15 Aug 09 Why we must bridle our tongue?
Doctors are held in high esteem and patients can trust their personal and medical information with them without fear of it being repeated to anyone else (not even their spouses, friends, parents or employers)
Lawyers are also governed by similar set of ethical codes. In fact both doctors and lawyers could be suspended or even sued for breaching such ethical codes of their profession.
There are no such strict guidelines for maintaining confidentiality of information among friends and even religious leaders. How can we be assured that our friends, colleagues or even our religious leaders who provide counselling to their flocks maintain the same level of confidentiality when we share information with them?
Strictly speaking I have not heard of any law that cover this area of ethics with regards to confidentiality. However I do believe that the trust among friends, colleagues and even with our religious is sacred.
Under normal circumstances, true love and genuine concern for each other would be a good enough constraint to keep confidential and private the information we heard from friends or the people we care for. This trust has to be upheld because it is sacred to maintain the friendship and the trust with have with the leaders.
What does the bible say about this matter? It is stated very clearly that if a man claims to be religious and he shut not his mouth to keep secrets availed to him in private, his religion is in vain. This will definitely dishonour God.
A loose tongue that does not know how to keep secrets can set a fire, defile the whole body and create havoc to an organization (James 3:6)
What is friendship if friends could not even keep secrets out of love for each other? I would rather share my secrets with my enemy. At least I know I did not trust him rather from the start and I would be on my guard not to reveal anything more that what I want him to hear.
How scary it is when friends start to gossip about things and it returns back to your ears?
If you are troubled and have no one to turn to share your burdens you can definitely share it with my friend who is a Jew. His name is Jesus.
Unlike sinful man who can beguile you and lie to you, Jesus is always true and faithful. Call on Him and pour out your trouble and sorrow to Him. He will never fail you nor betray you because He has died for you. He is your true friend indeed!
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If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion [is] vain. James 1:26
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Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! James 3:5
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And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6
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But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8
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For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 1Peter 3:10
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My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1John 3:18
Tags: confidential, ethical code, friends, lie, secrets
22 Jul 09 Was Michael Jackson happy?
Was Michael Jackson happy when he was alive? He had all the popularity of a great celebrity. He had large followers of fans. He had lots money (at least before he lost them). He lived is a big mansion. But he could not sleep. Why couldn’t he sleep? Perhaps he had no peace. Was he happy? He was trying so hard to please so many people.
Can you find happiness on earth? Where can you find happiness?
• Not in unbelief — Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
• Not in pleasure — Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure, if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker and the grief are mine alone.”
• Not in money — Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
• Not in possession and fame — Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, old age regret.”
• Not in military glory — Alexander the Great conquered the known world of his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because, as he said: “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Where, then is happiness found?
The answer is simple: “In Christ alone.” He said: “I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22)
Where can we find great JOY? The secret is found in the acronym J.O.Y.
To have joy you must put Jesus first, Others next and then Yourself last.
That’s right! Put Jesus on top of everything else. Put Jesus as your motive for doing anything. Put the needs of other people first before looking at your own needs. If you follow this formula you will find true happiness.
Tags: Happiness, Happy, joy, Rejoice
19 Jul 09 Eat crumbs
Dr. Arnott who has gone to GOD used this illustration in one of his sermon.
The sermon and text have all gone, but that illustration is fresh upon my mind to-night and brings home the truth.
He said: “You have been sometimes out at dinner with a friend, and you have seen the faithful household dog standing watching every mouthful his master takes.
All the crumbs that fall on the floor he picks up, and seems eager for them, but when his master takes a plate of beef and puts it on the floor and says, “Rover, here”s something for you,” he comes up and smells of it, looks at his master, and goes away to a corner of the room.
He was willing to eat the crumbs, but he wouldn”t touch the roast beef–thought it was too good for him.”
That is the way with a good many Christians. They are willing to eat the crumbs, but not willing to take all God wants. Come boldly to the throne of grace and get the help we need; there is an abundance for every man, woman and child in the assemblage.
Tags: Abundance, Christians, crumbs, Dr Arnott, Rover
18 Jul 09 Life is so fragile
I like to read the obituary section of the newspaper. It is a reminder that our life on earth is but a short sojourn. I like to read what people say about their loved ones who have gone before them.
Several years ago, while I was reading the newspaper and munching my breakfast I suddenly saw a very familiar face in the obituary section.
It’s the face of Mdm Lee. I remember this loving mother who had four beautiful children.
What had happened to her?
I found out about the tragedy which took away the life of this lady the next day. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I read the newspaper account of what happened to this lady.
The family was travelling to Malaysia in their family car. They decided to stop the car at the road shoulder of the highway to check if they have brought all their passports. Mdm. Lee went out of the car to look for their passports in the booth.
A van suddenly lost its control and crashed right into the back of the family car. Mdm. Lee was sandwiched between the two vehicles. She was still alive when her husband came out to help her. Her husband held on to her hand while she uttered her last word, telling him to take care of their children.
I was moved to attend the funeral wake. Nothing I said could comfort the husband and these four children whose mother was taken away so suddenly.
I could almost hear the laughter even as I imagine the children talking excitedly about their holiday trip to Malaysia. Then I felt the cold chill running down my spine as I imagined the painful sight of the husband holding helplessly to his wife. Their children were still too shock to realize that their mother would soon be taken away by the tragic accident which came like a bolt in the sky.
What a tragedy? Life is just so unpredictable and so fragile.
Indeed the bible is right. We really do not know what will happen tomorrow. Our life is really like a vapor that appeared for little while and then vanishes away. Whether we live to do this or that all depends entirely upon the mercy of our almighty God, our Creator.
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
James 4: 13-15
Tags: Accident, James 4:14, Life is Fragile, Life is like a vapor
17 Jul 09 The Doll and a White Rose
I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do.
Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could, through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys. And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll.
He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, “Are you sure I don’t have enough money?” She replied a bit impatiently, “You know that you don’t have enough money for it.”
The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I ask the boy who the doll was for. He said, “It’s the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it.”
I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said “No, Santa can’t go where my sister is, I have to give the doll to my Momma to take to her.
I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said “She has gone to be with Jesus. My Daddy says that Momma is going to have to go to be with her.”
My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, “I told my Daddy to tell Momma not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store.”
Then he ask me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he’d had taken at the front of the store. He said “I want my Momma to take this with her so she don’t ever forget me. I love my Momma so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me. But Daddy says she needs to be with my sister.”
I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking I reached into my purse and pulled out a hand full of bills. I ask the little boy, “Shall we count that money one more time?”
He grew excited and said , “Yes, I just know it has to be enough” So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. And of course it was plenty for the doll.
He softly said, “Thank you Jesus, for giving me enough money.” Then the boy said “I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Momma can take it with her to give to my sister. And he heard my prayer. I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Momma a white rose, but I didn’t, but he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Momma. She loves white roses so very, very much”
In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the Mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story.
Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself. I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store.
I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces.
Written by V.A.Bailey
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14
Tags: Christmas gift, Jesus, Sister in heaven, The Doll and a White Rose
16 Jul 09 The greatest truth in John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
- GOD — The Greatest Lover
- SO LOVED — The Greatest Degree
- THE WORLD — The Greatest Company
- THAT HE GAVE — The Greatest Act
- HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON — The Greatest Gift
- THAT WHOSOEVER — The Greatest Opportunity
- BELIEVETH — The Greatest Simplicity
- IN HIM — The Greatest Attraction
- SHOULD NOT PERISH — The Greatest Promise
- BUT — The Greatest Difference
- HAVE — The Greatest Certainty
- EVERLASTING LIFE. — The Greatest Possesion
Tags: John 3:16
12 Jul 09 The black door or the firing squad
An Arab Chief tells the story of a spy who had been captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general had fallen upon a strange custom. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. He could either face a firing squad or pass through the Big Black Door.
As the moment of execution drew near, the general ordered the spy brought before him for a short, final interview, the primary purpose of which was to receive the answer to the query: “Which shall it be… the firing squad or the Big Black Door?”
This was not an easy question, and the prisoner hesitated, but made it known that he much preferred the firing squad. Not long after, a volley of shots in the courtyard announced that the grim sentence had been fullfilled.
The general, staring at his boots, turned to his aide and said, “You see how it is with men: they always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. And yet we gave him his choice.”
“What lies beyond the Big Black Door?” asked the aide. “Freedom,” replied the general, “and I’ve known only a few men brave enough to take it.” The blind leading the blind.
Isn’t it true of so many people? Jesus said it clearly that He is the way to God, the way to eternal life, joy and peace. Yet many people clinged on to what they have learnt from their parents, their teachers who were themselves taught by their own parents and teachers. The blind leading the blind.
They rather believe in evolution which claim that man comes from Ape. They would rather believe in the dumb idols made by men who sell them for a living.
They would rather take the path that lead only to eternal condemnation and hell even though someone offered them another path that promised eternal life.
They would not be open minded enough to think that perhaps there is life behind that Black Door.
It does not cost them anything. All they need to do is say “Yes to Jesus” and believe that He is the Son of God and in Him alone is the source of life. Yet, they would rather let their souls leave this world with nothing but the certainty of eternal damnation and judgement.
Only a few have faith enough to say “Jesus I believe, I want the key to eternal life that You alone can give.”
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3: 16
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Tags: Black door, Eternal Life, firing squad, heaven, Hell, John 3:16, Truth
03 Jul 09 Man fell and died at Fusionpolis on 3 July 2009
A man (looks like someone in his 40-50s) was found lying dead on the open terrace outside Fusionpolis at around 2pm today.
He was wearing long black pants and a short sleeve shirt which was tucked out. His four limbless were outstretched and without life. His head was deformed and badly smashed. There were blood splashed around him.
There were some guards walking around and looking from a distance. People have also started to gather and watch from a distance because they could not stomach the sight.
The police have not arrived when we drove past at around 2pm today. What could have happened to him? Did the man commit suicide by jumping down from Fusionpolis? He does not look like a construction worker. My colleague who was travelling with me said he could not take his lunch after having seen the horrific sight of such as tragic death.
Why did the man die? What could have driven him to jump down and died in such a tragic manner? I guess I just have to wait to read the newspaper tomorrow to find out more.
Oh how said it is to see a man die so tragically!
Life is indeed like a vapor. It appears for a little while and then vanished away.
For reading.
Tags: dead man, Fusionpolis, suicide
02 Jul 09 Is Michael Jackson in in Heaven now?
Fans of Michael Jackson wish and hope that their idol “king of Pop” is in heaven now. Hey but God being God is not going to respect a person just because he is a very talented super star.
God sets His own terms and He looks at the heart of the person.
The bible says that a person must be born again if he wants to see Heaven.
Read Chapter 3 from the Gospel of John and you can see for yourself.
JOHN 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Is Michael Jackson in Heaven now? Has Michael Jackson accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour before he died suddenly?
Tags: heaven, Michael Jackson
27 Jun 09 Michael Jackson died suddenly
CELEBRITIES, stars and fans around the globe were overwhelmed by news of the sudden death of pop icon Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson, the king of Pop who set the world dancing to exuberant rhythms for decades, died on Thursday. He was 50.
Emergency physicians and cardiologists at the hospital attempted to resuscitate him for over an hour but were unsuccessful.
There were lots of speculations barely one day after Michael Jackson’s sudden death.
What killed the 50-year-old ‘King of Pop’ just weeks before his long-awaited series of comeback concerts?
Jackson, a former child star who became one of the best-selling pop artists of all time before a descending into a strange and reclusive lifestyle.
Many paid tribute to Jackson’s influence on the world of music and dance. His album ‘Thriller’ remains the bestselling album of all time with more than 41 million sales. And his iconic moonwalk has passed into dance legend, endlessly copied by millions of dancers around the world.
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. .James 4:14
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? . .Matthew 16:26
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. . .James 1:10
For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: .. 1Peter 1:24
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: .. Hebrews 9:27
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. .. Romans 5:8-9
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3: 15-19
Did Michael Jackson die in vain?
Tags: fame, flower, glory, Life, Michael Jackson, Pop Star, Vapour
