MALAYSIA MUST ALSO WAKE UP

Groucho Marx said: “The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. When the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.”

WAKE UP AMERICA..CANADA..EUROPE..AUSTRALIA..

Is this man (Groucho Marx) truly a genius? Please read the caption below: It is true...it DID happen!

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Comments:

The matter could not be any simpler than that. On analyzing the gist of the tests, there are possibly the 5 best sentences or statements   we could draw and all are applicable to the experiment:

1.   The government cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2.   What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3.   The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4.   You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5.   When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

....and ...MALAYSIA MUST ALSO WAKE UP.

I could not think of any good reason for not sharing the above which was shared by someone. Perhaps you may have one good reason for not passing this on to others.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Wishing our esteemed readers and viewers

very Blessed Christmas

and

prosperous New Year 2012

QUOTED MESSAGE

Message from Comedian - George Carlin  

  “The Paradox Of Our Time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and Pray Too Seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but Polluted The Soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. And Always Remember:  Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

1.   The above is re-quoted from my Christmas posting in “ex-tanjong” forum on 20^th December 2008.

2.   Isn’t it amazing that George Carlin, a comedian of the 70's and 80's, very famous for "black comedy" could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate with its timeless relevancy?

3.   May you be enriched by the message and aspire to inspire others to conquer not the outer space of cosmos but the inner space within selves.

TODAY IS A "GIFT" CALLED "THE PRESENT"

"TODAY" IS A "GIFT" – That is WHY it is called

“THE PRESENT”

Dear Esteemed Readers & Viewers,

The origin of this story is unknown. I came across it when I went through my archives. It was sent to me some time ago. I find the story is spiritually uplifting and worth sharing herein.

Please spare one minute to read it. Think through the story. I pray it will impact your thinking....

THE STORY

Two men namely Baruch and Tobias were seriously ill. Both men occupied the same hospital room.

Baruch was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window.
Tobias had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation........

Every afternoon Baruch whose bed was by the window could sit up. He would pass the time by describing to Tobias all the things he could see outside the window.

Tobias who was in the other bed across began to live for those one hour periods where his world within would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside described by Baruch.


The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats under the watchful eyes of their parents.


Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.


As Baruch described all this in exquisite details, Tobias on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.


One warm afternoon, Baruch described a parade passing by. Although Tobias could not hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as Baruch by portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed
 

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of Baruch, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, Tobias asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, Tobias propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed. It faced a blank wall.

Tobias asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate (Baruch) who had described such wonderful things outside this window.

The nurse responded that the man (Baruch) was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

MORALS OF THE STORY

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
 

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

It is heartwarming.

God bless!

aonepakkopi

THE STORY - WHAT IS IT?

Camel and “Eye Of The Needle”

After the morning church service, the three old classmates decided to meet for special “laksa” at Goody-Goody food stall last Sunday. Finding an empty table was not an unusual waiting “problem” when the eatery was always full of customers especially so during Saturday and Sunday morning.

“I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-24. Parallel versions appeared in Mark 10:25; and Luke 18:25).

The aphorism or figure of speech was used by Jesus in response to a young rich man who had asked Jesus what he must do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered that he should keep the commandments to which the man said he had kept them. Then Jesus said in response: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." While the young man became sad and unwilling to sell all his possessions, Jesus’ disciples were astonished at the response.

The Conversation

Jiang Seng: “What is your understanding about the sermon preached this morning? .....I find it interesting how ‘wealth’ can be burdensome for rich people to ‘enter’ the Kingdom of God.....That teaching of Jesus Christ seems to discourage believers to become rich....”

Caleb Andang: “In this particular teaching Jesus Christ used the story of   ‘The camel and the eye of the needle’ as aphorism to make hearers think of the unthinkable thoughts.....a figure of speech implying the unlikely or impossible.

Wanye Salih: “My understanding of “the eye of the needle” refers a gate in Jerusalem, which opened after the main gate was closed at night. A camel could only pass through this smaller gate if its baggage was removed and that the camel had to stoop and crawled on its knees in order to enter... I also read somewhere two other mentions about “the eyes of the needle” referring to: (i) that of ancient inns having small entrances to prevent thieves by night; and (ii) that of an old mountain pass. The entrance or pass was so narrow that camel-riders would have to dismount from their camels.”

Jiang Seng: “It was believed in the Old Testament time that being poor was a curse from God, and being wealthy and prosperous were blessings from God (Deut.8:18). The beliefs seem contradictory. If wealthy persons being seen righteous by God from their blessings cannot be saved, who can be? It does portray wealth as a hindrance to salvation. The concept of salvation is theologically difficult for me to understand........”   

Caleb Andang: “As I see it- yes! Wealth can but not necessarily be a hindrance to salvation, and it is no more or less than many other things. Yeshua’s usage of the aphprohism or figure of speech (sempama jaku): “eye of the needle” was to correct the false assumption that wealth was always a blessing from God. More often than not the pursuit of wealth tends to isolate us from the workings of God in our lives. Wealth can overtake the words sown in our hearts thus robbing us of God-eternally promised treasures. This is fact and “truth” in reverse.....Under normal state it is difficult (but not impossible) for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God....... Beyond the impossibility is the possibility with God. In Jewish midrash it was recorded: "The Holy One said, open for me a door as big as a needle's eye and I will open for you a door through which may enter tents and [camels?]"......It is inferred that God only needs a sinner to open up just a crack for Him and God will come pouring in and set up room for an oasis. Jesus said: “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hear my voice and open the door, i will come in to him nd will dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev.3:20). The message and way to salvation is clear through the grace of God and God-sent-Word born as Yeshua al-Messiah.

Wanye Salih: “By the way, the Bible does not seem to have record on the existence of ‘the eye of needle’ by the wall of Jerusalem apart from being mentioned by Jesus Christ in His teaching .....I read an article and comments on this issue..... ”

Jiang Seng: “An aphprohism or figure of speech figure is an abstract concept or an idea being used to analyze and explain deep meanings of a particular subject matter... In this case the physical existence and variations over “eye of the needle”- be it the wall of Jerusalem, or of ancient inns; and of an old mountain pass; including a claim that kamilos (meaning camel) is a Greek misprint of kamêlos meaning ‘rope" or "cable’ are less important than the intended meanings and  impacts of message of God’s salvation.”

Caleb Andang: “To me whether it was kamilos (‘camel’) or kamêlos (‘rope or cable’) is immaterial. It is the stark contrast between the small size of the needle's eye and the large size of a camel (or lesser size of a rope) is a crux of the message explaining how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God because of distraction by wealth and the difficulty to share when a wealthy person is too attached to his wealth.....There is a dierct connection between “eye of the needle” and a "rope" or "cable"  in the trade of a “sewer” or a  “cobbler”. However, by comparing the economic value of a “rope or cable” and the economic value of a “camel with its baggage of wealth”, I see the contextual relevance of the message in the aphprohism of “camel and the eye of the needle” above that of “rope and the eye of the needle."

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THE WALK ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDER

Onward journey from Kumpang Langgir Engkilili in Sri Aman Sarawak Malaysia to Dusun Kedang Hulu Kapuas in West Kalimantan Indonesia

  It took us about three and half hours to walk from Kumpang Langgir, Engkilili Lubok Antu  in Sri Aman Sarawak Malaysia and across the international border to reach Dusun Kedang, Hulu Kapuas in Kalimantan Barat Indonesia on Friday on 21 October 2011.

    LEFT: Bajau Biju CENTRE: Agnes L. Belon RIGHT: Anthony Belon

   From Dusun Kedang, it took another three and half hours up-mountain journey to reach the site of Gunung Doa Segala Bangsa (or All Nations Prayer Mountain) Kedang. It was treking through jungle tracks with many leeches. 

Comparatively the experiences were quite smiliar to that of my “child-and-teenage-hood" in the late 1950s - 1960s when inter-villages communications in those years were by means of rivers, footpaths and jungle tracks

The location of Gunung Doa Segala Bangsa Kedang is about 100 meters away from Sarawak in the Indonesian side of Sarawak/Kalimantan Border at N01.01376^o E111.70946^o.  At the altitude of 604 meters above the sea level, the height was not high comparatively with other taller mountains.  However, treking up Kedang Mountain up and down through steep valley-slopes was a great challenge. Especially so after a long lapse of many-many years.

Up-mountain journey - The scenery behind is of  BUKIT  TUGA (or Tree-Stump

Mountain)                    FRONT: Anthony Belon BEHIND: Bajau Biju 

                                                A section of up-mountain jungle track

 Photo taken below Trig. Station point (@657 meters altitude)  on S'wak-Malaaysia/ Kalimantan-Indonesia Border on 22-10-2011 during preliminary premeter-survey   RIGHT: Bajau Biju CENTRE: Benji Jihen RIGHT: Alexander Paong

Trig. Station facing  (a) Sarawak  &  (b) Kalimantan Barat Indonesia
   

Concrete-Border-Marking-Pole at Kedang Mountain between S'wak- Malaysia/Kalbar-Indonesia . Behind me is territory of Sarawak (22-10-2011)

                                                  

Rare mountain snail  locally known as "Tuntong"

Fellowship over lunch on Saturday 22-10-2011
From left to right: Pstr. Timothy; Anthony Belon; Agnes L. Belon; and Bajau Biju




Saturday night Bible Study & Fellowship (22-10-2011)
Pastor Timothy (of Nanga Wak Hulu Ketungau Kalimantan Barat Ind.) read Bible verses




Praying after planting of mangostin seedling near the Prayer House on Sunday  on 23-10-2011.
LEFT: Pstr. Nanggun; CENTRE: Alexamder Paong; RIGHT: Bajau Biju: SQUATTING:Anthony Belon
Also planted near the site of the Prayer House:  one  rembutan seedling by Pstr. Nyanggun; and one  mango seedling by Alexander Paong.  The three types of fruit tree seedling were brought from Kuching.



Coming down from the mountain: TEAM WORK - Crossing Merakai River after heavy rain (Afternoon on  23/10/11)
Front: Bajau Biju followed by  Agnes L. Belon; Anthony Belon; and Alexander Paong.

  

Enhanced by  God-created mountainous environments, the three days and two nights  staying up the All Nations Prayer Mountain Kedang were spiritually fulfilling. Inspite of my physical tiredness, the journey was indeed very refreshing.

Some members of the Team (22-10-2011)

Ready to depart on Sunday 23-10-2011

                      Departure on 23-10-2011. 
 View infront isThe Third Uppermost Waterfall in Merakai River

Second Uppermost Waterfall in Merakai River about 80 meters from the Prayer House. Located about 25 meters upstream from the Third Uppermost Waterfall

 

Third uppermost waterfall in Merakai River about 50 meters from the Prayer House. Located about 25 meters downstream from the Second Uppermost Waterfall

Fourth Uppermost Waterfall in Merakai River located about 35 meters downstream from the Third Uppermost Waterfall.
The steep-fall from top to  downstream (or below) is about 300 meters.
Benji Behin sat on dry rock about 15 meters away from the steep-fall

 

A view of the legendry & historical  BUKIT TUGA ( orTree Stump Mountain)  in Hulu Kapuas Kalimantan Barat Indonesia

 NOTE : It is biblical to establish All Nations Prayer Mountain. In this case the prayer mountain is called “All Nations Prayer Mountain Kedang”.

Isaiah 2:2-5 says: “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And it shall be exalted above the hills And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say:”Come and let us go up the mountain of the LORD, To the house of God of Jacob, He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people, they shall beat their swords into ploughshares And their spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up sword against nation Neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD”.

Yesaya 2:2-5 berbunyi demikian: “Akan jadi pada-pada hari yang terakhir gunung tempat rumah TUHAN akan berdiri tegak di hulu gunung-guuong, dan menjulang tinggi di atas bukit; segala bangsa akan berduyun-duyun  ke sana dan banyak suku bangsa akan pergi serta berkata:”Mari kita naik gunung  TUHAN  ke rumah Allah Yakub, supaya Ia mengajar kita tentang jalan-jalan Nya, dan supaya kita berjalan menempuhnya sebab dari Sion akan keluar pengajaran dan firman TUHAN  dari Yerusalem.” Ia akan menyadi hakim antara bangsa-bangsa; dan akan menyadi wasit bagi suku bangsa; maka mereka akan menempa pedang-pedangnya menyadi mata bajak dan tombak-tombaknya menyadi pisau pemangkas, bangsa tidak akan lagi belajar perang. Hai kaum keturunan Yakob mari kita berjalan dalam terang TUHAN”.

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