Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
Tis the Season
Current,
Bliss,
Lost,
Pining...
A lot of blogs are about it. Really. Go take a look yourself.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Harry Pothead
The Day Jesus Was Born
This coming December 25th most parents will be lying to their children about old St. Nick. Some of us will be celebrating the birth of our Savior. But was he really born on this day?
Was Jesus really born on December 25th? Virtually every month on the calendar has been proposed by biblical scholars. So why do we celebrate his birth in December?
The tradition for December 25th is actually quite ancient. Hippolytus, in the second century A.D., argued that this was Christ's birthday. Meanwhile, in the eastern Church, January 6th was the date followed.
But in the fourth century, John Chrysostom argued that December 25th was the correct date and from that day till now, the Church in the East, as well as the West, has observed the 25th of December as the official date of Christ's birth.
In modern times, the traditional date has been challenged. Modern scholars point out that when Jesus was born, shepherds were watching their sheep in the hills around Bethlehem. Luke tells us that an angel appeared to "some shepherds staying out in the fields [who were] keeping watch over their flock by night" (2:8).
Some scholars feel that the sheep were usually brought under cover from November to March; as well, they were not normally in the field at night. But there is no hard evidence for this. In fact, early Jewish sources suggest that the sheep around Bethlehem were outside year-round. So you can see, December 25th fits both tradition and the biblical narrative well. There is no sound objection to it.
Now admittedly, the sheep around Bethlehem were the exception, not the rule. But these were no ordinary sheep. They were sacrificial lambs. In the early spring they would be slaughtered at the Passover.
And God first revealed the Messiah's birth to these shepherds--shepherds who protected harmless lambs which would soon die on behalf of sinful men. Whey they saw the baby, could they have known? Might they have whispered in their hearts what John the Baptist later thundered, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Now, of course, we can't be absolutely certain of the day of Christ's birth. At least, not this side of heaven. But an early winter date seems as reasonable a guess as any. And December 25th has been the frontrunner for eighteen centuries. Without more evidence, there seems no good reason to change the celebration date now.
We can blame the ancient church for a large part of our uncertainty. You see, they did not celebrate Christ's birth. At all. To them, it was insignificant. They were far more concerned with his death . . . and resurrection.
But modern man has turned that around. A baby lying in a manger is harmless, non-threatening. But a man dying on a cross--a man who claims to be God--that man is a threat! He demands our allegiance! We cannot ignore him. We must either accept him or reject him. He leaves us no middle ground.
This Christmas season, take a close look at a nativity scene once again. Remove your rose-colored glasses--smell the foul air, see the cold, shivering animals. They represent the Old Testament sacrificial system. They are emblems of death. But they are mere shadows of the Babe in their midst. He was born to die . . . that all who believe in him might live.
Notice to All
It might be the "day where we celebrate the birth of Christ", but then this is a play on words.
Feel free to check your bibles to find out why. Or you can ask me.
Hee.
Oh, another bombshell to some, Sabbath is not on Sunday.
I blame the Romans.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Weekend
Bliss...
Oh ok... there were fried chicken wings too lah... but I was hungry! =(
Friday, December 16, 2005
Service Standards
I had a buffet lunch in a hotel yesterday. It was a buffet and after gorging myself on all manner of meats and seafood, I felt the need for a good cup of coffee to end the meal.
This hotel had a coffee machine serving freshly ground coffee. So that was good. But after I dispensed the cup, I looked around for a teaspoon... and there were none. I asked the waiter, who was a young man, no older than 22. His reply to me was, "Sorrlee, peepur take the teaspoon go eat ice-cream. No more already". He gave me a defeated and somewhat nonchalant look.
Not wanting to kick up a fuss, I let it be and decided that if it was stirring that I needed to do, I could use my fork. But I made the mental note to give shite to the people I was dining with.
So I returned to my table and sat down. But before I could turn to my dining companion to tell him about what happened, the waiter ran up to me with a freshly washed teaspoon (was still wet) and offered it to me.
About 5 mins later, I got up and asked him where the toilets were. He offered to walk me to the Gents (I think he would have offered to help me unzip if I didnt stop him - haha!)
Why the vast difference in service? I understand its a buffet, so you will definately get some unruly diners. The hotel offers 40% discount to senior citizens dining there for lunch, so it was packed.
Why? Cos the person I was having lunch with owned the hotel.
Humans. Not motivated until they are scared.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
A Collection...
Friends are always egging me on to go Malaysia. Maybe I'll think twice now. But then again, the draw of cheap petrol, pirated movies and cheap seafood is too much to ignore. Maybe, in cow-boy country, I shall just be a b*stard and run roughshod over my morals... Hence, littering is ok, helping people shall never cross my mind, and if one day (touch wood) I run over someone, I'll just make sure he's dead by reversing.
Mwahaha *evil laughter*
No wonder the country is falling to bits. (or as some may say, never did crawl out of the hole they were in the first place)
Oh, and this is for the Rench. Kids nowadays....
Monday, December 12, 2005
More Quizes!~ Sexual IQ!
You have a sexual IQ of 142 When it comes to sex, you are a super genius. You have had a lot of experience, and sex interests you so you know a lot about it. You pride yourself on being a source of information and guidance to all of your friends. Take this quiz at QuizUniverse.com |
What kinda of lover are you?
Imaginative, erotic, passionate You prefer to have one partner and to try everything with them. You have an enormous sexual appetite, and you often create sexy scenarios to play out with your significant other. | ||||
Take this quiz at QuizUniverse.com |
Friday, December 09, 2005
Funny
It was definately never meant to be. Cos I still don't understand what she is saying.
Haha.
Tired. But happy now.
Just thought of Something
My solution is simple. Don't kill the blog. Just stop blogging for awhile. Random visitors will just stop popping by because there is no new or interesting content. And then, when you revive it, just tell your friends (whom actually would still be popping by an unupdated blog because they care).
Simple solution?
P.S> I'm super sleepy. Literally a walking zombie. Don't want to think!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Of Real Friends and Online Aquaintances
However, there seems to be a worrying common thread... we all regret not knowing Sondra better.
Is this telling of how bloggers are as "friends"? Do we even know the last names of the bloggers we meet? Or are we merely fooling ourselves that we are more than aquaintances?
Of course, there are exceptions like Miyagi and Brown (I hope - since they do their podcast together.) But personally, having been to some blogger meet ups, I cannot help but get the feeling that it might be better to stick to "real" friends, or at least, that there is a need for an additional effort for bloggers to find things that they like about each other - to develop their friendship.
I guess there is a very obvious reason why bloggers do not get close. There are 2 personalities. The one on their blog, and the character they are in person. We develop a relationship or think we develop a relationship with the online persona, and are inevitably shocked when we meet them in real life.
This misfire. This confusion. We remain aquaintances.
True?
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
A New Page
Lets see how it goes.
I'm as scared as you are.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Something I Already Knew
You are Agnostic |
You're not sure if God exists, and you don't care. For you, there's no true way to figure out the divine. You rather focus on what you can control - your own life. And you tend to resent when others "sell" religion to you. |
Thursday
But I've got shite-ass seminar to attend tonight. Damn it.
Up and down, up and down...
IQ Test
Your IQ Is 105 |
Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional Your Mathematical Intelligence is Exceptional Your General Knowledge is Exceptional |