Heads you win, Tail you lose pt 2

Well, well, well....

I got news for you. Rm1.92 is the lowest the price of petrol can go. Why you ask?

Because:- (quote)

He said this would bring some stability to the retail price of petrol and minimise losses by petrol station owners.

Setting a minimum price would also enable the Government to reduce its subsidy on petrol if the global price fell further.

(end quote)

Now, how will putting a minimum price create a stable retail price? You mean stable, high prices to further increase inflation. Genius.

And what did you say? It's also to minimmise losses of petrol station owners? WTF?! Did I clean my ears today.... It explains how they may lose money. (quote)

Ahmad Sarpur, a dealer in Johor, said dealers could lose between RM13,000 and RM25,000 each time petrol is reduced by 15 sen per litre.

“This is because there is a minimum order quantity of 21,000 litres that we must pay for immediately. There is no credit,” he said.

“If the petrol is delivered in the morning and the price is reduced at night, we have to sell petrol 15 sen cheaper than what we had paid for it.”

However, Shahrir said the Govern­ment had been fair to the dealers saying: “We have not reduced their margin of 12 sen per litre after it was increased in June and we will try as much as we can to keep upcoming price reductions to 15 sen at a time.”

(end quote)

Look, buddy, the government can just get their act together and announce on price reduction 'earlier'! And why the f#$k would you place an order the morning of an impeding price increase or reduction, unless you know the risk? It's just a normal business risk! Every business owners are aware of the risk involved, let the market play it out!

The prices of crude oil now is at about the level when we were paying rm1.60? maybe rm1.40?

But it gets even better, this setting of a minimum price would also enable the Government to reduce its subsidy!

Wow! Aren't we happy to hear that? What good news!!!! From a few years ago, the government has been able to saved billions in fuel subsidy since our fuel prices went up from rm1.10 all the way to rm2.60. Each increase the government assured us that the billions saved would go into more, better infrastructure for us.

Eh.. I'm still waiting leh? Now with the minimum price, they get to SAVE.. even MORE! wow!

Which means I get a bullet train ride to penang for free? Or another 2 more KLCC? How about some good bus services? So where are all of them? Not yet? Haven't yet? Are we there yet?

You know what... I kinda miss the bi-election days now. Every time there's a bi-election, we get better deals. No, it's not politically motivated of course. Of course not! Sheesh...

Action speaks louder than words. And a chain of events certainly tells a story. The way our government handle the oil prices really tell us how much they care for us.

Shopping with a sith

Previously on talking cock with cheryl....

Last week I commented on one of cheryl's picture that she looked like a sith in it...

Cher-Ryl: sith lady huh?

Me: i love sith ladies, coz im the jedi, we're opposites

Cher-Ryl: ahahahha

Me: you ain't have sith without jedi or vice versa

Cher-Ryl: i shoot lightning from my finger tips.
that is true
good and evil
are merely different standpoints on the same plane.

me: yeah... but that's coz the sith are insecure...
yeah
we jedi just gotta smile
and talk our way out
or maybe throw objects
or cry.... 'my hand my hand!

Cher-Ryl: hahahhahaha
ah well
lightning's cool
insecure or not
:P

me: dang
can i interest you with some cool lightsaber colour instead then ms sith?
we haev purple
blue
green
cyan
not just your regular red..
altho that fits nicely with your curvavious rubber costime
costume*
but you know.. red is not the colour for all occasions..
green does go quite well with lightning
blue goes with red blood

Cher-Ryl: you sell light sabers do you?
wow...
i'll take one of each please
can i join like the blue and the red... and i get purple?

me: haahahah sure
the purple is a rarity.. so 3 sabers but no discounts... sith or jedis don't need discounts!

Cher-Ryl: ahahahha
no..
the performance of the light saber depends only on the power of the wielder

me: exactly.... lightning or no
yes yes.. performance is dependance on wielder.. but
no performance like showmanship you know?
no biz like show biz
so blue and red and purple?
joining blue and red?
you think that goes?

Cher-Ryl: purple light saber will be the for the ultimate sith lady with an eye for fashion
hahahahaha
royal purple
sexy no?
hahahahha
XD
well, you could join blue and green... and get a light saber for the ocean
perfect for grilling fresh fish straight off the line.
mmmmmm... i can smell it now... fresh saber grilled grouper
aaaaah

me: ahhh..
you're a sith lady with fashion.. my my, you don't say :P

Cher-Ryl: hahahahhahahaha
uhuh you said it... i didn't
hahahhahah

me: in that case.. let me show yuo something really special
like SPECIAL

Cher-Ryl: ok
bring it on

me: i don't do this with all customers.. esp not a sith. they usually come blazing and not paying

Cher-Ryl: ahahhahah
ah well....

me: takes out a special saber.. with LV engraved on

Cher-Ryl: new breed of sith ladies will be... OOOOOOOOHHHH

me: here.. it's 'gold' ni colour!

Cher-Ryl: *blink blink*
wwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

me: only one in this galaxy

Cher-Ryl: waaah waaaaahh waaaaaaah
only 1 in the galaxy you say?
ok gimme 2 please

me: yoda will 'kill' for this...
but don't tell anyone.. i think he's 'werid' that way you know....
too much suprresing
there's only !

Cher-Ryl: ahhahaha

me: 1

Cher-Ryl: hahahhaha

me: ONE

Cher-Ryl: i was kidding
:P
it's a joke
HAHAHHAHAH
*katoing*
well
yoda can kiss my tight rubber ass
hmm.
gold would go pretty good with the purple too..

me: hahaha
yeah

Cher-Ryl: ok.
time to pay...?

me: anyway.. here take this sabers and get lost. jedi's and sith shouldn't be friends you nkow

Cher-Ryl: you accept credit cut?
slice slice

me: cut?

Cher-Ryl: hahahahaah

me: lol

Cher-Ryl: slice and ride

me: that's like 10mil banks

Cher-Ryl: hahahahhaha
yea
i know hahahahha

me: you can pay it back in installments when you wreck havoc in galaxies with your loot

Cher-Ryl: yayyyy
a sith knows a good deal when she sees one
hahhahaha

me: hehehe

Cher-Ryl: so rubbish

me: i gotta get back to work now mate

Cher-Ryl: !!!!
me too
hahaha
ttyl dude

me: haha
yeah

See how interesting work can get when you get to play jedi? :)

The Law and Punishment

Recently I got a friend who is going to get married to a non-christian and apparently someone told her that God will punish her for that. Another friend failed a professional exam 3 times and was wondering if God is punishing her with that to teach her something. Many times when I am at a low I think about that too. I wonder if God was punishing me putting me in such dire situations to teach me something.

Let me tell you, God do not punish you in the New Covenant. Not at all. Even if you sleep around and waste your life away, you're blessed. He doesn't 'CAUSE ' you to be punished. He does however 'LET' things happen to you. For example I never really did study much from primary school to university. I did above average. I was never punished for being 'lazy'. However what DID happen was I wasted all those opportunity to learn how to develop my character, be more focus, be more determine..etc

Did God punish me? No. He let it happened.

It's like jumping out of the plane at 10,000ft. He didn't cause us to die as a result but He has to let gravity does its thing.

If punishment did work in making us righteous, believe you me, he'll just rain down sulphur and punish us and we'll all be righteous. In fact, the OLD covenant is based on punsihment and the bible calls the old regulation, weak, useless and faulty. Go figure!

But some people feel that it's unfair! Is it unfair really that one can go on sinning and sinning and sinning and yet get off scot free? Unfair maybe, truth absolutely. Because while we get off scot free, someone didn't. He paid a hefty price for it - with blood. He died for it. He paid the price of our sins.

Jesus paid for it so that everyone can get off scot free. No skin off their backs. Free. So while some people think grace like this is 'cheap' (I don't think so) but let me tell you, it sure ain't 'easy'.

If dead could be measure in level 1 to 10, Jesus died to level 100. He died so well that all our sins are paid for. And when all the sins are paid for, what's left? Righteousness. That's what you get when you see Him resurrected and alive again. It's the prove that our sins are done for.

So some people ask: if that is the case, we can keep go on sinning and sinning and sinning and still be 'enjoying the benefits'? What a good deal! But wait, that's not logical! How can u say such thing in church....

What's more illogical is why do you need a savior to keep sinning? If you want to sin why do you need a saviour? You can do so without one. Try it if you don't believe me. Why do people want to go to a savior to keep on sinning? So that they can sin more?

Perhaps we should ask: can we keep on sinning in the face of so much love? How difficult is it to fall in love with someone who took a bullet for you? And if you didn't know that there was a bullet for you, go and read the Law.

Heads you win, Tail I lose

... wall street for you.

... and if they manage to brokee the deal to outright spend USD$700bn to buy back all the bad debts, and indirectly passing back all the risk to the taxpayers

....while the bankers, regulators (ie the Feds) get off scott free....

Hahahahaha! Muahahahaha!

All Americans taxpayers just got butt fucked / screwed / whateveryouwannacall it.

RPK to be detained for 2 years and the reason is...

as according thestar here: "his articles ridiculed Islam, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar."

He also added that :" “His articles could arouse anger among Muslims,” Syed Hamid said, adding that he signed the detention order on Monday after he was satisfied with the reasons to detain Raja Petra. "

Firstly, I don't understand this: How did his articles ridiculed Islam? Like really how? What did he say about Islam that was ridiculous? And what did he write specifically that ridiculed Islam? How come these evidences are never mentioned?

Secondly, is one arrested for being a possible cause of anger? If there's a rumuor against you like Teresa Kok you get ISA for 1 week. If you're a possibility to cause anger you get detention for 2 years? What happens when you wave a keris around say let is soak with chinese blood or anyone's blood for that matter.... what do you get for that?

High stake poker.

The situation between Anwar and Abdullah is really like a high stake poker. A VERY high stake poker.

Now who is holding the stronger hand? Who is calling who's bluff?

And all this while the world finance sector is in turmoil!

Very high stake poker!

The bad soap opera - Blocking malaysia-today.net

It's like the bad soap opera on tv - you know what lines will be coming next - just like the banning of Malaysia-today.net. And "No", it's not a politically motivated move... just one day after Anwar's victory. Perfect.

I think our government clearly went against the guideline they have set for themselves when they setup the MSC- not to censor the internet. I believe, this move to block MT has definitely shaken the confidence of investors. It leaves me wondering how strong or resolute will the government follow through their other promises/guidelines/acts? Will they 'bend the rules' to suit?

It just doesn't lend credibility. Not that the current govt has much left, or if there's any to start with.

And what reason did they give to ban the site? At first the reasons given were that the published materials that are libellous, slanderous and defamatory. Really? Says who? Says our home minister here. Has the court proven so? Not yet. I'm no lawyer but can one simply say things like that?

Of course after a few days, the tone has changed. Now it's about religion.

"No" It's not politically motivated afterall.

I got another question running in my head. SKMM is a department under a minister. SKMM ordered the ban. The minister said, "No" they did not order the ban. Okay, I got all this parts so far.

So why not lift the ban now? Unless the minister agrees with the move. So don't say that you didn't give the order to ban because you here, you just gave the approval. Or did you? I'm confused.

And like all soap opera, even the bad ones.. they end their episodes well. They end it with just enough pull for us to wonder what will happen next (but of course we can kinda guess but you never know right?)...

So quoting the star here:

*start quote*

Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, said he was not aware that SKMM had ordered ISPs to block the website.

“I do not read Malaysia Today. Media practitioners must be sensitive to culture and religion,” he said.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek declined comment as it was not under his jurisdiction.

SKMM chief operating officer Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi, who is overseas, declined to elaborate, saying a press conference would be held to explain why such action was taken.

It is understood that this is not the first time SKMM has ordered a website to be blocked.

Malaysia Today remains accessible through its mirror website.

*end of quote*

How classic is that? No one seems to be able to comment. Happy birthday Msia.

Why we should vote opposition...

Like the new 15cents drop in fuel prices? Like the fact that our PM finally took the train after so many years? Like that our PM actually attends debates in the Parliment? Like that suddenly our government seems to care of us? Like that more land scams are discovered? Like that a more fair and competitive Malaysia is build?

Like it? Love it?

Then vote the opposition. (At least for now.)

All the changes we have seen in the last 5 months has happened because we have voted the opposition in. It is because the ruling party has felt the earth move under them. Their power was rocked. Now, suddenly, they listen.

They treat us like children, luring us with candies for so many years... and when that don't work, they take the 'big projects away' like the second Penang bridge, like the LRT system for Penang.

But it is them now who are like kids, we took their candy away and they're crying and shouting and throwing toys around the house. Just read the newspaper... you'll know what I mean.

Like kids, we need to be firm with them... tell them in no uncertain terms that we don't like what they do. As such...I hope.. really hope that the by-election tomorrow goes to Anwar.

Myth - Plausible

Well... Saiful says it's not political! Sure or not?

When you put pieces together like this piece of news :'Saiful ‘appears’ to garner votes - the star 20th August, 2008'.

It's way too too too obvious isn't it?

No, there's no conspiracy against Anwar. Really one!

Mythbuster meets TVB

You know I've always liked HK TVB series. It's full of drama, lies, love, hate and sometimes conspiracy.

I also like discovery channel a lot. Mythbusters is among my favourite. You know it always ends with a 'bang'... fans will know what I mean.

Hehe.. so what do you get when you them together. The Anwar-Saiful sodomy case :) It's so full of drama and myth-tery, don't you think? Check this out from Aisehman for a very quick context.

I've just got so many questions of my own...

Saiful says, “It has nothing to with politics. It is between Anwar and me,” he said..... , just before the by-election... hmmm suspicious don't you think? See here.

And the whole drama has so many inconsistencies. Some say he's sodomised once, some says multiple times, some says forceful and some says consensual.

Now wait a minute. First of all, if it was consensual, then why isn't Saiful charged. So if it was forced.... how can a small man like Anwar pin down a guy a head taller than he is and 'do it'? Anwar's close to 60 and Saiful is a strapping strong lad in the 20s? Is it posible? Were there signs of struggle too? If so why wasn't it mentioned at all?

And if Saiful was sodomised, multiple times? He went back for more? Or was it just once?

So what do you think? Plausible or busted?

How I nearly puke over my coffee

See here. The topic reads "China chemicals starve Indian pharma". If you read further, it says , "But because China has stopped, there's pressure on materials coming from Taiwan, Korea, Europe. And everyone's taking a little bit advantage and jacking up their prices."

So apparently closing factories in China causes prices to rise why? because everyone else is taking advantage to jack up the prices. So now when China's factories take a break for the olympic is China's fault and not the countries that jacking up their prices?

Why not blame the fund managers for pushing up oil prices? Where are they, the fund managers from? How come those issue are not covered nor their country blamed? How about food prices? How about energy prices?


*******

On the local front, this news made me 'vomit blood'. The issue of opening up UiTM to non-malays is actually a 10% issue. 10% of the total places in UiTM is hardly opening up to other races isn't it?

And I quote: "If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be 'Malaysianised'.

So the problem here is that a university being Malaysianised? So much for Merdeka day coming.

Media bias against China Olympic? What's your say?

A friend of ours wrote this:


****************
Dear NBC Sports,

We get it. We really do. We're all well aware of China's poor track record when it's come to human rights. We've also become familiar with the Chinese training setup, and how children are trained up for years apart from their families in a relentless pursuit of excellence. We know that it's all alien to the American culture.

But can you please refrain from constantly calling China and everything Chinese into question during your coverage of these Games? Can your commentators actually focus on the athletes and the competition? Would it be possible to find another human interest angle, since you've saturated your coverage so far with all this commentary about China?

And if President Bush comes to the studio for another interview, could you actually talk to him about the Olympics, instead of human rights, other world conflict, Sudan, and steroids in baseball?

Can you please do all that? Or can you at least put a muzzle on Bob Costas?

Please?

This is not to say those issues are not important. They are. But there is a time and a place to discuss them, and the Olympic Games are surely not the place for it. Not when people have poured forth every ounce of effort they have to get to Beijing. They are the ones you need to be talking about. Leave the political commentary to the ones best suited to it.

Signed,

An Olympic fan who'd like to actually listen to Olympics-related commentary.

***********
What do you think?

Addidas run

Last sunday was the long awaited Addidas run. What a run it was. It was also the first run I ran all the way 10km without stopping. On top of that I felt dizzy at about the 7th km which I am pleased to say that I'm kept my mental strength and kept going. I think I didn't eat enough ni the morning. Once I had a gulp of 100plus in the following drinks station the dizziness went away. Actually now that I think about it, it may have been dangerous that I kept going even though I felt dizzy.

What was really dissapointing was that I finished at 78mins. Granted I went to use the gents for 2mins mid way at the Esso station. It's still 76mins! Actually I was happy with 76mins in the beginning.. because that was the target I set for myself.

Only to notice that I have set the wrong target.

No wonder my breathing was not breathless throughout my training and the run itself. Aiyoh..... Ok next target is at 65mins for 10km!

The problem with a Purpose Driven Life

First of all, I don't really have an issue with a purpose drivien life. I think everyone should have a purpose. A purpose liken to a conviction. And I once heard a very smart man say: a belief is something we cling on to but a convinction is something that clings on to us. I think having a purpose to live is very very important - it drives us forward and gives us fufilment.

That purpose or conviction could be as simple as making the best food in kitchen, be a business tycoon, be the best politician or be the best evangelist but it could also be as simple as wanting to be a taitai or to be a housewife.

Whatever that thing is, I believe that purpose would grab hold of you. You just can't force it to come or force yourself to go for it. It doesn't have to be 'spiritual' or 'secular'... all are spiritual.

The hallmark of Godly purpose I believe is that Peace and Joy and Sureness which follows. You can't explain it but you just know it. Like it's inside of you.

******
The problem I have with the purpose driven life is when 'purpose' takes centre stage of life. It's when our driving force is "purpose". It's when a life that's PURPOSE driven instead of God led that I think there may be a problem. I think. One is motivated by God, the other by sheer willpower from our own. I believe our value & identity in Christ is not judged by our 'Purpose'. It's not about what we do. We're human beings and not human doings.

However there's lot of things out there that incline on making us a 'do' christianity. We are told to 'do' holiness, to 'do' godly stuff, to 'do' ministries and to 'do' serving. Hey! Bible says 'be' holy for God is holy. It's like being a guy or a gal. You don't 'do' guys' stuff to be a man.. you just be, as simple as that. And as I read the bible more, most if not all the things starts from resting in Him, in Jesus' finished work.

Remember Jesus said that we can do nothing except through Him. Nothing.

*****
Lastly on the great commision.

It says to make disciples. Disciples are not converts. Disciples are just much more than that. Again, it's not about doing evangelism to 'convert' it's about becoming like christ to influence. The difference is subtle but the outcome huge.

Last last, on chapter 36 of the book, it quotes: The most important thing is that i complete my mission that the Lord Jesus gave me' -Acts 20:24 .

That's not accurate. "24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Hmm... testifying, gospel,God's grace.

In another passage Phil 3 "7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

What is Paul's purpose? I thought he's suppose to preach the gospel and all that, wasn't he the guy tasked to preached the gospel to the gentiles? Letter after letter, he seems addicted to the "grace of god" -- how come he doesn't say 'go and make converts'?

Even to the mature christians in ephesians, he says:

16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

So I think there you have it, Paul's own words. His purpose in life.

Taking a walk

I took a walk about 9-10 years ago. It was on one of those nights when I can't sleep. I remember how I felt that night. I felt good that night. Like really GOOD.

Because for the last 12 months prior to that walk I was constantly depressed. A close friend, who after spending his last moments with me committed suicide. I guess I could not forgive myself. I guess I could have done more? I guess many things and it all happened about a year before that walk.

But that night I felt good. Peaceful. Because Jesus found me. He found me when I needed Him most.

I still can remember the walk clearly that night. (I was about 2 months old as a christian maybe?) It was about 12:20am. I was smiling to myself. My feet had a bounce and the cool breeze of midnight felt just right. I must be humming a tune to myself because I was just happy. I just learned how to talk to God and I must be having a great conversation with Him because the 20mins I walked to the 7-eleven seemed to pass so quickly.

At 7-eleven I bought myself a pack of 20s reds (Marlboro) because besides being happy, I could need a smoke. Hehehe, yes besides being happy with myself, I needed a fag.

The long awaited fag was good at first draw. But I certainly missed the Bensons in UK or Marlboros in Singapore, they were just much finer :) Those of you know who knows, know what I mean :)

So as I walked home, I smoked all the way (it's called chain smoking sometimes :) ) while talking to God. Yes, you can still talk to God while you're smoking! I remembered an interesting question He asked me halfway through which caught me by surprise. He asked me why am I still smoking?

I replied, I dunno. Er.. it satisfy? Right?

He asked again, does it really?

I know what He meant. Because before I found him 2/3 months prior, nothing satisfy. But with Jesus, my thirst was quench. I was just happy. My heart of 'full'. I was just so low before... but at that point nothing could be better.

So He said something like, you know eric, ciggis don't satisfy you anymore from now on.. not like last time. You don't need it Eric. I mean think about it Eric?

Ooohh.. He got me there :) I agree with you Jesus I replied. I threw the stick I was smoking and the remaining of the pack. Laughing I told him why haven't I thought about that sooner. We continued talking as I walk home.

That was it. That's how I remembereed the last packed of ciggis I smoked as a smoker. (I didn't have much redrawal after that either :P ) God has been so kind to me.

Father's hand

Firstly Hillary, I wanna say what a great idea to start a 'sunday sharing' on the blogs!

When I think of my father's hand I think of my father - the man that he is. You know man is often identified with 'things they do' and what they do with their hands speaks volume about who he is, as a person.

My dad works tirelessly. He loves his work. I know that because through the years I've seen him happiest when he is working, both at the office or at home fixing stuff. And whatever he did, he put in all he had. Even after he retired, he worked on other things like languages (he now speaks and write japanese fluently), business...etc

Like all children, I grew up thinking 'I don't want to be like my dad'! But as years goes by, I think we are more alike than I think. Looking at him enjoy his work has certainly shaped me. I love me work too and if I had ALL the money in the world I'd still be working. *smiles* I am afterall my father's boy.

On hindsight though, I didn't have much chance to talk to my dad on a heart to heart basis. It's kinda hard for guys to open up this way. We like to 'tell' but we seldom, if ever, share what's in our heart. I'd like to tell him that I love him and all that... but when we meet, we talk about how our businesses are doing...etc

But the last few years has seen my dad grown more 'cool', which is a great thing. My ego has also gotten milder :) and there were a few occasion where we actually talked. It was one of the best times I had with him. I look forward now to go home and have a chance to just talk to him.

My wife's dad pass away a few years ago. He passed away at a difficult time and sometimes at night I still hug my wife as she think about her dad. She misses him still. I wonder what her father's hand meant to her? I would never understand... but dad (in law), you've raised a great gal!

When I think about my heavenly father, I think about Jesus. Since He said, if I have seen him, I've seen the Father.

What kinda hand does he have? I thought His hands praying. I thought about His hand that heals when He touched someone, His hands that worked on wood, . What does this pair of hands look like? This image came up:


But that picture isn't accurate at all. Far from it! Jesus' hands would be have been ugly! So ugly beyond recognition, pierced on the cross with 2 holes!

and because of that I have beautiful hands now, unscared, unpierced thanks to Him.

There is no conspiracy against Anwar.

That's what ABM said today according to the star.

I dunno man.

Let me quote Pat here.

"Yes. He is the same person who has a perfect track record for making things happen. In the opposite direction la.

No. I am not getting married. Boom! He gets married.
No. I will not dissolve Parliament. Boom! He dissolves Parliament the very next day.
No. There will be no fuel price increase (the first time last week). Boom! RM2.70 per litre the next day."

So no conspiracy?...

The Dark Knight

I am a batman fan and I have been waiting for this movie for over a year! There was so much hype on this movie that I was afraid that it may not live up to it.

Let me rest assure you fans out there. I have ventured ahead of you, risking the dissapointment of a super flop.... the hype was ALL worth it.

The Dark Knight
is
back!

I think this is the BESTest batman movie ever made: dark, lonely, conflicts, power, evil, love and above all, duty, honour and justice. Throw in an outstanding cast, story and performance, I think this is one of those rare epic move I'll be watching again and again.

Must mentioned also that Joker was especially well played. Chaotic, villain genius, scary, unpredictable. Brilliant.

After thoughts:

Duty. Honour. Justice. These are rare commodities in our society especially in these trying days in Malaysia. And I believe they'll be even more needed in the road ahead with all the global issues coming up wave after wave. Global economic slowdown (or meltdown?), global warming just to name a few.

And just like in the movie, we also have a C4 explosion happened in a neighbourhood not far from here, KL.

Unfortunately though, who can we turn to? Who can we trust?

Do we have a batman call sign....

Christian Urban Legend 1: Anointing

The reason why I'm writing a series on Christian urban legend is because I feel that many of these issues mentioned are deemed as 'common knowledge'. While the issues are seemingly small, I feel that if one believes wrongly it causes a ripple effect that ultimately distort our view of who our God really is.

At the point of writing this, I have no clue what other christian urban legends they are, however I would love to hear from you what other urban legends you think are worth discussing.

The first that I'm writing about is this "anointing". Not just any anointing, it's the one you go to a concert/event/revival meeting and hope to 'bring some back' to your home church. Or it could be this anointed person you meet and hope to bring some of his anointing back with you.

I think many of us has heard that one before.

This wrong teaching - that you can get more anointed by means of being present in certain places or being prayed for by 'more anointed' person - leads one to think that there's different gradient or grades of anointing.

You begin as a padawan and become a jedi if you 'gather' enough.

So why is this an urban legend?

It is because you cannot 'get more anointed' or 'get someone's anointing' and you definitely cannot 'carry some anointing back'. The 'anointing' is not a transferable force or cumulative force. If so then the most anointed person would be the person that gather the most anointing? (We can then create a anointing server and let everyone download, how about that?!)

Firstly anointing as explain in hebrew strongs H4899 says:
ma^shi^yach
maw-shee'-akh
From H4886; anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: - anointed, Messiah.

and H4886 is:
ma^shach
maw-shakh'
A primitive root; to rub with oil, that is, to anoint; by implication to consecrate; also to paint: - anoint, paint.

Quite plainly when you're a priest or a saint and you're rub with oil or consecrated (for god) you're annointed.

Jesus was anointed. Heck, He is the messiah. Same word!

While I don't know the technicality of how you get anointed, or do you get anointed first before the Spirit of God comes onto you or after, there are some consistent theme throughout the bible about anointing.

We do know that when you're anointed the spirit of God comes on you and that you're only anointed once.

Think about it. This happened to David, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha...etc Who was anointed twice? There's Elisha who asked and was given a 'double portion'.. but how many times were Elisha anointed? Once.

Lets look at this:

Luk 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free,
Luk 4:19 and to announce the year of the Lord's favor."

Check it out. It says, because he has anointed me to..... that's why the spirit of the Lord is on me.

That's interesting. The spirit and the anointing go hand in hand. Very consistent througout the bible. Also there was a reason for the anointing. It was for a purpose.

Now was Jesus ever anointed again after this? I don't recall so.

Did he ever need another anointing to fulfill all His purpose here on earth? No need.

The holy spirit on him was able to help him with ALL the tastk, from healing, walking on water, casting out demons, commanding weather...etc

Yeah, I hear some of you say:" but but but that's Jesus what!".

See what Jesus says here:

Act 1:4 While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the Father's promise, about which you heard me speak.
Act 1:5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Now after His ressurection, He says, we'll be baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT. The same one that He's got. Then

Act 1:8 .... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

See the word - POWER. What POWER?

MEGA HOLY SPIRIT KAWABUNGA power.

The same stuff that made Peter walk on water. Same stuff mate.

Well, the Holy Spirit on Him is the same one with you today. It is because of God's grace that we have this gift. Once you believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God comes on you as a guarantee. It never leaves you nor forsake you. The spirit of God enables you to do all things through Him. It has consecrated you - you are a 'priest' and therefore is anointed.

To bring the point back home, you as a child of God, is anointed. You do not need to go need to an event to get anointed or get more anointed.

You are already anointed maximus.

All you need is already dwelling in you: the Holy Spirit, through whom can help you do all things you need to do. He knows His purpose for your life and will help you through it.

I hope this explains why this is an 'urban legend'. Why I believe that this is so important is because if you believe wrongly, then you reap the fruit of your wrong beliefs and I truly want you to live the fullest anointed life ever posible, to the power of infinitiy plus one, now.

Why? Because God loves you so much. He wants you to know that He is not angry with your sins any longer. He wants you to draw near to Him without feeling fear. Because our dear Lord has paid a hefty price for our sins and these gifts are given to you. It is there to make your life abundant. It is there to make you live the best life you can in which He has called you to.

Make use of it, because I believe, it pleases Him that you do.

Got my back buddy?

Recently I learnt that I have a weak lower back. My ego was seriously hurt when I discovered that I'm doing the same weights as me wife!

Come on man... how can la?

But I am! A little more investigation showed that I do have REALLY weak lower back. Like when I run, the first place that gives way is my lower back. It starts to ache and standing straight seems tiring.. you know the feeling?

So I started to do more lower back exercise. One of them, my favourite, for giving me maximum 'pain' is the dead lift. Basically you stand straight with your butt sticking out and back straight and just bend down to pick up a weight (bend the knees a little forward but not more than your toes). I start off very light... ok ego aside, I only do light weights! can?

Yes the lower back is that weak.

I remember this friend I have - CCL. She's a petite girl with outstanding posture... she only stands or sit or walk ith her back straight (or almost arched back). So straight that we all know she has got a nice butt :) I don't know how she does it but if there's something she can't do - she can't hunch over and pick up a pen! (hahahahahaa.. but i can! ngek ngek ngek)

because I start sweating just holding the weights standing like that. Especially the butt sticking out part, it targets the lower back really good.

Anyway I'm working on the back really hard and I do hope it gets stronger. It's gotten a bit stronger since a couple of weeks ago when i started and already I can run, swim, sit up straight much easier.

Now that I think about it, was that the reason why I had a bad posture. (It used to be worse!)

Anyway I'm glad I found this out now... lets see how I will feel with a stronger back.