masterwordsmith-unplugged

God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs.

For example:

-the eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days;
-those of the canary in 14 days;
-those of the barnyard hen in 21 days;
-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days;
-those of the mallard in 35 days;
-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.

(Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)

God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first.

A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first.

How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation! God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains.

-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.
-Each orange has an even number of segments.
-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.

-Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.
-Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.
-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.

All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirty fold, sixty fold, and a hundred fold - all even numbers.

God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that
if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!

The lives of each of you may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory, if you will only entrust Him with your life. If you try
to regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure.

Only the One Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS AS FASCINATING AS I DID

.....WOW!!!!

Thanks to Angela who sent me the following post. I am posting it with no changes/editing and fyi, it was written in capital letters - perhaps to make it easier for us to catch the humor.

;-)

Have a lovely day!

________________________________________

Can you imagine the Nun sitting at her desk grading these papers, all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure! (I know I couldn't!).

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS! IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST.

KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.


1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS, GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AN ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.

8. THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA. THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES..

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVID'S SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.

18. ST. JOHN, THE BLACKSMITH, DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW, WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY. HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

Here is a collection of some thought-provoking quotes that Angela sent me a few days ago. Do leave a comment to share your responses. Thanks! Have a nice day!

Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer. – Anonymous

It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. – Mark Twain

When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion. – Robert Pirsig

Animals do not have gods, they are smarter than that. – Ronnie Snow

"A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing." - Robert Ingersoll, Individuality

"Organized religion: The world's largest pyramid scheme." - Bernard Katz

"The church says the earth is flat, but I know that it is round, for I have seen the shadow on the moon, and I have more faith in a shadow than in the church." - Ferdinand Magellan

"I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time." - Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche



"We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing, all-powerful God, who creates faulty humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes." - Gene Roddenberry

"An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist believes that deed must be done instead of a prayer said. An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated." - Madalyn Murray O'Hair, founder of American Atheists.

"If Jesus had been killed 20 years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little Electric Chairs around their necks instead of crosses" - Lenny Bruce

"Out of convicted rapists, 57% admitted to reading pornography. 95% admitted to reading the Bible."

The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. - Albert Einstein

The origins and obligations of Sharia law

Sharia is the body of Islamic religious law based on the Qu'ran and the words and actions of the prophet Mohammed and his followers.

In the West, Sharia has become synonymous with the brutal punishments meted out in Islamic states, but the majority of laws are to do with everyday issues, ranging from personal hygiene to banking.

Hard line Muslim leaders claim that Sharia is eternal and can never be changed, while moderates argue that it is not a strict set of laws but should be open to interpretation.

Sunni and Shia Muslims follow different schools of thought in interpreting the Sharia laws, but all Muslims are required to live according to Sharia wherever they are.

Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran have implemented Sharia as the legal system of the country, but in Britain it has no legal standing, despite the introduction of Sharia-compliant banking and food.

Examples of obligatory laws

• Earnings must be lawfully obtained

• Food must be halal

• Personal hygiene must be of a very high standard

• Couples must have a full bath in flowing water after intercourse

• The body must be covered modestly

• Prayers must be said five times a day

• Believers must fast during Ramadan


By Clare Dwyer Hogg and Jonathan Wynne-Jones, The Telegraph

*******************************************
Sharia is an Arabic word meaning "the right path". The Sharia comes from the Qu'ran, the sacred book of Islam, which Muslims consider the actual word of God. The Sharia also stems from the Prophet Muhammad's teachings and interpretations of those teachings by certain Muslim legal scholars.

Muslims believe that Allah (God) revealed his true will to Muhammad, who then passed on Allah's commands to humans in the Koran.

Since the Sharia originated from Allah, Muslims consider it sacred. Between the seventh century when Muhammad died and the 10th century, many Islamic legal scholars attempted to interpret the Sharia and to adapt it to the expanding Muslim Empire.

The classic Sharia of the 10th century represented an important part of Islam's golden age. From that time, the Sharia has continued to be reinterpreted and adapted to changing circumstances and new issues. In the modern era, the influences of Western colonialism generated efforts to codify it.

Following Muhammad's death in A.D. 632, companions of the Prophet ruled Arabia for about 30 years. These political-religious rulers, called Caliphs, continued to develop Islamic law with their own pronouncements and decisions. The first Caliphs also conquered territories outside Arabia including Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Persia, and Egypt.

Islamic law grew along with the expanding Muslim Empire. The Umayyad dynasty Caliphs, who took control of the empire in 661, extended Islam into India, Northwest Africa, and Spain. The Umayyads appointed Islamic judges, kadis, to decide cases involving Muslims. (Non-Muslims kept their own legal system.) Knowledgeable about the Koran and the teachings of Muhammad, kadis decided cases in all areas of the law.

Following a period of revolts and civil war, the Umayyads were overthrown in 750 and replaced by the Abbasid dynasty. During the 500-year rule of the Abbasids, the Sharia reached its full development.

Under their absolute rule, the Abbasids transferred substantial areas of criminal law from the kadis to the government. The kadis continued to handle cases involving religious, family, property, and commercial law.

The Abbasids encouraged legal scholars to debate the Sharia vigorously. One group held that only the divinely inspired Koran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad should make up the Sharia. A rival group, however, argued that the Sharia should also include the reasoned opinions of qualified legal scholars. Different legal systems began to develop in different provinces.

From this very brief history of the Islamic empire and the development of the Sharia, some scholars argue that the Sharia evolved over time and transformed to meet the needs to society during their respective times. In other words, the Shariah was not static but dynamic.

Other scholars argue that the Sharia was already present during the time of the Prophet and was already fully developed by the time the Prophet died. In other words, this was what was laid down by the Prophet and merely continued after the Prophet died (meaning, the Sharia did not evolve or transform over time). This argument is to support the theory that the Sharia came from God and was not ‘invented’ by man over hundreds of years following the death of the Prophet.

In an attempt to reconcile the rival groups, a brilliant legal scholar named Shafiee systematized and developed what were called the "roots of the law". Shafiee argued that in solving a legal question, the kadi or government judge should first consult the Koran. If the answer were not clear there, the judge should refer to the authentic sayings and decisions of Muhammad. If the answer continued to elude the judge, he should then look to the consensus of Muslim legal scholars on the matter. Still failing to find a solution, the judge could form his own answer by analogy from "the precedent nearest in resemblance and most appropriate" to the case at hand.

There are five laws under the Sharia law. Basically, these are:

1. ibadah (ritual worship)
2. mu'amalat (transactions and contracts)
3. adab (morals and manners),
4. i'tiqadat (beliefs)
5. 'uqubat (punishments).

There are three categories of crimes in Sharia law. These are:


1. qisas
2. hudud
3. tazir.

Qisas involves personal injury and has several categories: intentional murder (first-degree), quasi-intentional murder (second-degree), unintentional murder (manslaughter), intentional battery, and unintentional battery.

A qisas offense is treated as a civil case rather than an actual criminal case. If the accused party is found guilty, the victim (or in death, victim's family) determines the punishment, choosing either retribution (qesas-e-nafs), which means execution in the case of intentional murder, imprisonment, and in some cases of intentional battery, the amputation of the limb that was lost; or compensation (diyya) for the loss of life/limb/injury.

The sharia judge (or, in modern sharia systems like those of Iran or Iraq, the state) can convict for and legally punish only qesas crimes on his own authority. However, the state itself may prosecute for crimes committed alongside the qisas offense. If the victim's family pardons the criminal, in addition to the sharia punishment he would normally receive a tazir prison sentence (such as ten to twenty years in prison) for crimes such as "intentional loss of life", "tazir assault and battery" "disturbance of the peace", and so forth.

The second category of crimes is hudud (or hadd). Hudud crimes are crimes whose penalties were laid down by the Qu'ran and are considered to be "crimes against God". The hudud crimes are:

1. adultery (zina), which includes adultery, fornication, incest/pedophilia, rape, and pimping
2. apostasy/blasphemy
3. defamation (meaning false accusation of any of these things)
4. sodomy/lesbianism (or sodomy rape)
5. theft
6. use of intoxicants (alcohol/drug use)
7. "waging war against God and society" (rebellion)

Hudud, therefore, is merely one part of the very broad laws that come under the Islamic Sharia. However, this appears to be the only focus for debate, in particular in Malaysia.

Thus, the current brouhaha about Hudud is only a small part of a very vast Sharia system. In reality, we already have the Shariah in Malaysia. The only thing we do NOT have yet is the Hudud part of Sharia.

Upon closer inspection, the ISA is worse than Hudud. Under the ISA you can be detained BEFORE you commit a crime. That is why the ISA is called a 'preventive law'. Under the Shariah you CAN'T be punished for a crime you have not committed yet. The Sedition Act, Criminal Defamation, etc. are more draconian than Hudud by far.

If we compare apples to apples, there are many elements of the Sharia which are fairer than common laws, and vice versa of course. So we can't say Hudud is better or common law is better. It all depends on specifics. Maybe the one bone of contention is the punishment for theft (hand cutting). If we resolve that one needling issue then the rest is not that much an issue.

Are we opposed to Hudud because it is 'ISLAMIC LAW" OR BECAUSE IT IS UNJUST?

What if it was not called Hudud or Sharia but called 'Common Law'? Would it be acceptable then? For instance, if the Parliament amends laws that decree the punishment for the crime of corruption is firing squad (like China) but it is not called Shariah/Hudud would that be acceptable?

What if Parliament passed a law that the punishment for rape is castration? But this is NOT Islamic law and the word Hudud would not appear. Would many support it then? I would!

Can we disagree that rapists and murderers should not be punished? In fact, many feel Hudud is not even severe enough and they want it more severe. What many do not realise is that the hand cutting punishment is not an automatic thing. The criminal must first be assessed as to why he or she stole. And if it is because of poverty, then instead of cutting off the thief's hand, he or she has to be put under welfare and be taken care of by the state. In fact, the head of the welfare department instead would be punished for neglecting the poor and destitute that resulted in them having to steal to survive.

The issue is the word ISLAM in that law of Hudud, which, as you can see, is a SMALL part of the Sharia.

So what is really happening in the debate? Is hudud being used again by DSAI to curry favor with PAS and as a leverage against DAP to bargain for seat allocation? He expresses his PERSONAL opinion, and then claims he will consult PKR on it later (read more here).

We cannot afford to be battling on such issues and lose sight of the REAL BATTLE before us - winning the next GE! Politics and religion do not mix. Religion should not be used as a subject for political debates or policy decisions. Nip the problem in the bud before this issue brings about the downfall of PR! Let's keep our focus and fight the real enemy!

I suppose, this is Malaysia for you. Malaysians would debate till the cows come home about the Internal Security Act (ISA) whereas the ISA is just one small part of many things that is wrong with the Malaysian justice system and the Malaysian judiciary.

Written by Raja Petra Kamarudin and Masterwordsmith

*This post was written as a result of a discussion on hudud via Skype chat on 23rd September from 5pm to 7.30pm. Masterwordsmith acknowledges with grateful thanks the guidance and input of RPK on this topic. 
___________________
Further reading:
 
1. Stoning Women to Death in Iran and Afghanistan


2. RAINY DAY WOMEN in THE STONE AGE

Actually, this has been such an eventful day that I am still up at 2.13 a.m writing this post. After I wrote my previous post, I showered and made my way to my Facebook page where I have nightly meetings with my former schoolmates reminiscing and joking away in our private old girls' page. During the chat with my girlfriends till 2.05a.m., I floated the idea of doing a fund-raising project for our alma mater. For sure, we all would not be where we are if not for our parents, teachers and schools we attended, not forgetting other positive influences as well. Once I collate the info, our group will certainly try to raise funds for the school and hopefully leave behind a legacy of kindness.

While chatting, I shared with my friends how my friend Noor Kamariah demonstrated so much strength of character and steadfastness in her faith through her semangat. Even though both Noor Kamariah and her husband had been victims of one driver's careless act, they did not speak any word of condemnation; neither were they angry or bitter. Despite experiencing excruciating pain, I could see how the smiles on their faces could not mask their agony. Such strength of character and resilience in the face of such challenges is certainly a rare sight to behold. I am so inspired by Noor Kamariah's gentleness and beautiful nature, her husband's sincerity and the love and care of their two beautiful girls. A happy family can be seen in the type of children we bring up. Certainly, the two girls were warm to us from the moment they saw us as we were walking along the corridor. Their sweet smiles in the face of such adversities show their strength of spirit. What an inspiration!

And this evening, when I was at the hospital, I received a sms from a Facebook friend - Rosie Chan - from KL. Her husband, Siew, passed away this evening when she was still at work. My deepest condolences to Rosie and her family.

The first time I met Rosie in person was in Nov '11 when she came to support Juanophobia at the Polo Rocks competition. I was struck by her warm smile and bubbly spontaneity in the way she greeted me and we just clicked from there. It was later in the evening that she shared with me about her husband's fight against cancer. And I felt so bad. There she was - a devoted working mother who had to care for her husband, and yet, despite the distance from her home, drove all the way to The Curve to give her support.  My heart goes out to Rosie and her loved ones during this time of grief and loss.

I was just so struck by these two women this evening. And I thought to myself - each of us has our own struggles, our own pains to bear but no matter what, we have to be positive and to cope that we can rise above such circumstances without being bitter, but better!

No matter what challenging circumstances we may face, I believe God (whichever God you believe in) will take care of us. We can derive much strength from above through prayer. If you are facing any situation in your life, I really hope that God will take care of you and that you will ride the storm beautifully and emerge a stronger and wiser person.

I listened to the following song - an old hymn - sung by a young couple and their TWO-YEAR OLD son. And I was moved to tears by the simple faith and exuberance of the little boy. I have watched the clip at least 10 times already - the little boy is such a natural born singer and so cute!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THAT VIDEO CLIP of a family singing God Will Take Care of You.
It is absolutely amazing that this two-year-old can memorise the lyrics of the song and sing so exuberantly with much faith and fervor that can be heard clearly, especially towards the end of the clip where his voice increases in volume and strength! And that is how we should fight the race - stronger at the finishing line! God will take care of you. I truly believe He will.

Take care and may you be blessed over and over again. Good night.

A recent study on Rising Restrictions on Religion by the Pew Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life has discovered that religious tolerance is in retreat in the world.

The study revealed that one-third of people face increasing harassment when seeking to practise their faith. 

The three-year research through to mid-2009 discovered that restrictions on religious beliefs and practices rose in 23 of the world's 198 countries and fell in 12. In the other countries, restrictions were essentially the same.

An increase in religious freedom as measured by declines in government restrictions or social hostilities that target particular religious groups existed for only one per cent of the world's population.

The report said that the countries registering high or rising government or social harassment of their populations on religious grounds included India, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

This is the official website.

Of particular interest to us would be THIS REPORT on Government Restrictions on Religion by country.

Summary of results is available here.

Social hostilities index can be viewed here. 

Other links are available here.

Press release is available here. 

This link will lead you to the executive summary. If you scroll down, the table on Changes in Restrictions Among the 25 Most Populous Countries is fantastic because it provides a slider for you to see the changes for each year.

Do leave a comment if you wish to share your thoughts.

Thanks and have a nice day!

I am not a religious person but I am concerned about the Alkitab issue for the sake of those who need to use the Alkitab. This evening, I came across an excellent article in The Malaysian Insider which I am reposting here. Do read it and leave your comment to share your thoughts.

Keeping the faith  by The Malaysian Insider

In an ideal world, one would put the Alkitab fiasco down to the actions of ignorant and insensitive government officials.

And there appeared to be some relief yesterday when Putrajaya’s Performance and Management Delivery Unit (Pemandu) issued a press release saying all is well and the two importers have accepted a 10-point formula to solve the impasse over the impounded 35,000 Malay bibles.

But we only have the good word of Pemandu, which had its earlier release by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala torn to shreds by his colleague, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

We still don’t know what the Christians have to say about these impounded Alkitab. Will they accept it from the importers? They have asked for time to reflect on the matter.

After all, the bibles have been locked up from them for more than two years. What are a few more days, a few more weeks or a few more months for them to forgive the government for what it has done, as asked by Jala in his initial statement.

As said from the outset, in an ideal world, this furore could have been dismissed. But our world isn’t ideal, and some key officials have handled the issue so badly that one would find it hard to forgive and forget, let alone have faith in them and the government they represent.

After all, the solution to the Alkitab issue only gathered speed when the Sarawak election was announced. Is there a correlation or just a coincidence that bibles ostensibly held up due to the ‘Allah’ ruling can finally be released without much fuss, in Sarawak and Sabah, of course.

Did the authorities only now realise the number of Christians in these two states? Wouldn’t the number of Malay bibles be a giveaway?

CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.

Is the Alkitab being released just to get votes and keep Sarawak as a “fixed deposit”? State Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud did not mince his words yesterday when he called the Home Ministry stamp on the Malay bibles a stupid act.

Will he call for the stupid act to be punished by Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will be campaigning in Sarawak from today until the eve of the April 16 vote?

Will the home minister go beyond his statement in Pemandu to explain the inordinate delay over the release of the bibles and not link it to the ‘Allah’ ruling which happened months after the Alkitab copies were impounded?

CLICK HERE for the rest of the entry.

Thanks to blog reader Evelyn Choo who sent me the following post ten minutes ago.

Pray for the people of CARNAVON, QUEENSLAND, NEW ZEALAND & JAPAN and a BIG THANK YOU, dear God for keeping us SAFE


Prayer for the people of affected by the DISASTERS


THIS WONDERFUL PRAYER WAS PASSED ON TO US SO WE ARE PASSING IT ON. EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!


Dear God, I just want to say THANK YOU,
Because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were.

Because this morning my home was still standing,
Because this morning I am not crying
Because my spouse, my child, my brother or sister and my parent do not need to be buried
or to be pulled out from underneath a pile of concrete,
Because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water,
Because this morning I was able to turn on the light,
Because this morning I was able to take a shower,
Because this morning I was not planning a funeral,

But most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Japan .

Dear God, I cry out to you, the One that makes the impossible, possible,
The One that turns darkness in to light,
I cry out that You give those mothers strength,

That You give them peace that surpasses all understanding,
That You may open the streets so that help can come,
That You may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye.

For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on!
Protect the children and shield them with your power.
Have mercy on us and deliver, save, provide for and heal those victims in Japan, New Zealand and Myanmar.


Please pass this on to your friends. Let us continue to pray for them and also to be thankful for what we have and where we are in our lives.

The following was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista, CA. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well? And he had such an assignment, in California, and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen ! ...

EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.'

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.'

'You should always go to church on Sabbath because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God.'

I was filled with much sadness when I read the NYT report by Rachel Donadio, Alan Cowell and Eamon Quinn (reporting from Vatican City, Paris and Dublin respectively) about a sex abuse scandal that spread across Europe, including Germany. There, Pope Benedict XVI apologized directly and personally to victims and their families in Ireland, expressing “shame and remorse” and saying “your trust had been betrayed and your dignity has been violated.”



I feel very sorry for the victims of the abuse that went on for DECADES and the fact that they have had to live with this for the greater part of their lives in silence and in pain. When they had the courage to speak up, they met a cold wall of disbelief. I truly pray that the victims will go through the process of inner healing. Sadly, he did not specifically speak of the form of punishment.

Excerpt from the report:

His message, in a long-awaited, eight-page pastoral letter to Irish Catholics, seemed couched in strong and passionate language. But it did not refer directly to immediate disciplinary action beyond sending a special apostolic delegation to investigate unspecified dioceses and religious congregations in Ireland. Moreover, it was, as the Vatican said it would be, focused particularly on the situation in Ireland, even as the crisis has widened among Catholics in Ireland, Austria, the Netherlands and Germany.

“You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated,” the pope told Irish victims and their families. ...

Nowhere in the letter did Benedict address the responsibility of the Vatican itself. Many victims’ groups have criticized the Vatican for not recognizing the depth and scope of the abuse crisis sooner. Nor did he use the term punishment, or spell out any consequences for clergy or bishops who had not upheld canon or civil law. Indeed, he laid blame firmly with Irish Catholic leaders.

“I can only share in the dismay and the sense of betrayal that so many of you have experienced on learning of these sinful and criminal acts and the way church authorities in Ireland dealt with them,” he said. Addressing a section of his letter to abusers, the pope said they must “answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals” urging them to pray for forgiveness, “submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy.” He did not specify the nature of the tribunals. CLICK HERE to read more.

Please leave a comment if you wish to share your thoughts or views. Thanks. This evening, let us remember in our prayers the victims of this abuse in Ireland and other parts of the world. Take care and have a restful evening.

In the wee hours of the morning,I was greatly surprised when I received an e-mail from my son. I reckon this was the second time he had sent me an e-mail so happily I clicked to read and it was a one-liner telling me about the story of a video and how he knew I would love such emotional stories. When I saw the title, I sort of guessed the outcome of this story as I am sure you would too.

So who's Eliot and why is he so famous?

Elliot was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body. However, through this innocent life, God showed Himself through this boy who never uttered a word. He showed us that life is precious and that we should always treasure what we have in our lives.

In the midst of heartbreaking tragedy, the Mooney family found the presence of God strengthening, comforting, and guiding them. Their story reminds us to seek God and endure our struggles rather than blame Him for our hardships. It is always very easy to become negative during trials and temptations but the truth is, it is during such trying times that we become stronger when we see ourselves and God more clearly.

For more about Eliot's family, please CLICK THIS LINK.

This is sad, yet heart warming. God bless this family!

The family is from Fayetteville, AK. Get your tissues ready.

The powerful story of Elliot's 99 days represented by 99 balloons. How can we ever explain the overwhelming feeling of love found and then lost? This is for all parents out there who have gone through such a painful experience of losing one's precious child. It is unimaginable yet they go on with such courage, such spirit! This video reminds us of how precious life is and how profound God's gift is to us~ our children.



I watched this video so many times. Each time, I wipe the tears from my eyes when I see how this child holds on fighting for dear life. No one can ever understand God's plans for our lives. Sometimes, we may think we have everything in our hands. When we watch this video, we see how a loving baby with loving hands can steal our hearts. True, he suffered but God took the pain in tears away. Angels carried him through those pretty pearly gates of heaven and all that the parents can do now is to remember the 99 days they shared with Eliot.

For those of us who are parents, let us treasure our children and our families. For those of us who have parents, let us not forget how they took care of us when we were babies and to be always thankful for what we have and who we have in our lives.

Life is precious - treasure it!!!! Have a lovely day!

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The following information about Trysomy 18 is taken from Wikipedia:

Trisomy 18 (T18) (also known as Trisomy E or Edwards Syndrome) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. It is named after John H. Edwards, who first described the syndrome in 1960. It is the second most common autosomal trisomy, after Down Syndrome, that carries to term.

Trisomy 18 is caused by the presence of three—as opposed to two—copies of chromosome 18 in a fetus or infant's cells. The incidence of the syndrome is estimated as one in 3,000 live births. The incidence increases as the mother's age increases. The syndrome has a very low rate of survival, resulting from heart abnormalities, kidney malformations, and other internal organ disorders.

Prognosis

The survival rate of Edwards Syndrome is very low. About 95% die in utero. Of liveborn infants, only 50% live to 2 months, and only 5–10% will survive their first year of life. Major causes of death include apnea and heart abnormalities. It is impossible to predict the exact prognosis of an Edwards Syndrome child during pregnancy or the neonatal period. The median life span is five to fifteen days. One percent of children born with this syndrome live to age ten, typically in cases of the less severe mosaic Edwards syndrome.

Features and characteristics

Infants born with Edwards syndrome may have some or all of the following characteristics: kidney malformations, structural heart defects at birth (i.e., ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus), intestines protruding outside the body (omphalocele), esophageal atresia, mental retardation, developmental delays, growth deficiency, feeding difficulties, breathing difficulties, and arthrogryposis (a muscle disorder that causes multiple joint contractures at birth).

Some physical malformations associated with Edwards syndrome include: a small head (microcephaly) accompanied by a prominent back portion of the head (occiput), low-set, malformed ears, abnormally small jaw (micrognathia), cleft lip/cleft palate, upturned nose, narrow eyelid folds (palpebral fissures), widely-spaced eyes (ocular hypertelorism), drooping of the upper eyelids (ptosis), a short breast bone, clenched hands, underdeveloped thumbs and or nails, absent radius, webbing of the second and third toes, clubfoot or Rocker bottom feet, and undescended testicles in males.

In utero, the most common characteristic is cardiac anomalies, followed by central nervous system anomalies such as head shape abnormalities. The most common intracranial anomaly is the presence of choroid plexus cysts, which is a pocket of fluid on the brain that is not problematic in itself but may be a marker for Trisomy 18. Sometimes excess amniotic fluid or polyhydramnios is exhibited.

At this point of time, my Muslim friends and blog readers all over the world must be busy either heading home or are at home finalizing the preparations for Hari Raya Puasa. Despite being a non-Muslim, I believe that this festival has deep significance and is a very meaningful one to Muslims.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Hari Raya is also known as Lebaran. This festival is celebrated by Muslims in Malaysia and other Muslims throughout the world. If we were to look at the term, "Hari Raya" literally means "Day of Celebration". Usually, the main greeting used in Malaysia when greeting each other is "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid" in Malay.

This time, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is all the more meaningful to me because a blogger friend Chahya has been faithfully posting meaningful and spiritual posts on Hari Raya in her blog with beautiful excerpts from the Quran, inspirational thoughts and pictures as well. Personally, it was a very refreshing experience to read the excerpts from the Quran in her blog and I am simply astounded by the beautiful language used, especially since it has been a long time since I read anything as beautiful in Malay.

For the benefit of foreign readers, here's some information to help you to better understand HariRaya. The month leading up to Hari Raya is known as Ramadhan and during this time, Muslims must to fast from dawn to dusk. All Muslims except those who are young, old or the infirm must fast. Muslims must also abstain from pleasures such as smoking cigarettes and intimate activities during the daylight of the fasting month.

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is actually a joyous occasion for Muslims as it signifies the personal triumph of the believer and the a victory of self-restraint and abstinence from food for a month. Symbolically, it symbolises purification and the renewal. It is not easy to fast - honestly. I have the greatest respect for Muslims because of the willpower, commitment and discipline to fast ffrom dawn to dusk for one whole month. Fasting is definitely a very good practice and is encouraged in Christianity and other religions as well. When fasting, one concentrates on God and attention is diverted from worldly things. I am very sure that after the fasting period, my Muslim friends are definitely renewed in their minds and bodies and for sure, the celebration is a joyous one.

For my country Malaysia, the period of fasting ends when the new moon is sighted on the evening of the last day of Ramadhan which could be today as indicated by the lunar calendar. The actual sighting is conducted by state appointed religious officials at various vantage points (usually at hilltops) throughout the country. Once the crescent is sighted, there is an official announcement made over the air in the evening to declare the following day as the first day of Aidil Fitri - the beginning of the 10th month of the Muslim calendar Syawal.

Even though Aidilfitri is celebrated for the whole month of Syawal, in Malaysia, only the first two days are observed as public holidays. This year, regardless of whether it falls or Sunday or Monday, Malaysians enjoy Monday and Tuesday off. Public schools are closed for ten days and many Muslims take the first week off from work to make their annual pilgrimage to their hometowns in a journey popularly called balik kampung (which means return to the village) to be with parents, relatives and old friends. Places like Kuala Lumpur will be relatively quiet during the festive season of Aidil Fitri.

On the morning of the first day Hari Raya, Muslims congregate at mosques for morning prayers. decked out in their traditional best to mark the special occasion after which they will enjoy breakfast at home with the family, followed by a visit to the cemetery where deceased loved ones are remembered; graves are cleaned and cleared of overgrowth, and prayers are offered to Allah.

Children and old folks are given duit raya or gifts of money, in small green packets. (Chinese do the same during Chinese New Year except these are given in red packets). Usually, the first three days are busier as many Muslims including Ministers and political parties, hold 'open house' throughout the month, where friends and neighbours of other races are invited to join in the celebrations. During such occasions, an array of Malay delicacies such as rendang (a dry beef curry which is cooked over a slow fire for many hours) and ketupat (picture above), serunding, traditional dishes and cookies are served. Visiting each other regardless of colour or creed is a Malaysian practice that certainly binds us together as Malaysians.

Personally, I believe that Hari Raya Puasa, as well as the other festivals of other Malaysians, is a very beautiful and meaningful festival because it is a time of reflection, a time of forgiveness and reconciliation, a time to reunite and to strengthen not only family ties but also to forgive and forget past quarrels with friends and loved ones. Muslims greet each other with "Maaf Zahir Batin" which means "I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually". It is an act to ask for pardon which is done in order of seniority. The younger members of a family approach their elders (parents, grandparents etc) to seek forgiveness, to salam (Muslim equivalent of a handshake), then kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect, truly a very beautiful act indeed.

I would like to wish all my Muslim friends, blogger friends, blog readers/visitors and relatives "Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri". May you all have safe journeys to and fro wherever you may go and may you be blessed with meaningful moments with your loved ones.