Christmas - A shepherd that very night!

Luke has a vivid story of the very special once in a lifetime event.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:10-14

I am like a shepherd who heared the glad tidings and good news not from the multitude of angelic host but from the very resurrected Jesus Christ, the Emmanuel.

Are you a shepherd who celebrated the true Christmas?

Canadian Experience

1. Canadian love dogs - they are everywhere from elevator to parks
2. Canadian common expression - "I know", "How are you"
3. Canadian squirrels are everywhere - lawns, backyards, parks
4. Canadian long summer days - sunsets at 9pm
5. Canadian coin nick names - toonie (2 dollar), loonie(1 dollar), quarter (25 cents), dime (10 cents), penny (1 cent)

6. Tim Horton is more popular than Starbucks

7. Rogers and Bell are competing who has the longer sofa

Day Of Journey

Today, my family will embark a new journey into a country where frost and cold dwells - Canada.

Thunder & Lightning

Mother's Day

Proverbs 31: 10 - 31

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Labor Day

Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers.

The majority of countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1, and it is popularly known as May Day and International Workers' Day.

Amazing Machine - IBM Road Runner

Roadrunner is a supercomputer built by IBM at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, USA. Currently the world's fastest computer, the US$133-million Roadrunner is designed for a peak performance of 1.7 petaflops, achieving 1.026 on May 25, 2008, and to be the world's first TOP500 Linpack sustained 1.0 petaflops system.

It is a one-of-a-kind supercomputer, built from commodity parts, with many novel design features.

IBM Roadrunner
Roadrunner components
Dates	operational 2008, final completion 2009
Sponsors	IBM,  United States
Operators	National Nuclear Security Administration,  United States
Location	Los Alamos National Laboratory,  United States
Architecture	12,960 IBM PowerXCell 8i CPUs, 6,480 AMD Opteron dual-core processors, Infiniband, Linux
Power	2.35 MW
Space	296 racks, 6,000 sq ft (560 m2)
Memory	103.6 TiB
Speed	1.71 petaflops (peak)
Cost	US$133M
Ranking	TOP500: 1, June 2008
Purpose	Modeling the decay of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.
Legacy	First TOP500 Linpack sustained 1.0 petaflops, May 25, 2008
Web site	http://www.lanl.gov/roadrunner/

Reference: www.wikipedia.com

Innovation Time Off

As an interesting motivation technique (usually called Innovation Time Off), all Google engineers are encouraged to spend 20% of their work time (one day per week) on projects that interest them. Some of Google's newer services, such as Gmail, Google News, Orkut, and AdSense originated from these independent endeavors.

Using Pareto principle, this means most company successes comes from this 20% time spent to be inventive, innovated using experimental ideas.

Research and development is always the key.

Send Off Dinner

Last Friday night dinner was special for me. Its a dinner that comes only once in a while and as the recipient, I am very grateful and honor though it means untying the corporate engagement.

Food, drink, laughter, photo posing and occasionally looking back the past, the magic and tricks while working technically under pressure. Now relaxing, sitting, sipping, enjoying the moment. The journey continues, the laurels are temporary, the achievement realistically still future progressive but its all worth to celebrate.



Card and personal notes are the icing of the cake.


Thank you, Genesis!

Super Susan Boyle

How many more undiscovered talent out there, eager to be heard, love to share their gift but are hindered by some life circumstances?

Today, it just a miracle to me finding Susan shared her precious gift, her life, her voice.

Susan possessed the most beautiful gift of voice, so heavenly that it most surprise and melted the stunned audience. So inspiring and I am blessed I heard her sing that song first time of my life.

Beautiful! Susan, May the Lord bless you.

Earth Day - Best Ways To Get Involve

1. Become 3R fluent. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Reducing is the best (fewer resources, less waste), then reusing, followed by recycling, which often uses water, energy and other resources.

2. Use one less napkin. The average American uses an average of 2,200 paper napkins per year. If everyone in the U.S. used one less napkin a day, more than a billion pounds of napkins would be saved from landfills each year. For a bigger impact use recycled napkins or even cloth napkins for a bigger impact.

3. Use the both sides of the paper. Set your printer to two-sided printing. American businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year. Remember to recycle the paper when done. For a bigger impact use recycled paper when printing.

5. Stop brushing while water running. Running water while you brush your teeth uses on average five gallons a day.

6. Turn off the lights. If you are still using incandescent bulbs turn off the light every time you leave the room. CFL’s are more affected by being turned on and off so turn off if you will be gone for more than 15 minutes. For a bigger impact use natural lighting during the day and turn off the lights all together.

7. Give the gift of yourself (no wrapping required). Earth Day is a great day to offer your time and energy to the future of our planet. There are hundreds of ways you can get involved, from planting trees to cleaning up beaches to working at an Earth Day event.

Pound For Pound Boxer

The greatest fights of Manny "pacman" Pacquiao

Acceptable Worship

How many times God reminded us on our frailty and of the constant pressure of going astray?

Commonly said, Christians are most severely tested and bombarded on a weekly basis by various kinds of temptations during Saturday evening and or during the Sunday morning.

Well, this morning was but another conviction for me. I went to church close to the preaching and that feeling of being late shrouded me as I joined the congregation - It's shameful.

As perfect and timely is the Lord's way, His words echoed on the pastor's preaching on this issue. I believed some of us are facing this temptation and it is a timely reminder at least for me that the Lord has spoken to my heart that He will not honor this kind of attitude towards Sunday worship and it is close to abomination.

We may have worship the One and True God as Paul's admonition to the Romans. We may have the right form of worship similar as prescribe by the Lord in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. We may have the right kind of prayer as Jesus teach in the Gospels. But here we must pay attention,

we have the right way but wrong attitude towards worship

And being late is one of them. We robbed God on this very special day of worship.

Prophet Amos called this a shallowness in religion, a superficial observance of holy days.

There is probably nothing more detestable and obnoxious than hypocrisy, especially if it takes place in God's house.

I am guilty as charge this very Sunday, but I thank the LORD for His great mercy and faithfulness.

We should not wait for the Lord's chastisement before we get back unto the right track of holy and acceptable worship.

Remarkable People

These are the people that I considered remarkable on their contributions, achievements, influence and impact in history.

Name	Title/Field	Summary	Link
Jesus Christ	God	Prophet, Priest, King, Savior	BIO  HIS
Moses - Bible	Prophet	Prince, Leader, Prophet	BIO  HIS
David - Bible	King	Warrior, King, Prophet	BIO  HIS
Paul of Tarsus	Missionary	Apostle, Preacher	BIO  HIS
John Calvin	Theology	Reformist, Preacher	BIO
Martin Luther	Theology	Reformist, Preacher	BIO
Isaac Newton	Mathematician	Mathematician, Physicist	BIO
José Rizal	Politics	Philippine National Hero	BIO
Abraham Lincoln	Politics	US President	BIO
Winston Churchill	Politics	British Prime Minister	BIO
David Ben-Gurion	Politics	Israel Prime Minister	BIO
Lee Kuan Yew	Politics	Singapore Prime Minister	BIO
Sun Tzu	Military	Chinese Military General	WORK  REF
Robert E. Lee	Military	United States General	BIO
David Livingstone	Explorer	Explo. - Central Africa	BIO
Helen Adams Keller	Education	American Author	BIO
Jacques Louis David	Arts	Painter	BIO
Henri Rousseau	Arts	Painter	BIO
Gustav Klimt	Painter	Painter	BIO
Fanny Crosby	Christian Hymns	American Composer	BIO
Charles Haddon Spurgeon	Theology	Baptist Preacher	BIO
Enrico Fermi	Nuclear Physics	Nuclear Reactor	BIO
Leó Szilárd	Nuclear Physics	Nuclear Reactor	BIO
James Clerk Maxwell	Physics & Mathematics	Electromagnetic Theory	BIO
Paul Erdos	Mathematics	Number Theory	BIO
Paul Charles Morphy	Chess	World Chess Champion	BIO
Robert James Fischer	Chess	World Champion	BIO
Ron Rivest	Cryptography	RSA Algorithm	BIO
Donald Ervin Knuth	Computer Science	Inventor of TeX	BIO
Nikola Tesla	Electrical Engineering	Tesla Coil	BIO
Linus Torvalds	Computer Science	Linux Creator	BIO
James Gosling	Computer Science	Inventor Of Java	BIO
Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie	Computer Science	Inventor Of C & Unix	BIO
Richard Phillips Feynman	Physics	Quantum Mechanics	BIO
Albert Einstein	Physics	Physics	BIO  HIS

References: https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-influential-people-of-all-time

Hymns

As I grew mature in Christian life, so as my interest in hymns and gospel music.

This is my personal hymns collection. All time favorites!

The Gridlock Puzzle

Get the blue block to the exit by moving the other blocks. The puzzle gets more challenging as you move on to higher level.

Drag the block with the mouse.

Japanese I.Q. Test

Everybody has to cross the river.

Rules
1. Only 2 people can be on the raft at the same time
2. Only the father, mother and police can operate the raft
3. Father can't be left alone with any of his daughters without the mother.
4. Mother can't be left alone with any of his sons without the father.
5. Thief (the redhead in the striped shirt) can't be left alone with any family member without the police.

If you can solve it without cheats within 3 minutes, you are close for Mensa membership.

Click to start.
Link: Japanese IQ Test

The Leap Frog Puzzle

Try to switch the frogs to the opposite side. Click on a frog to begin. This is actually a test given to second graders in China!

Financial Freedom

Last night, I went to church to attend a weekly prayer meeting but to my surprised, I end up with a bonus seminar.

Listening to Jim Sammons financial freedom - day three.

A church brother approached and told me, "Just stay and learn something." I realized immediately that God wants me to hear something. It was indeed a blessing.

Unlike other financial seminars, this one is born out of biblical principles on how Christian view their finances and their outlook towards money and properties.

It's amazing the Bible, an inspired Word of God teach me the way to be financially free.

Session 7 - Borrow not anything; Session 8 - Live within your means.

Proverbs 19:14, "House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: And a prudent wife is from the Lord."

Today, I promise with the Lord's blessing and guidance, I should be able to save something for Isaac and Ezekiel inheritance.

By the way, I don't inherit the first two but the Lord gives me a prudent wife .

A Day In My Life

A day, I saw myself walking down an alley,
small children lying, begging, holding small cup of fortunes
dropped like crumbs from heaven.
In their eyes, hunger and smiles played like clowns.
I look for filial love that never there -- only the struggles present
Their meekness coy, their innocence sublime, their helplessness shrouded me.
I wish I could watch them play with cheerfulness and gladness
In a place where love and abundance dwell,
where echoes of laughter comforts the lonely passing soul.

My spirit sinks for a sigh for my heart was broken,
burden with charity and compassion.
Helpless to share for momentarily I was chained unto myself
They looked at me in total vexation -- just like the rest who passed them by
Not a slight of tangible kindness for I am paralyzed inside.

A day I watched myself lying and staring into an empty sky.
High above clouds rolling, waving, grinding the wind,
carefree and colorful without destination.
In a still life great canvass, I saw faces and figures,
heavenly arts in harmony, blending and caressing with nature.
In an instant faded, changed, reborn, renew.
Never ending random cycles of majestic beauty.
I played like clown choreographing the whole scenes as if I'm the great maestro.
It was the greatest show my soul have ever witness.

Alone, my soul was happy but I was alone.
That day I dreamed for love but where shall I find her?
Then I realized nature runs its course -- come fire or high water
So therefore I will wait patiently and let destiny unfolds unto my steps
For if I am well deserve, love will find me and will surely know it
Nevertheless, I have so much joy in this great anticipation.

A day I found myself find friendship with you
As if it was like all colors flashed all over me
Ideal like a flower, real like a rainbow
Holding your hand I feel my heart breathing again
Hear you whispering, I feel butterfly kisses again
You are like a diamond buried in the sand -- a happy luck

A day I found myself falling in love with you
It was like all heavens broke loosed
Cupids all over again, dances and leaps in all corners I go
I can't pretend so I continue to be patient and subtle
Always hanging on the line, sharing laughter’s and cares
Making sure your heart filled with so much love
And my heart overflows with so much joy
You cheer me up and I was captivated by your completeness
Assuring love will never bend even with the rainfall

Thaksinism

Recent surge of social unrest in Thailand makes me wonder what is this bug "Thaksinism" about and why it drives people to be unhappy and unrestful?

The connotation seems not bad from an outsider's point of view because it could mean "patriotic", "power", "wealth" or simply "inspiration". But it could also mean "struggle", "uprising", "bring down" or a bit sporty "take down".

Lately the term paints some colors and it resembles to "red shirt", that makes it more like a sporting jersey.

The term is still in infancy to undergo a review board before it can be added to the dictionary.

Nah! I am just playing with words, just ignore my wit!

The Art Of War

In times like this where our worst enemy is "worry", I wonder what could be the best strategy to stay afloat and ride on the ebbing and sloshing economic tide.

Quark sparks! I remember my two year old companion - Sun Tzu, The Art Of War.

Silently recited these words again...

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle..."

Peace, Love & Ukelele

This childish four string instrument may not deserve a second look but hey! not on the hands of this guy.

Hawaiian born Jake Shimabukuro is a ukelele virtouso as Tommy Emmanuel to the guitar.

Watch his rendition of George Harrison immortal song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

Today in History

I'm just curious what memorable events happened down in history.



* 1204 - 4th Crusade occupies and plunders Constantinople (Istanbul).

* 1606 - England adopts Union Jack as its flag.

* 1945 - Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Ga., at age 63.

* 1861 - The American Civil War begins, the bloodiest four years in American history.

* 1961 - Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly in space.

* 1847 - Yung Wing, arrive in America this day, went on to become the first student from China to graduate from Yale University [1854].

* 2004 - Barry Bonds hit his 660th home run to tie Willie Mays for third on baseball's career list.

* Notable birthdays - Tom Clancy, David Letterman and Andy Garcia

Happy Easter!

Ehrman Interrupted!

Recently agnosticism is probably given the highest merit by this man and for the past several years vigorously debated upon biblical scholars why Christianity is a fraud.

Bart Ehrman is a New Testament scholar who went to study the Bible in its original form in Moody Bible Institute. He received his doctorate in Theology and Master of Divinity from Princeton Thelogical Seminary which in my opinion already an irony and unfitting title on his current belief.

Well, he wrote several books already attacking and nullfying the Bible being an inerrant Word of God. No surprise as these are expected events as prophesied. Biblical prophesies slowly revealing and that we should be watchful and prayerful.

Christian apologists already confronted his highest [ill] logical and historical wisdom unto its merit and substance notably by William Lane Craig.

Ehrman quite created a ripple but it will be soon swing back to its anchored fold. I hope he will realized that he is so puffed up and proud of his wordly achievement.

What gain it is for him to enjoy? As Solomon said, "all is vanity".

For the second time, Bart met this unlikely faith defender. A comedian, in the person of Stephen Colbert. Sure enough, even a comedian didn't find hard to put up a very good fight in a smart and logical manner.

See this short exchanges between Ehrman vs Colbert.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Bart Ehrman
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

Picture of Heaven

I believed not everyone have read the chapter 21 in the book of Revelation concerning heaven and the new Jerusalem.

So I share this to you not only to refresh believer's heavenly vision but also to grow more in grace, in love, in faith and hope in Christ.

Surely this beautiful and perfect place is reserved unto the faithful servants in Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Apostle John exiled in the island of Patmos describe vividly what he saw in a manner absolutely and magnificiently majestic beyond comparison.

Revelations 21: 9 - 25

And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;

The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.