Christianity and You (Part 1)

Believe and faith. In today’s world there are numerous branches of Christianity. In Kuching alone there are so many branches up to a point that I get friends and acquaintances that isn’t a Christian coming to ask me why is there so many churches and how did they come up to be an acceptable religion? What do you think?

What is meant by being a Christian? To answer that question, we’ll have to refer back in history where and how Christianity comes from. To answer these questions and the various questions linked to it, I will be blogging it in a few parts.

This has nothing to do with criticisism or giving false information on the related subject. This is merely facts that can be obtained from the libraries of old and new, of those in the world archives containing world histories.

Christian

The Latinized Greek term Khri·sti·a·nos´ was found only three times in the Christian Greek Scriptures. Christian designates(signifies) followers of Christ Jesus.

Acts 11:26 - and, after he found him, he brought him to Antioch. It thus came about that for a whole year they gathered together with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians

Acts 26:28 - But A·grip´pa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian

1Peter 4:16 - But if [he suffers] as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name

“It was first in Antioch [Syria] that Jesus’ 12 disciples were being called Christians” (Acts 11:26)

This makes it possible that this name was already in use as early as the year 44 C.E. when the events stated in the text occurred. Although some think that it might be later than 44 C.E., by about 58 C.E., in the city of Caesarea, the term was already well known and used even by the public officials. We can see this in Acts 26:28 where King Herod Agrippa II said to Paul, one of Jesus’ apostles: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”

The Greek verb khre·ma·ti´zo in this text is generally rendered simply “were called.” With some 50 translations of the Bible in several modern languages, only the New World Translation and Young’s indicate that God had anything to do with selecting the name “Christian”.

Young’s read: “The disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians.”

Bujangga

Kuching Town No.1 Bujangga...Volume 1!!! Its very first edition!!

Paper's a little yellow and brown though, pardon me.

Blackout AGAIN???

The other day, on the 24^th of this month, we had another blackout affecting Hui Sing area and most areas around Tabuan Jaya and also King’s Center. What has happened? SESCO-oh-SESCO....

The road from Simpang Tiga to Tabuan Jaya..

Earlier that day, at around 11 am, blackout also occurred at The Spring, areas around Kenyalang, Tabuan Jaya area...Who knows where else is affected?!!? Hi yo....Luckily this time doesn’t last long.. Haven’t come to an hour and electric supply is back... SESCO.. HAHA...

Siew Yan.... Your tree...

Planted it for almost a week liaw...ended up like that kok...now just pluck another one from my backyard...hopefully will turn out healthier..haha

Patience ya...

Brownies

Brownies is definitely one sinful cake we could hardly reject to satisfy our sweet tooth. Now everyone could make this extremely delightful yet sinful cake right at home!! easy as as your A-B-C... here's how....

250 g of butter
450 g of sugar
2tbsp of vanilla essence
4 eggs
250 g of flour
125 g of unsweetened cocoa
half tsp of salt
250 g of unsweetened chocolate (cooking chocolate)


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~




Melt butter and sugar over moderate heat, enough to melt them, careful not to burn them.








Turn of the heat and melt chocolate

Let the mixture cools before adding the unbeatened eggs. Fold it in. Add vanilla essence as well. Add sifted flour and cocoa powder and fold in roughly(needless to be perfect). Do not over-stir the mixture. Add nuts or chocolate chips or any other preferred flavors at this point and fold in.

Don't hesitate to get a little messy with brownies. the mixture should be 'sinful' and rich and sticky and thick! Spatula might not be enough. Use your fingers.(washing them first of course) Don't waste any deliciously rich mixture left behind!

Pour mixture into your baking tray and bake under 180 C for thirty minutes or until cooked. Poke the centre of the cake with a chopstick. Coming out clean means that it is cooked.

*p/s : Do not overbake your brownies if you want its rich-chewy texture.

Sleep and You

Confusing Chinese Names

I got this email from Fung Jia and I thought it was quite a heart tickler.. haha.. read on..

Caller : Hello, can I speak to Annie Wan (anyone)?


Operator : Yes, you can speak to me.


Caller : No, I want to speak to Annie Wan (anyone)!


Operator : You are talking to someone! Who is this?


Caller : I'm Sam Wan (Someone). And I need to talk to Annie Wan (anyone)! It's urgent.


Operator : I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! But what's this urgent matter about?


Caller : Well... just tell my sister Annie Wan (anyone) that our brother Noel Wan (no one)has involved in an accident. Noel Wan (no one)got injured and now Noel Wan (no one) is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan (everyone) is on his way to the hospital.


Operator : Look if no one was injured and no one was sent to the hospital, then the accident isn't an urgent matter! You may find this hilarious but I don't have time for this!


Caller : You are so rude! Who are you?


Operator : I'm Saw Lee (Sorry).


Caller : Yes! You should be sorry. Now give me your name!!!
======================================================
This is hilarious ...

Why Chinese shouldn't have Christian names:

Anne Chang => Dirty (Mandarin)
Anne Chin => Keep Quiet (Mandarin)
Faye Chen => Dusty (Mandarin)
Carl Cheng => Buttock (Hokkien)
Monica Cheng => Touching your buttocks (Hokkien)
Lucy Leow => You are dead (Hokkien)
Jane Tan => Frying eggs (Mandarin)
Suzie Leow => Lose till death (Hokkien)
Henry Mah => Hate your mum (Mandarin)
Corrine Tai => Poor fellow (Hokkien)
Paul Chan => Bankrupt (Mandarin)
Nelson Tan => Bird laying eggs (Mandarin)
Leslie Tong => Rubbish Bin (Mandarin)
Carmen Teng => Leg hair long (Hokkien)
Connie Mah => Call your mother (Cantonese)
Danny See => Squeeze you to death (Hokkien)
Rosie Teng => Screws and nails (Hokkien)
Pete Tsai => Nose droppings (Hokkien)
Macy Koh => Never die before (Cantonese)

Wonders of Sex

Most of us know that life is spiced-up and sweetened with sex. It’s the time when both of you worry nothing else and just enjoying the pleasure of it. Under the heat, both of you feel ever more close to each other, waking up the next morning in arousal, having an even more loving relationship. Few know though that it is also healthier! How so?

Less pain, more pleasure...
When we have sex, our body simply releases the hormone ‘oxytoxin’ aka ‘the bonding hormone’. Oxytoxin increases the body’s threshold for pain, thus focusing solely on the feel good sensation of sex. Orgasm and sexual excitement for both men and women makes them both less sensitive to pain and are else likely to experience it during sex. Rutgers University sex researchers have actually found out that women could actually tolerate up to 110% more pain during sex than she can normally. The negative side about this is that some women may notice soreness or even mild tearing from an energetic or ‘violent’ sex after the pleasurable buzz is over.
However, getting physical isn’t the only way to feel the same effects. Just thinking of it could also reduce pain. John Hopkins University and the University of Wisconsin asked participants to submerge their hands in cold water and asked a group of them to think of kissing, flirting or any enjoyable sexual activities found out that this group of participants could tolerate to coldness longer than the other group who were thinking a neutral situation. Sexual activities could also reduce migraines and backaches and even reduces the pain and cramps of PMS (Pre-menstrual stress)

Sex And Beauty
Sex also increases ones’ attractiveness quotient and self-confidence. A study out of Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland found that participants though that individuals having sex four times a week were 7 – 12 years younger than that of those having sex less. We know sex releases more oxytoxin and researchers found out that more sex releases more oxytoxin and thus plays a big role in decreasing stress. More blood pumping through our veins ‘in the heat’ is also not a bad elixir for rosy cheeks and dewy skin. Based on Pennsylvania State University sex researchers, they found out women who felt that they were less attractive ten years ago, now felt more attractive because of having less sex and less pleasurable ones back then. In simple English,

More sex = less stress = happier relationships = younger = higher attractiveness quotient

Sexy Exercise
The pelvic floor or sexual function central not only gives a woman control over urinary and bowel functions, but is also vital in its function during sex to achieve arousal to orgasm. It actually supports all of a woman’s sexual anatomy. Frequent sex helps a woman in preserving the healthiness of her pelvic floor, important for her as she ages. Pleasurable sexual activities maintain the tissues moist and prevents vaginal canal from narrowing. This is also important for gynaecology exams.
Frequent use of our biceps makes it stronger, increasing blood flow to our muscles. The same goes to the pelvic floor muscles. The more ‘exercise’ it gets, the better the vaginal tone and sexual responses! Of course, there are real, non-sexual exercises such as the Kegel exercise to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. With exercises, blood flow increases to the lubrication and sensation of the genitalia, the key to arousal and thus enhancing sexual pleasures and orgasm.
Men also benefit from sex. One theory is that with regular ejaculation can prevent or decrease the odds of getting prostate cancer by the expelling of toxins and other substances out from the body. Sexual activities is actually nature’s way in keeping the genitalia in a healthy state.

Happy Sex
Sex lifts our spirit! In fact, couples having more sex have a better, happier relationship, of course, with a little help from oxytoxin. Men and women releases oxytoxin during sex and orgasm, making it the perfect ‘feel-good drug’, reducing stress and bonding couples tighter to each other. It also associated with faster wound healing and even faster facial hair growth in men.
So your sex life ain’t ‘spicy’ enough you say? It is comforting to know that we can get, at least, some of the benefits of sex without sex. The benefits are not solely dependent on having orgasm. A warm hug, a sensual kiss, a warm touch or a soothing or otherwise erotic massage could also do the trick!
What are you waiting for? Leave your books, leave your stressful endless office paper works and go snuggle up your partner and give them a hug!

Worthless thoughts??

After having studying TITAS, I have realized that all this while, I mean, being in a Malay country, Malaysia, it has many things wrong!
According to what I have learned and read from the TITAS book and notes, it seemed as if, we, being in a Malay country, having its rulership going in a Muslim course, we should have less or by right, none of the problems that we are looking now happening in Malaysia. Why?
The Muslims should know what I’m talking about, but for those non-Muslims, what I’m saying about is based from their Quran and Sunnah teachings where it says that Muslims are educated to be learned beings, able to make something out or think something out or in other words, creative and innovative in their own rightful ways in time of crisis and self-lacking. So we do see such happenings in which a fraction does and applies it. Mostly however, they resort to stealing, robbery and snatching and even murder. Is that actually how a Muslim should be here in Malaysia? (Just to shrink the scope to Malaysia)
By right, if all the Muslims, or at least 80% of Malaysian Muslims were to apply their Quran’s teachings, than Malaysia should be one of the many prosperous countries in today’s world!
Of course, it all is unfair pointing all fingers to the Muslims, but if, now, all the other non-Muslims are the constant groups and the Muslims are the only variables, thus, it would also improve whatever state our country is now in. Don’t you think so?
I’m not criticizing or being prejudice or discriminating but, if only they live up to what they claim and believe and teach and apply all of it, then, there won’t be any more wars and other problems we see currently now happening worldwide.
Yes, they do apply some of what they believe which is visible to us such as the freedom of worship we are having now which really is one commendable application.
At the end of the day, think it over and you’ll notice that Christianity’s nothing but the same with wars undergoing and alliances made between political leaders and religious leaders. Everyone is doing it. Some do it in the name of the same religion as their so called ‘enemy’, believing and asking for victory and triumph from the same ‘God’. Then they blame their ‘God’ if they lost the battle. Come on! (I’m getting a little preachy here, beg your pardon) For Christians, the Bible and what it contains is where your faith is and not human doctrines or philosophies or ideas. 1 Peter 3:11 plainly states,” but let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” Again, if only they would apply what they believe. Apply their faith or at least for the sake of humanity!

Butterfly Preservation

Butterfly preservation? Anyone can do it. Who said it can only be done in labs?

It’s easy! For bookmarks.. frame it up into a photo frame... All you need to is to catch your very own butterfly with the set of perfect wings and deadened by freezing it of course. (the safest way)

After that, spreading its wings and sandwiching it with paper and ironing the ‘sandwich’ would practically give you a flat piece of butterfly with which you can laminate it or frame it in.

Easy? Piece of cake!

Exams... Exam week... over at last..

notes everywhere on my bed..

With laptop accompanying almost 24-7..

And 'Gu-kak-chio' keropok filling my loneliness..
and major boredom..

Advantage or Unfair?

I’ve heard alot of people and friends saying about fairness in our world, specifically in our education system.

Some say why should we learn BM (Bahasa Malaysia)?

Some say why study BI (Bahasa Inggeris)?

More recently, some say why study Hubungan Etnik?

Some say why study TITAS? TITAS has more to Islamic civilization things compared to other civilizations. It might be an advantage and actually is an advantage for the Muslims studying this subject. They could pretty much sit for the test or at least study the other two civilazations – India and China and pass the exam with flying colors! How can this be fair...!!??!... when we actually have to burn midnight oil and trying everything we could to fit whatever that we could fit in inside our brains?

Yeah, unfair in one part but I think it all winds down to how we see