A Father's Prayer for the Son's First Day in School

I picked this up from the Bible Broadcasting Network. I will work on the translation possible on Sunday evening. For those who could read, can you feel the love? 一位父亲在开学日的祷告

「这应许是给你们，和你们的儿女，并一切在远方的人，就是主我们神所召来的。」(使徒行传 2:39) 主耶稣，今天是我儿子上学的第一天。 这个小不点，从小就受到我们无微不至的照顾。 要把他带到校门口，跟他说再见，心里真是舍不得。 但是最令我害怕的，就是他不知道外面的世界多吓人，现在的世界跟我当时第一天上学的情况相比，简直是天壤之别。 他很快就会发现，那个他住了六年的家，跟外面的世界截然不同。 天父，我求祢用祢有力的膀臂环绕着他，帮助他了解与众不同是没有关系的，不跟着其他孩子说脏话是没有关系的，不说谎是没有关系的，持守我们在家里所教导的也是没有关系的。 生命伟大的冒险旅程很快就要显出它丑恶的一面，速度比我们那个年代还快。 在这堕落的世界，年纪小的孩子可以从年纪大的孩子那里拿到毒品，新闻和戏剧中充斥着血腥暴力的画面，这些似乎不可能从这个世界上消失。 主耶稣，我还担心另外一点，那就是他将面对与我们所相信的不同的价值和观念。 他每周会花 30 个小时在课堂上，远超过我们在一起的时间，求主坚固我们在他小时候所建立的基础，就算他现在还只是个孩子，我也求主帮助他能分别对错，分别真理和谎言，就算孤独，他也能持守公义。 喔，主耶稣，那熙来攘往的人群也令我不安。 求祢帮助他能慎选益友，帮助我这个为父的，知道何时该说「好」，何时该说「不好」。我们一直试着让他明了，最重要的，就是要行得正。但是很快他就会发现，这并不总是在外面生活的法则。父神，求祢牵着他的小手，一步步带领他。 求祢帮助他了解，不是所有人都值得信任，但人与人之间若没有信任，我们就无法建立起持久的友谊，也无法学会彼此相爱的功课。 求主帮助他记得我们所教导他的：哪里有坏蛋，哪里就有英雄。哪里有敌人，哪里就有朋友。哪里有堕落的人，哪里就有正直的人。哪里有试探要引诱你跌倒的，哪里就有出路让你逃脱。 我们希望他了解，如果他凡事不尽力，他就让我们失望，也让祢失望。但是当他尽力时，无论他是输是赢，我们都会以他为荣。 神啊，求祢帮助他了解，失败没有什么可耻的，只要他尽力就好。但是如果他是靠说谎或欺骗来赢得胜利，他就是羞辱祢的名了。 神啊，还有一件事情。 我渴望我的儿子能成为一个坚强的基督徒，不但认识祢，爱祢，而且能成为领袖，成为这黑暗世界的一盏明灯，抵挡现今的仇敌，影响这个世界。 每当我想到他所面对的，我就不禁颤抖。但是因着我想到祢对我、对我的孩子、对所有信靠祢的人，你对我们所做的宝贵应许，我就欢喜快乐。 感谢主，感谢祢给我们的确据， 这让我能安心地在校门口对我的孩子说「再见」。

作者： 圣经广播网 发表于： 10/5/2007 3:41 PM

Is it good?

Is God's plan good? Is God's plan for YOU good?

How many of us can wake up and thank God for for our lives? How many knows we should? How many feel we should?

How many misquote / misuse Rom 8:28?

To Affirm God's Good Plan for You, you must first accept them to be good. To know whether they (God's plans) are good or otherwise, you need to first know them. Some may not know God's plans. Some may know but don't appreciate it. Some may know and appreciate God's plans but don't affirm them.

In the grand scheme of things, what man does is rather insignificant. Yet it is also significant enough to get a response from us.

What about you? Can you feel the goodness of God's plan?

Sermon notes: On Mission (25 Nov 2007)

The Great Commission is given to all Christians. We who received the grace of God must share it with the others.

Mat 27:33-37
到了一个地方名叫各各他，意思就是「髑髅地」。(34)兵丁拿苦胆调和的酒给耶稣喝。他尝了，就不肯喝。(35)他们既将他钉在十字架上，就拈阄分他的衣服，(36)又坐在那里看守他。(37)在他头以上安一个牌子，写著他的罪状，说：「这是犹太人的王耶稣。」

Mat 27:33-37 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), (34) they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. (35) And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. (36) Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. (37) And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

When a criminal is nailed on the cross, the crimes committed were written on a board nailed to the cross. Jesus had no crime. His charge was being the King of the Jews.

When Jesus was nailed on the cross, there were at least four things that happened.

Mat 27:38-40
当时，有两个强盗和他同钉十字架，一个在右边，一个在左边。(39)从那里经过的人讥诮他，摇著头，说：(40)「你这拆毁圣殿、三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！」

Mat 27:38-40 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. (39) And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads (40) and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

People made fun of Jesus.

Mat 27:41-43
祭司长和文士并长老也是这样戏弄他，说：(42)「他救了别人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，现在可以从十字架上下来，我们就信他。(43)他倚靠神，神若喜悦他，现在可以救他；因为他曾说：『我是神的儿子。』」

Mat 27:41-43 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, (42) "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. (43) He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

The scribes did so.

Mat 27:44那和他同钉的强盗也是这样的讥诮他。

Mat 27:44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

So did the robbers who were crucified with him.

Mat 27:45-46从午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。(46)约在申初，耶稣大声喊著说：「以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？」就是说：「我的神！我的神！为什麽离弃我？」

Mat 27:45-46 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The first miracle when Jesus was on the cross is that there were darkness. Some speculated this to be an eclipse.

This was the most lonely and painful time for Jesus. No one could take his life if he doesn't allow it. That the Father turned away temporarily did not indicate a separation of the trinity.

Mat 27:46-50
约在申初，耶稣大声喊著说：「以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？」就是说：「我的神！我的神！为什麽离弃我？」(47)站在那里的人，有的听见就说：「这个人呼叫以利亚呢！」(48)内中有一个人赶紧跑去，拿海绒蘸满了醋，绑在苇子上，送给他喝。(49)其余的人说：「且等著，看以利亚来救他不来。」(50)耶稣又大声喊叫，气就断了。

Mat 27:46-50 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
(47) And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." (48) And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. (49) But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." (50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

Jesus died.

Mat 27:51-54忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半，地也震动，磐石也崩裂，(52)坟墓也开了，已睡圣徒的身体多有起来的。(53)到耶稣复活以後，他们从坟墓里出来，进了圣城，向许多人显现。(54)百夫长和一同看守耶稣的人看见地震并所经历的事，就极其害怕，说：「这真是神的儿子了！」

Mat 27:51-54 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (52) The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, (53) and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (54) When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

This is the 2^nd miracle / sign. We can now have direct access to God. Thirdly, there was an earthquake and rocks were split, fourthly, the dead came alive. These signs following his death implied he was not an ordinary person but the Son of God.

In chapter 28:2, there was another earthquake, following his resurrection, possibly happened while the angel rolled away the stone.

Jesus died for us. But our faith is in vain if he was not resurrected. Because he is alive again, we have hope for eternal life.

Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb were given money to tell lies about the disciples stealing the body of Jesus.

The eleven remaining disciples went to meet Jesus in a mountain in Galilee (v16) where Jesus directed them (v10). However, some still doubted.

It was then Jesus gave them the Great Commission, which commands us to make disciples, baptizing them and teach them the Word of God. When we do these three things, Jesus will be with us until the end of the world.

On 13 Sep 1998, Israel signed a treaty to allow Palestinians to come back to Israel. 1996 is the 6000^th anniversary of God's creation. Israelites returned to their homeland in 1948 and reclaimed the land in 1967 after the 6-day war. Muslims wanted this place for Jerusalem is their third most holy place after Mecca and Madinah.

On 27 Nov 2007 (40 years after the nation of Israel is formed again), a treaty will be signed by US, Israel, Syria and Iran. The West Bank (of the River Jordan) will be given to the Fatah party of Palestine. (Hamas is in Gaza.) Once this treaty is signed, the Hamas (the terrorist) will enter the West Bank and take Jerusalem. Fatah and Hamas are not at odds. Once they reclaimed Jerusalam, it is believed they will join forces. One book suggested that once they reclaimed Jerusalem, they will not allow entry to any Jews. The Muslims claimed the Wailing Wall in the city is the ruins of their mosque. A war will break out. A peace treaty will be signed. This is mentioned in Daniel 9.

Dan 9:24-27「为你本国之民和你圣城，已经定了七十个七。要止住罪过，除净罪恶，赎尽罪孽，引进（或作：彰显）永义，封住异象和预言，并膏至圣者（者：或作所）。(25)你当知道，当明白，从出令重新建造耶路撒冷，直到有受膏君的时候，必有七个七和六十二个七。正在艰难的时候，耶路撒冷城连街带濠都必重新建造。(26)过了六十二个七，那（或作：有）受膏者必被剪除，一无所有；必有一王的民来毁灭这城和圣所，至终必如洪水冲没。必有争战，一直到底，荒凉的事已经定了。(27)一七之内，他必与许多人坚定盟约；一七之半，他必使祭祀与供献止息。那行毁坏可憎的（或作：使地荒凉的）如飞而来，并且有忿怒倾在那行毁坏的身上（或作：倾在那荒凉之地），直到所定的结局。」

Dan 9:24-27 "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. (25) Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. (26) And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. (27) And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."

The prophecy of God on seventy sevens was given to Daniel. Six two plus seven are past. Only the last seven remains. This is seven year of peace treaty. The Israelites will build their temple. The mosque in Jerusalem will be destroyed. Half way through this treaty, a person believed to be the antichrist will appear and bring calamity.

It is believed that the seven year peace treaty will be signed soon after the treaty signed on 27 Nov 2007.

The time is drawing near?

My question to you: are you eagerly anticipating it? Or are you dreading it?

Next week is my turn to preach again. I am as moody as one can get. Please spend a little time to pray for me. Thank you.

Getting involved in Ministry (18 Nov 2007)

Will Christians be judged?

Will Christians be rewarded?

Will Christians be surprised?

Jesus told the parables of the ten (10) virgins (Mat 25:1-13) and the talents (vv14-30).

The first parable is to remind Christians to be on the alert.

In Vv 31-46 Jesus talked about the separation of the sheep from the goats.

When Jesus comes again, he will separate Christians from the non believers. Those who don't believe will be judged and go to hell. There is no third choice. It's either heaven or hell.

Christians will not be judged. Christians also should not judge as that's the Lord's work.

Are we faithful in our ministry? See the two parables about the ten virgins and the talents. When we do work for God, do not be irritated at people. We must remain faithful.

2Ti 4:7-8
那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，所信的道我已经守住了。
(8)
从此以後，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是按著公义审判的主到了那日要赐给我的；不但赐给我，也赐给凡爱慕他显现的人。

2Ti 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Christians will be rewarded according to their work.

A Place for All (Sermon notes on 11 Nov 2007)

The church is a lighthouse. It draws to itself the lost. It doesn’t move. It stands its ground.

The church is to influence the community and not the other way around.

Mat 19:1-15 耶稣说完了这些话，就离开加利利，来到犹太的境界约但河外。 (2) 有许多人跟著他，他就在那里把他们的病人治好了。 (3) 有法利赛人来试探耶稣，说：「人无论什麽缘故都可以休妻吗？」 (4) 耶稣回答说：「那起初造人的，是造男造女， (5) 并且说：『因此，人要离开父母，与妻子连合，二人成为一体。』这经你们没有念过吗？ (6) 既然如此，夫妻不再是两个人，乃是一体的了。所以，神配合的，人不可分开。」 (7) 法利赛人说：「这样，摩西为什麽吩咐给妻子休书，就可以休他呢？」 (8) 耶稣说：「摩西因为你们的心硬，所以许你们休妻，但起初并不是这样。 (9) 我告诉你们，凡休妻另娶的，若不是为淫乱的缘故，就是犯奸淫了；有人娶那被休的妇人，也是犯奸淫了。」 (10) 门徒对耶稣说：「人和妻子既是这样，倒不如不娶。」 (11) 耶稣说：「这话不是人都能领受的，惟独赐给谁，谁才能领受。 (12) 因为有生来是阉人，也有被人阉的，并有为天国的缘故自阉的。这话谁能领受就可以领受。」 (13) 那时，有人带著小孩子来见耶稣，要耶稣给他们按手祷告，门徒就责备那些人。 (14) 耶稣说：「让小孩子到我这里来，不要禁止他们；因为在天国的，正是这样的人。」 (15) 耶稣给他们按手，就离开那地方去了。

Mat 19:1-15 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. (2) And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. (3) And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?" (4) He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, (5) and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? (6) So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." (7) They said to him, "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?" (8) He said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. (9) And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." (10) The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." (11) But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. (12) For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it." (13) Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, (14) but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (15) And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Is it better to get married or to remain single?

If it is discovered that the marriage doesn’t work, is it better to divorce?

God created both male and female. God didn’t create many women from Adam’s ribs for Adam to choose. When we have no choice, we will accept God’s will. If a marriage has no love, it is not perfect. Marriage is instituted by God.

If the church understands the significance of marriage, then it can have a great impact on the community. The crimes are normally rooted from a broken family or failed marriage. A marriage is doomed to failure if it is not grounded on the Word of God. Children whose parents do not have a good marriage will be easily influenced by the peers.

If Satan wanted to destroy the belief or the growth of the church, the most effective way is to attack the Christian family. When more Christian families experience marital problems, then the church will be destroyed. No matter how much or how well we tell others about our belief, it’s not effective if our marriage is in turmoil.

A marriage is the most creative. Only when a man and a woman come together can create offspring. God wants man to be fruitful and multiply.

One night stand, living together (without marriage), promiscuity, pre-marital sexual intercourse are the tricks of the enemy. “Marriage probation” is further from co-habitation. They see each other as spouse but they are free to have their own relationship. There is no official bond. The temporary satisfaction will bring long lasting suffering. When one is trapped in such sins, they are able to bear good witness to God.

If we do not honour marriage as dictated by the Bible, we will fall into Satan’s trap.

The institution of marriage is to share life’s experience, to bring joy to the other, to remove loneliness, a covenant that is till death do us part, to be united in love, to be fruitful and multiply, to prevent promiscuity, to the complement each other, like a lighthouse to shine on the next generation, for man and woman to mature, to finish the will of God, to become one in soul, spirit and body. It’s a great mystery.

When two become one in a marriage, it’s a covenant and they are no longer two. Because of love, a man and a woman become one. They are no longer dependent on their respective parents. They are like Siamese twins. They can still argue. They have different personalities. To separate a married couple is like splitting a Siamese twins. A divorce hurts.

The Pharisees asked Jesus why a marriage could be dissolved by a certificate. Jesus told him Moses allowed that because of the hardness of the heart of the people.

cf 1 Cor 6 and 7

The Bible takes a Christian marriage very seriously.

1Co 6:18-20 你们要逃避淫行。人所犯的，无论什麽罪，都在身子以外，惟有行淫的，是得罪自己的身子。 (19) 岂不知你们的身子就是圣灵的殿吗？这圣灵是从神而来，住在你们里头的；并且你们不是自己的人； (20) 因为你们是重价买来的。所以，要在你们的身子上荣耀神。

1Co 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (19) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (20) for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Sexual immorality or adultery is committed by married people while fornication is committed by unmarried people. In the eyes of God, sexual intimacy is only for one man and one woman under a covenant of a marriage where they dedicate their lives to each other. Only then will they have 100% satisfaction.

A successful man is one who only loves a woman in his whole life. This is a saying by an American actor. In Hollywood, many marriages end in divorce. The Bible tells us any sins we committed is outside the body but sexual immorality sins against his own body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

1Co 7:1-2 论到你们信上所提的事，我说男不近女倒好。 (2) 但要免淫乱的事，男子当各有自己的妻子；女子也当各有自己的丈夫。

1Co 7:1-2 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." (2) But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

In the epistles to the Corinthians, we see a distinction between Paul’s own thoughts and the Word of God. If it’s Paul’s own opinion, then it’s not a command of God. Paul recommended one to be single.

1Ti 4:1-3 圣灵明说，在後来的时候，必有人离弃真道，听从那引诱人的邪灵和鬼魔的道理。 (2) 这是因为说谎之人的假冒；这等人的良心如同被热铁烙惯了一般。 (3) 他们禁止嫁娶，又禁戒食物（或作：又叫人戒荤），就是神所造、叫那信而明白真道的人感谢著领受的。

1Ti 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, (3) who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

When we compare 1 Cor 7:1 and 1 Tim 4:1-3, we see that Paul did not forbid marriages. It was a recommendation. In Corinth then, prostitution is available at the temple. It was a culture. If a culture is influenced by the devil, we are to stop it.

Paul said to avoid the temptation of to sexual immorality, he encouraged them to get married and for a couple to try to satisfy the need of each other.

1Co 7:5 夫妻不可彼此亏负，除非两相情愿，暂时分房，为要专心祷告方可；以後仍要同房，免得撒但趁著你们情不自禁，引诱你们。

1Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

It’s only when they need to devote to prayers, abstaining from sex is allowed.

1Co 7:7-9 我愿意众人像我一样；只是各人领受神的恩赐，一个是这样，一个是那样。 (8) 我对著没有嫁娶的和寡妇说，若他们常像我就好。 (9) 倘若自己禁止不住，就可以嫁娶。与其欲火攻心，倒不如嫁娶为妙。

1Co 7:7-9 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. (8) To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. (9) But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Paul would rather everyone be like him. But it’s better to get married if they cannot stand the temptation.

1Co 7:10-16 至於那已经嫁娶的，我吩咐他们；其实不是我吩咐，乃是主吩咐说：妻子不可离开丈夫， (11) 若是离开了，不可再嫁，或是仍同丈夫和好。丈夫也不可离弃妻子。 (12) 我对其余的人说（不是主说）：倘若某弟兄有不信的妻子，妻子也情愿和他同住，他就不要离弃妻子。 (13) 妻子有不信的丈夫，丈夫也情愿和他同住，他就不要离弃丈夫。 (14) 因为不信的丈夫就因著妻子成了圣洁，并且不信的妻子就因著丈夫（原文作弟兄）成了圣洁；不然，你们的儿女就不洁净，但如今他们是圣洁的了。 (15) 倘若那不信的人要离去，就由他离去吧！无论是弟兄，是姐妹，遇著这样的事都不必拘束。神召我们原是要我们和睦。 (16) 你这作妻子的，怎麽知道不能救你的丈夫呢？你这作丈夫的，怎麽知道不能救你的妻子呢？

1Co 7:10-16 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (11) (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. (12) To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. (13) If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. (14) For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. (15) But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. (16) For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

To those who are married, Paul encouraged the person whose spouse is an unbeliever to remain married so that spouse can know God. A divorce is allowed only when an unbeliever spouse wanted to end the marriage.

Many see divorce as a solution to a failing marriage. God doesn’t want that.

Man (and woman), you are stupid

I will start with a quote from C. S. Lewis.

"The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed."

Sometimes we don't even realize that we are trying (to be stupid). The case in point is classified. I am not at liberty to disclose details or names of the event because it is being handled by the people who should be handling it.

Suffice to say that try as one may, no one can "cover the sky with one hand." (That's a Chinese expression that means the attempt of a person to do what he / she wants without being found out.)

I think you have heard this too. One can lie to someone all the time or everybody some times. But one cannot lie to everybody all the time.

The "case in point" is about lack of respect, disobedient, no submission, trying to usurp power, trying to get things done first (you know "nasi sudah jadi bubur", so you don't like it but what can you do about it?) and a classic display of a power trip.

When one perceive something to be his / hers when it is not, it can be a dangerous thing because he / she will make bad judgement.

For example, when the hired COO thinks the company is his / hers and try to develop "his / her" company in a way that violates the owner's guidelines / trust, it's a disaster waiting to happen. It's just a matter of how much damage will the COO cause before he goes down in flames.

Enough said.

The Seven Deadly Sins, no I mean Food

I got this from the Anak Melayu Boleh Blog. "Uncle" Sha deemed it worthwhile to follow my Twitter.

eDiets.com is under maintenance when I checked. You can get the "original" from the above mentioned blog. I have made a copy here.

I must say I am taking a lot of them. Wow. If I were to follow the advice of this article and avoid those food, what does that leave me? Rice with water? I am a more of a carnivore than an omnivore. Perhaps you can call me a carnivorous omnivore. While I am not an obligate carnivore, I can live on meat without vegetables but not the other way around.

1. Doughnuts

It’s hard to resist the smell of a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which is why I never step foot in the store. Doughnuts are fried chock-full of sugar and white flour and loads of trans fat.

According to the Krispy Kreme website, an average 3.5 ounce sugar doughnut weighs in with about 400 calories and contains few other nutrients besides fat. These sugary treats may satisfy your craving but it won’t satisfy your hunger as most of the calories come from fat.

“Eating a lot of refined sugar contributes to blood sugar ’swings’ or extreme fluctuations,” eDiets Chief Nutritionist Susan Burke said.

2. Cheeseburger with fries

The age-old classic may be delicious but think twice before sinking your teeth into that Big Mac. The saturated fat found in cheese burgers has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer.

“In fact, fast-food portions are gargantuan, almost double the calories per meal compared to 20 years ago,” Susan says. “Twenty years ago the average fast-food cheeseburger had about 300 calories. Today’s BK Whopper with cheese has 720. To burn the excess 420 calories, you’d have to run for 40 minutes. For example, in 1985 a medium French fry had 240 calories, 2.4 ounces. Today’s ‘medium’ is 6.9 ounces and 610 calories. “

“This fast-food meal of cheeseburger and fries has way too many calories and fat grams, not to mention grams of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and sodium.”

Let’s break down this meal. First, take the white-flour bun (refined carbohydrates), then add some processed cheese (saturated fat and trans fat, plus lots of additives and preservatives) and then top off with fried red meat (cholesterol and saturated fats). And let’s not forget about the condiments such as the always fattening mayonnaise.

Not sounding so appetizing anymore, huh? Oh, and let’s not forget about the infamous side dish. You cheeseburger will most likely come with a side of French fries, which is sadly the most popular vegetable dish in the U.S. Don’t kid yourself, French fries are not vegetables, they are extremely high in fat and contain a tiny amount of nutrients.

3. Fried Chicken and Chicken Nuggets

With the recent class-action lawsuit between The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and KFC, the health risks posed by fried foods are becoming more public. The CSPI is suing the food chain for their use of cooking oil containing unhealthy trans fats. The lawsuit seeks to order KFC to use other types of cooking oils and to inform customers how much trans fats KFC’s food contains.

Foods cooked in highly heated oils (most notably partially hydrogenated oil) have been known to cause cancer, weight gain and other serious health risks if ingested regularly. A 10-piece chicken McNugget from McDonald’s has 420 calories, 24 grams of fat and 1120 milligrams of sodium. One Extra Crispy Chicken Breast from KFC has around 420 calories and eight grams of saturated fat. So unless you want to super size yourself, it’s best to make a clean break with fried foods.

4. Oscar Mayer’s Lunchables

Sure they are convenient and easy, but boy are they unhealthy! These kid-marketed lunches are loaded with saturated fat and sodium. They usually contain highly processed meats and cheeses, white flour crackers and sugary treats. Lunchables get two-thirds of their calories from fat and sugar. And they provide lopsided nutrition since they contain no fruits or vegetables.

“They insidiously promote obesity by making kids think that lunch normally comes in a cellophane-wrapped box,” Susan says. “Parents are promoting their children’s obesity by buying these items. They’re expensive, too. Pack a sandwich and save dollars and health.”

5. Sugary Cereal

Not all cereals are created equally. And while your kids might beg for the latest cookie or marshmallow chocolate surprise cereals, it is a safe bet they are about as healthy as a dessert. Keywords to look out for are puffed, dyed and sweetened.

Most kids’ cereals are so highly processed they no longer look like the grains they were originally made from. A healthy alternative is oatmeal. Although, if you are buying pre-packaged oatmeal make sure to check the label and see how much sugar it contains, you might be surprised.

“A little sugar isn’t a problem but when the first ingredient on the box is sugar, then watch out,” she said. “There is no fruit in Froot Loops. But the unsweetened original Cheerios or Rice Krispies are fine, and you can sweeten them naturally with blueberries and strawberries.”

6. Processed Meats.

What falls under the category of processed meats?

Hot dogs, sausage, jerky, bacon, certain lunch meats and meats used in canned soup products. Almost all processed meats have sodium nitrite added as a preservative.

A recent study conducted at the University of Hawaii found that sodium nitrite can act as “a precursor to highly carcinogenic nitrosamines — potent cancer-causing chemicals that accelerate the formation and growth of cancer cells throughout the body.”

So eliminate these meats from your diet before they eliminate you!

7. Canned soup

Sometimes regarded as a healthy food, soups can be very deceiving. You must stay on your guard because many canned soups have high levels of trans fats, sodium and artificial preservatives such as MSG. Just one serving (which is roughly one cup) can have almost 1,000 milligrams of salt. Also, steer clear of soups that are cream-based, they can be high in calories and fat.

Susan says it is important to “read labels from back to front. Ignore the health claims, and instead focus on the ingredients and serving size. Watch out for hydrogenated fat (trans fat) and sodium.

If you’re buying bread to go with you soup, the first ingredient should be whole grain — either whole wheat, rye or other grain.

If it just says ‘wheat bread,’ that doesn’t mean whole wheat.”

By Jaclyn Johnson
eDiets.com Staff Writer