For Love’s Sake

How some women ended up feeling empty in their relationships is because they like to impose conditions and expectations before getting serious with their partner. And are prepared to forsake love if their requirements are not met. They did not marry for love’s sake alone, the so called ‘unconditional love’, or attempt to walk the journey of adventure, of discovery and of acceptance. They marry to please themselves.

Many tied materialism with love. Craftily scheming for the bungalow and Mercedes their friends have without wanting to strife for it. And when they finally got married to a partner who have all that they possibly wanted, and their contribution to the relationship is a meagre suitcase, they compromise on pertinent matters which includes compatibility. Thus when the toil and strife and involvement which makes relationships complete, sweet and fulfilled aren’t there, the void they feel is very real, just when they thought their anxiety is over.

And that’s why God always emphasise on unconditional love. Something they can’t give. Nor accept. Though it is gospel truth.

Comfort Lynching Pests

This world has changed. Pretty quickly.
Unless they are young, no woman would give love the number one priority a man wished for when it comes to relationships anymore. Despite what God preaches, they will dutifully sit on the pews every Sunday without fail and swear their undeniable faith to their saviour. But when it comes to love, they thought it right to save themselves first, God’s wisdom, later.
Many women have argued “I love him. But he doesn’t have a stable career. I can’t live with that. So I gave him a miss!”
Well lady, I think it’s good that you gave him a miss. Because he doesn’t deserve a woman who prioritise comfort over love. When love does not take first place in his life, your love for him is not genuine after all. It’s comfort you lusted for that his two outstretched arms couldn’t give right? What happens if the same guy suddenly has a stable income? Based on that, you’ll love him? And what happens if he lost his stable income after getting tied down with you? Does that mean you’ll again leave him too? So, the conclusion is comfort, in the form of money, is the glue that makes you stay. And all else is fake right? So why go to church then when God’s second most important commandment you can’t accept? And how about the marital vows of “for better and for worse” then? “For good times and for bad?” And “what God hast jointed, no man can separate?” Have you ever gave it a thought that if you love him wholeheartedly, stay and encourage him, that will drive him to achieve the comfort you longed for in no time at all? Or is that too risky a sacrifice for you to make?
Uncannily, the female species has evolved. To a comfort lynching pest. They no longer believe in staying faithful, and sacrifice for their partner she claims to have loved.
Which comes to the interesting point I want to make. Youths or lowering the voting age doesn’t make much difference in vote count in the general elections. It is the woman’s vote that you need to worry about. Because these comfort lynching pest wouldn’t be able to distinguish between legitimate income and illicit ones. Somewhere in the back of their minds is a voice wishing their boyfriends and life partners could have been more daring and be as bad and confident like these corrupt ministers running our country. So that they could lynch on comfort without needing to strive, for a living.
To women, lying and entitlement is something which has been entrenched into their psyche since young. To avoid harm while befriending strangers as advised by parents, they lie, to protect themselves. So lying, or that little white lie is commonplace to them. They always believe they are superheroes when it comes to relationships and that men should pay for their meals. And be the provider of everything. That is entitlement mentality.
So, to derive into them that these corrupt ministers lie, cheat and felt entitled is harder, because they are so used to it. Something they are familiar with. And felt nothing wrong with it. As such, do you think they give any hoots about our corrupt ministers who lie, cheat and felt entitled especially to women who crave for comforts? The answer is no. They’ll befriend any successful men who could provide for them, nevermind what he trades in, the littlest of talents they have.
Thus, it is not complicated to understand that according to a Google survey on woman’s fantasy, top on the list was pirates, famous man, and vampires. So what does this all mean?
It just confirms that to women, (unless they are decent minded), corruption is acceptable and so are bad people. And we hope it is only living in their fantasy, and stays that way.
That said, I don’t mean there are no good women around. There are. Whole family cramping on one motorbike, vegetable sellers, clerks, teachers and or nurses, the list goes on…
For every successful men, is a good woman behind indeed. And for every failed men, is also a women behind him too. Cuts both ways.
What I meant was,crooks does have their fans in the general elections in the form of women, and youths aren’t the determining factor in voting. So, get that right.
And love? What about love and God’s commandment and marital rites? Takes a backseat to comfort.
But you can be sure the pews continue to be flooded. Because more important than love, is salvation.

God’s Grand Plan

Everything in this world is just momentary. Nothing stays forever. The climate changes, trees petrify into rock, love dies, even water dries up.
The universe according to science is made up of sub-atomic particles, but men, as according to creation, are made up of two distinct elements. Body and spirit. The bible teaches us that God forms men out of clay, then breathes life into it. That life, which was breathed into the body, which we call spirit, is the soul. A two-step process. The soul arrives and awakens the body, then stays inside it. And once the soul has achieved its intended purpose, it then leaves the body. The body becomes motionless. That is when we die. In other words, we don’t own our own soul. They are giventh by God to fulfil his grand purpose which without it, our body is lifeless. That means, our soul belongs to God, our creator. Thus, the existence of man is to fulfil the wishes of our creator, because it is through the soul that gives the body life.
So, do not convince yourself that life has no meaning. It does. Each of us has a purpose, which is to fulfil God’s grand plan, the creator’s objective for the universe. Of course, each of our purpose will forever remain a mystery. But we should be proud of it since we are part of God’s grand plan. Putting it in another way, when mortals procreate, men injects seeds into the womb of the woman we mixed with, which then grows. The whole process takes a year, the invisible first three months where the soul travels some distance to the body, adjust and adapts itself to the life form, and the visible nine months where pregnancy is confirmed in the first three months, and then we watch the baby grow in the mothers womb before it was born. And when the baby cries, that is the sound of the frightened soul as it steps out into the unknown world called earth, trapped inside a mortal’s body. That’s how life is made. It will forever be a mystery when our souls would leave us. But more importantly, each of us needs to live life to the fullest, because each of us fulfils God’s grand plan.”

Truths All Good Christians Must Know (and its many myths that should be addressed)

<>
( FOR CHRISTIANS ONLY )

It is almost two decades now I have distanced myself from church. And I have my reasons. I don’t easily fall in line, I can’t conform to rites and rituals, and I have always been an individualist. I am in direct contrast to what others regard as a faithful follower. And I did not know God through the church. Thus, with or without church, my faith did not wane. And my ember did not diminish like an isolated coal they told me it would. But one thing did happen though. After I have turned away from church , not even a single soul from church has ever called me, nor say hello. And it’s been twenty years since. I won’t second guess their erratic behaviour not that I am bothered. But I was given the impression that there’s a line that segregates believers who goes to church, and those who don’t, or have left. They use a term for out-standing characters like me. I’m known as a ‘lapsed Catholic’. For whatever that means. And I think they feel better to be able to classify me so as to tell me that I am not one of them. Also, don’t go to them if I needed any favours. If it is a science lab, they would have placed me inside a jar and labelled ‘heretic specimen.’
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind…” (Romans 14:1-23)

Personally, I believe that faith is a journey. And to each, our own. This journey of mine had me hover over and under the pews- where once I was inside the church looking out, now, I’m on aerial view, looking in. I am particularly appalled by those who easily succumb to authority and be led by the nose, and others who tacitly sandwiched fear in-between the bread of life. These are the majority which makes up the congregation- an adulterated version of the ‘Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ’ and of the ‘Temple of Solomon’, also known as the ‘Order of Solomon’s Temple’, or the ‘Knights Templar’ – defenders of faith who would fight tooth and grit with anyone who doubts that their God is the greatest. How ironical. But if their God is the greatest, why then do they fear?
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7)

For out-standing souls like me, please be enlightened. It’s a privilege to recce God’s garden and circumambulate one full circle while others are still caught up inside. Without being given the ladder to scale over, one may not understand what the opposing scenery looks like, to make informed opinions. Unlike me who have a full macro view uninterrupted. I’d rather enjoy the fresh air and be caught trespassing, than paying blind obeisance to what the church wanted us to believe in.

The Words of God are simple and straightforward. Yet many lack depth to scour its grace and wisdom. And true discipleship calls for individuals to give up everything and follow him. Yet I wonder how many denominations still observe this faithfully?
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:23-24)
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple”. (Luke 14:33)
“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”(Mark 10:21).
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (1 John 2:15)

Throughout those years in church, I have encountered the most obstinate of believers. Those in true hypocrisy who worships the strangest, those who pray to prey, and those who gossips the fiercest. And to those lost sheeps forever looking for signs and wonders to affirm their faith, I now have the unfortunate unpleasant chore to respond to, their myopic perception of God. I am no biblical scholar, a behavioural scientist nor a theologian. But if everyone were to take a step backwards tying everything we know to the basics of love, we could be seeing happier days ahead, than feeling somber, anticipating the final hours of God’s arrival any sooner. Like everybody else, I dread to be misled. Because one day, those misled may be preaching on the pulpit.
“I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I do not have love, I will sound like noisy brass. If I have the gift of speaking God’s Word and if I understand all secrets, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I know all things and if I have the gift of faith so I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed poor people and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it will not help me.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
“Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Inside every church are always some delusional Jim Jones in the making. Hallucinators who beckoned they have earned wings- believing themselves to be God’s chosen gate-keeper or messenger of some kind. All because they have managed to garner some followers. Indeed they have. Retirees, pensioners, the golden age club and sinners whom resorted to the church hoping for some form of redemption or free entertainment to kill time. And so these hallucinators seek God inside the pages of the Old Testament without knowing it’s relevance, reviving worship and dance like David did without knowing its significance, arrived at the gates of the New Testament without mastering the Beatitudes, and back they went again to the drama of the Old Testament, preferring the authoritarian and punitive God than the forgiving one. And that is how, like a warrant officer, they stick their noses into every cadets butt, faulting everyone else’s conduct and private business thus giving unconditional love a brand new meaning by inserting them with multitudes of decree. Didn’t they know any better? That the veil had been broken?
“And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38)
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God…” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

The most unfortunate amongst these characters may I emphasise again, are these ‘fault finders’- backdoor Warrant Officers who could uncover sin everywhere, under every stone and carpet, except for their own backyard. These characters could see no wrong in themselves, and shows no contrite- comfortably forgetting the speck in their own eyes and forgetting that the Lord is first and foremost, “an all forgiving God”.
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:4)
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
“But if you do not forgive others their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6: 15)

Next are the ‘fence builders’ – those who thought that God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit belongs exclusively to believers only and no one else, thus disassociating themselves from the marginalised, the destitute, the underprivileged and the non-believers. They too tasked themselves to build wedges between believers and their loved ones of different faiths, urging them to stay away from customs, traditions, conjugal and funeral rites because they believe it is better not offend their jealous God than to embrace love for their own family. Doesn’t these individuals understand that “the greatest is love”? (1 Corinthians 13:13). How then are they “to go forth and multiply” (Genesis 9:1) and “make disciples of all generations” (Matthew 28:18-20), having decided that building boundaries, fences, wedges, and cages is amiable?
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)

Then, there are the ‘fear mongers’. Individuals whom instead of believing and emphasising the glory and majesty of the almighty God whom created the world, believed more in abominations and the harsh punishment meted by God, thus allowing evil to manifest. These individuals spread fear and are scared of everything under the sun, maybe their own shadows even. Imagine the damage they could cause up on the pulpit, spinning confusion in the minds of catechumens at a time when they were taught forgiveness, more so when their faith journey is still at it’s infancy? The fear of the darkness, death, other gods, mythological creatures, traditions and customs, is unnecessary because they are but little elements that makes up the colourful world, if you believe in the all powerful God that is.
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” (1 John 4:18)
One should thus, not shift one’s focus from the God of kindness and compassion, towards darkness, garbage and filth, thereby reducing God’s brilliance, radiance, magnificence and significance whom they will ironically fight tooth and nail to claim that He is the most coveted of all Gods when ridiculed. The Crusaders did severe damage to the Christian world. They went on to wage war using Jesus’s mighty name not knowing our God is all for peace? And whatever happened to the God “whom created the world and everything inside it?” (Genesis 1 & 2) which means everything good or bad belongs to the kingdom of God?

And then, there are in our midst the ‘divine hallucinators’- preachers whose madness grew in tandem with their hallucination. These are the individuals who claim to have seen god, raised the dead and boasts of converting tens of thousands of people into the faith within a few years. Oh really?!
“Some could not resist “letting their right hand know what their left hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3-4)
“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
It is obvious error if these divine preachers doesn’t realise that those who stood inside rallies are in some ways or another, have been touched by the Holy Spirit? And if these hallucinators could raise the dead, they would have made headlines by now and kidnapped by the intelligence to do just that. Raise the dead!
In the bible, except for Moses and Isaiah, no one could have claimed to have seen God.
“No man hath seen God” (John 1:18) (1 John 4:12)
“God is spirit, a form of life which is invisible to the naked eye” (1 John 1:17), (John 4:24).
“God can be seen directly by angels because they are spirit creatures” (Matthew 18:10)
“No one can see me and stay alive” (Exodus 33:20)
And it was written that Moses had once saw the “angel of God as a flame” (Exodus 3:1-10), and besides this, God’s back, because God allows him to.
“Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back but not my face” (Exodus 33:23). Isaiah on the other hand, has physically seen God.
“I saw the Lord. He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)
“And yet with my own eyes, I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty“ (Isaiah 6:5).
In the Book of 2 Enoch (rejected by the Jewish and withdrawn from the Christian bible), Enoch at age 365, was taken to heaven, and managed to see God in the seventh and tenth heaven. The seventh, was from a distance, the tenth, face to face.
In (1 Kings 19:11-23), Elijah who was transported to heaven in a flaming chariot has not seen God but has spoken with God. Many prophets like Elijah has also had visions of God including Ezekiel, and many have engaged in conversations with Him.
One may argue that everyone who had seen Jesus during his thirty-three years on earth hath seen God, since the bible has surmised that God, the Son and Holy Spirit are infinitely one, while we as mortals are also “made in his own image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26-27), but then again, no one has ever seen God “in all His divine glory and holiness except in his human condition”, where he veils himself to be amongst us, appearing in the form of Jesus. The question is, do we really need to see God to believe he existed?
“Blessed are those who has not seen me, and yet had believed’”? (John 20:29)

There is clearly a distinction between God’s kingdom and the kingdom we lived in as Jesus himself clearly stated in front of Pontius Pilate. And because his kingdom is not of this world, so are his blessings and gifts of the spiritual kind.
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
But with these seven gifts- wisdom, understanding, right judgement, courage, knowledge, reverence, wonder in awe of God’s presence (Isaiah 11:2-3), doth every believer, some with more gifts than others, were giventh unwarranted blessings which serves as a springboard for discipleship. Inside the scriptures, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are the roots of the tree, and the fruits of the Holy Spirit are, the fruits of that tree. And if we are led by the Spirit and open to God’s gifts, the fruits of the Holy Spirit will be evident in our lives- the virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) And the harvest would be aplenty.
Where blessings are concern, God has generously reminded believers to
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Psalm 20:4)
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” (Proverbs 10:22)
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (Romans 12:14)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
The reason why I broach this subject is because of the numerous request for intercession of the greedy kind. Healing from certain sicknesses, illnesses or diseases is understandable but praying for bigger houses? reveals a lack of understanding of the kind of blessings God has in store for us because God has never specifically mentioned wealth as a guarantee for our unceasing faith except to Solomon. And God too specifically asked of us to bless those who persecute us. Can you?
So, it is indeed a misnomer to assume that when a person is endowed with good looks, power, fame or fortune, or born with it, that means God is well pleased with him- therefore blessing him with direct tangible advantage, greatness, influence, and wealth over others. And those who don’t is not in God’s favour. From the scriptures, it is very clear that God shows no impartiality. Moreover, Jesus himself was born poor. Rather, there are many instances where God expresses his concerns about material gain particularly the means in which wealth is gained, and how the love for money could easily distract the rich from entering the kingdom of god. That is one of the mortal sins which could not be pardoned . Mortal sins identified by the church includes homicide, abortion, infanticide, fratricide, patricide, and matricide, sodomy, oppression of the poor and injustice to the wage earner.
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)
“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to give to God what belongs to God”(Mark 12:17).
“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12)

The perception of Idolatry also needs to be addressed. It is one of the primary divides between the Protestants and Catholics. Idolatry in primeval times has everything to do with animism and pagan worshipping. Animism encompasses the beliefs that all material phenomena have agency, that there exists no categorical distinction between the spiritual and physical world, and that soul, spirit exists not only in humans, but also in animals, plants, rocks, geographic features or other entities of the natural environment- water sprites, vegetation deities, tree spirits etc. In the early days, pointing to the empty sky is not enough. Understanding the concept of God requires objectification and thus, megaliths, trees as gods and statues were commonplace. Even in the medieval era, objectification was needed to completely understand the concept of God, hence the many icons, statues and frescoes in temple and home surrounds created for adoration, as commemoration or plain hero worshipping the almighty, just like the many coins minted in Byzantium (395CE -1453AD) which depicts the image of Jesus.
In biblical days, idolatry arises from a personal disdain of the jealous god, Yahweh who was worshipped alongside a female deity, Mother Goddess known as Asherah. Asherah was hypothetically Yahweh’s wife (and the wife of other Gods as well). But Asherah’s shrines were everywhere, more popular than Yahweh’s. And they were also found besides Yahweh’s shrines. Yahweh found that upsetting, calls every child who worships him and her together, a whore, and called for its destruction.
“You shall not plant any tree as an Asherah beside the altar of the Lord your God that you shall make.” (Deuteronomy 16:21)
“When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built.” (Judges 6:28)
“And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.” (2Kings 17:16)
“And I will root out your Asherah images from among you and destroy your cities.” (Micah 5:14)
In today’s context, idolatry is something one indulges in, does excessively out of habit or an obsession which affects one’s duty and obligation towards God and family. And for as long as the fetishism, obsession and habit does not interfere with one’s duty and belief, it is not considered abomination. Therefore, the display and collection of statues, figurines, religious paraphernalia, relics, including prayer verses hung at home. How so ?
Because reverence or piety happens to be one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. And piety brings one back to one’s own origin. Piety has everything to do with obedience, respect and paying homage to one’s ascendant, with ‘God as head of the family’, therefore, not unless one prays to a different God, or neglects his own God, is his actions considered idolatry.

There exists a great disparity of opinions concerning other matters. And I for one do not succumb to makeshift authority, with each fraternity forming their own doctrine and preference, especially those who curtail our good sense and empathy towards others in need. As God’s children, good sense must always prevail. The gift of wisdom is imbued within us to discern and surmise each opinion, not forgetting the gift of courage to correct the wrong, no matter how little or many followers the other party has. We should be glad indeed for the gift of knowledge and the larger brains we, as earthlings, are endowed with. For if not, we could not have reigned dominion over all the other creatures on the earth. Each of us should be bright enough to discern between right from wrong, good from bad, godly from evil, shallow from deep, clean from dirty, and healthy from the sickly. And to process every bit of information thrown at us- whether they are relevant and applicable in today’s context, measured against the values of love, forgiveness and kindness.
But humans are born sinners and our fallibility began with the ‘Original Sin’ as was committed by Adam, and because by that one incident, as expressed by St Augustine, no one is spared from falling into the abyss of doom.
The church has clearly defined three types of sin- Mortal sins, Venial sins and Cardinal sins. But sin is what you do which inconvenience or causes harm to others. One can arrive at what kind of sin was committed, by asking the following three questions:
1. Did the act involve a grave matter?
2. Was the act committed with full knowledge of the wrongdoing that had been done in the act?
3. Was the act done with full consent of the will?
If all three questions are answered in the affirmative, the criteria for a mortal sin have been met. If any one of the three questions is answered in the negative, only the criteria for a venial sin have been met. And Venial Sins is easily forgivable unlike mortal sins. Mortal sins are unforgivable and may I repeat that which includes homicide, abortion, infanticide, fratricide, patricide, and matricide, sodomy, oppression of the poor and injustice to the wage earner. In the Catholic context, forgiveness would entail:
1. Acts of Contrition – feeling sorrowful
2. Disclosure – confide to God
3. Penance – doing something eg. reciting of prayers to make amends for it.
St Paul mentions that when we sin, we need not fear that we are condemned by God and that there is no more justification and grace we deserve. God’s relationship with us is not broken unless or until we deliberately and irrevocably sever it by ‘moving away’ from God. There is also no such thing as flipping between grace and penalty. Believers ‘have and always been’ in the state of grace.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
“And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.” (Genesis 8:21)
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)
“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
“But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7)
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
There are seven types of cardinal sin. Lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. Most of these sins with the sole exception of sloth, are perverse or corrupt versions of love for something or another: lust, gluttony, and greed are all excessive or disordered love of good things; sloth is a deficiency of love; wrath, envy, and pride are perverted love directed toward other’s harm. Sins from lust to envy are generally associated with pride, which has been labeled as the ‘Father of all sins.’
I will not dwell in detail all the cardinal sins except for one which is lust, which in general, is the least understood but the one believers are most interested in which explains the increase in popularity of porn sites. This deserves some attention because most preachers direct them to sexual innuendos. However, it is not so. Lust, or ‘lechery’ is intense longing, and is ‘usually’ thought of as intense or unbridled sexual desire which ‘may’ lead to fortification including adultery, rape, bestiality and other sinful sexual acts. However, lust also means unbridled desire in general; the lust for money, power, and other things are equally as sinful.
Lust is also thought to be of the least serious of cardinal sins as it is an abuse of a faculty that humans share with animals, and sins of the flesh are ‘less grievous’ than spiritual sins eg. turning away from God.
*But do not despair for there exists restitution for sins. For no sin is unpardonable, except for mortal sins and that is the promise of God.
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18)
“And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12:31)

So spare me! But prohibitions from drinking, smoking, cohabiting and generously offering lifts to members of the opposite sex are but menial and should not be amplified if they happen in moderation, is consensual, and done with pure intentions. Again, sin is what you do which inconveniences or cause harm to others. Believers always like to stress that our body is the temple of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:19) Yes, I don’t disagree nor doubt that a temple is not a sacred place. Therefore for health reasons, we need to safeguard it from abuse. And a healthy body broods a healthy mindset. This has everything to do with the boundaries we set for ourselves but not an ultimatum or imposition which comes with disparaging penalty only the jealous heart that lobbies for punitive sentencing hopes for.
“I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)
Remember, Jesus himself turned water into wine, the first of his first miracle.
“The Wedding at Cana” (John 2:1-11)
Thus I am certain the entire community or country need not be penalised- putting the brakes on taxi services, school-buses and co-ed schooling since every good person is assumed to have the tendency to let their throbbing manhood rule over faith, decency, integrity and good judgement.
And who are we to deprive singles or separated couples no longer in love the probity of happiness in cohabiting?
As Christians, we must believe that everything comes from God who made the day as well as nights, and rain as well as sunshine (Genesis 1 & 2). And as Christians, we should not be paranoid and prohibit everything, frightening ourselves and disassociating ourselves from unpleasant situations, when caring for our community is part of our social responsibility.

So, do not simply believe in what others say or do blindly, for fear of being chastised, worse, made unpopular because we happened to be more inquisitive than others. The gift of courage, one of the seven gifts of the holy spirit, encourages us to be bold and stand our ground.
“And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)
Likewise, it is not about how many times we have read the bible from beginning till end, but about our contrite heart and how much we understand about charity and learnt from it. And to all the ‘doubting Thomases’ whose glory rests on tangible proofs and miracles they witness during faith healing, my concern is what if one day God decided to take away everything and there is no longer any miracles to perform that you can see with your own eyes, would they be as faithful to God, or would they moved on to other faiths? Seriously, I want to know.
“Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe… “ (John 20:24-29)

Maybe God doesn’t deserve me or I don’t deserve God so likewise I can’t blame the congregation for being self-absorbed. For they are the fruits of what the church teaches.
My desert experience wasn’t only forty days as Jesus had experience, but more like years cowering in fear of being stalked by the evil one whom I was told hides under the cloak of Jesus. Fact is it is just a figment of an over imaginative mind given the opportunity to lead catechumens such as me. The implications was severe and I suffered because of misinformation. No one deserves to walk that road I did long ago. And it could be prevented by addressing the misconceptions I am doing now. Thus I felt it timely to say something. Of course I can’t address all. Except those within my ability to grasp.
My concern is this . What good can a brilliant God do, armed with an army of blind, paranoid, conceited, uninformed followers whom were all assigned to stand up and fight against demons and wrongdoings?
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:43-45)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

Mirror Work nonsense

“The mere fact that when one wakes up , brushes his teeth, combs his hair, grooms himself, had breakfast and go about his day, is affirmation enough that that person loves himself enough. The ones who doesn’t love themselves are in a bloody mess daily. Tardy and unkempt.
So I don’t think one needs to affirm themselves superficially by standing in front of the mirror and talking to himself, reassuring himself that he loves himself.
Unless your faith is weak.
And having a bad relationship with others is not the reason why you don’t love yourself. In fact, it is because you love yourself a lot, way too much, that you do not want anyone to intrude into your sanctity of what you believed in, that’s why disagreement occurs.
And there is nothing wrong if both sides fight for what they believed in. Then go separate ways. That has everything to do with because each of them love themselves way too much. Not meaninged to undermine each other or treat one another badly.
So, do not read too much into these mad hypothesis expounded by false philosophers using the church to bind and prop up their overthinking. So that when the church remains relevant, they could still control the mass, expand their contacts, whilst using the bible in vanity, milking a cent or two from seminars and sharing.
That’s the cause of this madness ain’t it?
Power, influence and money?
My two cents.”

Turn Your Gaze Towards The Sky

“God speaks to us through nature. How else can he reveal himself, his love, his glory, his might, his wonders or unleash his fury if not through appeasing your doubt of his existence with the burning bush, the opening of the Red Sea, Noah’s flood, the flattening of Sodom and Gomorrah, the lightning that transforms Saul, freak storms, landslides, and tsunami. And if we can’t read these signs and wonders occurring in our midst, that only makes our weekly devotion hogging inside places of worship, a routine joke.

Indeed, we humans are dumb. For not being able to calibrate and process these subtle warnings that flashes between our eyes, and dumber indeed, than the government we voted in. For truly, who amongst us would elect candidates that insults our grey cells, when capitalism educates us to select candidates with heavyweight credentials to represent us? That said, when we feel cheated by these entrusted individuals, maybe we should question ourselves why we could be swayed by educational credentials and eloquence than to stick with the meek and humble selfless individuals?

As humans, we are all endowed with amazing sensory organs that allows us to mind read others, the ability to judge and to feel. Those are the sensors that triggers our haunch and intuition. And if our haunch and intuition tells us to chuck candidates with questionable intellect, how so did they survive? Are we missing something in our judgement that the majority wouldn’t agree with?

Admit it. Most of us are too self engrossed to do good for our community. We feel entitled to guard our own interest but not those beyond our four walls, and went with the flow even when we know our laws are outdated, therefore the abuse. As burdens to society we are, we leave it to selfless souls to care and manage our environment, and run our society, while we prefer to spend time watering our own garden. We chose to be ringside spectators, but spends our waking hours mingling with strangers on the social media to ply our trade, boost our noticeability, and enrich our pockets, hoping to gain traction with famous personalities as well as sending amorous private messages. We then transforms into disgruntled Frankensteins when we see mismanagement, and our economy nosedives. What kind of an idiot are we?

By our habitual actions and inactions, we have created our own brand of shit and disgust, and made the shits of others pliable. Has it ever occurred to us that bullshits like this doesn’t just happen overnight? So please go plug the source and nip the problem in the bud. Swallow the pride and shits we personally nurture before our ground turns into solid waste foundation. For God is real. And his tantrums has turned into wrath’s. Look around us. Little ‘Acts of God’ is now manifesting. Be more selfless and understand his disgust. Then turn your gaze towards the sky, as Emperor Constantin 1 did. If God did not abandon you, so should you not abandon his creation to see it rot. Indeed, God speaks to us through nature. So should you help protect it and not play dumb. Help protect our country and Fark this present government off.”

Flawed Since the Beginning

“Dear God, you don’t plant a tree in between two young naked teenagers and tell them not to eat the fruit. That is mischievous of you. Because you should know that every teenager is naughty, adventurous, and rebellious. And so they had fun. They did! Just like every loving child of yours would. But the one who wrote the bible termed it as disobedience, or sin. Why?

Had he never been a child before to understand what sin is? Sin is what you do that causes hurt or inconvenience to someone else. How did one bite of the forbidden fruit hurt you or inconvenience you?

But if these teens doesn’t rebel nor display naughty traits, wouldn’t they be classified as abnormal in today’s context? And what may I know do you want them to do inside the garden without clothes on and without tv or pub to go to? They are young, hot blooded, with an awakened libido. You want them to just stare at each other in full glory with gritted teeth and remain indignant towards each other? Because if they were to do as they were told by you, there wouldn’t be you nor me today. Nor Jacob, nor Sarah, nor Moses, nor Isaiah. They did what every natural growing up person would do. There’s no one else besides them. No one married them. It’s just her, and him. Unless you want to count the serpent in. You don’t consider that illegal fornication do you?”

Your Story

People change.

Things change.

Nothing is permanent.

Life is a journey.

Pick your own poison.

Go with the flow.

Live your destiny.

You don’t decide your existence.

You just live it.

You become your story.

Overcoming Grief

Grief is a state of loss. An emotional upheaval that one feels beit over a divorce, loss of job, death of a loved one. It manifests in 7 stages, some experts argued 5- but it all depends on our equilibrium, our attachment to that party, the circumstances that brought about the loss, and the severity inflicted by the tragedy. The various stages are sequential but rubbery, with no affixed period, and an aggrieved party may sail across, mixing up or skipping some stages in between, and recover in no time at all. The 7 stages are: shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, upward turn, reconstruction and working through, and finally, acceptance. But to ride through grief, one must know firstly how grief happens.

Religion has been the pinnacle of mankind. It is responsible for our lifestyle, the constant unrest between nations, civic consciousness, moral conduct and governance. It shapes us to become who and what we are today. However, what most people overlooked is the well known mantra of ‘Giving more so that one could receive.’ An extreme example would be “If anyone slaps you on your right cheek, offer him your left also.” Deep, mysterious parable that is. But a powerful one. That is another topic of discussion altogether.

Giving is an act of love, and giving begins with one being emphatic, generous, happy, caring, or simply, being dutiful. No one will give to their enemies where love doesn’t co-exist. And the more you love someone, the more you will give.

But taking or receiving is inevitable. Taking begins with the suckling of our mothers breasts, till one receives education, and finally when one is fit to take on the world. That dependence comes from one’s natural parents, guardians or sponsors. It is this constant state of receiving that one can mistakenly inherit the dogma of entitlement, thus quite often, a receiver will never know when to give back. Even after they grow into successful adults. Sometimes they defer their plans, others went chasing after rainbows. As a result, their caregivers are neglected because giving is not reciprocated. Until that fateful moment of loss arrives.

The receiver is then confronted with guilt, regret, denial , blaming oneself, the “ifs” I were to do this and that, the longing to do more which they did not initiate when their loved ones is still alive, because there exists an imbalance between giving and receiving. If one would have given enough or more than one receives, grief is short lived. But that is a natural frailty of man. To put off affirmations, praises, visits, giving of gifts. All these can be taught, but never will they ever be fully executed.

But managing grief is entirely different. The rites encountered in certain religions helps the aggrieved to let go. They are the hidden gems subtly designed with human emotions in mind. This if one could afford to, a full rite is better than half-baked ones. The action of burning incense is letting go, the serving of meals and drinks and the giving away of sweets to well wishers is letting go, the throwing of gluttonous rice, the offering of candles, the placing of wreathes and flowers on the casket, the singing of hymns, the shouting of mantras, the placing of bones into urns, throwing flowers into the pit, these rituals were all designed with giving in mind. If one couldn’t afford to, the giving away of the deceased possessions to the poor and underprivileged is another way of letting go. And when one gives, one will gradually let go. And the more one let go, the natural progression lightens our heart to recovery.

So it is right to say that hidden beneath all religions, beit right or wrong, our forefathers whom has designed all these sacred rites and mantras had us in mind. To help us heal.

Conglomerate

If everyone dies old, heaven is but a large conglomerate of senior citizens.

Believe and Trust

One has to believe in a person before you can trust them. You can’t say I believe you, but I don’t trust you. Neither is it right to say that I trusted you, but I don’t believe you. That kind of statement is purely unacceptable.

True Love

True love rejoices in truth; in being honest, and transparent; whereas fake love hides in the darkness of lies

True love makes sacrifices; whereas fake love is only selfish upon themselves

True love lasts forever, unlike physical needs or material existence; whereas fake love dies, when it is only after the flesh

True love grows, and inspires you to be a better person; whereas fake love loves fighting and heated arguments, doesn’t know how to resolve problems calmly, and destroys your good life

True love loves you and loves itself, it looks after its own health and well being, so that you could have a stronger relationship; whereas fake love hates itself, giving you more undeserving pains and problems

True love acts with trembling, not only talks but act with passion, excitement and energy; whereas fake love is nonchalant, never cares, and always give excuses instead of fulfilling promises

True love is hopeful, include you into their future plans, and never give up fighting for you; whereas fake love easily gives up, has no permanent plan for your relationship, and doesn’t treat you as important

True love is faithful, dependable and believes in you despite your shortcoming; whereas fake love is unbelieving, until they are 100% sure of you

True love is loyal, displays strong commitment, and will never cheat on you; whereas fake love is a cheater

True love trusts, and have confidence in your actions, they think positively; whereas fake love doubts, and only harbors negativity about you

True love knows and makes effort to know and understand you, so they could love you better, can read your mind and feel your emotions; whereas fake love just doesn’t get it, doesn’t understand what’s going on with you, and doesn’t care about your thoughts and feelings

True love is wise, mature, and righteous; whereas fake love is foolish, childish, inconsiderate, reckless and narrow minded

True love may be painful, but it protects you and shields you from anything that will hinder growth; whereas fake love hurts, it only gives you momentous satisfaction, it is toxic

True love is honorable, respectful of your opinions, and ambition; whereas fake love is rude, arrogant, and disregards your self worth

True love is joyful, happy, and likes to see others happy; whereas fake love is bitter, filled with negativity, and holds grudges

True love is grateful, thankful and blessed when you are around, and appreciates everything you gave; whereas fake love is envious, feels you are unlucky, and jealous of your possessions

True love feels fulfilled; whereas fake love always feels empty, greedy, and unsatisfied

True love is humble, admits to mistakes, and takes the blame unto himself; whereas fake love is proud, boastful, a credit grabber, and never admit to mistakes

True love is patient, enduring, and forgiving; whereas fake love is easily angered, quick to judge, and punishes you without mercy

True love is kind to you, generous, and compassionate; whereas fake love is cruel, gives you pain and treats you badly

(Author Unknown)

Why Doctors When God Heals?

All over the world, clusters of people still crowds carnivals and annual events. When asked, most of them thought it their RIGHT, and owe it to FATE, if ever they contacted the virus. So should our national healthcare includes and provide for individuals such as these who still persist, not that they are ignorant or misinformed? And how should they treat individuals who thought it is the governments duty to make them well, if they fall ill, straining hospital capacities like it’s their inheritance and entitlement?

Around the world, every individual and government is now tested. Because in every country, there are bound to be individuals who thought they are invincible by gravitating towards God’s healing power, or the protective gear they slipped on, bought through the internet, or, the age old potion or amulet their community reveres to. In some religions, laities were made to believe there is no purpose for God if obeisance is lacking. There are those who thought because everyone is quarantined, the streets are therefore safer than their own homes. Then, there are also those whom are used to outdoors. As for the rests, the condition of their houses does not warrant it to be called home.

The believe in culture and traditions is imbued on many since young, thus the believe in old wive’s tale, superstition and concoctions hence, the potions made of gall bladders and animal bones. And if that doesn’t work, most likely, these traditionalist would either owe its failure to the wrath of god or the severity of the illness, or fate. To convince individuals such as these to consult doctors is a menacing affair. The natural tendency of people to cower themselves with assurances, safety and security makes them susceptible to advertising gimmicks thus the tendency to buy and believe in protective gears. And when those products fail, they will resort to the next good buy, again through online or through their friends recommendation. For those who stray from quarantine, some were used to the outdoors so their urge for a breather is a must. For as long as their mind reassures them that the streets are safe, since no one is out on the streets, so would they stray wherever their mind, body and soul wonders to. And there are those whose home are too pigeonholed to warrant a lengthy quarantine. They are the most pitiful.

But perhaps, the most challenging to convince are those who thought themselves as invincible when cloaked with the armour of God whom believe that without their total submission, their belief would be compromised. That is most unfortunate.

Believers must be made aware and understand the manifestation of spirit and why God, gave a different purpose to each one of us depending on our capability thus, the doctors, the scientists, the researchers, engineers, architects, chefs, artists and cleaners etc. For its only within that scope of understanding can one understand the need to rely on his healing through the people he commissioned and commands because to each, He gave a purpose in life. Everyone serves God in the humblest of ways He wanted us to. There are those whom he gave wisdom, another the gift of knowledge, to others, the gift of healing and to the rest, prophecy and etc. We must also accept the fact that every person who has ever been healed by God in some way or another, will die existentially. With this understanding in mind, we should now know that to each and everyone of us, God gave a gift in this life because it fulfills a need and purpose to this world we live in. Together, we make and heal the world. And to each one of us, whether we believe in God or not, be convinced that death is for sure certain. That is His plan and His grace.

When sin entered the world as a serpent to tempt Adam through Eve, it is certain that everyone throughout their lifetime will experience futility, rejection and pain, and eventually die. As any mother would experience the pangs of childbirth, the experience is not of condemnation, but of purification and joy. Therefore, disease and sickness are occasionally inflicted upon people as a purifying and rescuing judgment. In other words, an act of mercy. And if one can be so bold to say, God sometimes uses disease to bring particular judgments upon those who reject him and give themselves over to sin. Thus, all natural disasters albeit flood or famine, tsunami or disease — are a call to people to repent and realign their lives.

There are many ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us and manifests his Spirit upon us that each one of us may work his own salvation, therefore his many gifts. Thus, to believe that God could cloak and heal you is certain, but what he cloaks away are your fears and the perception of death as punitive. But you must also rely and depend on his fruits that he gifted you wholeheartedly through the hands of others He commands, that you may be relieved of your anguish, pain, suffering and concerns. That is the reason why we should all trust doctors despite our faith background. For those who are adamant, if you like to interpret it in another way, doctors help and relieve you from your pain, suffering, grief and sickness, whilst your God heals you.

Eventually the country with the firmest of regulation and strictest of implementation will win the fight against the virus. But that also depends on the loyalty and respect the citizens have towards the government of the day, whereas obedience and the quality of training and discipline plays a part, afforded by both parents and their school teachers when young. If individuals are used to orders, so will they understand and adhere when orders are imposed. For if they are not, it will be difficult to clamp them down not unless the firmest of regulation and harshest of penalty are imposed.

Not far from it is how people should be convinced the role doctors act in the healing mystery of God. Because without that understanding, those that leaves their health to fate is courting unnecessary danger and in the process, promote more harm than good to the community they live with. That becomes an irresponsibility which is a sin. Because sin is what you do that causes inconvenience to others. One must not be ignorant. We all need doctors, even when God heals.

Next Adam

I remembered leaving only soil inside my pots and out shoots new plants. For those whom are concern about the extinction of mankind, I beg to differ. Given the right soil, sunlight and water, evolution again will begin. After our earth heals.

And when that happens, I’d like to be the next Adam. Scaring myself to death when the wind wails, thunder calls, darkness fell and dinosaurs appearing unexpectedly when I poop. That’s far more exciting than wearing face masks!

And I’d like to have Eve by my side. Maybe Eve should come before me. She can set up the fire and find a shelter and probably invent soap and shampoo. Can’t do without them. Then make a bed and cook. Life I think is sweeter with Eve around.

Everyone needs an Eve!

 

Resourceful Idling

Two weeks are hell of a long for those who sits there idling with their phones prying on anything and everything except doing something worthwhile and truly meaningful. I’m not saying you can’t but for the constructive, this is a welcomed opportune. That could mean a moment spent with their loved ones to catch up on things that they never have time to because of work commitments, even just to hold hands and look upon each other fondly whilst counting the stars. There are those whose two weeks brings fulfillment in learning ~ to learn a song they have always wanted to, or even to learn a new recipe! There’re those who catches up on their reading, tidy up loose bills or redesign their business module based on the unfortunate developments. These are some of the exciting things one could do instead of poking fun at the ( I know I know! Unfortunately, they deserved all the darts!) shallow thinking authorities who spends more time calling for press conferences than going down to the ground.

For when the evil winds doth blow, there too are the imaginative who spends their time tweaking their funny brains whose eyes could only foresee baby boomers! For they are the ones who bring humor to the next level. In the midst there too are the wicked who discredits their competitors by posting fake news, reports, images, videos. There are also the paranoids, who spent hours blaming everyone else except he himself for hoarding tons of face masks whilst counting the rise in cases.

We all can be productive with our time. Or we can be negative staying lazy, sloppy and tardy throughout. It’s our choice. But try not to be a beacon of evil. Everyone is trying their best to stay afloat. A month without school and laying idle is only ok for those not facing exams. For the clever, it’s two weeks of undistracted revision time.

“Be vigilant and humanity shall shine. Be good so others can respect you.”

Write a poem, learn a song, cross-stich a cardigan , play with your child, clean your house! There are many other beautiful meaningful things you and I can do. Stare at your plants, look at the clouds, paint a picture! Count the grains of rice. Trail the ants! This world belongs to you and me!

A new world deprived of vanity pots who spends more time posting their selfie than helping old people cross the road! As if only they matter!

It’s a crazy world and it gets crazier by the day!

Whatever you do, try not to talk to yourself! Cos only the distracted does that!

Years ago, the restricted movement act were designed for belligerents. Today, it is applied to us. It says so much of our human race. Why? This world is a sad place. So don’t make it more sad! Help cheer the world up by being constructive instead of being grumpy! And don’t walk around asinine when clear instructions have been made.

If all your neighbors die, you die. Simple as that.

As you spring clean your home, spring clean also, your mind and fill it with hope and joy! Each of us is responsible for our own fate. You can watch a movie to entertain yourself whilst other watches a movie not only to entertain themselves, there’s a story they could learn from it. Train your mind to scale the heights!

But as the streets empty from the order with faint recollections of a once socially pleasant life, make the effort to glorify the nation and help eliminate the virus by social distancing. If not, we can only reminisce our laughter on haunted passsgeways if you and I do not confront the truth and share the pain.

Superman

God makes doctors for a reason. Belief and prayers alone doesn’t make one a Superman.

Prayer Warriors

I think we should all pray for the staff nurses, medical care personnels and doctors who are working tirelessly in their effort to help covid-19 victims. So prayer warriors, try praying for them! They need all the prayers they can get right now!

Public Threat

“It’s a sham how our local authority handles the retardation of covid-19. If it is in Singapore, China or elsewhere, you’d be dragged off your feet by soldiers in protective suits the minute they identify you as a suspect therefore possible carrier because as a suspect, you are now considered a public threat. You become a public threat due to the contagiousness of the virus you are carrying!

So does our authority understand what a public threat means? Or are they still living in their own ignorant world?

I am amazed that our authorities need to urge or coax the attendees of mass gatherings to report to the health authorities as if it is still within their right as a public threat to choose between going for treatment or letting the virus make their rounds so that a virus so contagious can spread.

They should realize that that onus is on them to keep the rest of the citizens protected from public threat including the suspect who choose to surrender his fate to his God and they should understand that the suspects right is confiscated the minute that suspect becomes a threat to the nation. It is mind boggling to watch them defer making a harsh decision when they could go on all night to plot a coup.

What’s the matter with all of you? Caught a brainstorm?

Ini tabiat bodoh tau?“

Stones

For centuries, religion has lived with men. If religion is the water of life, then men must be the stones which stays submerged. But still remains dry when picked. Such are men. It is difficult for water to penetrate us. Lest we chose to be porous.

Compel

Buddhism doesn’t compel. It seeks only to inform. That doing good brings much reward. Nirvana, rebirth, generational blessings, it enables followers to earn merits for the repentance of their sin. So followers flood homes of slighted individuals, infirmaries and the underprivileged, soup kitchens and help diffuse suffering. Day in day out. My dad used to comb seven temples every year during CNY without fail, then gave alms to the poor who lined the gangways. We as childrens help distribute the Ang Pows.

And what do Christians do? Trying to be holier than thou, grimacing that they are more wounded than Christ on the cross, scorning drunkards and driving beggars away from church grounds, bargaining salvation to those with hungry stomachs in exchange for food, going gaga over parish elders, deacons and pastors, praying for more blessings for themselves. Don’t get me wrong . I believe in Christ. But not the laities who kept the altar to themselves. Maybe all the altars should be removed since their understanding is so lowly.

Animal Virus?

“Back in the heydays across the Southeast Asian plateau where every other plantation owner is entitled a shotgun permit, wild life hunting was a common sport for the male gender, a habit acquired from colonizers, what used to be regarded as ‘the sport of Kings!)

Wild life meat and body parts were believed to be medicinal and beneficial thus many people consume them as elixir and courage booster, whilst the aborigines and Bomohs kept the bones, skins and whiskers as amulets because of the believe in their spiritual, magical and healing aspects. Supposedly, it wards the wearer against evil spirits, harm or impending danger. Teeth of wild boars, tigers, and palm of bears were strung around necks and arms or fashioned as anklets. Some were hung at the entrances to homes whilst others were lodged onto headgears and staffs.

Whilst CITEs has now classified some of these species as endangered, and health authorities has pinpointed some of them as the possible culprit towards the new strains of viruses plaguing the air, everyone of Southeast Asian origin can attest to have seen bottled snakes and centipedes in Chinese medicinal shops and witnesses the tradition of drinking the blood of snakes and the devouring of its meat, cooked in various styles especially herbal alongside porcupines, monitor lizards, civet cats, flying foxes, frogs and even turtles. This practice is very much a part of life. It has existed for centuries and is still very much alive today. In countries like Thailand or Indonesia it adds as a curious tourist draw, but the irony is, why didn’t the deadly mutant virus manifest then and does it’s mischief but managed to stay submerged? Why then must it be a couple of chickens a few years back, then swine, and now rats and bats? And why China?

Science has repeatedly warned us against unhygienic practices and the dangers of eating uncooked meat without highlighting the difference between what they discourage as compared to the ritual of eating raw Sashimi popular amongst the Japanese, abalone and Yee Sang as for the Chinese, and steaks done rare in the West. Were there viruses all along involving marine animals and the mutation of it as well that we do not know of?

More than ever, even when the practice of poaching for wild meats must end for reasons of conservation, wild life should not be made the convenient scapegoat for someone else’s shoddy hygiene and animistic tendency. In Southeast Asia, perhaps all these exotic meats were all well cooked except for the blood of snakes consumed with brandy. Has wasabi something to do with the annihilation of parasites found in raw meats the same way it was believed that brandy can do that to blood? Maybe but who knows?

There are other instances such as this which if left unanswered or unresolved, will quickly lead to more conspiracy theories regarding its outbreak. Biological or chemical leakages is high on the list, not helped by Wuhan’s close proximity to the viral research institute. There are also concerns linking them to the West’s marginalization of China over its meteoric economic rise. Can we blame the speculators from speculating?

As the world anticipates in suspense over the confirmed root cause and source of the virus, epidemicians the world over together with WHO are working around the clock to curb its lethal spread and eradication, besides developing a convincing antidote. Meanwhile, face masks and hand sanitizers flew off shelves like hot cakes as unlucky victims collapses one by one like dead flies. The question is should all the innocent humankind pay for the inoculation, injection or oral servings of antidotes to these global pharmaceuticals concerns if ever they found one?

Meanwhile, what can responsible citizens do to help contain and arrest the widespread blunder rather than seeking others to blame for the mistakes?

Social responsibility should start at home and the practice of self quarantine for those unwell seems best to retard the spread. Refraining from going out unnecessarily and if possible, postponing trips abroad is necessary. Hygiene and the constant usage of masks and hand sanitizers, washing of body parts that comes in contact with supermarket trolleys, lift buttons and door handles, does better for those who are compelled to go out particularly to places where a high volume of traffic is encountered.

We must also realize that this problem aren’t the fault of animals but people and people alone. How it is transmitted, where it is transmitted, the fear of being infected is very real because the virus is practically invisible to the naked eye, is carried by the wind and one may not know if he or she is infected or is a carrier so, stay safe everyone!

Sins of the Father

“A child cannot be held responsible for the sins of his father nor his forefathers. To hold onto grudges that happen 2000 years ago or even 100 is a mathematical bloop and a strange blame game.. Like as if this generation can predict the fetish or uncanny tendencies of generations born before him or that you have conveniently pinpointed someone to be the cause of your circumstance today. Revenge cannot appease ones soul, especially the nasty, bloody ones designed to terrify onlookers and tourists. Open up your mind and fill it with peace so that others may find peace within you and spread love, so that love can find its way back to you.”

Bequeathed to the Poor

There are moments to be compassionate and there are moments worthy to celebrate. Not to celebrate but dwell in compassion is giving up that one joyous moment of contagious happiness when it should never be caged at all.And that is how during christmas, the spirit of giving and sharing beit to your loved ones and those that deserves compassion becomes meaningful even if it is just a simple meal bequeathed to the poor or downtrodden.

Sacred

“A statue or figurine is only considered sacred after it has been consecrated by a religious or priest beit in a rite or proper religious ceremony thus to determine if a statue is sacred or not, will never be known because the action of consecration may only involve the laying of hands and the recitation of certain appropriate text whilst others may involve stippling the statue/figurine with ink, the adornment with a chasuble, stole or a garment of some kind including fresh flowers or in other cases, the insertion of certain pulverized ashes inside a carved hole which was then plugged in. Thus without such obvious evidence present on a statue or figurine, one can only guess if a statue or figurine is sacred. Herein provenance becomes an important criteria because if that particular statue was proven to have sat inside a temple before, one can almost be certain that the figurine mentioned is indeed sacred. Anyhow in a way, it does enhance the value but put you into trouble if the origin is an important sacred site, if that is what you are interested in.”

Find Heaven

If only one could find heaven in the pitch darkness. And hell in the brightest of days.

Communism

“When you take from the left hand and give it to the right, that is communism. When you depend entirely on your government for handouts, that is also communism. If your father rewards your brother equally as he did you even when you work hard for him but your brother did not, that again is communism. Ironically, communism is very much alive in our culture, despite us being a democracy. China, a communist country, also happens to be our biggest lenders. Don’t you know that?

I am surprised why you are so surprised.”

Why Fear?

If God is in you,

why then do you fear.

Why then do you hate?

Why then do you envy?

Why then does greed,

anger

and pride

linger inside of you?

Save Our World

“Man cannot befriend another man even though they are just next to them. Man cannot befriend another man, not unless they recognize some similarities between them. Without the similarities, they will appear defensive and many a time, hostile, when they don’t see eye to eye with you on things that mattered. Those similarities are created, sadly, using religion, race, origin, status, and common interest as a divide. And that is really a shame.

The internet is a wonderful platform that enables humans to bind together, worldwide. That brings about huge possibilities for people across borders to befriend one another. It is an invisible bridge that connects us. They say it has become a borderless world. But the grounded reality is, even neighboring countries still stays disconnected due to strict border controls. One still needs visa approval to cross borders, passports to verify your origin and screening laws they claim protect themselves against aliens like you.

It’s a laughing shame that humans cannot accept other humans as their own. Many fail to recognize that we are of one race. The human race. They color code you, like how their forefathers color coded your ancestors and insisted you not to betray what they believed in. They teach you how to bear grudges against their enemies for another two millennium. They want you to make their enemies, your own. The impatient uses you to seek revenge promising you martyrdom .If you don’t, you’d be considered a heresy in need of deliverance. In extreme cases, they sent you straight to heaven first, with the mindset vested in them to look at you as the devil when you are all human inside. Unfortunately this divide happens all the time between believers of different denominations, sometimes between the same denomination attending different temples. Family members with different beliefs continue to stay broken. As if we don’t have another choice. Or do we?

As humans, all of us are endowed with only one brain. We can choose to think good, or we can choose to think bad. Not unless you are born a freak of course. Likewise, we have only one tongue. We can choose to speak good, or we may choose to speak bad. So indeed, we do have choices to think or express ourselves. And to look the other way when we see or hear foolishness blasting on the main media everyday. We can all react correctly if we wanted to.

On the other hand, we can choose to be affected and get distracted by all the silliness happening around the world. Still, there is instinctively a clear choice for us. Be it to think positively, or negatively, given situations that appears to be unpleasant.

My personal appeal to everyone is to try to react correctly and help save this world. Our world. If we don’t, God will come. And show us how to compromise through our shortcomings. Maybe you want that to happen. To show to your God how weak you are. Even when you are made in his image? I don’t.

Be a master of your own destiny. Be weary of those who seek similarities using religion, race, origin, creed, status, and common interest as a divide. That can unduly break up friendship, acquaintanceship, even families. Save our world.”

Alien

“As usual, Malaysians are divided over an ‘alien’ just because he shares the same religion with the majority.

If religion were to be the pride and pillar of his preaching, then he should start making sense of his patriotism and loyalty by promoting peace than risking his permanent resident status by insinuating provocatively.

And if religion were to be the pride and pillar of our country that you have to side your good brother even though he misbehaves, then be God’s good example. Forgive the rest since you allow yourself to forgive him.

It doesn’t help the country one bit by being petty as you picket with the wicked with your prick dangling outside your zip as if that has become your brain or mouthpiece or something…”

Look Middle East Policy?

“Look East policy is today Look Middle East policy? Surely this can’t be the education revamp for Malaysia Baru? Forcing khat writing down SRJKs throat? Blaming them for the exodus of Malay school kids from SRKs? Isn’t it clear this is a populist approach designed to enhance some incapable politicians career whilst escalating racial tensions by scapegoating the Chinese and Indians schools for teaching their own language freely? Can anyone learn khat without first knowing how to speak and write Arab? And how may I know does khat writing, quota maintaining and changing from white shoes to black helps in the development of holistic education? How?

Rest assure I am not proud to highlight this!