Eh Greg. Read about the news of SJMC window having the image of virgin Mary? What's ur say on it? Hehe. Just thought of asking u. Tuesday 7:38pm Greg Ory yeap heard about it. well. hmm .. 1st of all miracles do happen. How when why what etc is only known between God and the affected person and from the 3rd party view its subjective and its left to faith. Even if the person has underwent a 1st hand experience of the miracle ppl can question it but there will be never a satisfactory answer for them but as far as the affected person is concerned its a miracle and its by faith believe. This apparition is the same lah. Perhaps there are many sick ppl inside the hospital by believing in that and at the same time there are those who did not. for those cured its a miracle for those not its not an apparition just a dusky shadow over a window. Scientifically .... well no ans from them what ... wait and c lah .. so far no explanation. As far as the church is concerned I THINK (based on other similiar events) before we sanction a miracle it has to go through a vigorous onslaught of procedures till then people are allowed to believe and have faith in it provided that the end point of it is God. If this apparition has touched some one and then thus brought closer to God so be it, in the end who are we to condemn. There are MANY miracles not sanctioned by the church authorities some left to even a 100 yrs but yet allowed to be believed under faith. Why? because that faith is still in its works actively bringing people closer to God. There can be miracles when u believe (u know that song?). God gives us humans many signs, how? its a tool. in whatever way ... its to remind us of Him and to do his work. Humans muda lupa and signs are a natural form to keep humans reminded. For me this apparition i have no comments but i believe that those who is in need n believe have been touched. It may work on just one person but it has worked, on another hand that apparition could just be nothing. Who knows?

Am i alive?

there are many transistion periods in our life. From the time of no schooling, schooling, working and retirement. And as one period moves on to another things change sentiments too n in the end our attitudes too. For the better or for the worst it depends how it is perceived and determined. God for one is constant on bringing us through each of these periods. Next is our family; our parents mainly. Others come and go. From time to time we are ought to examine our lives to redefine, redirect and be aware of the direction we are going too. Well lent is not the only good time, even vacation time or a day off will do.
However in our church the path is paved directed to God thus preparing ourselves ought to be taken on this path. God will guide us.
Sometimes when we are in our comfort zone of our homes we tend to miss the value of the home we are in only to feel it later when we are away from it. Ever since i was young it was cultivated in my family to always be together during the festive period; Christmas, New year, Easter and also our Church Feast Day. When my siblings and I were still schooling it was easy and we often look forward to it. Mum cooks and we all enjoy the feast together and that fills our stomach and soul to go out later and enjoy the rest of the day with other family members and friends. It’s a time too when we just simply want to be home and watch the special programs on television. Despite doing so everyday it is different when it’s the festive time. The holy week is special, a longer period of preparation compared to advent-Christmas. The preparation is not the time spent to clean the house and decorate it but the time we spend as a family to go to church more often (Every Way of the cross session including the Holy week masses in addition to the Sunday masses) and also our active participation in church. My parish is a small one where it is almost always whole families get involved. It was fun, many things to look forward too and in the end to enjoy the fellowship and experience, the good outcomes from our preparations. A job, well done. Fast and abstinence is also easier practiced, the common vegetarian meals in my family every Friday. In a very much orderly comfortable life indeed everyday is a smile. For me it is easier to feel the work of God these times too, the sense of self satisfaction, good and bad memories; the bad ones being good experiences and blessings in disguises are easier seen too. It was those times too that it’s careless. Youths get together and do things in church, we siblings getting involved together, participating in church activities, something ironically hardly seen at home. In those days each one of my family member is partaking in doing something in church together with the rest of the parishioners. A benefit seen in small parishes perhaps. I am proud of my family and this we celebrate together during the festive period. After mass we go home have a toast and have supper together, chat till we get tired and go to sleep. We give a Thanksgiving toast to God for his blessings.

It soon changes, something that it is inevitable. My brother and sister goes to university leaving me alone to hold onto the previous feelings, afraid to change or let them go. Holy week and the other festive was not always a complete family. We would feel the missing piece of a member but of course thanks to modern technology they are a mere call away nevertheless physical presence is indeed more powerful. Despite the incompleteness most if it remained the same and life went on. I missed working with my siblings in church. Now it was just my parents and myself. I was still an altarserver, such deep rooting in serving my parish inspired by the rest of my family members made me continue to serve for 10 over years. During the holy hour after the Maundy Thursday mass, we sit as a family in front of the tabernacle and join the congregation in prayer. It was a simply nice moment to feel the presence of God in our family as well as our extended ‘family’. We go home hearts filled with the warmth of God’s blessings and anticipate for Easter.
Time continues, no turning back, no pause, no halt. When we are happy, comfortable perhaps contended we prefer it to stay like that but nope….life goes on. Now it was my turn to leave home and to the not to far KL metropolitan for further studies. Since my hometown was not to far I was still always back and present for any church and family function. All that I have gathered, learned and experience, I used, to survive my life in KL as a student. Despite wanting to make it home during the Holy week I was determined to experience God in a different mode, place and mood. Of course God is the same everywhere but aren’t we humans with feelings and sentiments. Well it did not fail. The experience of the Holy week in bigger parishers was great. Even greater it was joined with friends. Together with my university CSS members we went church hopping, experiencing God in different communities and environments and languages, taking pictures and sharing them around. Indeed it was great but on the big day I just had to go home for that was where my heart is. With my friends we learnt that God is truly indeed everywhere despite the same one true God the manifestation of the wonders we experienced and saw was different. It was not a hallucination of seeing apparitions but it was the simple smiles we shared among strangers in different churches, meeting people, singing together, making the sign of peace. As friends we got closer too and were empowered, happy to know the Holy week was holy. Reading this some might think we went for joy rides haha but doesn’t God bring that joy. The Holy week inspired us to do stuff. Just like back home Holy week was the time we were doing stuff of preparation as a family and church and also for the self; the growth of thyself with the inspiration of God.
Talk about furthering my studies, I did go further …. deported by my University to Kuala Terengganu to continue my clinical training. It was different yet again. A different time, by time seen by the slow process of moving further away from home. When in KT I was there together with my cohort consisting of only one practicing Catholic. No more family, no more CSS. As usual, I do not know perhaps by nature when in a new place the 1st place that comes to mind to go or look for was the church. Well even before going there I did manage to contact a parishioner from there who helped a lot. So as usual the finding of a church was finding a home and a new home I did find amongst the parishioners and the CSS there. Getting involved in church was alternative too in balancing one life. We all need to have a balance on spirituality to in our lives, besides work/study and family life. There i continued being an altarserver. Once a server I guess always a server, retirement did not want me so I continued to serve in KT although not activelylah. Holy week was different here. Back home parents were the drivers to church and kept us on the spiritual track, In KL was a time when friends and self motivation to keep the spirit going from home continued me to seek God, here in KT I had no transport problem :D. Thank God for keeping me on track by introducing me to the parishioners of KT as well as buddy parish priest. Fun indeed going places too. In Bentong, KL, KT holy week was not a miss and preparation was smooth just like home with a little difference only.
When it comes to the holy week, as Catholics it is compulsory to go for confession. Well I did miss a couple but most of the time I eventually went for it which I feel was just due to a flick of God’s finger. The trust in God and a play from your part will definitely give you what you want provided it is of good. I came across many students who give all sorts of excuses of not being able to go to church and take part in church activities. Well I was a student too and all the excuses that they give I also had it as my problems too but I ASKed and I received. They perhaps asked but since there was some difficulty they let go or perhaps they were simply not interested to join and give excuses because deep inside they are ashamed of their actions. Well here I am not pointing fingers but just want to pass the message not to give excuses, if not interested its ok. No forcing. Its undermining all the others who despite facing difficulties carrying out their spiritual duties. During the holy week lots of happening thus u see lots of these as well. Calling ourselves as Catholics is not enough but we ought to live up to it, its like when u call your self an engineer you should be an engineer and not a lawyer. As u ask God for help be thankful and show it just like how u show your loved ones by showering them with gifts. Mere thinking and expecting God to know (of course he knows) is like doing something and assuming the other person knows what you are doing. If that thing fails the other person can just say I do not know even if he knows just because you have not told that person but instead assume he did. So as students well of course go on and enjoy your lives before you write of yourself into the working world but remember in order to grow up and mature have a balance which includes spirituality. Have a good spiritual quotient, balance it up with your intellectual quotient and your emotional quotient.
After my studies I went further, a not so popular option for many. I went of to work in East Malaysia where a whole new different ball game took place…. Well to a certain extent east Malaysia feels like a totally different Malaysia for a better. It is nice here but of course home is again where the heart is. Over here the benefits of being a school going kid or a uni is no more. You are on own in the working life fending for yourself. So here u have your own car so steer yourself spiritually too. It has been difficult ever since because of the hectic working life, going home tired, sleeping off, forgetting days of obligations and even mass times. In the beginning God seemed further as well even in the comparison with the past. The holy week is not around at this time of writing. I wonder how it would be …. hopefully I would be able to make it for the masses here and it wont clash with my working hours … I prefer going for mass … an escapism from hectic working life. In that week I am optimistic that the preparation would be good God willing despite being tougher.
Last Christmas was my first without my family. I was afraid it would be ruined and already was working on that day but God made it one of the best Christmas experience I ever had. Nothing much but just going to 2 different masses and being with the crowd, with good music and praise it was an awe experience. We are never a lone, God is always there.
So far in this season of lent I even missed Ash Wednesday, fasting is already common due to work. Nevertheless God is essential part of my life even tough time very much lesser in participation of church activities. Commitment to actively participate cannot be given sadly thus making me join the working youth activities here casually. Moreover not been going for the way of the cross too. It is a new experience of trying to merge God with our work since during times of stress things turn differently. This merge I feel is a need for me since I am currently unable to keep the flow going with church activities. A different cross indeed I am carrying and a heavier one too.
Life is like a ECG strip, you can see your heart’s electrical activity having up and down patterns. If this line is flat it means that you would be pronounced dead. So in this season of lent despite all of our varied kind of struggles, lets examine it. See the pattern of the strip if those up and down patterns are pathological of normal. Being aware of a problem is the 1st step in solving it don’t be in denial. Then ask God for help and play apart yourself. God willing things would turn out for the better. Enjoy the coming of the holy week, experience God in the masses, it would be a refreshing.
God’s speed!
Happy Easter

I am Communal Being

Humans are communal being by nature whether they like it or not. Even those who are individualistic still depend on others, perhaps not directly by their definition.
What are the communities i belong too? :
UCSI school of medicine
CSS
Bentong
Kuala Terengganu
Indians
Malaysians
Pahang
Facebook
Youth
University students
Catholicism
Health Care - doctors
Single :P
Males
- therefore we are communal being and we should be proud of it and strive to contribute to it.

Psychiatry and Daily Movies ;)

dissociative fugue - movie into the wild maybe
dissociative personality disorder @multiple personlity disorder - anniyan, me,myself and irene, chandramuki
dissociative amnesia - butterfly effect
chapgras syndrome - others are not who they really are - find the cause of the changing period btw when the the other person
changes from real to the unreal for the patient. use the trigger and manipulate it to challenge the patient when he is
stabilised.
movie called obssesed is an example delusion disorder erotomanic type
some delusional disorder - shutter island
hypothyroidism with mental disorder - orphan
ahedonia - the neagaitive symptom of shizophrenia - feeling of absence of plesurable activity or one has experienced before =
=== i have this haha
disordered content of tought ~ over-valued ideas == isolated preoccupying belief, neither delusional nor obsessional in anture which comes to dominate a person's life
for many years and may affect his actions. the pre-occupying belief maybe undestandabale when the patients background is known.

THINK!!! ARG!!!

One of the more interesting insights from evolutionary psychology and neuroscience is how the human species is predisposed to pattern-seeking, often to a fault.

On the plus side, through our ability to differentiate similar from dissimilar, we’re able to develop complex systems like language and hierarchical societies.

On the minus side, we also have a taste for narrative that’s quite happy to take short cuts and oversimplifications to arrive at temporary ‘satisfactions’. Many supernatural, pseudo-scientific and conspiracy theory-laden explanations tend to fall into this category.

An interesting corollary to all of this pattern-seeking behaviour is a need to assign an agent as the provocateur of something: if we didn’t have an obvious cause or causer, we would literally need to invent one just to fill in the cognitive gap.

Politics for Dummies

Malaysian politics is such a joke, full of dramas, sandiwaras, stupidity, insults and middle fingers to the people.
The government is taking the people for a ride feeding on the apathy of the majority and their contentedness, dependents and also those who remain silent and unpatriotic also with the presence of dumb opposition which i think the gov is keeping them for show to the international community. It cant do what Singapore does to its opposition cause the country and big and so called democratic.
The opposition is filled with jokers who do not know politics, going in for their own pockets, seedlings from weeds from BN, opportunist, trouble makers and cheap publicist. Its pathetic
Of cos there are good 'politicians' within the opposition but i feel they lack the political credibility and balls. Yes these are those who really want to work for the people but i rather suggest to them to become social workers or NGOs or columnist in newspapers or blogs. Some are just barking dogs in parliament bringing something to nowhere. But parliament itself i dunno seems to be a waste to time and the parliamentarians are just wasting or selling time for cheap so that the actually committee who actually works on bills do the work and everything.
There are credible ones but i feel they are just getting tired and old and loosing the uhmph but still holding them in which i think they will do so until their die.
Politics is dont dirty but its the battle of intellectual rationalization, political geniosity in tactics and maneuvering. Its a hard battle for idiots so they end up in cheating especially with money and sadly there are even more idiots who take them.
Politicians should have a selfless vision and mission for the people and to make that work they have to come into power and to do so fighting through the many other likewise people is what politics is all about. So how you battle your way up to win the peoples heart and get u to govern and make work your vision and mission.
Its like fighting among the many cooks to get the best soup for the customer. But too many cooks to make a soup will spoil the soup but this is different when there are there many 'no cook's' cooking a soup. The real cooks form different restaurants and people of their respective liking will go to the ones they like. See who gets the most customers and they would be the best cook. But if the no cooks open up restaurants fewer people will ever go to any one of them so in the end those with the most out of the least will be the 'best'. the 2nd analogy describes Malaysian politics. Do the people have a better choice? so we are actually choosing the best out of the worst but currently many are gambling on the other no cooks hopefully they would end up to become better.
Malaysian politics not only needs robotic intellectualism but like it or not there is still a lot of sentiments and culture involved so manupulating them to work is essential by not playing dirty once again but using cultural intellectualism. Now we need this intellectualism because we are in a intellectual maturing country (process)unlike those days where there is no need of it.
Sometimes to understand local milieu, we need to do some comparison and lets take a look at Singapore, how it has come up and look at its milieu. They lack the need of cultural intellectualism and lee kuan yew being a brilliant politician with a selfless vision and mission for his people just had to use political intellectualism. he was a robotic politician which made robotic people in the end but luk at Singapore now? i think if Malaysia becomes a pariah state Singapore will still prosper. Even when Indonesia was of no worth once Singapore probably just felt pity. Pro or con the absence of culturism in that country but look at the progress. There culturalism was sacrificed but there is no need over here. It is not a rule that you need to sacrifice one. Why not just merge it through intellectual manipulation.
Unless the opposition in this country pulls and keep their pants up with no shrinking balls and brains win the hearts of people even the good for nothing ones then there is a point to their existence.
BN will forever play its old game for there are many playing with them.
To win them one either needs to play their game which in the long run is going to be a corrupt cancer unless the game is just a ploy or within BN screw them up. And i have a feeling now is a good time to screw them up from the inside out. And one more option, a good opposition which have a balance to play the cards of the intelectualist and the culturalist.

Intellectualism - using brain basically, having wits, know how, tactics, facts and figures, calculated plans, evidence based vision and mission, results, well organized, efficient, disciplined, ethical in work.

Culturalism - those who love their creed (race, religion etc) and wants to maintain them and prevent it from vanishing, uphold roots, defend them

politics (oxford) : the art of science of governing dealing with the form, organization and administration of state and with its regulations of its relations with other states; the ideas, principles or/and commitments of an individual or organisation, in political life, the organisational process of principle according to which decisions are made affecting authority and status.

Book review

The Spirit of Truth & The Spirit of Error
by Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow

This is a book about the charismatic movement within the Christianity regardless of denomination. The author cautions fellow Christians on the authenticity of their practices and doctrines (page 9 1st prgh. He is of protestant background and thus not surprisingly hits a little on the Roman Catholic Church.
On the RC - he equates our believe on Mary and the Saints as also a Spirit of Error (page 3 1st prgh) in respect to attaining Salvation. As the theology and philosophy of protestants is Salvation is ONLY through GOD (bible). Well it is quiet understanding that the author to my perception does not understand on the concept of Salvation by RC which is Salvation is attained by works and faith of which this concept is from the very bible the RC put together only to be later 'mis'/'re'-interpreted by the protestants some 1500 yrs later. To make things clear believing in Mary and the Saints is not equilavent to 'complicated system of works by Mary. Saints, martyrs, etc etc etc' as written in the same page. Mary and the gang are tools for us humans to come closer to God. For God is also Just. It may not be mentioned in the bible but there are many stories which tells us so for example the wedding at Cana. (Dont read the bible literally - it was not written as such unlike the Quran).
Now back to the Charasmatic movement. Well in the beginning the RC church supported it but later it was banned. Like here in Malaysia it was done so too somewhere in the mid 1990s. Why ... reasons are as such in this book.
Well the spirit of error is a plague and is not only within the charismatic movement but also within ourselves and our church be it protestant or RC. However for the RC this error does not stay long but will be rectified and the chances for it to happen is also slim for what governs it is not 1 person the pope but the whole church. Unlike the protestant churches the chances for error is soo big because every church (independent ones especially) is governed most of the time buy just one person or a elite group of elders within a community. In the RC the hierarchy protects us and of cos since it is the church from Jesus it is to this very regard we give confidence to it as a leader in our faith bringing us to God and salvation.
If the spirit of error as ruled over something it will never last long. It will fall. This movement has been banned in the RC. So it stops. Some protestant churches who have opened with this as the main item has closed too. If the RC is an error it would not have survived 2000 over yrs. As in the bible says after Jesus formed it - the gates of hell will not prevail this church.
Now back in the RC certain elements also mentioned in the book which was said to be practiced earlier on in Christianity is stilled practiced but in a liturgical manner as to protect it from flaw and error. So we dont see anymore of the action as described by the author haha.

the end

Oh Mama!!!!

2 videos : http://www.ucatholic.com/apologetics/18/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUdYeYy3NQA.

A protestant friend argued these and these are my arguments back.

ust to let u know some thoughts i have about the video that u posted
the video about Mary...was a bit skeptical i feel...
Mary is not the only one Jesus called as Woman....in John chapter 4, Jesus called the samaritan woman "Woman" as well
& the 'woman' in revelations chapter 12 is not referring to Mary as well although in verse 2 it says it laboured & delivers the child (Jesus)
if u read verse one, it says the woman with the sun & moon & the 12th stars...
the sun & moon appears in jacob dream in genesis as the promise land & the 12th stars is the 12 tribes of Israel...
because Jesus Himself is a descendant of David whom is a descendant of one of the 12 tribes
so the Woman mentioned ther is "Israel"

my response ::: Revelations
- women can be viewed in 3 ways :
yes – Israel
Mother Mary – in literal terms
The Catholic church (the only church of that time)

1st we need to look at the book of revelation as a whole
Why/when/how was it written
– when the book was written it was during the time of persecution under the Romans. So to give HOPE to the people and at the same time to continue to DECIMATE the word of God to them without being detected by the Romans it was written in Greek in very descriptive language. Hope that good will prevail over evil.
Many argue today that this book is about the REAL end of the world but its actually not. The prophecy did not go as far as that but just as far as the ‘future’ reign of emperor Nero. This book dates between the time of Emperor Domitions and Nero.

Now we look at it in the perspective that the woman is Israel.
- if it were Israel then the writer is talking about the past and as u have said those symbols are as per mentioned. Then lets c how Israel fits in further….
Book of rev written for present times (time of when it was written) and Christ has already risen therefore why should he go back to the past?
Verse 10 :
//And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now has come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ : because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.//
The underline verse = the kingdom of God and the power of his Christ.
The word Kingdom : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08646a.htm (short oni can read one :P)
The word HIS – an institution/body
If it were Israel – at that time the kingdom of God has not come (the old testament awaits the coming of the kingdom of God)
Reading further verse 11 : And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.
The word they : Israel overcame by the blood of the lamb? Lamb as we know is Jesus the sacrificial lamb @ the greatest sacrifice. They refers to the Kingdom of God (rules) and to the HIS (the body/institution)
The other verses it mentions about desert/wilderness. Since rev was written in greek the word desert carried different meaning : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04749a.htm

Now we look in the perspective of Mary – literal and also the church
It is interesting to note that how good the writer has interwoven literal meaning and figurative meaning together.
: A woman... The church of God. It may also, by allusion, be applied to our blessed Lady. The church is clothed with the sun, that is, with Christ: she hath the moon, that is, the changeable things of the world, under her feet: and the twelve stars with which she is crowned, are the twelve apostles: she is in labour and pain, whilst she brings forth her children, and Christ in them, in the midst of afflictions and persecutions.

As mentioned as the above statement the number 12 are the 12 apostles. Crown of 12 stars. The church regards Mary as the Queen of the church as well Queen of heavens, therefore bearing a crown. At that time of writing the apostles were still alive (if not all) and they together with Mary received the Holy spirit on Pentecost.
Furthermore it has repeated mention about pain and delivering and ‘her son’ as like an emphasis perhaps not to confuse with her being Israel.
The further verses can be explained as above under ‘perspective of Israel’ .

Further readings on Mary : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15464b.htm
there are many subheadings so u can read which one interest you lah.
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another point he argues :
the verse whr Jesus said "behold, here is your mother" to be honest, i'm not very clear on this....u can see it in 2 ways act...
one is that Jesus is telling the disciples that Mary is their mother, & another way is that Jesus is teaching the disciples to honor & respect their parents...

my response :::: At the cross Jesus tells John behold thy mother. U said as this to mean asking his disciples to honor father and mother. At that time there was no father figure there involved. And so Jesus entrust John to make her a room.
Also at that time when Jesus said that most (all I think except John) of the apostles ran away so I guess its not a good time for lessons, furthermore the lesson of honoring your father and mother is not something new but already well known since the time of the 10 commandment and does not serve a purpose at the time of crucifixation to remind it. Such a purpose is out of place.
As Mary was so strong of a person, a person who can withstand seeing her Son being crucified she would too become the strength to the apostles.
Coming to honoring father and mother. Jesus honors his Mother, obeys her despite he not wanting too (wedding at Cana – my time has not yet come……. Do as he says), therefore the church follows suit to also honor her and with that confidence (cana) we believe when we ask Mary to pray for us, God will hear too.
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another point ::::: And Mary herself is not w/o sin....
She is just a human being...like us....it's just that God had chosen her to bear Jesus....
She's the virgin Mary...but not the sinless Mary

my response ::: Mary is just a women. No she not just a women. Blessed are you amongst women …… (the annunciation … Angel Gabriel).
: luke 1, 28-29 : And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
In verse 29 she thought to herself what MANNER of salutation ….
In verse 48 : Because he has regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. And this is what the Church is doing.
The word blessed is not simply used on people.
: check the dictionary. Could not copy and paste those meanings :P
I don’t think God would just pick any women to bear His Son …. For a Son of God to be born of a woman would not the women be from a special pick??? Like in the video Mary was likened to the 2nd Eve who was also born without sin. So she too would be only rightfully be protected from God to be without sin. And she remained so.
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another point ::: Mary is not the only one Jesus called as Woman....in John chapter 4, Jesus called the samaritan woman "Woman" as well

my response :::Referring to the lady in Samaria as women – the women was not named, so how else to call her or to even write what name should the author have used? (giving respect to how females were called in that time, language and other circumstances). Jesus knew who was Mary why still call her women then?


so well thats all ... happy reading.

Me, Myself and I

This is according to a Chinese astrology about me and i feel its soo true! It was in Chinese and i got it translated. It needed my time of birth, DOB and my name.


He is quite steadfast and reliable
Appreciates girls that are intelligent, has a good judgement and can
handle household chores well, can help him govern a family, gives him a
feeling of stability, so that he has no other worries and is able to
put everything into his career. After he goes home he wants to have a
wife to talk openly with him, and give him mental and emotional support.
Once in a relationship, will be very possessive and have lots of limits
.Therefore this kind of guy can be said as a guaranteed safe, model
good husband.
Has more mature looks,solid stature, a strong character,and can
adapt well.Strong sense of responsibility,caring and willing to be of
service,warm, gives people a sense of security .Willing to take the
initiative, can be quite blunt, proud(care about face) ,worry too much and bad
tempered at times.

OoOoOoOoO

Lost Friends

I feel weird. Do close friendships last? They do supposedly. Why are they not close now, perhaps life has drifted them away far away from me? Or since i am a student i got more time to spare to keep in touch compared to them? I hope that last question is true.
I have many friends, many of them actually come and go, few only have stood beside ever since i was in my younger days till now that oso not all.
When i was in CSS active and all, i got many friends some were happy to have a fren like me so much so they have expressed it through their mails thanking me many times and also over msn and stuff. (not bragging n nothing about gf bf issues here) They became close and we did work closely together. We enjoyed it. I was glad i had been a good fren to others and also glad to have them as fren for they too have tought me alot. So i also tot that our friendship would last but it did not happen.
On the contrary they have now drifted away from keeping in touch. No more replies to mails, no more hi over msn or sms. What happen uh? Did i do something wrong or have I become of no use to them or were they faking it and do not know how to cherish those gud times? Or perhaps they wud say their life moved on? Even if it moves on i dont c anything wrong in catching up right?? Once in awhile keeping in touch or so.
I am also surprised that those who were not so close as compared to the others instead keep in touch with me although we have not met for a loooong time face to face. To my surprise there are those who seeked me to be fren keeps in touch with me more often, and i have met that person only once! that oso i still cant remember!
What is going on? Is there something wrong or is this just natural??
I think its due to work - TIME the usual devil. Cos those people i mentioned are already working and perhaps they feel i m just a student so a gap has been created. Hahah work oso i am still elder then some of them. Some are working and still keeping in touch!
Sometimes i also wonder - some of these guys who are keeping in touch with me - how long more will they do so??? How much should i keep them in heart so that later i wont get hurt or disappointed.
Should i treat them as case to case basis, when they smile i smile when they dont i dont?
Keeping in touch are at least a couple of months once would give each other positive energy and encouragement whereby you will know you were not forgotten and the sense of appreciation of past close friendships are still remembered. So i feel keeping in touch is important.
haha some people suddenly become close then suddenly dissapear. sigh ....
How am i to reciprocrate. Guess i should go with the flowlah.
It was written somewhere that i would have only few stedfast friends and i guess that would be good enough for me.
hahha sometimes i want to talk crap with them oso cannot end up talking serious stuff pulak ... dahlah org panggil aku uncle huhuh hehe
Is it difficult to hold on onto relationships till at times u get tired ... and want to drift away ...? Or does people think staying in a relationship (not gf bf) is like holding back oneself or getting oneself tied up to the other?
Well all i am asking is to keep in touchlah and dont get the feeling of being forgotten despite all the apraisals given when we were together. Makes them fake pulak d.
But i softlah - wont go hard on them perhaps they just busy.

GHKL the Great

was in HKL doing my electives for 1 month from June 13 to July 9. It was a great experience but i hope it wud stay that why cos i dun have the interest to go and work there. U r a kind of a stranger do your own work kind but well i may just know less.
HKL patient vise has of cos a greater variety coming from different creed compared to HSNZ. U got foreigners, malays indians and what not. Even the doctors also there are of all races. In addition you would come across suicide cases, homeless, jailbirds.
And of cos there is also a variety of diseases compared to HSNZ. I saw tetanus, reynauds. In the ward i was in is like a dumpster ward where all types of cases get admitted in there first only later distributed around to respective wards. So u can see psychiatric cases, GI cases incl hepatobiliary, even ortho. optha
Condition of ward HSNZ is better - less cramped, not like a market and not as hot. In HKL there are many cases of Hospital acquired pneumonia - whats there to wonder when it is so obvious that the ventilation is poor there. Also tak ceria, gloomy. One can faint there, so better have breakfast before work.
Doctors staff there are friendly and u wud get help when u ask. U can go anywhere provided ur basic courtesy is there to ask permission and greet. Altough they are nice better dont play around.
We meet other students from other uni who are also doing their electives there - AIMST, Liverpool, UPM, UKM - we did exchange a few words and stuff but they were busy with their own stuff.
What we do there is basically the same as what we do here in HSNZ - we followed ward rounds, clerked cases, did procedures (depends on ur supervisors) and sometimes helped doctors with some of their task including clerking and calling patients relatives.
Had the experience of helping a doctor to find a psychiatric patient next of kin by calling a list of number he gave. Yes - could have just called Jabatan Kebajikan but they wud take a week and more paperwork so to avoid that.... .
There the patient is seriously in you hands and you are expected to do everything for the patient. The nurses seem to do less work there. Some doctors say they are doing lots of unnecessary work and some which is not theirs....and yeah they are all more stressed up compared to the ones in HSNZ.
Had also the experience of my specialist asking me to do a peritoneal tap in a chronic liver disease patient. 1st time - ooo what honor.
Also had an opportunity to help a nurse get a manic state psy patient sit dwn for his injection. He later told me i cannot be trusted haha :P
My supervisor specialist told me not to go to clinic cos its a waste of time haha.
The turnover rate in the ward is very high - every day new patients are at the bed. This ward is the first stop ward. From here the patient is dx stabilized 1st line given then transferred to other proper wards or discharged.
At time one only can feel that HSNZ is much more in order and more systematized then HKL believe it or not but both has they pros and cons. HKL is not computerized not even partial.
Well to get into HKL - go to the website get the form from there, call them set a good repo and u wud get in. also depends on ur luck

HKL was a good experience.

On the Road I C U

There have been lots of bus accidents and some of them have been very tragic. People put the blame of the government and the bus companies but in the end no matter how for the accident to occur or not depends on the driver behind the wheel.
Nevertheless steps can be taken to at least minimize the risk or chances for an accident to occur.
I got one idea and perhaps my idea may already be in some1 else mind or perhaps in the shelves of the road transport ministry. My idea is as such :
Each bus has a speed detector. Whenever the bus driver breaks the speed limit an alarm maybe sounded to alert the driver and then a signal is sent over to the relevant authorities to take log of the speed break.
Each time a speed or warning is ignored it would be logged into the drivers portfolio and if it reaches a certain number he can get sacked and blacklisted.
By this method at least the drivers would really be afraid to break the rules. In addition this system can be managed by gov body.
This system perhaps can start on the buses on the hot routes then later go for all buses.

my chairmancy .... kerusi !!!

Well, it's almost time for CSS's AGM(next week, July the 3rd). This means it is time to 'shoo' out the old committee and say 'hello' to the new ones. This also means that Gregory, the Kerusi, will be leaving CSS(and UCSI) for Kuala Terengganu. Before he leaves, cssucsi.blogspot.com sat down(in front of the computer) with him to discuss his tenure as President. Below is Part 1 of the fairly long chat...


1. Tell us about the beginning, how did you join CSS and how were you made the 1st President of CSS.

Well it was unexpected. I thought a CSS did not exist and i actually told Ivan there was none when he asked me. Then one day Ivan came up to me pula and said there was one and yup we were both excited.We went to one of the members house one night and realized it was a first gathering hahahaha. Both of us thought the group existed ages a go.. Ms June was leading the group and told us that contact has been made with Lifeline Ministry of SFX so we are hooked to themlah. Dunno how i got the first task to organize the following weeks' gatherings' activity and it was about Angels.


So as usual, I went back and got into business but unfortunately something came up and i did not attend that gathering but I passed my work and it was carried out together with a short movie screening and sharing too by the rest. After that about 6 gatherings or so were held and i attended only 1.Then came the exam and holiday season and no gatherings were held. To be honest i did not bother also because i myself was busy with medicine.


Then came a night where when i was walking back from UCSI to the condo i got a call from an unknown number. Uhmm who could it be?? I asked myself. Bah should be one of my classmates. Rupa rupanya it was Ms June. Ah maybe an invitation to join the next gathering. Tengok tengok 'Hey Greg can you take over this group!' she asked me. !!!! I declined and gave reasons for it and asked her too WHY ME??. (She only met me twice during those gatherings - so how can one know me??).


She said i was the first to pop up in her mind when thinking this. (?!?!??!) Ms June was sick and could not run the show. I told her i will think first.Hahaha - As i was thinking whether i can take over or not I was already planning how to set up CSS university level and join CMO. While contemplating on this issue i realized myself in ASAYO office asking how to set up a CSS when i was passing by Masjid Jamek one day, while on the way back to my kampung. Then I gathered some counterparts and then had a short meeting with Ms Jennifer from CMO in UCSI. The ball hence started rolling.


Forms to set up a society in UCSI were filled and complied too. Some research was done and we got to know that there are many Catholics around and we estimated bout 100. Ivan was a good fisherman and with his findings we decided to have an AGM. Well the turn out was poor and we realized our publicity was not strong enough so for the next 2 week we worked hard in publicity and the next AGM we saw 30 people turned out for it. Wohooo. And walla I became the first president. (I was still in contemplating mode haha).


Before all these events Fr. Valentine told Ivan and I that he wanted to see a CSS in UCSI. Hehe i did not feel wanting to take the initiative set up one also at that time. Guess his prayers were answered.Well God works in wonders and I was a Jonah here hahaha, finally stoped contemplating and said to myself "Woi!! You are the Pressie here and it is for a reason and a CSS is here also for a reason so get into business!!!". YOUR will be done. Without anymore hesitation i jumped into the building of the CSS here together with my new committee.


2. In the early part of CSS gathering, what were the obstacles that you faced as the President? Have these obstacles been resolved as you leave?

Well the first obstacles was getting everyone organized and 'into' CSS and that has been resolved and going well till now. Then it was finding a proper time to maximize the number of members and excos to attend each gathering. Won at times but till know it has not 100% resolved. UCSI timetables are not standardized and at every moment some one will either be having their exams, holidays or what so ever in uni. The number of attendance was fluctuating from as low as 4 to as high as 25 (normal gatherings excluding mass).


Next is people themselves who are difficult. Always give false hope and information hampering the EXCO's to do their job. Efficiency, responsibility, sincerity, sacrifice is quiet lacking as well as the will to explore and learn and to grow and mature in the faith. We are trying to change this through many ways but you know we only can bring the horse to the river but for it to drink is left up to the horse.


The other, is excuses, unreasonable ones....haish... . Well we cant force but we are still with our doors open and inside it there is much to gain which I feel bad as it is not reaching the members. The chances for a system itself not to work is about 30% the rest is human - 70%.


3. Tell us your best memory of CSS since it's birth almost one year ago.

The whole formation of setting up, carrying out and passing over CSS is an unforgettable memory itself.


Nothing specific in particular. Experiencing every moment to the fullest whether happy or sad are good memories.


4. If you could turn back time, what would you have changed in CSS?
Nothing. I am thankful with my committee members and saw every challenge as God's will and we are to go through it together. No regrets in this point. If it is not due to the past you would not have a future.Wanting to change the past in this mater is like not acknowledging one's mistake and not wanting to learn from it but wanting an easy way out to clear things. Not good.

5. How have each and every CSS committee grown since one year ago?
I feel all of them has learnt something of which you will have to ask them yourselves haha. However I believe they have become more mature by acquiring or brushing up their leadership skills and faith, becoming better. Nevertheless I also feel there are some who have missed out a bit haha. For me I have gained more experience in organization, PR and of course more knowledge of our faith through our gatherings which many have missed haha for not coming.

6. What do you want CSS members to benefit from the CSS gatherings? Are there aims or objectives for each gathering?
ATOMIC has its aims and objectives but basically we want the members to learn more about our faith in a higher level more than what has already been thought in church and the same time to form a circle of friends which will be quality witnesses of Christ in the university. Also to grow in faith together while being students trying to lead a Cristian life hence.

7. What do you think CSS needs the most and why? (money, members etc.)
It needs some sort of dedication and love in doing God's work and wanting to learn to really follow His ways and thus serving the people around. Thats what makes us different from all other societies (non-religious). The people in CSS will have to learn how to sacrifice a little. Jesus sacrificed himself for us, did he not? So why not we make some sacrifice too for the benefit of others. There is nothing to loose but only gains.

8. How did you feel after being thrown into the Angkasa swimming pool after the Easter party? haha - I have been thrown into many pools, many times before so it is not something new. But i was happy and touched and grateful to know that I have good friends around me. It was unexpected because i thought you guys were not into doing these kind of stuff. hahaha

9. As the outgoing president, do you have anything else to say to the new president?
Persevere, don't give up, pray and know that God is always with you. Be sincere in your duty, respect others and listen to your members and accommodate them and be their friend and not their boss. Run CSS as a family not as a corporate body. There will be ups and downs and it is not going to be easy so be strong and value those around you. Be responsible and learn to sacrifice and prioritize. To add - for the members pula - support your president because nowadays organization is no more a one way thing meaning it does not all lies in the hands of the leader. So the ups and downs of CSS lies also in the hands of the members too. Remember that CSS is not a corporate body or not like other societies, it is a family and it belongs to all. The leader is to drive you people safely and correctly to where you want to go collectively. I also feel that though with a small group make it a strong group, in faith and knowledge and friendship. The bulk will later come slowly. Lastly dont panic and stay cool and enjoy what you do

10. It must have been hard typing everything using CORRECT english grammar and so forth. (Haha...payback for all the emails you sent.) Anything to comment or justify to this?
I have no problem in my English - grammar and spelling. I type fast and i have many things to do so i don't check. Pardon me for that haha. For the many mails is because I don't have a computer myself and i do not know when i will get one then, so the moment something pops up my head and i want all to know i send a mail if not i forget too. Also i send many, is to inform all EXCO what is happening so later there would not be any excuse of not knowing what is going on. (Although the result is not 100%) Again this is not one way leadership. Everyone will have to know what others are doing only then it is easier to coordinate certain things while organizing stuff.


Last few words...of the very long chat...

I have enjoyed myself being the president or some would call me the Chair @ Kerusi hahaha (chairman) for the past one year. I have learnt a lot and made many friends within the university and also in other universities and without CSS i would not be able to do so. Without CSS i would not have a soul but might become more of a robot being churned out from the university. The experience gained i am very grateful and happy for, and i know that these experiences will definitely help me in future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my EXCOs who are all good in their own ways and in their work. Sue, Bridgette, Byron, Ivan, Paul, Rebecca and the rest keep up the good work in the coming term and keep CSS alive.Lastly my sincere apologies if during my tenure as president i have hurt anyone through my actions or words.
Bon Voyage

Failure of Protestinism

Let me propose an outrageous suggestion. The 16th century Reformers of the church had good cause to protest against a church that was drunk on power and greed and which had largely reduced the faith to economics and political manipulation. While they did not mean to create a parallel church called Protestant this was how history panned out for reasons too numerous to mention here. The church in the West has since been fragmented into many denominations which has weakened its voice in the world and which is a falling away from Jesus’ promise “that you may be one”.

After 480 years or so the Protestant experiment has run out of steam and its reason for being has largely evaporated due to the reform of the Roman church. There is now a large consensus among professional theologians both Protestant and Catholic about the centre of the faith and this consensus is growing.

The question is: why do Protestants remain separated after most of the reasons for their separation have disappeared?

I was stimulated to write this article after reading a sermon by Stanley Hauerwas (yes, him again!) on Reformation Sunday. He admits that he does not like this fixture on the Protestant calendar because it tends to celebrate a dark event in the history of the Church, the schism in which we stand today.

While Protestants celebrate the things gained in the Reformation, often things that the Roman Church has also now caught up with, there is little mention of the things we have lost. The first is obvious, it is the unity promised by the Lord. Hauerwas expands:

I often point out that at least Catholics have the magisterial office of the Bishop of Rome to remind them that disunity is a sin. You should not overlook the significance that in several important documents of late, John Paul II has confessed the Catholic sin for the Reformation. Where are the Protestants capable of doing likewise? We Protestants feel no sin for the disunity of the Reformation. We would not know how to confess our sin for the continuing disunity of the Reformation. We would not know how to do that because we have no experience of unity.

Once the break with Rome had occurred the Protestant church found itself prey to the philosophical movements of modernity initiated by the philosophies of Descartes, Hobbes and Locke that undermined all received authority and produced the man who was his own orthodoxy.

This was the final blow to the unity of the Church because it gave philosophical warrant to the individual who was now expected to “make up his own mind”. While the Roman Church can be seen to hold out against this aspect of modernity, Protestants embraced it. Being Church no longer meant belonging to an alternative community but believing in the right things, as long as they were rational, in private.

John Henry Newman recognised that the problem with Anglicanism was rationalism. That is, faith was tried at the court of a particular kind of rationalism associated with natural science. Theology had always been rational on its own terms otherwise it could not have been any sort of discourse. Rationality has as many different forms as there are human activities, the danger is that one kind of rationality is prioritised over all others, the positivist rationality of empiricism.

From the point of view of positivist rationality the Roman church looks irrational, superstitious and backward. The fact that the Roman church holds together a vast range of Christians from South American peasants to sophisticated European and American believers, from the Irish to the Italian, from Franciscan to Dominican makes it difficult for us to image what it is like to be a Catholic. The Protestant imagination has an investment in imagining the worst if only to justify being apart.

If we believe that the Reformation, or rather the schism that it produced, was a tragedy for the church that continues in our time, then we must have very good reasons to remain Protestant. We are now far from Elizabethan England in which the Roman Church was a threat to political order and the smell of the burnings initiated by Queen Mary was still in our nostrils.

Both Protestant and Roman Churches have come a long way, particularly after Vatican II for the Roman. Many of the Protestant prejudices against Rome are no longer valid. One of the greatest fears Protestants have of the Roman Church is that it insists on interfering with our private lives, particularly in what happens in our beds. We Protestants have long since decided that what we do in private is our own business and no business of the Church. This is the attitude that left these Churches speechless in the face of the sexual revolution whose bitter fruits we now taste.

We believe that there is a limit to faith that leaves most aspects of our lives as they are. There is certainly no dying to the self to be raised in Christ.

One of the weaknesses of the Protestant Churches is that they are devoid of a teaching office whose role is to guide the people in the ways of faith. While we may protest that Rome has a tendency to micromanage the lives of its people, particularly with the use of tenuous arguments from natural theology, it is apparent that any church should have a strong teaching office that instructs the people in what it means to be Christian.

Readers may correct me but it seems that this absence in Protestant churches was produced by a reaction to the unfaithful way the Roman Church used its power in the 16th century and the reformers emphasis on grace over the law. The severely reduced teaching office of Protestant Churches means that clergy cannot be leaders but only cheerleaders. Liberalism, that slippery product of modernity, ensures that no definite stand may be taken about anything. This means that Rome often looks legalistic and often it is, unreasonably so. If the sin of Protestantism is that it cannot say anything, the sin of Rome is that it says too much.

The fragmentation of Protestant denominations has produced a spiritual marketplace in which churches compete for believers and in which believers may choose which suits them best. The balance has thus swung from God addressing us to ourselves choosing which denomination best satisfies our needs. Because self assertion is the essence of Enlightenment thinking we experience no anomaly in this.

Not only does this situation throw the emphasis onto the believer it also distorts the life of the church that now looks to its own survival. The Holy Spirit is replaced by the techniques of the church growth movement and those nauseating signs that we find in the front of Protestant churches. The capitulation to modernism has become the capitulation to market forces and the biblical notion that the church is a charismatic body is obscured.

One of the barriers to Protestants going over to Rome is the idea that Rome requires unthinking obedience. But the Church is not fused with Christ, although the Roman Church has often behaved as if it were. The individual believer also stands before his Lord. This is a relationship that cannot be completely taken over by the Church.

In other words the Church may be the body of Christ in the world, but its faithlessness will always mean that it is incomplete, as its history demonstrates. This is not to say that the relationship between the believer and his Lord is in any way complete but that the believer must listen to the voice of the Church in the council of his own conscience.

It is interesting that recent Papal encyclicals now argue their case. This means that blind obedience is not the model for belief but that we are expected to understand what we believe and why.

While the sin of Protestants is to reduce the status of the church in favour of the individual, the sin of Rome has been to ignore its incompleteness in being the body of Christ and tend towards totalitarianism. Both of these movements are disastrous for the church, the one producing faith only on our terms and the other suffocating the individual spiritual journey.

But what should determine our allegiance now that the cat of schism is out of the bag? Is the unity that Rome represents a determining factor? Is it time for Protestants to return to the arms of mother Church? What exactly is it that is holding us back and are the reasons we hold back still valid?

Whatever we decide, it is obvious that long after Protestantism has been swept from the face of the earth, the Roman church will stand. Although faithfulness is not necessarily linked with success (witness the mega churches) it is significant that with all of the concessions to modernism Protestant churches continue to decline. One is tempted to draw the conclusion that the concessions are the problem and they have produced a church that is indistinguishable from the rest of society and thus irrelevant.

It is clear that the ecumenical movement has largely failed and that the unification of the Church from the top down will not happen in the foreseeable future. But that does not mean that unification cannot happen from below as believers seek a more complete expression of the faith. Why should believers wait for the hierarchy to make a move?

It is significant how well the leaders of the churches have settled down to the present arrangement. If a Catholic Archbishop were to launch a program inviting Protestants to explore the Roman church, or the other way around, there would be accusations of sheep stealing. Apparently, peaceful separation is preferable to any attempt at unification that may cause hurt. This is of course in the spirit of the age that values toleration over honest debate. But one would wish that meetings of the heads of Churches were a more robust affair instead of supporting the pretence that everything is well in our separated state.

Both the Anglican and the Uniting Church in Australia declare that they are part of the “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church” and that they cling to the early creeds of the Church. In other words they are not separated from Rome by heresy, they are separated by the continuing influence of historical events and by church culture. To be so determined is an abnegation of the freedom of the gospel which orders culture aright under the Lordship of Christ.

Protestants are caught between the sins of Rome and (in the Anglican case) Canterbury. Perhaps it is time now to consider the unity of the Church from below and for Protestants to push away years of misunderstanding and take a closer look. It may be that they discover a different church than that which they imagined and that consequently the path to union does not seem impossible.

not i write wan : http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6720&page=0

When will they ever learn

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6720&page=0

http://www.catholicscomehome.org/

http://www.facebook.com/notes/catholic-church/catholic-apologetics-question-of-the-day-part-2/163219347024954

http://www.facebook.com/notes/catholic-church/catholic-apologetics-question-of-the-day/163206620359560

Clap

Reciprocate
when one offers a hand offer yours
it takes 2 hands to clap
it takes 2 to tango
ask and it wud be given
seek and it wud be found
knock and it wud open
- silence is an answer but at times it makes
more n more speculation and confusion -
anyway in a relationship one should communicate.
they should reciprocate and silence is not always the answer.
a silent answer to 3rd party people is more warranted compared
to the 1st n 2nd party. So talk in a relationship with no bared hold.

Catholic Education

I have an idealah something for the CSS to use as a guide especially in conducting their activities. Its to set up some modules or database well structured and documented which would be updated time to time and at the same time shared for all CSS to refer to to conduct their activities. Currently what i see that is strongly present in the church is faith formation through the bible which is the foremost important but it lacks the other elements to support and reinforce this formation.
Therefore is suggest to create these modules :
faith - bible
faith - education (history, catechism)
faith - social-science (social justice, politics)
faith - anthropology (religion, culture)
Catholic moral teachings
in each module would include topics, support material, activities.
having these modules perhaps the css would be well guided and its students well formed. Sadly to say there are CSS leaders themselves who do not know the faith and the knowledge of it, if so how can they lead the members effectively in faith? To come up with activities also thy would pecah kepala and worst still dunno what to do.
Perhaps this would be a great project for KLCC to undertake and in future maintain and function as what and how should a council do.

When i say i am a Christian

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean living.'"
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Christians - By Maya Angelou

Fitting shoes

I promoted Matin Jallel's session to a protestants friend cos i am trying to be a bit optimistic about the result and it ended up with him asking me why do we confess our sins to the priest and why not direct to God. And also God as died for all our sins and freed us from it so why have it?
Well i m no smart ass to be able to answer intelligently so i answered accocding to what i know.
Well i said it is in the bible that this sacrement is instituted from of which he denied obviously then i said we read the same bible then how come u have not seen it?
Anyway going to a priest and confessing, the priest is the medium of which God has given power to execute his function here after Jesus left and Jesus forgave sins and he has told his Apostles to do so as well. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm
Not being so good with the bible tried to put some psycology in it where when u go to someone to confess ur sins esp to a man of God u come clean, naked, all the gravest sins u r saying direclty to a human being not robot or air who as just as u feelings and a mind and a perception which can deduce. Therefore going 'naked' in front of a human u are ought to be off brave, humbled, humuliated of the sins you have done thus it has shown u have forgiven yourself and thus asking pardon from God of which a priest is carrying out that duty here on earth. The priest on behalf of God in word for a human can hear says u r forgiven. What feeling would u have?
Compare it to sitting queitly at a corner and talking to God saying i am sorry. Like or not we being humans, sinners thus not perfect is like going to a tree and telling ur sins to it and pleasing urself telling urself the tree has forgiven me. well of cos i am not saying God is a treelah. What feeling would you experienced here? compare?
well again i was bombarded with the same question and we ended up in circles but good thing is he told me to provided evidence and i hapily did with the website link given above. after reading a few line in which he himself said he did he quickly said these references are from other books ( u check yourself ya wat are those books in that link). I just told him continue to read.
Anyway i have noticed one thing here. Perception and understanding. He was trying to understand this sacrement from the perpective on a protestant. It cant work for protestant dont believe in it in the first place and only has teaching against it on which lies his basis on arguments. He is like talking great about road A to destination C without even using road B to C and talks against road B. is it fair for an argument?
Now comes the intention of this argument. there is no listening. dahlah i dunno how to express in beutiful words like how that link descibes confession what not to even try to make into simpler terms to explain to him...i muntah darah kena tmebak till dunno how to explain d(my bad). So since i cant explain fully i sort of lost lor and he happy thinking that well the church is wrong and stupid to potong jalan btw God and ME.
C ar.... in dialogues the intention is to understand one another and come to exceptance of why the other believes so. In the end its either u except or not and also u want to follow it or not. simple.
therfore if he would want to understand why we have this confession thing he has to see it from the catholic perspetive and understand it. He has to use the B road himself and then make the choice btw A n B.
Id this does not occur then till world ends the arguments would continue to go in circles and we become fools.
In addition dialogues are not to determine who is right and and who is wrong. When the choice is made is just based upon how one can except the others understanding and follow it. If according to the persons upbringing, mentality, his own maturity find the catholic church does not fit into his perception of God then of cos that understanding would be rejected but not wrong.
The breakdwn which is causes problem is that people dunnow how to understand, dunno how to make a choice and how a choice is made (factors involved). They want a right or wrong answers and of cos they want to always be the right one (how can they not be right, right?)and it ends up with fighting..... so ends the dialogues, ecumenism etc etc. (me n my fren din fight)
Also not to forget when u come to a dialogue with a question u cant have a preset answer sheeth in the head. mind should be open. Too many cross questioning takes both parties no where but making fools out of each other. And too many of it just makes u more of a person who does not want to listen to you but wants to make u loose.
A third party guy (taouist)understood what i was explaining but he could not comment cos he was smart he said i do not know the basis of the argument as in how ot argue whatever.
An example. Doctor patient. Patient ask doctor what happen and what have you done and why the treatment in such doctor explains as he dutied too. then patient questions how come cos this is not what i read in the papers (in this case the doctor is correct in his treatment and management), so the doctor again explains a lil bit deeper in science why. but the patient is adamant due to the difference in approach (the paper and doctor) and continues to question the doctor. Now the doctor can explain but the dept has become to deep and wide as so for the patient to understand fully the patient has to go to medical school to understand. Now the patient can question and should question but have some understandment. the understanding that there are many approaches to manage a patient and according to patient the best is suited and what best suits the patient the doctor knows and of cos the paper cant tell everything if not that would become a medical book.
Such a patient gives an impression that he is just not satisfied with what the doctor did since he has come with a fixed mind based on a paper what should be done and he believes so much in the paper despite all the poor doctors efforts he is not satisfied. Then he goes out to give wrong impression about this doctor and to other patients about treatment and management so much so some patients come in saying if they operate my shoulder i can go paralysed! Some even said after u go surgery you wont live long. And on the other side this is also why doctors get angry being humans tells the patient of 'saya doctor ka u doctor?'.
Even when want to complain think 1st. Dont just let your mouth loose. Fit into the other persons shoes and ask why and is it reasonable or not to go and complain and are my questions i put out in arguments and dialogues fair or not, logic or reasonable or not.

Crisis

As the world gets more 'civilized', more modern, so do our way of thinking as well. It has developed from shut up and listen to independent thinking. This has brought us both good and bad to mankind. We know the good but lets look at the bad. This new ways of thinking has also developed new schools of thought@ modern life philosophies and it has in a bad way brought up a crisis among us. the crisis that that is in effect is the crisis of truth and relativism where truth is what u think is right, constructivism where new logic is thought over what u think is right. Compartmentalization where u life is divided and not connected - sort of physical split personality. culture of death as in abortion, euthanasia etc which is alright and finally the crisis of family life - gays, lesbians and divorcees. \\
As Christian or better said as Catholics because for protestants we r all saved d just wait to die and got to heaven provided we become their member. As Catholics being part of the bigger church is being challenged to live a life full of these crisis. The church is firm and strong as rock on its stand and doctrines and modern thinking condemns it as not being realistic. Modern thinking has shallow depth of knowledge and intelligence of people and has made them forget and more selfish cos they have become blinded to what would happen of their actions in the future of which the church has clearly seen and trying to stop it but could not hold it back all effectively.
As God has always reminded his people over the centuries through prophets and Jesus Himself the church is still doing so but people are just not listening.
The protestants on the other hand (some of them) are succumbing to the whims on humans and selling out the diving truth abandoning it tough some of them are following behind the catholic church.
I grew up knowing right and wrong and then i came out and believed there were lots of gray but soon i cam back to tell myself i cant live in grey matter! There is right and wrong! The divine truth if pure truth and its is not something which can be turned grey! the gray line is thin! not as broad as the sea. Lots of people dont see this and cant except this cos when they do they ego (pride with no substance) collapses like a wall of cards! There has no foundation built in people nowadays due to the modernization of mind so much so everyone fears to loose or loose out, fall. Malu! Unfortunately too many of them so they gang up make their own constructed relativism and life their truth and challenge the divine truth.
Protestants on the other hand run away from these challenges live in cocoons not going out there just as Jesus and His apostles did, keeps God to themselves and gives pittance in the form of their charity works to the community. But the catholic boldly and directly faces these challenges even with its own human weaknesses in it stand up tall and tells the world God's message. Wat beauty. Many would call it stupidity or foolishness.
Ask yourselves what would the world would become off in future? Who would stand beside us if not God and his church? How should we live in this world. Simple. Put God in life 1st.

the content proper is from a talk and the speaker quotes from Pope JP11