Pity has quite a different effect on the soul. The thief on the right had no envy of the master's Power but only pity for the Master's sufferings. Rebuking his companion on the left, the good thief said: "Have you no fear of God, seeing that you are under the same sentence? And we indeed, justly, for we're being paid back fittingly for what we did; but this man has done nothing wrong". There was not a spark of envy in him. He wanted nothing in all the world, not even to be removed from tragic companioning with the cross. He was not envious of God's Power, for God knows best what to do with His Power. He was not envious of his fellowmen, for they had nothing worth giving. So he threw himself upon Divine Providence and asked only for forgiveness: "Lord. remember me when You come into Your Kingdom".

A dying man asked a dying Man for life; a man without possessions asked a Poor Man for a Kingdom; a thief at the door of death asked to die a thief and steal Paradise. And because he envied nothing, he received all: "Amen, I say to you, this day you shall be with Me in Paradise". One would have thought a saint would have been the first soul purchased over the counter of Calvary by the red coins of redemption but in the Divine plan it is a thief who steals that privilege and marches as the escort of the King of Kings into Paradise.

Two lessons are taught us by the Second Word from the Cross. The first is that envy is the source of our wrong judgements about others. The chances are that if we are envious of others, nine times out of ten we will misjudge their characters. Because the thief on the left was envious of the Power of the Lord, he misjudged Him and missed both the Divinity of the Saviour and his own salvation. He falsely argued that Power should always be used the way he would have used it, namely to turn nails into rosebuds, a cross into a throne, blood into royal purple and the blades of grass on the hillside into bayonets of offensive steel. No one in the history of the world ever came closer to Redemption and yet no one ever missed it so far. His envy made him ask for the wrong thing: he asked to be taken down when he should have asked to be taken up. It makes one think of how much the envy of Herod resulted in an equally false judgement: He massacred the Innocents because he thought the Infant King came to destroy an earthly kingdom, whereas He came only to announce a heavenly one.

So it is with us. Backbitting, calumny, false judgements, are all born of our envy. We say: "Oh, he is jealous," or "she is jealous"; but how do we know that he or she is jealous unless we ourselves have felt that way? How do we know others are acting proudly unless we know how pride asserts itself?

Every envious word is based on a false judgement of our own moral superiority. To sit in judgement makes us feel that we are above those who are judged and more righteous and more innocent than them. To accuse others is to say: "You have stolen that which is mine." Envy of others' wealth has resulted in the gross misjudgement that the best way to do away with its abuse in the hands of the rich is to dispossess them violently, so that dispossessors may in their turn enjoy its abuse. Envy of others' political power has given rise to the erroneous philosophy that even governments may be overthrown if organized violence is strong enough to do so. Envy thus becomes the denial of all justice and love. In individuals it develops a cynicism which destroys all moral values, for by bankrupting others do we ourselves become bankrupt. In groups it produces a deceit which extends the glad hand of welcome to those who differ, only until they are strong enough to cut it off.

Since envy is so rampant in the world today, it is extremely good counsel to disbelieve 99 per cent of the wicked statements we hear about others. Think of how much the thief on the right had to discount in order to arrive the truth. He had to disbelieve the judgement of four envious judges, the raillery of envious scribes and ancients, the blasphemous utterances of curious onlookers who love murders and the envious taunts of the thief on the left who was willing to lose his soul if only he could keep his fingers nimble for more thefts. But if he had been envious of the Lord's Power, he would never have been saved. He found peace by disbelieving the envious scandal mongers. Our peace is found in the same incredulity. The chances are that there is a bit of jealousy, a bit of envy, behind every cutting remark and barbed whispering we hear about our neighbour. It is well to remember that there are always more sticks under the tree that has the most apples. It should be some consolation for those who are so unjustly attacked to remember that it is a physical impossibility for any man to get ahead of us who stays behind to kick us.

A second lesson to be learned from this Word is that the only way to overcome envy is, like the thief on the right, to show pity. As Christians in good faith we are all members of the Mystical Body of Christ and should therefore love one another as Christ has loved us. If our arm suffers an injury our whole body feels the pain. In like manner, if the Church in any part of the world suffers martydom we should feel pity toward it as part of our body, and that pity should express itself in prayer and good works. Pity should be extended not only to those outside the Church who are living as if the earth never bore a Cross but even to the enemies of the Church who would destroy even the shadow of the Cross. God is their judge; not we. And as potential brothers of Christ, sons of a Heavenly Father and children of Mary, they must be worth our pity since they were worth the Saviour's blood.

Unfortunately, there are some who blame the Church for receiving great sinners into the Church on their deathbeds. A few years ago one who was generally believed to be a racketeer and murderer met death, he asked to be received into the Church, was baptized, received First Communion, was anointed and given the last blessing. Some who should have known better protested against the Church. Imagine! Envy at the salvation of a soul! Why not rather rejoice in God's Mercy, for after all did he not belong to the same profession as the thief on the right - and why should not Our Lord be just as anxious to save twentieh century thieves as first century thieves? They both have souls. It would seem that sinful envy of the salvation of a thief is a greater sin than thievery.

One thief was saved: therefore let no one despair. One thief was lost: therefore let no one presume. Have pity then on the miserable and Divine Mercy will be the reward for your pity. When the Pharisees accused Our Lord of eating with publicans and sinners He retorted by reiterating the necessity of mercy: "The healthy do not need a doctor but sick persons do. Now go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous but sinners."

One day a woman went to the saintly Father John Vianney, the Cure of Ars, in France and said: "My husband has not been to the sacraments or to Mass for years. He has been unfaithful, wicked and unjust. He has just fallen from a bridge and was drowned - a double death of body and soul." Father John Vianney answered: "Madam, there is a short distance between the bridge and the water and it is that distance which forbids you to judge." There was just that distance between the two crosses which saved the penitent thief. If the thief on the right had been self-righteous, he would have look down on Jesus and lost his soul. But because he was conscious of his own sin, he left room for Divine Pardon. And the answer of the Redeemer to his request proves that to the merciful, love is blind - for if we love God and our neighbour who may even be our enemy, Divine Love will go blind as it did for the thief on the right. Christ will no longer be able to see our faults and that blindness will be for us the dawn of the vision of Love.

BY ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN ( 1895 to 1979 )

                                                                     Page 2

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Envy is sadness at another's good and joy at another's evil. What rust is to iron, what moths are to wool, what termites are to wood, that envy is to the soul: the assassination of brotherly love. We are not here concerned with just envy or zeal which inspires us to emulate good example and to progress with those who are our betters, for the Scriptures enjoin us to "be zealous for spiritual gifts"; rather we here touch on that sinful envy which is a willful grieving at another's good, either spiritual or temporal, for the reason that it seems to diminish our own good. The honour paid to another is regarded by the envious man as a reflected disgraced on himself and he is sad in consequence.

Envy manifests itself in discord, hatred, malicious joy, backbiting, detraction, imputing of evil motives, jealousy and calumny. A sample of this kind of envy we find in one of the two women who asked Solomon to adjudicate their dispute. The first woman said: "This woman and I live in the same house... This woman's child died during the night, for in her sleep she smothered him by lying on him. Late that night she got up and took my child from my side, as I, your handmaid was sleeping... and laid her dead child in my bosom". To which the other woman answered: "that is not so! The dead child is yours, the living child is mine."

Since there were no witnesses, Solomon ordered a sword to be brought to him, for he rightly judged that the motherly heart of the real mother would rather give up her child than see it killed. Brandishing the glittering sword he said: "Divide the living child in two and give half to the one, and half to the other". Hearing this the woman whose child was alive cried out in terror and pity: "I beseech you, my lord, give her the child alive, and do not kill it". But the other said: "Let it be either mine nor yours; divide it." Then the king commanded the child be given to her who rather give it up to another than have it killed, knowing that she must be the mother. The point of the story is that envy which is so jealous of the good of another may reach a point where it scruples not to take a life.

In our times, envy has taken on an economic form. The avarice of the rich is being matched by the envy of the poor. Some poor hate the rich not because they have unjustly stolen their possessions but because they want their possessions. Certain have-nots are scandalized at the wealth of the haves, only because they are tempted by lust for their possessions. The poor often hate the rich only because they want to be rich themselves; they envy the rich not so much because of their need but because of their greed. Combined with this is social envy or snobbery which sneers at the higher position of others because the snobs want to sit in their chairs and enjoy their applause.

They assume that in not arriving at such popular favour themselves they were deprived of their due. That is why we hate those who do not pay sufficient attention to us and why we love those who flatter us. If envy is on the increase today, as it undoubtedly is, it is because of the surrender of the belief of a future life and righteous Divine justice. If this life is all, they think they should have all. From that point on, envy of others becomes their rule of life.

Our Lord was unceasing in His preaching against envy. To those who were envious of the mercy extended the lost sheep He pictured the angels of heaven rejoicing more at the one sinner doing penance than at the ninety-nine just who did not need to do penance. To those who were envious of wealth He warned: "Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Rather store up treasures for yourselves in heaven where neither moth or rust destroy and where thieves neither break in nor steal." To those who were envious of power such as the Apostles quarreling about who was to be first in the Kingdom. He placed a little child in their midst and putting His arms around him reminded them that heaven was open only to those who were as simple children, for Christ is not in the great but in the small: "Whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me. And whoever receives Me, receives not Me but the One Who sent Me."

But His preaching against envy did not save Him from the envious. Pilate was envious of His power; Annas was envious of His innocence; Caiaphas was envious of His popularity; Herod was envious of His moral superiority; the Scribes and Pharisees were envious of His wisdom. Each of these had built his judgement seat of mock moral superiority from which to sentence Morality to the Cross. And in order that He might no longer be a person to be envied they reputed Him with the wicked. Born between an ox and an ass, they now crucify Him between two criminals. That was the last insult they could give Him. To the public eye they created the impression that three thieves and not two were silhouetted against the sky. In a certain sense it was true: two stole gold out of avarice, one stole hearts out of love. Salvandus, Salvator and Salvatus: The thief who could have been saved; the thief who was saved; and the Saviour who saved them. The crosses spelled out the words Envy, Mercy and Pity.

The thief on the left envied the Power which Our Blessed Lord claimed. As the chief priests, scribes and ancients ridiculed the Saviour sneering: "He saved others - himself he cannot save," the thief on the left added to their reviling: "Aren't you the Messiah? Then save yourself and us." In other words: "If I had that power of yours, that power which you claim as the Messiah, I would use it differently than to hang helpless on a tree. I would step down from the Cross, smite my enemies and prove what power really is." Thus did Envy reveal that if it had the gifts which it envies in others it would misuse them, as the thief on the left would have surrendered redemption from sin for release from a nail. In like manner many in the world today who are envious of wealth would probably lose their souls if they had that wealth. Envy never thinks of responsibilities. Looking only to self it misuses every gift that comes its way.

                                                                      Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
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Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

"THOSE WHO PRACTICES DIVORCE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNTEACHABLE AND CONTAIN HARDNESS OF HEART BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS INDISSOLUBLE"

In allowing divorce for the single reason of "immorality" or illicit sexual intercourse, Jesus' thought is clearly that a person dissolves his marriage by creating a sexual union with someone other than the marriage partner. Such union violates the sacred "oneness" intended by God when He united Adam and Eve in the first marriage relationship. - Gen. 2:18-25 -

In the case of sexual unfaithfulness, the decree of divorce simply reflects the fact that the marriage has already been broken. A man divorcing his wife for this cause does not make her an adulteress, for she already is one. Thus, divorce on the grounds of unchastity usually frees the innocent partner to remarry without incurring the guilt of adultery. However, this is sometimes questioned. On the contrary, Jesus insisted that divorce disrupts God's plan for marriage and left the way open for repentance and forgiveness.

Apostle Paul was essentially in agreement with Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce. However, the apostle dealt with new situations involving the marital conflict between believers and between a believer and a non-believer. For example, in case of two Christians, Paul admonished them to follow the Lord's teachings and be reconciled. In any event, neither is to marry another and a Christian whose mate has abandoned the marriage should be free to formalize the divorce: 'If the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases'. many authorities hold that the phrase 'not under bondage' means that a deserted Christian spouse may lawfully go from divorce to remarriage. But other scholars disagree with this interpretation. In any event, Saint Paul encourages the believer to keep the marriage together in hopes that the unbelieving partner might be saved.

For the married I have something to say, and this is not from me but from the Lord: a wife must not leave her husband - or if she does leave him, she must either remain unmarried or else make it up with her husband - nor must a husband send his wife away. - 1Cor. 7:10-11 -

The rest is from me and not from the Lord. If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is content to live with him, he must not send her away; and if a woman has an unbeliever for her husband and he is content to live with her, she must no leave him. This is because the unbelieving husband is made one with the saints through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made one with the saints through her husband. If this were not so, your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy. However, the unbelieving partner does not consent, they may separate; in these circumstances, the brother or sister is not tied: God has called you to a life of peace. If you are a wife, it may be your part to save your husband, for all you know; if a husband, for all you know, it may be your part to save your wife. For the rest, what each one has is what the Lord has given him and he should continue as he was when God's call reached him. This the ruling that I give in all the churches. - 1Cor. 7:12-17 -

                                                                    Page 2

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

"THOSE WHO PRACTICES DIVORCE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNTEACHABLE AND CONTAIN HARDNESS OF HEART BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS INDISSOLUBLE"

The Law of Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife when he has found, she has not pleased him and he has found some impropriety of which to accuse her or some uncleanness in her. The primary purpose of this legislation was to prevent him from taking her again after she had married another man - an abomination before God. The law was intended to discourage, rather than encourage divorce. - Deut. 24:1-4 -

The divine ideal for marriage is clearly a lifelong bond that unites husband and wife in a "one flesh" relationship. The marriage union is a holy condition founded by God and is not to be dissolved at the will of man. Separations of this bond displease God and pose a serious threat to the social order: And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. For the Lord God says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garments with violence. - Mal. 2:10-17 -

Jesus has now finished....Some Pharisees approached him and to test him they said, "Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?' He answered, 'Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide............ - Matt. 19:1-9 -

Leaving there, he came to a district Judaea and the far side of the Jordan. And again crowds gathered round him and again he taught them, as his custom was. Some Pharisees approached him and asked, 'Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?' They were testing him. He answered them, 'What did Moses command you?' 'Moses allowed us' they said ;to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce'. Then Jesus said to them, 'It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother and the two become one body. There are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide. Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about this and he said to them, 'The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too.' - Mark 10:1-12 -

The Gospels record statements by Jesus concerning divorce. In the case of adultery and divorces, Jesus commented on the situation of both the woman and her husband: 'It has been said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and marries a divorced woman commits adultery.' - Matt. 5:31-32 -

In another statement, Jesus described the position of the man who divorced his wife: They said to him, 'Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorces?' "It was because you were so unteachable" he said 'that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife - I am not speaking of fornication - and marries another, is guilty of adultery.' - Matt. 19:7-9 -

All the statements in relation of divorce and adultery even because of unfaithfulness, Jesus appear to make no provision for divorce. "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced by her husband commits adultery." - Luke 16:18 -

Are Jesus statements allowing divorce for infidelity in conflict with biblical statements that seem to forbid it entirely? Jesus' statements in Mark and Luke were made in conversations with Pharisees about the Mosaic Law which they believed allowed divorce on grounds other than adultery. Jesus' main point in these statements was that divorce is contrary to God's plan for marriage and should never be taken lightly. Even though Moses allowed divorce, this was an exception granted under the law because of their "hardness of heart". Jesus desired to put "teeth into the Law by declaring that, even if the divorced couple had not been sexually unfaithful to each other, they would commit adultery in God's sight if they now married other partners.

                                                                    Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Freedom makes a man a moral subject. When he acts deliberately man is, so to speak, the father of his acts. Human acts, that is, acts that are freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience, can be morally evaluated. They are either good or evil. - CCC 1749-

The morality of human acts depends on:
- the object chosen;
- the end in view or the intention:
- the circumstances of the action.

The object, the intention and the circumstances make up the "sources" or constitutive elements, of the morality of human acts. - CCC 1750 -

The object chosen is a good toward which the will deliberately directs itself. It is the matter of a human act. The object chosen morally specifies the act of the will, insofar as reason recognizes and judges it to be or not to be in conformity with the true good. Objective norms of morality express the rational order of good and evil, attested to by conscience. - CCC 1751 -

In contrast to the object, the intention resides in the acting subject. Because it lies at the voluntary source of an action and determines it by its end, intention is an element essential to the moral evaluation of an action. The end is the first goal of the intention and indicates the purpose pursued in the action. The intention is a movement of the will toward the end: it is concerned with the goal of the activity. It aims at the good anticipated from the action undertaken. Intention is not limited to directing individual actions, but can guide several actions toward one and the same purpose; it can orient one's whole life toward its ultimate end. For example, a service done with the end of helping one's neighbor can at the same time be inspired by the love of God as the ultimate end of all our actions. One and the same action can also be inspired by several intentions, such as performing a service in order to obtain a favor or to boast about it. - CCC 1752 -

A good intention (for example, that of helping one's neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and calumny, good or just. The end does not justify the means. Thus the condemnation of an innocent cannot be justified as a legitimate means of saving the nation. On the other hand, an added bad intention (such as vainglory) makes an act evil that, in and of itself, can be good (such as almgiving). - CCC 1753 -

The circumstances, including the consequences, are secondary elements of a moral act. They contribute to increasing or diminishing the moral goodness or evil of humans act (for example, the amount of a theft). They can also diminish or increase the agent's responsibility (such as acting out of a fear of death). Circumstances of themselves cannot change the moral quality of acts themselves, they can make neither good nor right an action that is in itself evil. - CCC 1754 -

A morally good act requires the goodness of the object, of the end, and of the circumstances together. An evil end corrupts the action, even if the object is good in itself (such as praying and fasting "in order to be seen by men").

The object of the choice can be by itself vitiate an act in its entirety. There are some concrete acts - such as fornication - that it is always wrong to choose, because choosing them entails a disorder of the will, that is, a moral evil. - CCC 1755 -

It is therefore an error to judge the morality of human acts by considering only the intention that inspires them or the circumstances (environment, social pressure, duress or emergency, etc.) which supply their context. There are acts which, in and of themselves, independently of circumstances and intentions, are always gravely illicit by reason of their object; such as blasphemy and perjury, murder and adultery. One may not do evil so that good may result from it. - CCC 1756 -

- IN BRIEF -
The object, the intention and the circumstances make up the three "sources" of the morality of human acts. - CCC 1757 -

The object chosen morally specifies the act of willing accordingly as reason recognizes and judges it good or evil. - CCC 1758 -

"An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention" (cf.St.Thomas Aquinas,Dec.praec.6). The end does not justify the means. - CCC 1759 -

A morally good act requires the goodness of its object, of its end, and of its circumstances together. - CCC 1760 -

There are concrete acts that it is always wrong to choose, because their choice entails a disorder of the will, i.e., a moral evil. One may not do evil so that good may result from it. - CCC 1761 -

By his Passion, Christ delivered us from Satan and from sin. He merited for us new life in the Holy Spirit. His grace restores what sin had damaged in us. - CCC 1708 -

He who believes in Christ becomes a son of God. This filial adoption transforms him by giving him the ability to follow the example of Christ. It makes him capable of acting rightly and doing good. In union with his Savior, the disciple attains the perfection of charity which is holiness. Having mature in grace, the moral life bossoms into eternal life in the glory of heaven. - CCC 1709 -

                                                                     Page 2

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

God's highest creation, made in God's own image is Man. Man is most fully human when fulfilling the intention of God for him: worshiping, serving and loving God. Of all creatures, only man has been given this blessed privilege.

God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. "God willed that man should be 'left in the hand of his own counsel', so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him. - CCC 1730; Sirach 15:14 -
Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with free will and is master over his acts. - Saint Irenaeus,Adv.haeres.4,4,3:PG7/1,983. -

Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one's own responsibility. By free will one shapes one's own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude. - CCC 1731 -

As long as freedom has not bound itself definitively to its ultimate good which is God. there is the possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach. - CCC 1732 -

The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and to do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to "the slavery of sin". - CCC 1733; Rom. 6:17 -

Freedom makes man responsible for his acts to the extent that they are voluntary. Progress in virtue, knowledge of the good, and ascesis enhance the mastery of the will over its acts. - CCC 1734 -

Imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even nullified by ignorance, inadvertence, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments and other psychological or social factors. - CCC 1735 -

Every act directly willed is imputable to its author:
Thus the Lord asked Eve after the sin in the garden: "What is this that you have done?" He asked Cain the same question. The prophet Nathan questioned David in the same way after he committed adultery with the wife of Uriah and had him murdered. - Gen. 3:13, 4:10; 2Sam. 12:7-15 -
An action can be indirectly voluntary when it results from negligence regarding something one should have known or done: for example, an accident arising from ignorance of traffic laws. - CCC 1736 -

An effect can be tolerated without being willed by its agent; for instance, a mother's exhaustion from tending her sick child. A bad effect is not imputable if it was not willed either as an end or as a means of an action, e.g., a death a person incurs in aiding someone in danger. For a bad effect to be imputable it must be foreseeable and the agent must have the possibility of avoiding it, as in the case of manslaughter caused by a drunken driver. - CCC 1737 -

Freedom is exercised in relationships between human beings. Every human person, created in the image of God, has the natural right to be recognized as a free and responsible being. All owe to each other this duty of respect. The right to the exercise of freedom, especially in moral and religious matters, is an inalienable requirement of the dignity of the human person. This right must be recognized and protected by civil authority within the limits of the common good and public order. - CCC 1738 -

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If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

The Book of Deuteronomy marks a turning point in the history of God's Chosen People. For the previous 40 years, they had been through many unforgettable experiences under the leadership of Moses. He had led them out of enslavement in Egypt and through the wilderness to receive God's laws at Mount Sinai. Then, because of their rebellion and unfaithfulness, they had wandered aimlessly in the desert for two generations. Now they were camped on the eastern border of Canaan, the land which God had promised as their homeland.

Moses sensed that the people would face many new temptations as they settled in the land and established permanent dwellings among the pagan Canaanites. Moses also realized that his days as their leader were drawing to a close. He used this occasion to remind the people of their heritage as God's special people and to challenge them to remain faithful to God and His laws.

The logical conclusion is that Moses wrote the first 33 chapters of the book. Chapter 34, about his death, probably was added by his successor Joshua as a tribute to Moses. The date of writing must have been some time around 1400 B.C.

The New Testament contains more than 80 quotations from the Book of Deuteronomy, so it must be rated as one of the foundational books of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. Jesus Himself often quoted from it. During His temptation, He answered Satan with quotations from Sacred Scripture. - Deut. 6:13-16, 8:2-3; Matt. 4:4-10; Luke 4:4-12 -

When Jesus was asked to name the most important commandment in the Law, He responded with the familiar call from "Deuteronomy: "You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, with all your soul and with all your might". He then added some other important words from the Book of Leviticus to show that He was carrying the law one step further: "The second [commandment] is like it: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself" - Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-28 -

God is faithful to His Covenant People, those whom He has called to carry out His purpose of Redemption in the world. The Hebrews were chosen as God's instruments not because they were a worthy, powerful people but because He loved them and desired to bless the rest of the world through their influence. This is still God's purpose as He continues to call people to follow Him and commit themselves to His purpose in their lives. - Deut. 7:6-11 -

Some people look upon the laws of God in the Old Testament as burdensome and restrictive. The Book of Deuteronomy, however, teaches that God's laws are given for our own good to help us stay close to Him in our attitudes and behaviour. Thus, Moses called on the people to keep God's statutes, 'which I command you today for your good'. - Deut. 10:13 - The intention of God's law is positive; passages in the New Testament that seem to condemn the law must be interpreted in this light. It is the misuse or abuse of the law - trusting it rather than God's mercy as the basis of our salvation - that we should avoid. God's law is fulfilled in the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. - Matt. 5:17-20 -

                                                                    Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

The Antichrist is a false prophet and evil being who will set himself up against Christ and the people of God in the last days before the Second Coming. Saint John wrote that several antichrists existed already in his day, false teachers who denied the incarnation of Christ. The Antichrist's primary work is deception which is also characterizes Satan in its attempts to undermine the work of God in the world. Satan's deception began in the Garden of Eden and will continue until the end of time. - Gen. 3 -

The Dragon or Serpent of Revelation 12 is Satan, the Serpent mentioned in Genesis 3. Thus the thread of Satan deceptive work may be traced from Genesis through Revelation. That work reaches its climax in the enemy of God (Antichrist) who receives his authority and power from the dragon, Satan. - Rev. 13:4-10 -

The work of Satan through the Antichrist is clearly rooted in the prophecies of Daniel. Daniel spoke of a dreadful beast with ten horns and one little horn. The Ancient of Days will kill the beast and throw it in the fire. Then, according to prophet Daniel, one like the Son of Man will receive the everlasting kingdom. - Dan. 7:7-14 -

The enemy of God, the devil, the Beast(or Antichrist) and the false prophet form a kind of unholy trinity, counterfeiting the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. After much wickedness and suffering has been loosed against Christ and His people, the satanic rebellion will be crushed by the power of God. The beast or antichrist will speak arrogant, boastful words; and he will be aided by False Prophets who will make the entire earth worship him and receive his mark. Those who worship the Antichrist will experience severe and certain doom through the wrath of God. The Antichrist makes war against Christ and His army but he is captured and is "cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone". He is later joined by the Devil; together they "will be tormented day and night forever and ever".

Then I saw another angel, flying high overhead, sent to announce the Good News of eternity to all who live on the earth, every nation, race, language and tribe. He was calling, 'Fear God and praise him because the time has come for him to sit in judgment; worship the maker of heaven and earth and sea and every water-spring'.
A second angel followed him, calling, 'Babylon has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen, Babylon which gave the whole world the wine of God's anger to drink'. A third angel followed, shouting aloud, 'All those who worship the beast and his statue or have had themselves branded on the hand or forehead, will be made to drink the wine of God's fury which is ready, undiluted, in his cup of anger; in fire and brimstone they will be tortured in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb and the smoke of their torture will go up forever and ever. There will be no respite, night or day, for those who worshipped the beast or its statue or accepted branding with its name'. This is why there must be constancy in the saints who keep the commandments of God and faith in Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say to me, 'Write down: Happy are those who die in the Lord! Happy indeed, the Spirit says; now they can rest forever after their work since their good deeds go with them. - Rev. 14:6-13 -

Then I saw the beast, with all the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to fight the rider and his army. But the beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had worked miracles on the beast's behalf and by them had deceived all who had been branded with the mark of the beast and worshipped his statue. These two were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur. All the rest were killed by the sword of the rider which came out of his mouth and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. - Rev. 19:19-21 -

The second battle of the End. When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive all the nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, and mobilise them for war. His armies will be as many as the sands of the sea; they will come swarming over the entire country and besiege the camp of the saints which is the city that God loves. But fire will come down on them from heaven and consume them. The the devil, who misled them, will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet are, and their torture will not stop, day or night, forever and ever. - Rev. 20:7-10 -

Although the apostle Paul does not use the term Antichrist, he surely had the Antichrist in mind when he wrote of the great apostasy or falling away, that would occur before the return of Christ. The Antichrist is also called the lawless one who empowered and inspired by Satan, will lead the final rebellion against God, but will be destroyed at the coming of the Lord Jesus. Saint Paul urges believers to stand firm in the faith and not to be deceived by the Antichrist who will display 'all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders'. - 2Thess. 2:1-12, 2:9-10 -

The main reason the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible discusses the Antichrist is not to encourage idle speculation but to warn believers not to be misled by Satan or Devil deceit.

And Jesus answered them, 'Take care that no one deceives you; because many will come using my name and saying, "I am the Christ" and they will deceive many............ - Matt. 24:1-14 -

If, then, they say to you, "Look, he is in the desert" do not go there; "Look, he is in some hiding place", do not believe it; because the coming of the Son of Man will be like lightning striking in the east and flashing far into the west. Wherever the corpse is, there will the vultures gather. - Matt. 24:26-28 -

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If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

The modern people of today long to live an easy life, comfortable, instantaneous and practical. The need to carry money along has been replaced by the ease of obtaining credit cards. Many have failed to control the flow of credit and are burdened with high credit interests.

The current trend in humanity seems to be of a lifestyle that aims for maximum comfort and maximum convenience. Thus humanity now experiences high demands due to the extravagant lifestyle. Family life would experience stress when the family financial state demands higher income. The era of economical globalization forces everyone to involve in it because the business world is becoming more and more competitive.

It would certainly help if we could give it a thought to revert back to some of our common simple pleasures of life. Remember how we achieved self-gratification through healthy food, playing affordable games and sought humor in the company of good friends!? With self-control, we can help prevent our children who are rightfully our prized assets, from becoming economic liabilities. The breadwinners of the family could consider refraining from aiming for achievements at the expense of spousal relationship that would certainly affect the children.

Many families experience internal conflicts due to the ever increasing demands of their daily life. The increasing price of basic necessities, increasing tuition fees, bank interests and a "hi-class" family lifestyle... all these can easily stress out many a family that are living beyond their means. Business companies are putting forward high profitable goals which become unreasonable for their employees, most of whom are parents. The children are certainly affected by the way time is given to them by these affected parents.

As a result, family life all around the world is experiencing the threat of fragmentation, consciously or unconsciously. The sad and bitter facts concerning the younger generation we read in the newspapers or hear the news are glaringly evident. This makes many breadwinners end up putting their work and achievements before their wife and children. There is a common need in children to be appreciated, respected and recognized but they are best provided for by the parents and not by the current trends of the world.

We need to be aware at all times that we have a life and we have real persons around us, especially our loved ones in the family. As a family, we can certainly be a source of God-given blessing to one another. For the families that have already seen fragmentation, the hope of integration is still within sight.

Among the many tools of healing, we have the gift of listening. Listening is very important in communication. True listening appeals to the basic psychological needs of persons communicating that leads to a better understanding, acceptance, and a closer and warmer relationship. Listening does not mean agreeing or following. It means understanding the other speak with your heart, thus placing yourself in the shoes of the others, This is listening with empathy. It takes practice to be able to listen to the other with your whole personality that includes your whole awareness. This leads to healing.

Listening is important and demands an effort to concentrate and put away all distractions. If done genuinely between husband and wife, the children would benefit. The kids would grow into fine adults practicing what they see in the communication between their parents, and make this their way of life in society, including their own future family and the Church community they belong to. We need healing, and this would bring some hope to re-integrate family life again.

A Catholic marriage is a sacrament and a covenant, a living and observable sign of Christ love for us. The objective of marriage is Oneness. God's plan for marriage is Oneness. In marriage, we are called to be One. - Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9 -

However, to become ONE in marriage does not entail that both spouses would lose his or her identity and end up as one personality. Marriage does not wipe out our uniqueness and our differences, thus husband and wife shall continue to be unique throughout their married life. The meaning of becoming ONE in marriage leads to unity and harmony in a couple's vision of family life - on issues of sex and life, children and their upbringing, finance, relationships with in-laws and friends, the use of leisure time...and the list goes on and on and on.

Marriage has functioned as the unique institution of self-perpetuation - it still is today, at least where the pro-life Church is concerned! The Church goes further in this respect... through its redemptive mission as the Body of Christ made up of all her family members, out springs the gift of vocations in the form of pastoral workers as well as the religious and the priesthood that reaches out to serve the Church in return, as well as reaching out to the world in mission.

BY REV. FR. PATRICK BOUDVILLE

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If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

The human family provides for the biological perpetuation of the human species. Marriage, with children and consequently family life, is the ideal avenue for the expression of the highest potentials in human nature. Family life is the seed-bed and the promoter of true morality which is vital to sustain a sense of belonging among its members.

Marriage is the only institution of human society which embraces three of the great incentives for living, namely - self-maintenance, self-gratification and self-perpetuation. Originally, property was the basic institution of self-maintenance. It still is today. The prime economic incentive afforded in marriage was the determining basis for self-gratification. It still is today. It is another matter where self-perpetuation is concerned because marriage today is often viewed only as a mean of pleasure.

As a result, the contagious pro-choice mentality in society today has taken for granted the human family provision for the biological perpetuation of the human species. Thus the pro-life Catholic Church, with the Family Life Ministry as the evangelizing arm, continues to uphold the sanctity of human life and the covenantal character of marriage.

Associations between spouses, and between the spouses and their children, would determine how how stabilized the respective personality of every individual within family life. Positive attitudes propagated by parents to children would naturally stimulate positive growth and acceptance of persons in their diverse personalities in society.

The human society would be greatly improved if the civilized races of today strive to sustain the traditional regulation of a family nature that promotes filial and associative relationships. This would continually pave the way for humanity to freely and frankly discuss every proposal that point towards fraternal devotion.

A true family is a good family that reveals to the children by the parents (pro-creators) the attitude of the Almighty God (Creator) that leads to a strong sense of belonging. In others words, true and genuine parents portray to their children the love of God and the reality of a Paradise that governs the world and the universe.

The home is the natural social arena wherein the parents practice the ethics of humanity and human relationships that may be grasped by the growing children. The family is the fundamental unit of fraternity in which parents and children learn those lessons of patience, altruism, tolerance and forbearance which are so essential to the realization of the sense of belonging among humanity.

The great threat against family life today is the rising tide of self-gratification. In the present industrial and urban era, the marriage institution is evolving along mores in humanity have failed to sufficiently contain the promiscuity-tainted society built on steep self-gratification. This could constitute the greatest threat that has ever been leveled at the social evolutionary institution of family life-the home.

We are in an era when individualism is rampantly spreading like wild fire. Today we hear the familiar cries of children at shopping places screaming, "I want...I want" to adults expressing "Don't tell me what to do...I know what is best for me". Among the many glaring examples is property accumulation that is becoming an instrument for augmenting all forms of self-gratification.

The important key to all the temptations of the world is Endurance. However strong the flow of information and however fast the advance of technology, enabling us to interact with others at its own cost and revenues, and however tempting all there is that the world has to offer; we should not drift along the rush of the tide that leads to disaster for family life.....

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If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Many times the prophets stood alone and spoke to an unsympathetic or even antagonistic audience. Great courage and independence of spirit was required. The true prophets' messages had eternal force, it is often difficult to tell whether they applied their messages to their day or the future. For example, Isaiah 7:14 promised a son who could be a contemporary of Isaiah (perhaps the prophet's son in Isaiah 8:3 and 18 or the son of Hezekiah the king in Isaiah 36 to 39) or Jesus - Matt. 1:23 - or both.

Several questions are raised when there appears to be more than one possible fulfillment for a prophecy. Does a primary fulfillment in one passage rule out a secondary application to another passage? Not necessarily. Did the author intend both fulfillments with one as an analogy or illustration for the other? Did the author intend a dual fulfillment for two different audiences at two different times? Joel 2:30, speaking about signs on the earth, was applied by the apostle Peter to the tongues of fire at Pentecost - Acts 2:3-4, 18-19 - But Jesus seemed to apply this prophecy to His Second Coming. - Mark 13:24; Luke 11:25 -

In the same way, the destruction of Gog and Magog in Ezekial 38 and 39 may be fulfilled in Revelation 20:8 after the Millennium. But similarities of this prophecy to earlier invasions from the north before the millennium seem to allow for its multiple fulfillment. The earlier parallels with Ezekiel 38 and 39 are two invasions from the north in Daniel 11:40-44 and a third in Revelation 19:17-18 where the birds consume the carcasses as in Ezekiel 39:17-20.

Prophecy presents volumes about the future kingdom of God, particularly information about the Messiah and His chosen people, Israel. Much prophecy also foretells the destiny of the nations and their relationship of God. The New Testament identifies Jesus as the King who spends much of His ministry describing His kingdom and its establishment. The battleground is the world; and the arch-foe of Christ is Satan whose intrigue in Eden gave him control of the nations. Most prophecy is concerned with undoing Satan's work; it elaborates upon the initial promise of Genesis 3:15 which announced that Christ, the seed of the woman, would crush the great Serpent, the Devil. - Matt. 4:9, 13:24-25; John 1:49; Gal.4:4; Rom. 16:20; Rev. 20:2 - All prophecy testifies about Jesus Christ.

The angel said, 'Write this: Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb', and he added, 'All the things you have written are true messages from God'. Then I knelt at his feet to worship him but he said to me, 'Don't do that: I am a servant just like you and all your brothers who are witnesses to Jesus. It is God you must worship'. The witness Jesus gave is the same as the spirit of prophecy. - Rev. 19:9-10 -

Over 300 prophecies in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible speak of Jesus Christ. Specific details given by these prophecies include His tribe - Gen. 49:10 - His birthplace - Mic. 5:2 - dates of His birth and death - Dan. 9:25-26 - His forerunner John the Baptist - Mal. 3:1, 4:5; Matt. 11:10 - His career and ministry - Is. 52:13-53:12 - His crucifixion - Ps. 22:1-18 - His resurrection - Ps. 16:8-11; Acts 2:25-28 - His ascension - Ps. 2; Acts 13:33 - and His exaltation - Ps. 110; Acts 2:34 - The kingly magnificence of His second coming is also graphically portrayed. Psalms 2, 45, 110 picture His conquest and dominion over the nations. His kingdom is characterized in Psalm 72. Events leading up to and including the first and second advents of Christ are described in the two burdens of the prophet Zechariah. - Zech. 9-14 -

As Christ's Second Coming approaches, many difficult prophecies about the Tribulation will be understood more clearly. The establishment of the state of Israel, as just one of these signs of Christ's approaching return. - Jer. 30:24; Dan. 11:32-35, 12:3, 9-10 -

                                                                      Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -