Archive for January 2008
Political Cartoons: Kodak Moment
Tonight’s debate is historical, but let’s hope it won’t become hysterical…
Hillary versus Obama…a Heavyweight versus the Contender in the political heavyweight championship of the world.
Botox Banned by Muslim Cleric
Muslims in Malaysia have been advised not to undergo Botox treatments as it is forbidden in Islam, a cleric has said.
Selangor Mufti Mohamad Tamyes Abdul Wahad said the National Fatwa Council had decided to list the beauty treatment as ‘haram’ (forbidden) as it had more adverse effects than good, The Star newspaper reported Thursday.
He said those providing Botox treatments should stop offering such services.
The observations came after Fatimah Wan Chik, the wife of Malaysian lawmaker Suhaili Abdul Rahman, fell seriously ill last week after undergoing the beauty treatment.
‘People like to do things that they shouldn’t. Do not go against religion for the sake of vanity. There are other ways and products that can make us look beautiful and we need not go against the fatwa,’ Mufti Wahad said.
Daily Devotions: Living with Loneliness
For some people, this is a very lonely time of year. The celebrations of Christmas have come and gone. New Year resolutions are beginning to fail, and the hopes of making a difference or being successful are starting to fade. Loneliness sets in and depression, like a creeping shadow, slowly overcomes some people.
Finding God in loneliness can be hard at times. And yet the Bible is full of lonely people. Joseph is kidnapped and finds himself in a foreign land. Moses is exiled from his people until he is eighty. Ruth and Naomi feel abandoned by their community when their husbands die. David has to flee for safety and live in caves several times throughout his long life. Elijah is a fugitive and just wants to die because he is so lonely. Daniel is isolated in the lion’s den where no one can help him. Jesus gets so lonely at times, even in the midst of crowds, that He has to go off early in the morning to solitary places just to have some quiet time with God.
And how lonely must it have felt for Christ, when the whole world turned against Him and nailed Him to a cross of shame?
Verse of the Day
Psalm 118:29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Loneliness is a tough part of life and a hurting of the soul. A recent study suggests that people who are lonely, who feel disconnected to society, look to God for solace, friendship, and companionship. Perhaps they understand that loneliness and isolation will come to us all one day. Perhaps lonely people are one spiritual step ahead of the crowd, because they understand that in the end it’s our relationship with God that will eternally matter. And perhaps they know, in the midst of their hurt, disappointment, and loneliness that only God’s love endures forever.
In the midst of our busy, stressful lives, we should set aside sometime to be lonely – lonely and looking for God. Our loneliness can lead to faithfulness in a sacred way that only the lonely understand. Their loneliness can become a gift from a loving God, for better than others, they know that He will never abandon nor forsake them, nor will He ever stop loving them or let them go.
Prayer: O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee; I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. Amen.
Political Cartoon: Rudy’s Regress
Rudy Giuliani may just have made a terrible tactical blunder…
…if so, then thank goodness he will not be our next Commander in Chief!
Daily Devotions: Christian Chameleons
Chameleons fascinate me. I am amazed by their ability to change their colors in order to blend into the background and remain hidden from both their enemies and prey. I think God must have had a lot of fun when He was making chameleons, and I bet you that they were the last animals to get off from Noah’s Ark because they couldn’t find them!
They are ugly looking creatures, but they have a remarkable talent. I’ve only seen them at the zoo or on wildlife programs, but I would love to hold one in my hands to see if it would change color and match my clothes.
Verse of the Day:
1 Corinthians 9: 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
When Paul writes about being all things to all men, I picture him as being a Christian chameleon, who could blend into every level of society. His ministry must have been wonderful to experience because he saw everyone as a child of God in need of salvation. In the Book of Acts, we come across many situations where Paul addresses the poor and the powerful, the weak and the strong, the redundant and the rich. He knows within himself that Christ’s message is for everyone, and not just a select few.
I think that the challenge for us as Christians today is to become spiritual chameleons. We have to seize every opportunity to convey Christ’s message, and relate it to the everyday lives of the people we know. I believe that there is nothing worse than a private, personal Christianity which feeds upon itself and never shares the good news. Too many people use their faith to isolate themselves from the world, instead of taking their beliefs into the marketplace.
When we read the Gospels and Paul’s letters, we realize that Christianity is God’s gift to the world. Our gift to Him occurs when we share Christ with others around us. Today, wherever we go, whatever we do, and whosever we meet, let’s try to be Christian chameleons, blending into all levels of society, bringing Christ’s good news and sharing His joy.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You want us to be messengers of Your word and conveyors of Your truth. Help us today to recognize the opportunities You give us for faith sharing, and to fully take them. Give us the ability to blend into every encounter Your love, Your ways, and Your grace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Being a Couch Potato Speeds Up Ageing Process
Leading a sedentary lifestyle may make us genetically old before our time, a study suggests.
A study of twins found those who were physically active during their leisure time appeared biologically younger than their sedentary peers.
The researchers found key pieces of DNA called telomeres shortened more quickly in inactive people. It is thought that could signify faster cellular ageing.
The King’s College London study appears in Archives of Internal Medicine. Read rest of the story here…
Religious News: China Persecutes Tibetans
Another Reason for Boycotting the Communist Olympics
Beijing, China — Chinese authorities in Tibet have recruited more than 140 Tibetan youths to perform traditional dances at the forthcoming Beijing Olympics, even as they impose new curbs on Buddhist culture in the Himalayan region, sources there say.
“The Chinese authorities believe that monasteries are the chief centers of Tibetan culture responsible for maintaining Tibetan identity. Therefore they are cracking down on the monasteries,” a source in Tibet said in a recent interview.
Novice monks are no longer admitted to replace monks who have died, and monks rarely appear on the streets in many Tibetan cities, sources say, and this trend has become more visible and pronounced over recent months.
“Now the monks are not allowed to conduct prayer sessions in temples, nor allowed to invite monks for special prayers at home,” the Tibetan source told Kham dialect reporter Tsewang Norbu. “Construction of new stupas is banned. Tibetan devotees are not even allowed to circumambulate temples and stupas.”
Sources say the restrictions have been stepped up since the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, was awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal last year.
“We were told that we could not dress well, burn incense, conduct prayers, or recite mantras,” the first source said. “We were also told that monks should not be allowed to stay in our houses… save [animals] and so on.
Even Tibetan government officials are not allowed to wear Tibetan dress, nor to maintain a prayer room and altar in their house.”
Daily Devotions: Looking Back & Glancing Forward
I watched one of my favorite movies recently that I haven’t seen in decades. It’s called “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” and stars Alan Arkin as a deaf mute, and Sondra Locke as a teenager. It’s a precious movie which deals with loneliness, mental illness, injustice, racism, love and life all at the same time. I would heartily recommend that it be viewed by parents of High Schoolers, as well as teenagers themselves.
It’s a beautiful story that has a sad ending. It evokes a lot of emotions, but what captivated me when I watched it this time, was the Americana throughout the movie. It was filmed in 1968 in Selma, Alabama, and watching it was like going back in time. The buildings, the stores and the streets were attractively small town America; the people, their hairstyles and clothes were all Southern mid-sixties styles – the likes of which we shall probably never see again.
Sondra Locke’s character, Mick, is a young girl who wants to learn to play music. Sadly, her dreams are shattered when her father cannot work due to disability. In a poignant moment, she pleads with her mother to let her stay at High school: “I feel as though I’m going to be somebody, momma. I want to do something with my life.” Stoically, her mother responds, “Well, you’ll soon grow out of that.”
It’s at that moment that Mick realizes she will have to give up her dreams and work for the sake of her family.
Verse of the Day:
2 Corinthians 12:14 Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Most of the time, parents try to work hard for the sake of their children. They make sacrifices and save up, so that their kids can start off on the right foot when it comes to establishing themselves, their careers, their hopes and dreams. Paul mentions this when he is writing his second letter to the church at Corinth. He feels like a parent to them, and is willing to expend his resources of time, talents, and money so that the church will grow. He sees it as his gift to them. He wants them to grow strong in faith, in numbers, and influence. Happily, his work and devotion, sacrifice and blessings enabled the church to fulfill its potential.
So, how do we apply this lesson today? Firstly, if we are parents, we should remember that we brought our children into the world, therefore we need to support them when they seek to find and fulfill their dreams. Secondly, we should be thinking about the future of the churches to which we belong. Instead of looking for what we can get from church, we should be investing in its future. That way, we allow future generations to benefit through the blessings and gifts we bestow today.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for our children. We ask that You will enable and empower us to love and support them, to honor and encourage them. We pray that they will find and fulfill their dreams. We also pray that they will find faith in You and seek to serve You through Your Church. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Political Cartoons: Obama’s on a Roll
Ted Kennedy is going to endorse Obama for President today…
…Hillary isn’t taking it well….
Dirty Tricks Brigade: Obama & The Flag
A lot has been made about this picture of Obama not holding his hand over his heart in front of the flag. His critics wrongly assert that this is happening during the Pledge of Allegiance. Actually, the photograph is taken during the singing of the National Anthem.
Go over to Snopes and watch the video. He’s the only politician who is actually SINGING the National Anthem! Have the rest of them forgotten the words???
