Gratefulness.

It seems only appropriate for me to end the year with a closing post on my life in 2005. There are many things which I am grateful for and I wish to write them down before I forget.

1. I am grateful that I am able to continue my studies and pursue a degree in psychology
2. I am grateful for knowing those from my college
   
3. I am grateful to receive my first and second semester's exam results (hopefully, I will be grateful for the third ;))
4. I am grateful to have a growing cell group
5. I am grateful to have a roof over my head
   
6. I am grateful to have housemates :)
7. I am grateful to live comfortably
8. I am grateful to have my family
   
9. I am grateful to have inspiring Jesuit priests at my parish
10. Finally I am grateful to live to be grateful for another year ;)

Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

What I have learnt from the Full Metal Alchemist...

People cannot gain anything without giving something in return.
To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.
That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange.

- excerpt from popular Japanese anime; Full Metal Alchemist (FMA)

FMA is set in a world where things can be materialized almost instantly through a technique called alchemy, but the catch is something equivalent must be exchanged. For example, if you want to make paper you need wood, or in the case of diamonds you might need coal. :) But there are some things which are forbidden, one of which is to materialized humans. And that was precisely what the Elric Brothers (the protagonists of the story) did - they tried to revive their beloved long-dead mother, as a result - Edward lost an arm and a leg while Alphonsus lost his whole body. Oh by the way, their mother never came back to life and you might have guessed, that's how FMA started. :)

FMA has become my favorite anime to date, not only because of it's fresh plot but also because of the Christian elements I see in it via my Christian "looking-glass". :)

Here is what I have learnt:

1. Understanding Sin Through Equivalent Exchange
   We know that sin is our direct disobedience to God, but do we also realised that sin requires something in return? That "something" is our freedom. As Jesus says: "everyone who sins is a slave to sin." (John 8:34, NIV)
   
   
2. Understanding Salvation Through Equivalent Exhange
   From point number one we are able to infer that we are all slaves to sin because "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, NIV) Therefore we are seperated from Godl, for "[n]o one can serve two masters." (Matthew 6:24) ; we cannot be both slaves of sin and servants of God. God knows this, so He sent Jesus who has no sin to die for us to pay for the sins of the whole of mankind - past, present and future.
   
   Question: How is this Equivalent Exchange?
   
   Jesus is able to pay for the sins of Mankind because He is fully human, and the reason why the value of His death is able to extend from the past to the future is because of the fact that He is also fully God; who is infinite in value.
   
   Through this, Jesus has bought the whole of Mankind freedom. So technically, believers or not we belong to Him. (1 Corinthians 6:20) But of course Jesus gave us the freedom of choice to believe in Him, so until we claim the "ticket to freedom" (i.e. believe in Jesus) we are still slaves to sin.
   
   
3. The Value of the Human Life
   Although it was not mentioned in FMA why alchemy cannot be used to revive humans, but through my Christian view-point I see the reason lies in the inherent priceless value of the human life. This priceless value is not only attributed by the fact that we were made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27) but also further confirmed by the infinite price Jesus paid through His death.

See? Cartoons are good for you :) Hehe.

RE: News: Trading Bibles For Porn

CARLSON: The bottom of this, on your web site, you have a statement: "We find that morality should not be derived from religious texts." What should morality be ... what should it be derived from?

JACKSON: Well, morality is not derived from religious texts. Religious texts actually contradict each other. If you read the Bible, it contradicts itself on nearly every page. And the fact that people can decide which one to go with shows that they are getting their morality from somewhere else.

Morality is actually based off of empathy, and failing empathy, it's based off of fear of reprisal from the law. That is where morality comes from.

CARLSON: Yes. But the law, it's a circular argument. You need to think through it a little bit more, Thomas, because the law itself is based on at least a notion of abstract right and wrong, and that is not rooted in empathy or any emotion, but ... you know, an abstract belief that this is right and this is wrong because someone larger, in control, says so.

- Excerpt from MSNBC, Trading bibles for porn in San Antonio

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For everything there is a need for a benchmark (or a standard). Without a benchmark there will be no opportunity for comparison; i.e. no way to tell good from bad. This applies also to the issue of morality.

Morality cannot only be based on empathy or the fear of law and order; because if that is so there will be chaos, as empathy and fear are things that vary and change! Therefore we need a constant; something that don't change like the speed of light. In the case of morality, we have God; who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

I rest my case.

Season's Greeting

The word Christmas is a contraction of Christ's Mass, derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse. It is often abbreviated Xmas, the X originates from the Greek letter Χ (chi) which has often historically been used as an abbreviation for Christ (Χριστός in Greek).

- Wikipedia.com

It's Christmas Eve! Have a Blessed Christmas and a Joyful New Year. :)

Fourth Sunday of Advent / Night-Out with the IMU Gang

It's the fourth Sunday of Advent - that means Christmas is in a week's time! Yayness. :)

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It has been around 3 hours plus, since I came back from the IMU farewell cum birthday party. Prior to the party, I went with the gang for caroling at an orphanage in Sri Petaling (an experience which I will blog about another day). What I would like to blog today is to say that I was encouraged to see the family-like bond between the members of IMU's Catholic Students Society (CSS). Everyone was real, there was no faking it. I was so touched by the friendships I see; that for a moment, I actually wished I was studying medicine in IMU! :)

God's favor is truly upon the CSS of IMU. I praise God that IMU CSS is not made up of just Catholics but also FRIENDS.

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

- Friends are Friends Forever, Michael W. Smith

News: Trading Bibles For Porn

(link: MSNBC , via: XXXChurch.com)

"A group of atheists at the University of Texas in San Antonio is trying to tempt college kids into trading their Bibles for pornography. It's part of a program called Smut for Smut sponsored by the student organization called Atheist Agenda."

All I can say now is: it's a sad sad world... Click here for the transcript between MSNBC's Tucker Carlson and the group's president, Thomas Jackson.

Pink Sunday

If you want to see your priest in PINK, today's the day - the 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) ;) The readings for today is from Isaiah 61 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and John 1:6-28 [click here for the full text], all of which are connected to the joy Christians experienced in anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A picture of Father O. C. in pink and a glimpse of St. Francis Xavier's on Gaudete Sunday...

Pssst... the song "Gaudete" is available in radio.blog. Enjoy! ;)

Way Too Cool

(link: BoredBeyondBoredom, via Dayton Daily News)

USD10,000 of total costs...

25,000 bulbs...

One fantastic display.

Nikki's Maharani

Many thanks to Patrick, last night I finally got my copy of Nikki's latest album - Maharani :) Incidentally this is the first M-Pop album I've owned, nevertheless I have listened to numerous international albums. I have to say Maharani is to the music scene as Sepet is to the big-screen.

10 REASONS WHY MAHARANI IS A GEM:

1. It's a double-disc-ed album (Includes a CD of remixes and minus-ones)
   
   
2. There are obvious would-be-hits like: Imaginasi, Julangan Permata, Janji, Pinta, Aku Maharani, Cinta Baru and Bahagia Selamanya
   
   
3. The remix disc contains real remixes, my favourites are: Midnight Acoustic Mixes of Julangan Permata, Janji and of course my favourite among favourites - Imaginasi
   
   
4. Ning Baizura's makes a special appearance after the last track
   
   
5. Jimmy Palikat composed Sunudai Oku
   
   
6. You get to listen to Nikki's trademark whistling
   
   
7. Poetic and meaningful lyrics
   
   
8. Included in the CD sleeve is Nikki's personalized "Thank You" message
   
   
9. Beautiful cover art
   
   
10. It's only RM29.90.

Go get the album. Need I say more? ;)

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Related post: Interview with Malaysian Idol's Nikki Palikat

Yum! Delicious Marmite Sauce.

I've discovered my other talent - cooking! Heh. :) Based on 5xmom's recipe here's what I've cooked up.

It's Marmite Chicken, basically it's fried bits of chicken covered in delicious marmite sauce. So the secret is actually the sauce...

THE RECIPE

Ingredients (makes for 300grams of meat):

• 2 tablespoons of Marmite/Bovril/Vegemite
• 4 tablespoons of hot water
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• Black pepper
• 2 pips garlic (chopped)
• Oil

Instructions:

• Dissolve marmite and sugar in hot water.
• Heat some oil in pan
• Saute garlic
• Add generous amounts of black pepper
• Pour in marmite sugar mixture.

I have tried to use marmite sauce as the main sauce for bits of fried chicken and steamed dory fish fillets. Both works rather well. :)

Happy experimenting!

Phew.

Exams are over, peace is restored once more :) Thanks for the prayers.

Exam

In less than 8 hours time will be the start of my (marathon) finals; from 8am to 6pm. Please do say a prayer for me. Thanks.

We are now in the...

2nd Sunday of Advent
Originally uploaded by bookofjohn.

Monkeys 'R Us

I've been on study break for the past week; while studying one of the chapters in Anthropology I noticed the terms "pre-humans" and "humans". So I thought to myself:

Why is there a debate between evolutionists and creationists Can't we reconcile creationism AND evolution? Honestly I don't find it absurd to think that we originated from a family of Primates. After all, God used dust (non-human; pre-human, if you wish) to create us humans. :) IMHO, evolution is a non-issue when we put God (instead of chance) in the picture.

Just my two cents.

When God Ran

by Phillips, Craig & Dean, based on Luke 15.
(via Sheena's blog)

Almighty God, the great I am,
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord.
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings.
Mighty conqueror, and the only time,
the only time I ever saw Him run...

Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again.”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran.

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart.
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same.
Then one night I remembered His love for me.
And down that dusty road ahead I could see,
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run...

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again.”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes,
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees,
When God ran – I saw Him run to me.

I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away,
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day.

He ran to me, He took me in His arms,
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again.”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes.
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”,
He called me Son...
He said, “Son, do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him,
When God ran.

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At first read I find that the lyrics has this sort of "build up" (e.g. it begins with God's glamourous names; Almighty God, Immovable Rock, King of kings, etc..) to a "touching climax" (the part of lyrics where it says:"when God ran"). Eventually I got hold of the song, took a listen to it and what can I say? It lives up to its lyrics - simply beautiful. :)

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