Good Day

Hai everybody out there,

This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Yes, everyday is a good day. In fact there is no bad day in life cos God declares everyday and everything that He made to be good.  Even the world admits that if you think you are bad, then you are.  You are what you think.  Agreed?

So, now why not treat everyday to be glad and learn to rejoice when you wake up in the morning, though it may seem to be contrary.  Start on a sound footing each morning and you will not regret.  I have learnt and am learning to thank God for each wonderful day when I wake up.  Make no mistake and you will see the difference in life.

I love and cherish each day of my life.  It doesn't matter whether you have lots of money, just enough to survive  for another day, or do not when the next meal is going to come from.  Don't worry, don't fret.  I may make it look so easy and you may think I am boasting.  Yes, I have to admit it is not easy but why not give it a try?

Do not worry about tomorrow;  for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  (Matt 6:34)

There is so much to enjoy and rejoice.  God wants us to enjoy everything o what are you waiting for.  Age is just a number and no matter how old you are you can make a difference to yourself and to your fellow human beings.

Super holidays

The long year end holidays have started.  Teachers and students have something like seven weeks off and holidays can be pretty boring.

Some cannot wait to escape to wherever it can be as long as they are out of the four corners of their house.  What about you?  Some may not have the chance to escape due to financial reasons or some unforseen circumstances.  It's still ok as long as they know how to occupy their time.

Some invest their time in supermarket, shop or helping in the family business hoping to reap some hard-earned pocket money which can come in handy beginning 1.1.2013 or 2.1.2013 for the west coast.  By working, these students pick up some useful skills from the real world - business skills, language skills, social skills and even dressing skills.  They get these skills hands-on, thus making and equipping them to be better students later on.

Some may invest their time attending summer camp, picking up leadership and other skills which they may not learn in school.  Some use the holidays to revise their work hoping to make a stronger impact the following year.

No matter how you use your time, the very important point is NOT to waste time.  It is important to do something useful and doing justice to yourself.  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WOW...........

Coffee

To all coffee lovers:

When I read the June Reader's Digest about coffee, I was telling myself, "Wow, that's good news for all coffee lovers".  Men who drink at least six cups of coffee per day cut the risk of dying from prostate cancer by as much as 60%.  That's  great news, isn't that?

Women who drink more than three cups per day lowers their risk of developing the most common skin cancer by 20%

Drinking at least one cup a day lowers the risk of stroke for women by up to 25%

Drinking at least two cups of coffee per day reduces a woman's chance of becoming depressed by up to 20%

The writer is none other than the Professor of Medicine , Harvard Medical School who drinks at least four cups of coffee a day.

So, what are you waiting for?  Go ahead and enjoy your drink to good health.

However, to me, I wonder if there is a standard cup for all drinkers or the cup differs from country to country.  Whatever it is I will continue to enjoy my black coffee which I have been drinking for more than 40 years.

Personal

To me everyone needs to believe in a higher being.  Personally I am a Christian and I believe in my Lord Jesus Christ.
I am not from a Christian family.  My parents are Buddhists or most what most people say Taoist.  Anyway I have no regret believing in Jesus Christ and He has beed good, is good and will continue to be good to me.
I am blessed with a wonderful family, enriched with four wonderful, beautiful daughters.  Three are in U and one waiting for her PMR results.
Of course, life has its ups and downs and that is the beauty of life.  When I am down, He continues to lift me up.  When I am up, He lifts me even higher.  Whatever I do, I love to do it for God's glory.
Life maybe short but it can be meaningful when you live it God's way.  I admit I am not perfect and I am not bothered what people say or think because you just cannot please everybody.  Knowing my limitations and weaknesses, I strive to do the best in life for the betterment of mankind.  As I gets older, I believe I have changed, not for the worse but for the better.  I believe I am on the right track.  However, I have only one wish....that is...more people will come to know the goodness of Jesus.

Thoughts

Our mind is a 'thought factory'.  It produces thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of thoughts each day.  The factory is constantly under the supervision of two supervisors whom we shall call Mr Victory and Mr Defeat.
Mr Victory is in charge of manufacturing positive, wholesome, encouraging, reassuring thoughts.  Mr Defeat is in charge of manufacturing negative depreciating, worrisome thoughts.  Mr Victory specialises in producing reasons why you can face life victoriously, why you can handle what comes your way, why you're more than able to conquer.  On the other hand, Mr Defeat is an expert in developing reasons why you cannot succeed, why you're inadequate, why you should give up and give in to worry, failure, discouragement and inferiority.
Both these supervisors are very obedient.  They are just waiting for your signal to snap to attention.
The moment you give a positive signal, Mr Victory will throw the switches and goes on to work.  He will see to it that one encouraging, edifying thought after another floods your mind.
At the same time Mr Defeat is always standing by awaiting for your negative signal and when he gets it, he cranks out more discouraging, destructive, demoralising thoughts than ever.  He will soon have you convinced that you can't, won't or shouldn't.  Given sufficient time he will  soon drain all your energy, squelch your confidence and turn you into a frowning, tight-lipped fatalistic victim, strangled by the yellow, clammy fingers of negative thinking.
Thoughts, whether positive or negative, grow stronger by the day when fertilised with constant repetition.  That may explain why so many who are gloomy continue to be in that state and why those who are cheery and enthusiastic continue to be so.
Happiness (like winning) is a matter of right thinking, not intelligence, age, or position.  Our performance is directly related to the thoughts we deposit in our memory bank.  We can only withdraw from what we deposit.
What kind of performance would your car give if each morning before leaving for work you scoop a handful of dirt and put in your crankcase.  The engine would soon be coughing and sputtering.  Ultimately the engine would refuse to start.  The same is true of your life.  Thoughts that are narrow, destructive and abrasive produce needless wear and tear on your mental motor.
You need only one good supervisor in your factory.  He is Mr Victory.  He is just too anxious to help you and is always available.  You will be amazed at how smoothly the plant will operate if you allow him to take control.
Finally, fellow Malaysians. Always think on what is true, noble, right and pure.  Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect.  If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about them

Local coaches are just as good

Yes, MHF is at it again.  The grass seems to be greener in other countries.  If the team fails to deliver, blame the coach.  Why can't MHF has more faith in our ex-internationals to chart the course of our hockey team?  Just take a look at Pakistan, India , Korea and many other countries where local expertise is utilised to guide the team.  Pakistan doesn't become the champion all the time.  The same goes to other countries but they don't dump their local coaches but give them time and room to expand.
It is not that we have not proven with our local coaches.  We had used foreign coaches before from Australia, Germany and others but still fell short of expectation.  Who can have better understanding of the local culture, players temperament and the likes other than our local ones.  Furthermore how long is MHF going to depend on foreigners?  Is there any guaranttee they will deliver?
Remember it takes two hands to click.  MHF can have the best coach in the world but without the right players it avails to nothing.  The foreign coach should be able to command the respect and call the shots as and when necessary.  On the other hand, we have some of the best coaches who are on par with foreign ones and should be given the full trust to bring our team to further glory.  A foreign coach doesn't come cheap and MHF needs to make sure the money is well spent.
It is very sad that after 55 years of independence, the Malaysia Boleh spirit seems to be far from reality.  It would be far better to give our local coaches extensive overseas exposure such as sending them for international coaching seminar or enlist the help of IHF to conduct more coaching clinics here.  I believe that would be more helpful in the long run.  Coaches at the school, district and state level should be given all the encouragement, support and incentive to bring hockey up to its desired level.  More coaching clinics at all levels need to be conducted and MHF need to be seen to be more pro-active in organising tournaments in all states giving particular attetion to the juniour level.  Surely foreign coaches is NOT the long term answer to Malaysian hockey

Give space

          The article by A.Kathirasen on the Rise of the Educated Uneducated (NST, May 31 2012 makes good reading.  As our society gets more educated and complex, people are supposed be more civilised and show better character depicting their education level and status.  However it's just the opposite and this was rightly pointed out in the writing that people of old like the Trojan showed more decency than our present generations.            
          We seem to possess the 'kiasu' syndrome and just love to be many steps in front of others. When driving, these kiasu drivers would push and shove so that others are always behind them.  They are not interested in giving space to others to overtake but continue to drive as they like.  When parking they tend to take double lot thus depriving others from parking.
          What do you have to say when you hear of an engineer punching the ATM machine just because he couldn't draw his money or get back his card?  Or a doctor who use out vulgar words at others?  Then there were teachers who fought with teachers,headmaster  and even students.  All these will make you shrink when you come to think they are supposed to be highly educated.  Has our education system failed them?  Is there a need for us to revamp our education so that we don't produce educated fools?
          We need a lot of soul-searching so that all the money, effort, time and energy spent on educating fellow young Malaysians will not come to nothing.  In the old days, you can only hear of boys fighting in schools.  Today there are girls fighting and extorting others and behaving worse than the boys. Schools seem to be the breeding ground of violence.  Otherwise how do account for the unruly behaviour widely on display during the Bersih 3.0 rally causing great unhappiness to everyone.  Then there were policemen who turned into robbers instead of protecting the citizens they wre trained for.
          Yes, many have forgotten about decency and just cannot agree to disagree.  It's high time we see transformation in our education system, families, societies and even the political arena.  We cannot afford to have crooks rule the nation.                                                          

Today marks a very important day for non-smokers and all health conscious human beings.  To totally eradicate smoking needs more than slogan shouting and publicity.  Smokers need very strong will power to overcome something they have been doing for umpteen years.  Everything depends on the individuals to say No  to tobacco.  On the other hand governments need to play their pivotal role to ensure that smokers can quit such habit.  May be to ban smoking throughout the country just like one country had done so.
The cooperation of everyone, smokers and non-smokers to ensure we live in a healthy environment is needed.  As long as tobacco companies are given the mandate to have the upper hand and allow to continue to operate, success will not come easy.  Even the names of tobacco companies should not be allowed to be seen or heard over the mass media may help to ensure some degrees of success.  The government has been carrying campaigns after campaigns, yet smoking continues to flourish.  What's worse is more and more youngsters have  taken this bad habit.
We can see teachers smoking in schools, people smoking in hospitals and this menace is blatantly disregarded and treated as a joke by the public.  Who is to enforce the rules on such offenders?  Do we have the will to take action against the culprits?
The government may impose heavy taxes on tobacco but that's not going to deter smokers.  The setback could be temporary and it's just a matter of time smokers will go back to their die-hard habit.  Perhaps we need to treat tobacco just like the way we treat other drugs like opium, morphine, etc.

Wealth Management

People use to say that it is easier to squander wealth than to make one.  People are more at ease when it is not their money cos they need not think twice using it.  We have to remember that we may not be rich all the time.  History has proven time and time again with countless examples how people, governments and empires had gone bust after a time of luxurious living.
Likewise a nation that is not careful throwing money like nobody's business may prove to be a folly.  Leaders who pride themselves in their abilities trying to impress on their citizens by splashing on them with tons of money, not counting the many mega projects yet to be implemented may sooner end with some of the european nations in the making.
The rakyat should not be too happy and be totally or even partially blinded by the ringgit glue on their eyes.  They should wake up and ask where do all these monies come from.  The rakyat should do a lot of soul searching and not be totally immersed and got drowned in all the so called 'goodies' splashed on them.  They should not take all the words of the leaders as the gospel truth but weigh and check and counter check to see if any of these words have some 'udang di sebalik batu'.  The rakyat should stand up for the truth and not be afraid to debate or point out the leaders wrong doing.  Leaders should be serving the people and not to be seen  making their pockets fat.
Today we have many leaders who are very rhetorical, even to the extent of causing the birds to fall from the sky.  Be very careful of such leaders especially with the impending election.  There will be countless mini, semi-mega and mega projects in each constituency but who will be there to monitor them.  Will every sen be accountable?  If you know of any hanky-panky in your area or any inflated project you should not take the 'tidak apa' attitude. Blow directly on such leaders faces.  Show them you mean business.  The general election is the right avenue to show your power.  Make the right choice and save the nation's wealth.  Don't let any of the candidates sweet talk you or coat your mouth with candies.

Look around you.  Surely you can see some not so nice things around you.  What do you do?  Keep quiet and mind your own business?  Please don't.  The country's wealth is ours not an individual's.  It is dosa untuk bersubahat with the wrong doers.

Prayer

"Prayer breaks all bars, dissolves all chains, opens all prisons, and widens all straits by which God's saints have been held." - E. M Bounds

"It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone." - Hudson Taylor

"Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings." - Chrysostom

"We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties." - Oswald Chambers

"The battle of prayer is against two things in the earthlies: wandering thoughts, and lack of intimacy with God's character as revealed in His word. Neither can be cured at once, but they can be cured by discipline." - Oswald Chambers

"Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian." - Andrew Murray

"A life growing in its purity and devotion will be a more prayerful life." - E.M Bounds

"Four things let us ever keep in mind. God hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer, and God delivers by prayer." - E.M Bounds

"We can do nothing without prayer. All things can be done by importunate prayer. That is the teaching of Jesus Christ." - E.M Bounds

"Prayer is the acid test of devotion." - Samuel Chadwick

"The true church lives and moves and has its being in prayer." - Leonard Ravenhill

"Prayer wonderfully clears the vision; steadies the nerves; defines duty; stiffens the purpose; sweetens and strengthens the spirit." - S.D. Gordon

Respect and be respected

If you force a child to something against his likings, very probably he will vomit out or do all kinds of nasty things. The same goes to adults.
If you go against the wishes and aspirations of the people and try to force things down their throats, you will pay for your folly dearly. It is good to open our ears and listen and be thorough in our findings before we attempt something. Even a child has the right to be heard and voice his view.
Many times we want people to respect us but we do not wish to respect others. Life is two ways, just like traffic flowing in two directions. That's the problem with human beings, societies and even governments! Let's give respect to where it is due and our action will be amply reciprocated. We simply cannot be taking all the time and not giving.
No matter how much we dislike a person or how bad or arrogant he may be, yet he has some strong points that could be put to good use. We must give equal coverage to all, though the opinions may be painful. A lob-sided judgement is a time-bomb.

The Importance of ONE

In this world, many people like big number. The bigger the better and the more the merrier. Before you jump the gun, don't get me wrong. I'm not against 'many', more people, more projects, etc but the importance of one cannot be overlooked.

Many tend to say, 'Ah! Without me, it's ok. Makes no difference. No big deal.' Think for a moment. You may think that the PTA meeting or your local residents' Association AGM is worthy to give a miss. You may far from right. Your crucial vote could have help your dear friend or your worthy neighbour to secure that important post which could mean a lot to the group as a whole. Your voice, idea or suggestion could be crucial in helping to turn the association around or strengthen it.

Think again. Your presence could have saved a person from embarassment, lend credibility or simply help to turn the tide in his favour. You could be the saviour in the most unlikely situation. You could have saved a person from the gallow!

What if in a general election, everyone starts to think his presence is not going to make any difference? You could live to regret for the rest of your life. In a bigger picture, your indifference could have caused the 'wrong' party to win and jeopardise the future of your children, siblings and friends. Do you want that to happen?

Before you allow yourself to toss this aside, 'Oh, that's for somebody else-how much difference can I make?' go back and review the value of one.

I am only one

But still I am one

I cannot do everything

But still I can do something

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

-Edward Everette Hale

Don't delay

Finally Tun M has spoken. He is willing to be probed into the allegation of the RM100 billion loss during his 22 years reign. It is only right that this man of honour be given all the opportunity to clear his name. The MACC should not delay but proceed to investigate so such allegation will not continue to linger on. I think the public are tired to keep hearing such nonsense and it's high time the MACC be diligent in discharging their responsiblity to the public.

Look b4 u leap

The STPM and SPM results will be out soon. Next, what? Students will be at wits of what to do next unless they are crystal clear regarding their destiny. They have to do a lot of soul-searching-to continue in sixth-form, A-level, SAM, Foundation, Diploma or to go for one of the many skill-based courses offered by countless of colleges.
A 'wrong' choice means a lot of headache and frustration, not counting the time-loss and money spent. But wait a moment. If ever you make the 'wrong' choice, don't despair. Count it as a wonderful lesson learnt and you could end up a lot wiser with more grey matter inside.
The much advice obtain from school counsellors or self-appointed experts may still lead you nowhere with more confusion and head-spinning. I'm not saying you should not seek advice. By all means, do so. Talk to you parents, uncles and aunties, teachers and your teachers. You never know. Somewhere along the way the door may be opened to you. You may want to sit down and ask yourself, "What do I really want to do?". Once you are clear, share with someone whom you BELIEVE can help you. It is good to share your ideal.
Important advice: don't just stop after your SPM or STPM. Continue with your education, formally of informally so that your mind will not go rusty. Remember: An idle mind is the workshop of the devil. It is better to pollute your mind with academic work, skill-based courses or any work that will enrich you.
Finally, seek God in every of your endeavour. He will never let you down. God wants you to have the BEST. The nation needs you.

Good leaders

When a child strays, the parents will discipline him to put him back on track so that he will continue to be on sound footing. Parents will do their utmost to make the child conforms to the right ethics and morals of society so that he will not be a disgrace to his family and society at large.
However when he grows up and becomes a political or corporate freak, he tends to forget all the good teachings as espoused by his parents. Somewhere along the journey, he got entangled by the power and wealth and became so engrossed and blinded by such evils that he seemed to be untouchable. He becomes unteachable and prefers the short cut to stardom. He is unwilling to struggle and sweat for the sen and ringgit but will look for every loophole to propel him above his peers. It doesn't matter if along the way he steps on someone's toes, elbow another out or the need to sembelih one's best friend as long as he gets what he wants. Worse, he will disguise to be a good samaritan or santa claus handing out aids much to the applause and clicking of the dslrs. What dangerous wolf!
Lately civil servants seem to be facing some unhappiness over the salary revision and the whole thing have to go back to the drawing board. The people who 'awarded' those with more than 50% and giving peanuts to the lowest rank should be taken to task. Next, money meant for the cattles are used to purchase properties, kononnya to generate more income for the corporation. Wrong means wrong. Why can't those responsible just admit their guilt and shut up? Bravo to the police for doing a good job.
Let's continue to pray for this nation that God will place responsible and morally upright leaders who truly have the people at heart. You will know them by their fruits.

Life can be good

Life can be good if you live it meaningfully. Today people are bogged down by so many things - career, money, friends, position, etc so much so that many become tensed up suffering from stress. Life becomes meaningless to many. But wait a moment. Is life all about money, position, materials,etc? Can life be more meaningful?

Sure. God wants us to live life to the fullest and not to despair. Life is more than the food, wealth, position, etc. After all life is too short to moan and groan and to waste away. Give your best shot. Do whatever you can do and give your best. Do not refuse to do the little things that you can do and at the end of the day you can sit back and tell yourself that you have given everything that you want to do.

Go ahead and look on the bright side of life. You may not be earning as much as others, your position may not be anything compare to your friends (according to your reckoning), your wealth may be nothing to shout about, etc. Who cares. As long as you are happy with what you are doing, just continue doing it. Comparison has no ending but only brings despair and frustration.

Let's wake up and tell ourselves that we want to enjoy life to the fullest. God is good. He wants to give you the BEST.