Patriotism

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else." - Theodore Roosevelt

A quote given to me by a friend

"The master of the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both. Enough for him that he does it well."
Lawrence Pearsall Jacks (1860–1955), British educator and Unitarian minister

A poem i wrote once for my Bao Bei ;)

While packing our stuff up to get ready to move i came across this card i gave to Ling easily 5 years or more ago which had in it a poem i wrote.

Here it is:

"Better than bright sunshine on a lazy Saturday morning,
Your smile greets me
With warmth that puts the Sun himself to shame,
Your smile soothes me
More than the finest array of a buffet breakfast,
Your smile fills me
That cup of coffee to get me going can never compare to,
Your smile encourages me
Sweeter than music are the words that come from your mouth as you utter them with
Your smile that comforts me
And as i face the world, in all its strife and all its insensitivity, it's
Your smile that moves me, inspires me

And yes, sometimes the day diminishes to nothing more than a dismal drear... but
Your smile reminds me
Of my hopes and dreams, of victories past and conquests present, of songs yet to be sung and stories yet to be told
Of the wonderful things i have yet to behold
And even through the mistakes that i sometimes make,
As i stumble, fail and falter,
Your smile reassures me
Of the God who is greater
Than my aspirations and fears
Than the laughter and the tears
Than success that gladdens and failure that sears
Your smile infuses me
With hope, with strength, with peace
With confidence to brace the stormy seas
Your smile releases me
To be the man that i'm meant to be
To be myself
To enjoy life and all that God has in store for me
Your smile teaches me
That life was never meant to be taken too seriously
That there's always time to stop and savour
Each waking moment, each God given hour
That the best time is NOW
and that i don't always need to have the answers
To when, why, who, what or how
Your smile is a gift
A token that i'll forever keep with me
A testament to God's goodness, grace and mercy
But more than all of this
Your smile manifests
The abundant love God has for you
The love that you have for God
And the love that you have for me
...
Dear,
Your smile i'll always remember
Even if we haven't seen each other
Or spoken for awhile
All i've got to do is to close my eyes
And picture you
And then
i smile."

;)

Psalm 37

37:1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

37:13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

37:32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

37:33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

37:40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

New Year's Eve special ;)

"i love me some watermelon!"

Amen.

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last.
And when i am dying, how happy i'll be
if the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee."

Civilla Durfee Martin, 1904

Be not dismayed whate'er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.

All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.

No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.

God will take care of you, through every day, o'er all the way;
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.

Apple anyone?

Remember...

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

James 1: 2 - 4

Genesis 39: 20 -21

"Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison."

Anne R. Cousin, 1857

".. The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of grace;
Not at the crown he giveth, but on his pierced hand:
The lamb is all the glory of Emmanuel's land."

And so He says...

21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Hari Raya ala '1Malaysia' ;)

Your Love Never Fails - jesusculture

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There maybe pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails

The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone here in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

You make, all things, work together for my good.

Just because...

Just because we may not be able to immediately observe the consequences of our 'actions' over the internet does not mean that we are immune to them. Perhaps the false sense of disconnection that the internet ironically provides for us, in that we find ourselves involved but only from 'afar' when in actual fact there is no such thing really, fools us into a sense of false security - we think we can say what we want, however we want, whenever we want with no repercussions.

i'm all for freedom (and that of speech as well) but freedom does not equate to freedom from responsibility. There are more than enough examples of things said and done in the name of personal freedom, with many a time the internet being the main means of propagation, in which the result was nothing short of the contrary... fines, jail sentences, divorce proceedings, forced resignations... not to mention the devastation of the said individuals' lives and those related to them. Recent news of how people sharing their thoughts and activities on their facebook profiles leading to them being fired from their jobs or how people have 'fallen in love' online only to be swindled of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of their 'relationship', really drives the point home.

It's even more poignant when children and adolescents use this very powerful tool of mass media to 'share' in what they think to be a very safe and secure environment when in actual fact they're only laying themselves bare and vulnerable to just as much if not more social pressure, peer influence, corporate propaganda and the like than if they were in the 'real world' (so to speak). It is even of more concern when in the majority of instances (especially without proper parental supervision - which is usually the case since parents are often less than aware of their children's activities online and don't always know how things work thereby shying away from the world wide web altogether) these 'kids' are not aware of these 'dangers' and the detriment it can cause to their personal psychological, social and sometimes even physical development and health. Insecurity, materialism, immorality and, believe it or not, ignorance can be bred further and deeper amongst these who are still finding out who they are and what they believe in - perhaps in the most impressionable stage of their lives.

It pains me personally to see and 'hear' the young and innocent amongst us making 'statements' and 'declarations' from what they think to be a very mature and perhaps even informed perspective when the reality is anything but. It screams fragility, naiveness and above all an overall 'lack' - of understanding, maturity, conviction... and to add insult to injury they parade it proudly.

How do we expect to develop a generation of men and women greater than what we are or will ever be?
Shouldn't that be our goal?
Perhaps, it's our fault and failure for letting our own ignorance and apathy breed their contempt for virtue, truth, knowledge, moral and principle?

As a new father myself, thinking in terms of 'one generation to another' and 'the legacy left behind' strikes a very strong and personal chord. My dream for my children cannot and should not be reduced to only comprise a string of achievements, academic pursuits, talents and skills but far more so, a developed and mature personhood, a deep and unswerving sense of conviction, an appreciation and appropriation of the higher virtues of charity and service and most of all a sure and set firm love and fear for God.

Yes, the internet plays a pivotal role in our lives and i expect it to for a long time more to come but far be it from me to not equip my own so that this powerful tool can be harnessed to their much benefit and not their detriment.

1st time in the pool ;)

Isaiah's first building blocks ;)

"Sempena" Fathers' Day...

i would highly recommend every new father and father to be to get a hold of this book and read it.
*Sorry i couldn't find a bigger picture*

i've been using it and i find it very comprehensive, relevant and helpful. It details what to expect of yourself, your wife and your baby from pregnancy right up to the first 12 months of life of your child. Authored by a medical doctor, it's reliable and sound.

Unlike most books that i've come across it doesn't just cover the medical-related issues (which are also addressed very well) but provides a very holistic guide including aspects of emotional development, psychology, relationship matters while providing very practical tips. And best of all it's tailored for men and fathers and therefore speaks in a 'language' that men can understand, relate to and appreciate.

So ya, to the budding fathers out there... trust me, this will help ;)

AFC worthy ;)

My wife prepared this and trust me, it tastes even more awesome than it looks! ;)