Life by Mother Teresa

LIFE
By Mother Teresa

Something that M Teresa said before her death. Very thought provoking and inspiring.

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When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread. But a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person who has been thrown out of society - that spiritual poverty is much harder to overcome. Those who are materially poor can be very wonderful people. One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the Sisters: "You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worse."

So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my
hand, as she said one word only: "Thank you" - and she died.

I could not help but examine my conscience before her. And I asked: "What would I say if I were in her place?" And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said: "I am hungry, I am dying, I am cold, I am in pain," or something. But she gave me much more - she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face.

Then there was the man we picked up from the drain, half eaten by worms and, after we had brought him to the home, he only said, "I have lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die as an angel, loved and cared for." Then, after we had removed all the worms from his body, all he said, with a big smile, was: "Sister, I am going home to God" - and he died. It was so wonderful to see the greatness of that man who could speak like that without blaming anybody, without
comparing anything. Like an angel - this is
the greatness of people who are spiritually rich even when they are materially poor....

Life

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realise it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

- Mother Teresa

4 frens & steamboat

Rock Garden Steamboat, Robson Heights Kuala Lumpur 19 August 06

Four Frens - Nyat Keong, KeeKuang, Wai Hoong & Keng Loon aka Alvin

We met, we ate and we chatted. It was a good evening of food & wine.

Interview with Rick Warren

I have just received this email from my good friend Simon Tan regarding an interview with Rick Warren. I wish to share this with you because the content is most inspiring.

This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, "Purpose Driven Life" author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California. These are new 'insights' that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and his having "wealth" from the book sales.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity.

We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.

I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This
is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.

God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go in to another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.

God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.

And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain."

But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was
not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.

It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to
deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15
million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.

It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God
gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no
major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches,
equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?

Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? ...Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

God loves you!

Guppies and Sword tails

Hawker's night is on again this Saturday, 22nd July. Children may win prize guppies and sword tails gathered from my pond at home.

Guppies and sword tails are live brearers i.e. they give birth to live baby fishes that swim about from day 1 itself. They are hardy and easy to keep. They are considered community fishes and are not aggressive to other fishes living in the same fish tank.

Feeding is easy. They will eat almost any commercial fish food of a suitable size. They will even pick on algae.

Please be gentle with these fishes and have lots of fun.

British English vs. Malaysian English

This post is from Jessica.

Who says our English is teruk.? Just see below - Ours is
simple,short,concise, straight-to-point, effective etc.........

WHEN GIVING A CUSTOMER BAD NEWS
Britons: I'm sorry, Sir, but we don't seem to have the sweater you want in
your size, but if you give me a moment, I can call the other outlets for
you.
Malaysians: No Stock.

RETURNING A CALL
Britons: Hello, this is John Smith. Did anyone page for me a few moments
ago?
Malaysians: Hello, who page?

ASKING SOMEONE TO MAKE WAY .
Britons: Excuse me, I'd like to get by. Would you please make way?
Malaysians: S-kew me

WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS TO PAY
Britons: Hey, put your wallet away, this drink is on me.
Malaysians:No-need, lah.

WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION
Britons: Excuse me, but do you think it would be possible for me to enter
through this door?
Malaysians: (pointing the door) can ar?

WHEN ENTERTAINING
Britons: Please make yourself right at home.
Malaysians: Don't be shy, lah!

WHEN DOUBTING SOMEONE
Britons: I don't recall you giving me the money.
Malaysians: Where got?

WHEN DECLINING AN OFFER
Britons: I'd prefer not to do that, if you don't mind.
Malaysians: Don't want la...

IN DISAGREEING ON A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Britons: Err. Tom, I have to stop you there. I understand where you're
coming from, but I really have to disagree with what you said about the
issue.
Malaysians: You mad, ah?

WHEN ASKING SOMEONE TO LOWER THEIR VOICE.
Britons: Excuse me, but could you please ! lower your voice, I'm trying to
concentrate over here.
Malaysians: Shut up lah!

WHEN ASKING SOMEONE IF HE/SHE KNOWS YOU.
Britons: Excuse me, but I noticed you staring at me for some time.. Do I
know you?
Malaysians: See what, see what?

WHEN ASSESSING A TIGHT SITUATION.
Britons: We seem to be in a bit of a predicament at the moment.
Malaysians: Sei-loh!!

WHEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED
Britons: Will someone tell me what has just happened?
Malaysians: Wat happen ar. Why like that....

WHEN SOME ONE DID SOMETHING WRONG
Britons: This isn't the way to do it here let me show you,
Malaysians: You like that oso don't know how to do ar !!!! Chee
seeng!!!!!

WHEN ONE IS ANGRY
Britons: Would you mind not disturbing me
Malaysians:Celaka u

Gone in a second!

Now I have blur vision. My pair of glasses is a complete wreak after Hooi stepped on it accidentally. Well, its my fault for puting it on the floor beside a foam mattress while trying to play catch up with sleep.

I went to see my optometrist in Yik Fong as soon as possible. I had to, otherwise, I will not be able to blog any longer because of eyestrain. This optometrist always give a very thorough checkup for my eyes. So he will ask if I can see the last line or the second last. Then he will check for clarity with green and red light etc, etc. Finally its done.

Next I was given a wide variety of frames to choose from. Well, you should see my choice the next time we meet and I am sure you will be impressed. And FINALLY the cost. Pheeeew you cannot believe this. A whooping RM 1650.00. Who says our inflation is only 4.00%!!

A final word. Never place your spectacles on the floor even if you think no one will walk this or that way.

CCM - Fund Raising Dinner

I attended the Council of Churches of Malaysia fund raising dinner held in the Excelsior Hotel on 24th June 2006. Certainly the event was an eye opener as to what CCM is all about. Our pastor, Rev. Ashok is the Chairman of the CCM Perak Regional Committee and he gave a speech that night.

The food was delicious and we were entertained with songs and dances by members of the Methodist Sengoi Mission and the Tamil Methodist Church. There were also speeches from Rev. Bah Saha (Chairman of the Hal Ehwal Bumiputra Indigenous) and Rev. Bah Uda (Superintendent of Sengoi Mission Conference). Bishop Julius Paul presented hampers to the special guests from the Methodist Sengoi Mission conference, Protestant Church in Sabah, Good Shepherd Home and the Salvation Army. Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri (General Secretary CCM) thanked the guests for their donations and closed the function.

Central to the CCM work is MISSION. It has taken upon itself the task of co-operative mission work with the indigenous churches in Malaysia. For more information you may wish to visit the CCM website at www.ccmalaysia.org