Until we grow up

These dogs are so cute. Thanks to a brother who shared this with me. It reminds me that as long as people do not grow up, the leash of external compliance is still needed.

Living with a Magnificent Obsession

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:1-2)

Pentecost Sunday is in a few days' time, this coming Sunday to be precise. Occurring about 50 days after Easter, this day is remembered as the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples who were meeting together as a church. It stirred up a great revival and led to a movement that changed the world forever. This is what turned out to be a magnificent obsession. A passion for sharing the glory of God with anyone, and everyone.

The American author, entrepreneur, and a philanthropist called Napoleon Hill calls the "magnificent obsession" as one that uses one's entire resource to help make the world a better place for all. In his book of the same name, he writes,

"Develop an obsession — a Magnificent Obsession — to help others. Share yourself without expecting a reward, payment, or commendation. And above all else — keep your good turn a secret. And, if you do this, you will set in motion the powers of a universal law. For, try as you will to avoid payment for your good deed — blessings and rewards will be showered upon you." (Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1987, 228-9)

Wow. What a legacy of giving. What a way to desire to bless others with all.

I am not crazy over success seminars. Yet, I am keenly aware that many of the inspiring thoughts are essential for good mental health. If in doubt, always let the Bible be the reference. I have two thoughts with regards to such 'magnificent obsession.' Firstly, I support this attitude of desiring to help others. It is a noble thing. One does not need to justify having such a desire. It is an in-built emotion in all of us. It is a reflection of us being made in the image of God. I like Hill's attitude of not expecting anything in return even as we give all of ourselves away. It reminds me of how Napoleon Hill himself, bequesting his money away through the Napoleon Hill Foundation, which expressly states its mission as: "Our mission is to make this world a better place in which to live."

Secondly, we need to take a step back periodically to check our motives. Like the popular saying, too much of a good thing is not that good, just like having too much honey or salt on our food. The wise proverbs teach us.

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint." (Proverbs 23:4)

This proverb will help us put things and life in perspective. Even when we have a "magnificent obsession" to do all the good that we can, we need to show restraint by letting the Holy Spirit direct us always. How much to make? When to earn? What to give? Who to share? It is one thing to make it our ambition to give away all our possessions. It is yet another to trust the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts. Far better than having riches in our hands to give away is to have a rich heart that we learn to give not only our possessions, but ourselves away. This is the way of Christ. Disciples are to follow Him in thought, word, and deed.

When the Spirit of the Lord moves, great things happen. It is far better than a magnificent obsession. It becomes a great mission. While the efforts of Napoleon Hill tries to make this world a better place to live in, the efforts of disciples of Christ go much farther. It includes a world that is beyond the current world.

conrade

Changing Face of Learning Our ABCs

Not too long ago, this is how kids learn their ABCs.

Now, this is how kids learn their ABCs.

Time changes. So do our ABCs.

conrade 

Learn to Laugh: at Rejection Letter

This is a hilarious video of a little baby. The father has just received a job rejection letter. Look what happens when dad rips the letter..... (link)

Sometimes, when we are down and discouraged, little children has that magical ability to lift us up. For more on the family, go to here.

c

Missions Fest 2011 (Jan 28-30, 2011)

Each year, many Christian organizations, schools, and mission agencies come together for a major conference cum exhibition. The purpose is to raise awareness of the need for Churches and Christians from all over, about the calling to be missional. The theme for this year is "What Does the Lord Require of You?"

Image From: missionsfestvancouver.ca

Where?
Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC),
999 Canada Place, Vancouver BC Canada

When?
January 28th - 30th, 2011.

• Friday (9am - 10pm)
• Saturday (9am - 10pm)
• Sunday (9am - 5pm)

What Is It About?
Download the program magazine here. General admission is free, but some of the other programs are not. Check the schedule here.

What Are the Programs?
Lots. There are:

1. Conferences / Talks (speakers)
2. Movies / Mission Films (link)
3. Exhibition Booths (link)
4. Places to Sign Up for Missions (link)

and many more....

Here is the promotion video.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in America. Here's a lovely Moravian thanksgiving prayer I like.

Come, Lord Jesus, our guest to be
And bless these gifts
Bestowed by Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them in Your loving care.

conrade

eShopping with CSN Stores

One of the benefits of the Internet is the ability to shop from home, using the Internet. As technology becomes more ubiquitous, people are becoming more comfortable in shipping online. The YellowPages have the popular phrase: "Let your fingers do the walking." With modern Internet, we can say, "Let your online connection do the shopping." I must admit, that the range of products are huge.

Apart from Amazon.com which is popular for books, I am currently exploring an online opportunity with CSN Stores, to review their site and some of their products. One of them is 'track lighting,' and many other household products. If you want to check them out on your own, before reading my review, you can do so here.

I hope to offer some comments to my readers, and to provide another source for online shopping, especially for the busy person. Do stay tuned for my review in the coming weeks, for I will post some giveaways (through gift coupons courtesy of CSN Stores). This posting does not mean I officially endorse/Not-endorse the site. I am still reviewing them.

conrade

Well Done! Canada!

Congratulations! Well done. The Canadian national ice hockey team's gold medal is the icing on the cake for Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Yapdates would like to salute the athletes and the Canadian people for embracing the world and sharing the celebratory mood with all.

I watched the gold medal game together with church friends this afternoon. The passions are high and everyone share one common goal: A Win for Canada. After Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal, the entire country erupted into a joyous celebration. Within minutes, people throng the streets of Vancouver and major cities all over the nation. It is an unbelievable sight and ecstatic experience. Thanks Canada for a great organization of one of the most unforgettable Olympics.

conrade

Five (or Six!) Foods That Fix Bad Breath

This article is interesting because it talks about something which affects practically everyone. According to the authors who write under the pseudonymn of RealAge, the foods are:

1. Lemons;
2. Parsley and other green garnishing;
3. Apples;
4. Crunchy spices;
5. Mint sprigs or cinnamon sticks
6. Berries and yogurt.

My Comments
Incidentally, even though the title is 5, the authors list 6. I suspect that these foods were basically mumbled off the hip just to reach a number that is near 5. All of the recommendations are either fruits or vegetable origin. There is no red meat on the list. According to some dental experts, the main cause of bad breath is from the whitish layer that accumulates on the tongue. If that is the case, probably the best way to get rid of bad breath is to tackle the source. I used to see lots of metallic 'tongue scrapers' on sale when I was living in Asia. Here in Vancouver, I do not see them as much.

There is one important thing that they left out: Drink lots of water.

ks

Melting....

Today is another of those hot record in Vancouver BC. My normal activities have come to a standstill. See the news here. There is a news video here that tells it all.

A Heat Record!

Sweltering heat! A new record has been set for Vancouver BC, at 34 degrees Celsius (93F). I could not even do my normal work. It is said that today will be the hottest (VancouverSun). Even with help of the friendly trees surrounding my house, the heat is still very uncomfortable. Heat practically emanates from the ground surface, as if they are solar heat generators. I have experienced high 34-35 degree heat before back in the Far East. Yet, I find 34 degrees rather hard to handle, given the thinner Northern atmosphere.

However, take comfort, my dear friends in Vancouver. Soldiers in Iraq have to carry heavy gear on their bodies on top of higher than 38 degree C (100F) (USAToday). Some of the top 10 cool tips I have for taking the heat cheerfully are listed below. You can let me know if you have more recommendations.

1. WATER: Drink lots of It.
2. FREQUENCY: Take care to drink water more frequently
3. LOTION: Put some UV lotion to avoid sun-burn
4. SHOWER: Take a nice cold shower. If you have access to a swimming pool, use it.
5. LIBRARY: Go to the Library.
6. OFFICE: Stay in the air-conditioned office
7. ICE-CREAM: Have a nice cone. I prefer the Popsicle.
8. SLOW DOWN: This helps moderate heat from inside our bodies
9. PRAY: Ask the LORD for a cool relief at periodic times of the day.
10. MALL: Go to a shopping mall. Enjoy the cool atmosphere.

Above all, try to stay cool emotionally and not do stupid things because of the heat, like blaring our loud music to disturb the peace, impatience at the traffic and rude behaviour when outside. Stay cool by simply going slow. Trust that it not only helps our neighbours, it will also help us.

Now let me take my kids for a cool walk to the library, then the mall. Cannot do much work in the heat.

ks

• More tips on tackling the heat wave (Charmeck)
• "Beating the Heat in NYC" About.com
• Sleeping tips (myNorthwest)

Spicing Up My Blog

This blog has been in operation since July 2005. I am looking spicing it up. Today, I added in a local weather widget that you can obtain from iBegin weather. Unfortunately it is only applicable for US and Canada locations only. Hopefully, the owners will work on going global soon. You can see the local weather in Vancouver, BC Canada on the right side of this blog. Check back for more spices in the next couple of weeks. Enjoy.

If you have suggestions on how to spice up blogs, let me know. I'll appreciate it.

ks

Consider the Sparrow

A friend of mine highlighted this short 5min film in Greek (with English subtitles). It is rather meaningful and heart warming.



Comments welcome.

ks

Review - "Failing America's Faithful"

Title: Failing America's Faithful - How today's churches are mixing God with Politics and Losing their way.

Author: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

Publisher: NY: Warner Books, 2007 (206pp)

Townsend is the niece of the late US President John F Kennedy. In a way, this book is a small biography of her life. This book appears like another of those calls for churches to keep their hands off politics. In that sense, the title is needlessly provocative, and can become an innocent missile waiting to be hurled at the much criticized conservative-Right in America. One could not be more wrong. The author instead is calling for the Christian public, both Catholics and Protestants, both evangelical left and right, both churches and governments to be more outward-looking than inward. One ought to build up more social capital rather than personal wealth.

POSITIVE REMINDERS

• Written with the Christian in mind, Townsend seeks to remind them to return to their roots of faith exhibited by outward care for socially needy, the poor, the marginalized among us.


• Her message is consistent that regardless of our different religious affiliations, our call to love God and neighbor remains the same;
• An inward ‘spiritual awakening’ is needed for outward transformation
• God’s Church is a ‘welcoming one’ and not a ‘rejecting one.’ (34)
• Catholics need to be reminded of their tradition and rich history of social justice and affirmative actions;
• Protestants need to practice greater inclusivity, to learn from the ways of Martin Luther King Jr (civil rights advocate); Rick Warren (PEACE movement); Puritans (pay attention to needy); Jonathan Edwards (equality for all; and preaching hope of heaven);
• Being a ‘Christian nation’ essentially means having BOTH charitable ‘hearts’ as well as ‘hands’, not simply ‘voting Republican.’

MY CRITIQUE

• The title can mislead. Her main message is not for the Church to disengage from politics totally, but to re-engage in a more constructive manner.
• Her claims of politicians putting sexuality and reproduction at the forefront seem to let the press off the hook (26-27).
• Her concluding chapter contains many good ideas. However, there is a sense that many of those point to ‘charitable heads,’ without a proportional treatment of how to cultivate ‘charitable hearts.’
• Her accusation of the Catholic Church’s patriarchal mindset appears one-sided.
• Only toward the end did she admit that the primary audience she had was Christians. Perhaps, this should be mentioned earlier in the book.

In conclusion, I believe the book augers well to irritate comfortable hearts of Christians living a life of plenty, of power and of possessions. The only way to appreciate the charitable actions mentioned in her final chapter is for each reader to first experience a ‘spiritual awakening’ of their own. That, can only be done by the Holy Spirit, which is why I appreciate her ending the book with a prayer. Kudos to Townsend for a great first book of hers!

ks

Otters!

I love this. Bing continues to impress......

(Credit: Microsoft Bing, 23rd June 2009)

New Search Engine from Microsoft

Like many, I have been a frequent user of Google search. However, this latest search engine from Microsoft does have one upper hand: It's wallpaper is beautiful.

Leave That Lady Alone

Leave Susan Boyle alone. That is my call to the press, the paparazzi and all those pesky busy-bodies. It seems like every major media group has picked up on this surprised result (Susan Boyle did not win Britain's Got Talent), and continues to shine a spotlight on her being 'weak' and not able to withstand pressure when she was hospitalized. The press all over the world is reporting this new like crazy.

• The New York Times;
• The Los Angeles Times;
• The Telegraph;
• Asia1 (Singapore)....
• and many more...
  

Google news recorded more than 1700 news articles on her hospitalization alone. That's a lot of publicity. Enough is enough. Leave Susan Boyle alone. We should all play our part. If we say we love Susan's amazing story, let's do the best for her right now. In your special ways, ask the press to back off.

Who Lost?
In a nutshell, I believe Susan Boyle did not lose. The over-enthusiastic hyped-up minds lost.
Gamblers who bet on her winning lost. The world intent on a fairty-tale-ending, lost. Susan just wanted to do her best, and in that sense she won. She is already a winner since that sensational first wow entry into stardom. Yes, fame has its costs. Popularity exacts a huge demand on anyone who garner millions of hits on Youtube. Yet, let us not forget that Susan, like all of us is still human. Anyone of us, put under the constant spotlight and subject to continuous media onslaught will eventually break down. When a person throws his or her tantrums in front of the camera, it does not mean that person is bad tempered or not able to control himself or herself. Let us not forget the contexts which caused it all. The bamboo may be of a strong material. Put excessive pressure on it and it too will break. Point is, anything or anyone can break. Just apply the pressure. I join with Piers Mogan, one of the judges of Britain's Got Talent in saying: "Leave Susan Boyle Alone!"


ks

Rise of a new Google Wave?

(Image Credit: GoogleBlog)

Rise of a New Wave?
First there was the plain telephone call, the conventional note taking on paper, and then the writing of letters, envelope, stamps, saliva and all. Then comes computers which allow people to post information on bulletin boards. Using applications that run listservs, people can retrieve information by sending specific commands. Text-based information can be obtained when one has the right address and system. With the internet and graphical interface, communications improve with multimedia capabilities. Emails have to co-exist with increasingly cool social networking media like Facebook and Twitter. Embedding features within features fast become a norm. You can find chat applications from within many web-based programs. One can also attach videos, MP3s, photos alongside plain vanilla text or rich text documents, from inside any modern web interfaces. Just when we think we have enough of such integration, look at the next wave. What happens when you try to combine traditional email, regular chatrooms, multimedia rich interface, embedded social networking tools, and real-time communications into one platform?
Google thinks that they have found the answer in WAVE. (Thanks to Matt Jones for pointing this out in his Facebook notes)

What is Google Wave?
It is a clever play of words. When people ask what is the ‘next wave’ in technology, Google will get the mindshare again with its new soon-to-be-launched web platform. What is Wave?

Technically, it is mainly a web-based application. The idea is that it taps all possible Internet communications currently available and presents them within one platform. If finely integrated, it presents a very convenient way for users to do real time communications. Rather than opening multiple programs or logging into different communications accounts, it is a compelling advantage to have all in one application 'shell'.

However, I still have some reservations. In terms of monopoly, I feel that they (Google) is trying to do for the web-based communications, what Microsoft tried to do previously for the PC. Remember how Microsoft ‘embeds’ many other things into their Windows hegemony like including Internet Explorer (killing Netscape), various Norton-utilities-like programs (ruining PCTools and Symantec), integrating MS Office tightly with Windows (messing up other Office offerings) and others? Google is aiming to monopolize the Internet communications platform just like the way they are dominating the search engine industry. I understand that Google has been trying to break into the runaway success of Facebook and Twitter, and WAVE is one specific response to Facebook.

What are the implications of Wave? I am not sure yet, but I will be keen to hear from those of you who are technology savvy. I have signed up for the early preview here. Until then, it will be beneficial to think through the implications in terms of our way of work when such an initiative takes off.

Read more about Google Wave from the Google blog here, or here and here.

ks

Consolidating the Moderates

He has done it again. In his speech to students at Notre Dame, Obama appears to walk the thin line between the right and left. (Check out the report here.) It was a speech that touches on several sensitive matters. One of them is abortion and the moral high grounds that fuel the various perspectives surrounding it. Most important, it is a glimpse of the style of America’s newest leader.

Consolidating the Moderates
- While the pro-life camp continues to campaign for Pro-life, the opposing Pro-Choice section appear to be pleased about the current limelight shed on a President who appears more sympathetic to abortion rights activists. His conciliatory approach can be evident from his words:

"The soldier and the lawyer may both love this country with equal passion, and yet reach very different conclusions on the specific steps needed to protect us from harm. The gay activist and the evangelical pastor may both deplore the ravages of HIV/AIDS, but find themselves unable to bridge the cultural divide that might unite their efforts. Those who speak out against stem-cell research may be rooted in admirable conviction about the sacredness of life, but so are the parents of a child with juvenile diabetes who are convinced that their son's or daughter's hardships can be relieved." (Obama, Speech at University of Notre Dame, 17 May 2009)

What is significant in his words are not the words but the objective behind the words: Setting out a common platform for meaningful discussions. The purpose of ‘so-do-they’ is to unite contentious parties by showing all that everyone is fighting for some common good to happen in the country. I think, more then ever, Obama is trying to re-awake the largely-silent moderates, who rank among the majority in society. Psychologically, moderates do appear to be quieter than radicals from either left or right. If they were to protest anything, it will be relatively muted due to their restrained nature and approach. It is this modest energy from the middle group that makes them less news-worthy or popular with the press and media. After-all, who will want to listen to a ‘boring’ perspective. Tabloids sell more when there is a major disturbance or headline breaking news.

Unfortunately, such an approach while trying to consolidate the moderates, it can also further alienate extremists from either right or left. One powerful vocal can easily communicate louder voices of dissent compared to hundreds of largely quiet moderates. It is a double whammy: of numbers as well as intensity.

I applaud Obama’s style as it is a fresh voice that seeks to earnestly invite all parties of interest to the same table. He dares to engage rather than dismiss. Without compromising his personal beliefs, he extends a welcome to the traditional factions so that they can stand on the common podium of peace and need to work together. He wants to consolidate them into the fold of the moderates. As a new and young President, Obama has fresh ideas and people will more likely give him the benefit of the doubt.

My Comment
In summary, Obama’s speech at Notre Dame is a glimpse for the public on how the new President is going to approach controversies. The focus seems to be more on STYLE rather than content, more observable talk than walk and more cool headed discussions rather than heated tantrums. He may need to make unpopular decisions. However, his faith (religious-left) is symbolized by his words: “We worship an awesome God in the blue states.” To the right-conservatives, Obama tries to communicate that they (the left) are Christians too. In doing so, he is trying to assure the liberal-left, that they are no less Christian than the conservatives. Personally, I am glad that Obama chooses to optimize fresh-starts early on in his presidency, especially potentially divisive social-religious issues. He is not one to shy away from tough issues. As the President, he can't. It is precisely this practice of conciliation that clears the deck for a fresh new shuffling of cards. Obama has invited the players to the table, asking them to come willingly. As he deals out the cards, and the players open them, the next step is to play. As the game proceeds, it may be essential to note that the objective is not necessarily to win the game. Neither is it the prize of winning the hand. Perhaps, the key benefit is to learn to know one another better. At the same time, every player will need to know, that bluffing may only lead one up to a certain point. Nothing can change the kind of cards we receive. Who are we to judge another person on the basis of what cards he/she has. We need to learn to withhold judgment (better still, don’t judge) as much as possible. It is not only a biblical imperative. It is also an act of love for neighbour. In doing so, perhaps the goal of a card game is not necessarily to win or to lose, but to enjoy the game among friends. People who are imperfect but face a common enemy as described below:

"In short, we must find a way to live together as one human family.

It is this last challenge that I'd like to talk about today. For the major threats we face in the 21st century - whether it's global recession or violent extremism; the spread of nuclear weapons or pandemic disease - do not discriminate. They do not recognize borders. They do not see color. They do not target specific ethnic groups.

Moreover, no one person, or religion, or nation can meet these challenges alone. Our very survival has never required greater cooperation and understanding among all people from all places than at this moment in history. "

History has shown how much unity can be forged with intense focus on common goals. I believe that is Obama's chief strategy. It is his way of uniting people by showing them that there are larger and more significant battles to be fought, not our own pet ideologies or supposedly defending our own definition of 'God's purpose.' Rather, it is in working together we learn to enjoy and wonder that God is LARGER than the sum of all fears, and hopes. Obama is helping us appreciate this.

ks

Cedar Springs Christian Retreat (Sumas)

This is one of our favourite Christian Retreat Centers. Beautifully done and makes for a perfect place to bring family and friends to relax and to enjoy the garden of God.




We'll be heading there again this year.