned about. This writer always felt that priests and pastors should have their own families as well. Growing up among Methodist relatives, and attending some of their church activities and gatherings,  Marie remembers pastors as very happy individuals always, always with a gentle wife and so God fearing children, all of us wants to emulate. You could always count on one of them to be your friend and man! do  they  go all out to make your life pleasant.

Yesterday, as she busied herself with The Event of the Year, she wishes, all parts of her body will just unite with her wants and plans that is -speak, act and move with precision, direction, focus, and great diplomacy, tact- the  ability to keep the smiles pasted on her face all the time, her limbs moving as fast as her mind...you know! the works! but sometimes, the mind tells you something, and the heart the other and so you get yourself all confused and rattled...and become the person, you really, really do not want to be......

Simon says.....Definitely not your personal best babe! I do not know what you were thinking but in an event like this baby, you really have to perform better! Heck, Simon, you were absolutely right ' it is just the Unity word - the mind , body, limbs, heart, brains , etc...etc...etc.. which just refuses to fall in line with the wishes and the wants!.......

A Prelude to the story of Ah Beng Chong - A Real Life Malaysian LOVE story

Ah Beng was sweating profusely, he looked up the sky..not a cloud in the sky. The rays of the hot mid day sun beat down on him mercilessly  stinging  his bare arms, as he walked wearily down the street of  Ampan. What a day for his four wheel drive to break down and it had to happen when Sammy is not around. Sammy, his driver of fifteen years had taken leave to tend to a sick relative.. Nevertheless, his mind fumed. Sammy had become  more than an employee. He had become a confidante;  a friend and he, Ah Beng had over the years depended more and more on Sammy for his motoring needs. Why, he doesn't even know where the good and reliable workshops are, anymore! He needed Sammy. That realization annoyed him. That little rascal, I shall surely give him a ear full, when he comes back from his leave., sick relative or not...,Ah Beng muttered to himself as he willed his heavy legs to carry on walking., . Then he spied Hotel Madison. Ah Respite! Heaven sent!

Without a second thought, he zoomed in and plog down on one of the sofas so invitingly  calling out to a weary traveller. Gosh!, it was good to be out of the heat and resting those weary legs! He rubbed his aching feet, then noticing sweat still trickling down the side of his face, he took out his large handkerchief and rub his face vigorously. Now his handkerchief is all wet and smelt of sweat. With a sigh, he reluctantly  pulled himself up and out of the comfortable sofa and made his way to the gents! He noticed an unusual crowd of people, entering the hotel.  Ah! some sort of exhibition going on ,he thought to himself,.. . 

In the privacy of the men's toilet, he wet his hanker chief and took his time, freshening himself. When he had finished cleaning himself, he took out his comb and started to comb his wet hair. He looked at himself and sighed.....a tired looking man, terribly overweight...slightly greying at the top and the sides of his head. His expensive shirt and pants did nothing to improve his appearance. He sighed again. Fifty five, successful but without a soul mate. Never came across the woman of his dreams . What hasn't he got? Houses, vehicles, a good business, fat wallet...a towkay if you want to put it that way, but no woman by his side. No family to go home  to . Thank God for his  aging mother who kept house for him. What else to do except find solace in food, glorious food and the best liqueur in town?  He really must stop eating and get the flabs off his tummy Ah Beng thought to himself as he pinched the  thick layers of protruding flesh.

As he emerged from the gents, he saw more people coming into the lobby ballroom of the hotel., Curiosity took the better of him and as he had plenty of time to kill, he wandered into the ballroom to see what exhibition was being held. Oh! some intelluctual &, Innovation. Fair...,,,nowadays, everybody talks about IP and innovation, whether they understand the term or not, he smirked to himself. Listlessly, he wondered around, idly picking up pamphlets from  the exhibition booths. Might find some time to read them later on he thought to himself....

He walked to the far corner and took a turn back...nothing very much ..Ah Beng thought...suddenly, he stopped in his tracks....his heart thumping so hard it hurts....That face! He swirl round. Is her! the woman of his dreams!   Excitement sent blood rushing to his face. All of a sudden he was fearful, and an unexplained shyness invaded his whole being. He took a step forward, then turned away, wanting to run away. Of all the absurd nonsense! Chong Ah Beng, he told himself sternly. Get a grip on yourself. He took a quick double take and gazed straight at the angel who caught his attention. The sweetest and loveliest woman, he had ever seen in his life...slender in frame..petite..not a touch of make up.. well, perhaps just a little lipstick.... Mmm.. sweet.pink  lips, so kissable! Ah Beng! yelled his heart..get over there and speak to her! But his feet just refuses to move...in that direction and his throat suddenly dried up on him...

He almost ran out to the front where a hawker was hawking fruits, graped two juicy apples and rushed back to the exhibition hall.. Positioning himself away from the crowd and in good view of the angelic woman he stood munching his apples....while he gazed and drank in her sweetness. All the time, his heart shouted, Ah Beng, go ...just  walk across and say hello ,  hand her your calling card...but nope his feet just refuses to obey his command.A thousand and one introductory statements and social lines ran through his head....until his head ache.....hello! my name is Chong Ah Beng.....pleased to meet you.....idiot! that's not how you should approach her, his head mocked....what then....what then..how about.....would you care to have a drink with me??? Not if  you  want to taste the heels of her slipper his heart cautions...Fat old man that you are...do you think she would spare you a glance even??? Perhaps a show of his wealth....No..no..Fool, she would think, you are a dirty old man up to no good.........

FIND OUT HOW CHONG AH BENG  MANAGED TO WOO THE WOMAN OF HIS DREAMS AND .......

A sharing of Faith

During the farewell gathering for a sibling, Marie met up with distant relatives and friends from her home village and were very inspired by their strong Christian spirits and faith. These ladies and men were of the profound belief that Death is not the end but the beginning of living in the house of the Father. These relatives, she would  not have recognised if anyone passes her by the roadside. These blood ties,  she did not even know  existed until a passing  brought the introduction and contact.

They all belonged to the Charismatic movement of the Methodist and Lutheran Church. Never knew these churches had charismatic movements. Ladies and men in their fifties, sixties and seventies, each with such powerful testimonies to share. They go on mission trips, to Thailand, Russia, China, etc..etc..they see proverty , they see the might of the Lord, His hand in all their mission works and become even more  devout Christians. They speak of conversions of people in their seventies and still living and active in church work , even now in their eighties...Each and everyone strong of limbs and mind and they all attributed it to the blessings of God. They firmly believe, it is Faith that brings in the Providence and the strength! How beautiful! A niece when told that one of her aunties is not christian, told her gently, you must believe in Jesus,- He is the Life and the Way. ...Her newly found relatives told this writer, how beautiful and wonderful, it is doing God's work!! Inspiration indeed!.Their commitment and support for  one another is admirable , something this writer would like to emulate and learn...

Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY INDEED! 

Thank you Father John, The special prayer and blessings dedicated to all mothers is a wonderful gift, indeed . Thank you for instilling thoughfulness into  our young people through action by example. YT is a great advocator of holy water and receiving a shower of blessed water is a wonderful gift and great happiness. Happy Mother's Day ,  Mothers !!!

Sister, we shall miss you

I sent my sister home to the Father's house today and for a moment , I saw her, young and full of vitality again..... her getting married, extraordinarily beautiful, refined. She was exquisite. The happiness in her face shone,  as she stood by her brand new cupboard, carefully putting away, stacks of multi-coloured cloths of various designs-it was customarily those days to give the new bride a  gift of new cloth to tailor make her clothes.......the sparkling gold bangles, chains, rings and ear-rings, etc....etc... ..So much happiness and joy.

Marie could actually hear the sound of  drawers and cupboards being locked, The sharp "prit!pregraack !" as the lock, locks into place......... Her coming home after a hard days work and still had the energy to sweep the whole compound clean, but of course two brooms turn the chore into something  special and romantic. Yah! she could still hear the sound of joyous  laughters. She and her husband were such a loving and romantic couple. ....Pages out of a story book!

 Life how mysterious you are!  When  we were journeying, it was as though the winding road stretched endlessly on, never ending..... and we moaned in fatigue. Then suddenly, it was no more and we shed tears of grief.....only then, do we realise that  life is such a short journey. One bat of the eyelid and it was gone, only the tomb stands....., what is left of the human's presence were  mere inscription on the silent tombstone . And  in memory lane hung pictures of cherished moments of  yesterdays......

You see in your mind, you remember, but you could no longer physically touch and embrace...RIP sister. You are safe in the The Father's house. The Lord has taken you home.

Sunday, when more than two or three gathers ....

"Where two or three are gathered in my name. I am in their midst" Matt 18:20...A powerful promise, which never fails to fill me  with warmth and indeed, when one focuses on those words, his Presence is profoundly present,  one actually feels the light touch of the Holy Spirit, a realization that Yes, He is indeed present.The feeling that everything will be alright because " The Lord is here, listening, comforting, protecting and healing..."

There is no shortage of strengthening words from the Bible, especially from the book of  Psalms, if one cares to journey through the Bible in the  peace and quiet, of heart, mind and soul..... True, there are many words and passages which leaves one wondering...but at the same time.when you are at a cross road and needed  comfort or guidance, Lo and behold ! the shine of .certain words  rises up, drawing your attention and awakening flows in.....your heart tells you....therein lies your answer......

Yesterday, the Parish Retreat  brought new insights which  enriches the mind and the soul, today, the lessons of the previous day were further enhanced,elaborated with preciseness and  focus that one cannot fail to understand....the essence and power of  The Eucharist ...bringing Christ into our midst ,each and every celebration of mass....faith and  strength renewed! 

Parish Retreat-having an appetite for the Eucharist- Meaning, Significance, & Power...

That is not  exactly the  title, but  to Marie, that is just what it is. Sure the Presenter is a dynamic-great speaker but what is effective and powerful  is his very down to earth presentation. No excuses for the human weaknesses, the sometimes unholy nature of what we are, - acceptance .....no hypocrisy- everyone from the religious to the lay person   go through the upheavels , temptations and needs in their lives..  We are not perfect, we are all sinners. The powerhouse is the Eucharist , reinforcing virtues of goodness and keeping the connection to God,  alive, powerful and strong. We are a people of God, that fact is proven in His great sacrifice and His great love for us; henceforth there is no need of any other sacrifices, because the Son's Blood had been shed to renew the bond between God and man...

Going to church regularly is really not enough. There should be a daily renewal of love, faith and commitment to be Christian. There is a clear call to live the Christ in us everyday of our lives,  and it is no mean feat, my brothers and sisters.  As one brother shared after  the  first  session-, ....during mass, we religiously offer each other a sign of peace but as soon as mass, is over, the good gestures vanishes and we busied ourselves being our own persons, no more Christ in us. That's human in real life-unfortunately. One person I know, start to curse and swear at other drivers as soon as he leaves the church compound. Goodness leaves right after mass!!!

Yes, the brother who did the sharing was right, it is time to change, let us, each one of us, try to practice goodness and love..... for a change. Let us be sincere ....Definitely not easy but brethen, can we all at least give it a good try????.

Marie is fortunate to have three lovely ladies in her discussion group and yes, they  all spoke the same language, turning the  sharing into a  very  valuable,  and interesting educational session. When they next meet in church, the hellos and greetings will certainly be more meaningful because friendship has been cultivated. 

There was even a call for more gatherings of this nature., organisers, are you " showing the surrender sign??", let Marie give you a round of applause for your giving nature and  thanks guys( including the priests) and gals for a very knowledge filled  retreat.