Musings on Swine Flu Epidemic (2)

Slaughter of the innocents...pigs.

The recent outbreak of swine influenza has caused many countries to adopted many measures to prevent the spread of the disease. While some are commentable, others are questionable. The present human form of swine fever contains genetic materials from avian and swine influenza. However there has been no evidence that it spreads from direct contact with pigs. All documented cases are from human contact. That did not prevent certain governments to institute draconian measures such as slaughting 300,000 pigs in Egypt.

Human swine fever do not come from contact with pigs or from eating cooked pork.


read Ben Witherington III's tongue-in-cheek comments about The Source of the Swine Flu Epidemic.

Update:

Egypt's Police clash with Christians over pigs

Musings on Swine Flu Epidemic (2)

Slaughter of the innocents...pigs.

The recent outbreak of swine influenza has caused many countries to adopted many measures to prevent the spread of the disease. While some are commentable, others are questionable. The present human form of swine fever contains genetic materials from avian and swine influenza. However there has been no evidence that it spreads from direct contact with pigs. All documented cases are from human contact. That did not prevent certain governments to institute draconian measures such as slaughting 300,000 pigs in Egypt.

Human swine fever do not come from contact with pigs or from eating cooked pork.


read Ben Witherington III's tongue-in-cheek comments about The Source of the Swine Flu Epidemic.

Update:

Egypt's Police clash with Christians over pigs

Reflections from Spiritual Formation on the Run (1)

Pastor Paul Long from New Zealand is one of the many friends I have made on the Internet. Though we have not met each other face to face, we have build up a good friendship online. Paul blogs at Paul Long's Ramblings.

Paul is reading through my book, Spiritual Formation on the Run and using it for his lectio divina . I am glad he is sharing his reflections online.

He has given me permission to repost his Omission and Commission reflections post here.

This week's pastor's notes is a reflection taken from a book, "Spiritual Formation on the Run" written by a medical doctor friend, Dr. Alex Tang. My further reflections are below after his reflection.

Omission and Commission

The story of a young mother who inadvertently killed her child by giving him imitation formula milk (which she thought was original and the better food) instead of her own breast milk reminds me of Jeremiah 2:13:

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

Israel had committed two sins. The first was one of omission: she had forsaken her God. Her second sin was one of commission: she had replaced her true God with false idols. Man's heart, like nature, abhors a vacuum. Using imagery that those residing in Judah would understand, Jeremiah compared the nation's actions to someone abandoning a spring of living (running) water for broken cisterns. The most reliable and refreshing sources of water in Israel were her natural springs. This water supply was dependable, and its clear, cool consistency was satisfying. In contrast, the most unreliable source of water was cisterns. Cisterns were large pits dug into rocks and covered with plaster. These pits were used to gather rainwater. This water was brackish, and if the rains were less than normal, the water supply could run out. Worse yet, if a cistern cracked it would not hold any water. To turn from a dependable, pure stream of running water to a broken, brackish cistern was idiotic. Yet that was what Judah did when she turned from God to idols.

Our cisterns or idols:
• The Success Syndrome
• The Fame and Honour Syndrome
• The Youthfulness and Health Syndrome
• The Pleasing Family and People Syndrome

What are we going to do about them?

-----------

Some of you know that I have been using Alex's book as a devotional supplement using it to learn to practice the "Lectio Divina" discipline. This has been another tough chapter. But tough can be good as it does force us to confront real and sometimes deeply buried issues in our lives.

Living here in NZ after living most of my life in Malaysia, I really appreciate the clean clear water that I suspect most NZers would take for granted. In Malaysia, water is one of our natural resources but so much abuse and pollution has resulted in our clean and clear rivers and water sources becoming contaminated.

It is so bad that in my mother's house (in a major urban residential area), we have two water filter systems to filter the treated and "clean" pipe water. And not just the usual water filters as they do not help much.... as after a few hours, the white water filter would turn brown and later black and when you remove the filter, it would be not just muddy but even have an oily residue. So my mother's first water filter is as huge four foot tall system that was originally built to filter commercial swimming pools! And the 2nd is one of the reverse osmosis water filter systems.

For many middle class urban families, dependence on such water filtration systems are now part of a way of life. For others who cannot afford these better systems, daily or weekly (depending on the severity of the pollution) cleaning out of cheaper water system filters is also a regular life activity ... and buying clean drinking water that has been filtered for drinking and cooking has also become a normal accepted part of daily life.

As I reflect on this, I cannot help but compare this with how more and more people understand and practice spirituality. It is no longer enough to have a Bible in order to do one's devotions. We need all kinds of aids and we can't live seem to imagine life without them. Reading guides, specially written devotionals etc. It would seem we are overly dependent on externals ... I am not saying we should dispense with these aids but are we just too dependent on them that we think we cannot hear God's voice without them? And what is even scarier is that often the devotional material / aid takes the place of the Bible itself. I love aids like RBC's "Our Daily Bread", or here in NZ RGB's "Word for Today" but it is not meant to be read by itself. If we read the story and verse for the day and skip actually reading and reflecting on the Bible passage I think we have omitted the Bible made the devotional aid an idol.

I need to state that I am not against such spiritual aids but these aids are meant to point us to the real thing (JESUS CHRIST!) not distract us from Him.

Another example that scares me. For more and more people, if the music is not right, they can't "worship" God. This is pretty scary, don't you think? Is our Sunday encounter with God so dependent on the musicians skill or worship leaders choice of songs for the day? I know proper preparation and practice is needed but we need to be very careful not to be overdependent on the musicians to "set the mood".... I am glad that while we love our musicians and worship leaders, we have not put pressure on them to "perform" and have unrealistic expectations of them.

It is great to "feel" God's presence but we need to know that whether we feel God or not, God is still here!

Another example. I know I strained a relationship with a friend for this but I was just unable to understand how he promotes the "Inductive Bible study" method via spoon feeding (teaching via workshops and selling step by step manuals). So for example, instead of teaching how it is done and getting the student to do the research (e.g. do a word study or a study on the historical background), it is all done for them. In the end participants are "told" (in subtle marketing terminology) that they need to buy the manuals (as all the work is done for them!) in order to truly understand and do a true unbiased inductive study of each Bible book?!? It is not necessary to buy the tools (in which the authors refer to!)??! So many contradictions as instead of freeing the person to focus on studying the Bible, the manuals becomes the Bible as it is THE KEY to unlocking the Bible)

We must keep in mind that we are seeking to be a "Christ centered Bible believing church". Our focus needs to be Christ and Christ via the Bible's teachings.

Dr. Alex highlights some common idols

• The Success Syndrome
• The Fame and Honour Syndrome
• The Youthfulness and Health Syndrome
• The Pleasing Family and People Syndrome

Important areas to reflect on but for this week's devotion, my personal concern in my life and in our generation are things like

* The latest spiritual fad syndrome
* The great worship music syndrome
* The cool preacher syndrome
* Marketed spirituality

May God grant us much grace and wisdom not to substitute Him for poor substitute idols.

Please comment on this post here

Related post by Paul on Spiritual Formation on the Run

• A Burning Bush

Reflections from Spiritual Formation on the Run (1)

Pastor Paul Long from New Zealand is one of the many friends I have made on the Internet. Though we have not met each other face to face, we have build up a good friendship online. Paul blogs at Paul Long's Ramblings.

Paul is reading through my book, Spiritual Formation on the Run and using it for his lectio divina . I am glad he is sharing his reflections online.

He has given me permission to repost his Omission and Commission reflections post here.

This week's pastor's notes is a reflection taken from a book, "Spiritual Formation on the Run" written by a medical doctor friend, Dr. Alex Tang. My further reflections are below after his reflection.

Omission and Commission

The story of a young mother who inadvertently killed her child by giving him imitation formula milk (which she thought was original and the better food) instead of her own breast milk reminds me of Jeremiah 2:13:

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

Israel had committed two sins. The first was one of omission: she had forsaken her God. Her second sin was one of commission: she had replaced her true God with false idols. Man's heart, like nature, abhors a vacuum. Using imagery that those residing in Judah would understand, Jeremiah compared the nation's actions to someone abandoning a spring of living (running) water for broken cisterns. The most reliable and refreshing sources of water in Israel were her natural springs. This water supply was dependable, and its clear, cool consistency was satisfying. In contrast, the most unreliable source of water was cisterns. Cisterns were large pits dug into rocks and covered with plaster. These pits were used to gather rainwater. This water was brackish, and if the rains were less than normal, the water supply could run out. Worse yet, if a cistern cracked it would not hold any water. To turn from a dependable, pure stream of running water to a broken, brackish cistern was idiotic. Yet that was what Judah did when she turned from God to idols.

Our cisterns or idols:
• The Success Syndrome
• The Fame and Honour Syndrome
• The Youthfulness and Health Syndrome
• The Pleasing Family and People Syndrome

What are we going to do about them?

-----------

Some of you know that I have been using Alex's book as a devotional supplement using it to learn to practice the "Lectio Divina" discipline. This has been another tough chapter. But tough can be good as it does force us to confront real and sometimes deeply buried issues in our lives.

Living here in NZ after living most of my life in Malaysia, I really appreciate the clean clear water that I suspect most NZers would take for granted. In Malaysia, water is one of our natural resources but so much abuse and pollution has resulted in our clean and clear rivers and water sources becoming contaminated.

It is so bad that in my mother's house (in a major urban residential area), we have two water filter systems to filter the treated and "clean" pipe water. And not just the usual water filters as they do not help much.... as after a few hours, the white water filter would turn brown and later black and when you remove the filter, it would be not just muddy but even have an oily residue. So my mother's first water filter is as huge four foot tall system that was originally built to filter commercial swimming pools! And the 2nd is one of the reverse osmosis water filter systems.

For many middle class urban families, dependence on such water filtration systems are now part of a way of life. For others who cannot afford these better systems, daily or weekly (depending on the severity of the pollution) cleaning out of cheaper water system filters is also a regular life activity ... and buying clean drinking water that has been filtered for drinking and cooking has also become a normal accepted part of daily life.

As I reflect on this, I cannot help but compare this with how more and more people understand and practice spirituality. It is no longer enough to have a Bible in order to do one's devotions. We need all kinds of aids and we can't live seem to imagine life without them. Reading guides, specially written devotionals etc. It would seem we are overly dependent on externals ... I am not saying we should dispense with these aids but are we just too dependent on them that we think we cannot hear God's voice without them? And what is even scarier is that often the devotional material / aid takes the place of the Bible itself. I love aids like RBC's "Our Daily Bread", or here in NZ RGB's "Word for Today" but it is not meant to be read by itself. If we read the story and verse for the day and skip actually reading and reflecting on the Bible passage I think we have omitted the Bible made the devotional aid an idol.

I need to state that I am not against such spiritual aids but these aids are meant to point us to the real thing (JESUS CHRIST!) not distract us from Him.

Another example that scares me. For more and more people, if the music is not right, they can't "worship" God. This is pretty scary, don't you think? Is our Sunday encounter with God so dependent on the musicians skill or worship leaders choice of songs for the day? I know proper preparation and practice is needed but we need to be very careful not to be overdependent on the musicians to "set the mood".... I am glad that while we love our musicians and worship leaders, we have not put pressure on them to "perform" and have unrealistic expectations of them.

It is great to "feel" God's presence but we need to know that whether we feel God or not, God is still here!

Another example. I know I strained a relationship with a friend for this but I was just unable to understand how he promotes the "Inductive Bible study" method via spoon feeding (teaching via workshops and selling step by step manuals). So for example, instead of teaching how it is done and getting the student to do the research (e.g. do a word study or a study on the historical background), it is all done for them. In the end participants are "told" (in subtle marketing terminology) that they need to buy the manuals (as all the work is done for them!) in order to truly understand and do a true unbiased inductive study of each Bible book?!? It is not necessary to buy the tools (in which the authors refer to!)??! So many contradictions as instead of freeing the person to focus on studying the Bible, the manuals becomes the Bible as it is THE KEY to unlocking the Bible)

We must keep in mind that we are seeking to be a "Christ centered Bible believing church". Our focus needs to be Christ and Christ via the Bible's teachings.

Dr. Alex highlights some common idols

• The Success Syndrome
• The Fame and Honour Syndrome
• The Youthfulness and Health Syndrome
• The Pleasing Family and People Syndrome

Important areas to reflect on but for this week's devotion, my personal concern in my life and in our generation are things like

* The latest spiritual fad syndrome
* The great worship music syndrome
* The cool preacher syndrome
* Marketed spirituality

May God grant us much grace and wisdom not to substitute Him for poor substitute idols.

Please comment on this post here

Related post by Paul on Spiritual Formation on the Run

• A Burning Bush

The Slow Work of God

The need to keep in step with the Spirit is beautifully expressed by the French writer Teilhard de Chardin in this letter to his cousin, Marguerite:

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are, quite naturally,
impatient in everything to reach the end without delay,
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made
by passing through some stages of instability...
...and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually;
let them grow, let them shape themselves,
without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though you could today
what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own goodwill) will make tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of your believing
that His hand is leading you, and of your accepting
the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense
and incomplete.

-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind: Letters from a Soldier-Priest 1914-1919 (New York: Harper & Row, 1961), 57.

The Slow Work of God

The need to keep in step with the Spirit is beautifully expressed by the French writer Teilhard de Chardin in this letter to his cousin, Marguerite:

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are, quite naturally,
impatient in everything to reach the end without delay,
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made
by passing through some stages of instability...
...and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually;
let them grow, let them shape themselves,
without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on, as though you could today
what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own goodwill) will make tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give our Lord the benefit of your believing
that His hand is leading you, and of your accepting
the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense
and incomplete.

-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind: Letters from a Soldier-Priest 1914-1919 (New York: Harper & Row, 1961), 57.

Making Money Blogging

Blogging is a logical development of the Internet Web 2.0. People blog for many reasons (reasons why I blog). In spite of censorship and threats of lawsuits and detention by governments, millions of people continue to express their opinions on all sort of topics. In the United States, it is claimed that there are as many bloggers as lawyers which says a lot. Can blogging become a profession? In other works, is it viable for bloggers to quit their full-time jobs? Mark Penn, writing in the Wall Street Journal April 21, 2009 (Asia edition) calls blogging 'America's Newest Profession.'

Paid bloggers fit just about every definition of a microtrend: Their ranks have grown dramatically over the years, blogging is an important social and cultural movement that people care passionately about, and the number of people doing it for at least some income is approaching 1% of American adults.

We know that print newspapers are facing declining subscription. One of the possible reasons may be the perceived control of print newspaper by government and big businesses. Bloggings on the other hand is slowly developing to be a reliable independent source of information (another perception). Many newspaper columnists are now blogging. Blogging, like print is a form of media. So can we make money from blogging? Maybe only a fortunate few but things are changing so rapidly that no one knows in the future.

So one day when we ask our children, "What do you want to be when you are older?"

"Doctor, lawyer, engineer?"

"Blogger"

Making Money Blogging

Blogging is a logical development of the Internet Web 2.0. People blog for many reasons (reasons why I blog). In spite of censorship and threats of lawsuits and detention by governments, millions of people continue to express their opinions on all sort of topics. In the United States, it is claimed that there are as many bloggers as lawyers which says a lot. Can blogging become a profession? In other works, is it viable for bloggers to quit their full-time jobs? Mark Penn, writing in the Wall Street Journal April 21, 2009 (Asia edition) calls blogging 'America's Newest Profession.'

Paid bloggers fit just about every definition of a microtrend: Their ranks have grown dramatically over the years, blogging is an important social and cultural movement that people care passionately about, and the number of people doing it for at least some income is approaching 1% of American adults.

We know that print newspapers are facing declining subscription. One of the possible reasons may be the perceived control of print newspaper by government and big businesses. Bloggings on the other hand is slowly developing to be a reliable independent source of information (another perception). Many newspaper columnists are now blogging. Blogging, like print is a form of media. So can we make money from blogging? Maybe only a fortunate few but things are changing so rapidly that no one knows in the future.

So one day when we ask our children, "What do you want to be when you are older?"

"Doctor, lawyer, engineer?"

"Blogger"

Some Notes on Swine Fever

An outbreak of severe pneumonia has been identified in Mexico and the south-western States of the USA. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 870 cases of pneumonia have occurred causing 62 deaths since March 2009. In 8 cases identified in the USA a new strain of H1N1 influenza has been isolated. The virus appears to be derived from a strain of swine influenza.

Usually infections between species happen independently of each other. For example, any infection in animals not not pose a threat to human until it jump species. This is what happened in SARS and bird flu, and now swine flu.

The majority of cases in Mexico have occurred in healthy young adults. The degree of infectivity of the virus is not known but close family contacts and health care workers may be at risk.

Antiviral sensitivity testing has indicated the virus is sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir, but is resistant to amantadine.

Clinical information is limited. Emergency Departments and ICU’s are asked to consider a traveller who presents with:

·

an Influenza Like Illness (ILI) (fever and cough and fatigue) and who has travelled to Mexico or California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas in the past two weeks

or

· pneumonia and who has travelled to Mexico or California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas in the past two weeks

as potentially infected with the new strain of influenza A. There is as yet not enough information about the new disease. Its symptoms of fever, cough and fatigue is vague enough to fit any type of infections.

Suspected cases should be managed in respiratory isolation until test results are available. All staff involved in managing the suspected case should implement protective measures including a P2 mask, suitable eye protection and gloves, with attention to frequent hand hygiene.

While staff should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza the current vaccine is unlikely to fully protect against the new strain.

Presently there is no suspected cases of swine fever in Malaysia.

.

Some Notes on Swine Fever

An outbreak of severe pneumonia has been identified in Mexico and the south-western States of the USA. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) over 870 cases of pneumonia have occurred causing 62 deaths since March 2009. In 8 cases identified in the USA a new strain of H1N1 influenza has been isolated. The virus appears to be derived from a strain of swine influenza.

Usually infections between species happen independently of each other. For example, any infection in animals not not pose a threat to human until it jump species. This is what happened in SARS and bird flu, and now swine flu.

The majority of cases in Mexico have occurred in healthy young adults. The degree of infectivity of the virus is not known but close family contacts and health care workers may be at risk.

Antiviral sensitivity testing has indicated the virus is sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir, but is resistant to amantadine.

Clinical information is limited. Emergency Departments and ICU’s are asked to consider a traveller who presents with:

·

an Influenza Like Illness (ILI) (fever and cough and fatigue) and who has travelled to Mexico or California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas in the past two weeks

or

· pneumonia and who has travelled to Mexico or California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas in the past two weeks

as potentially infected with the new strain of influenza A. There is as yet not enough information about the new disease. Its symptoms of fever, cough and fatigue is vague enough to fit any type of infections.

Suspected cases should be managed in respiratory isolation until test results are available. All staff involved in managing the suspected case should implement protective measures including a P2 mask, suitable eye protection and gloves, with attention to frequent hand hygiene.

While staff should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza the current vaccine is unlikely to fully protect against the new strain.

Presently there is no suspected cases of swine fever in Malaysia.

.

Review of Star Trek Destiny trilogy

Title	Gods of Night	Mere Mortals	Lost Souls
Author	David Mack
Published	September 2008	October 2008	November 2008
Cover

It has been a while since I enjoyed a Star Trek trilogy such as this one by David Mack. Usually trilogies tend to be a dragged out affair as the author or authors try to stretch one single plot idea into three books. This however involves three interweaving plots which comes to a surprising conclusion in the third book. It is also a crossover involving Captain Ezri Dax of USS Aventine NCC-82602 (which I am sure will be seeing her own series soon), Captain William Riker of USS Titan NCC-80102, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E, and Captain Erika Hernandez of USS Columbia NX-02.

The story is timed after the movie Nemesis and involves a new race of aliens called the Caeliar and our old friends the Borg. I like Borg stories because the Borg are the total opposite of the Federation. The Borg Collective's only purpose is to seek perfection - particle 010 or the omega molecule. In seeking this perfection, they expand their civilization by assimilating all technologies and civilizations. I have waited a long time for the inevitable Borg invasion of the Federation.

David Mack wrote about this invasion where thousands of Borg cubes crossed into the alpha quadrant. As in previous encounters with the Borg, Starfleet's armada of ships are no match for the Borg. In the television two-parter Best of Both Worlds, they have problem with only one Borg cube. Now we have thousands! In this trilogy the Borg invasion fleets reached the core home worlds of the Federation, Klingon and Romulans.

I will not give any spoilers except to mention that this is about the butterfly effect. Anything we do or do not do have consequences. Sometimes these consequences are way beyond what we expect them to be. I really have fun with some of the concepts played around in this trilogy.


This is a good set of books to read.

Captain Ezri Dax's USS Aventine (slip-stream drive)

Concept art by Mark Rademaker for the Vesta-class USS Aventine.

Review of Star Trek Destiny trilogy

Title	Gods of Night	Mere Mortals	Lost Souls
Author	David Mack
Published	September 2008	October 2008	November 2008
Cover

It has been a while since I enjoyed a Star Trek trilogy such as this one by David Mack. Usually trilogies tend to be a dragged out affair as the author or authors try to stretch one single plot idea into three books. This however involves three interweaving plots which comes to a surprising conclusion in the third book. It is also a crossover involving Captain Ezri Dax of USS Aventine NCC-82602 (which I am sure will be seeing her own series soon), Captain William Riker of USS Titan NCC-80102, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E, and Captain Erika Hernandez of USS Columbia NX-02.

The story is timed after the movie Nemesis and involves a new race of aliens called the Caeliar and our old friends the Borg. I like Borg stories because the Borg are the total opposite of the Federation. The Borg Collective's only purpose is to seek perfection - particle 010 or the omega molecule. In seeking this perfection, they expand their civilization by assimilating all technologies and civilizations. I have waited a long time for the inevitable Borg invasion of the Federation.

David Mack wrote about this invasion where thousands of Borg cubes crossed into the alpha quadrant. As in previous encounters with the Borg, Starfleet's armada of ships are no match for the Borg. In the television two-parter Best of Both Worlds, they have problem with only one Borg cube. Now we have thousands! In this trilogy the Borg invasion fleets reached the core home worlds of the Federation, Klingon and Romulans.

I will not give any spoilers except to mention that this is about the butterfly effect. Anything we do or do not do have consequences. Sometimes these consequences are way beyond what we expect them to be. I really have fun with some of the concepts played around in this trilogy.


This is a good set of books to read.

Captain Ezri Dax's USS Aventine (slip-stream drive)

Concept art by Mark Rademaker for the Vesta-class USS Aventine.

Confucianism and Traditional Chinese Religion

Confucianism and Traditional Chinese Religion

Christianity and Suicides

Christianity Today.com featured two articles on suicide yesterday. This brings to mind an article I have written, Down and Out and Suicidal, and the people I have walked/journeyed with who were suicidal. I am glad they are all well and no longer suicidal.

Suicide was an acceptable option in Greek/Roman philosophies. The 'open door' thinking is that you can check out anytime whenever the going get tough. In the last century, this thinking in the guise of personal autonomy has made a come-back. Christian thinking has always being against suicide because the right of life and death belongs to God. However I do not think that suicide is an unforgivable sin.

read these two articles and let me know what you think.

by Chris Capozziello

In the Valley of the Shadow of Suicide A mother catches glimmers of hope after losing a son. By Christine A. Scheller Preventing Suicide Fast facts about risk factors, warning signs, and tips for saving lives. By Christine A. Scheller

Christianity and Suicides

Christianity Today.com featured two articles on suicide yesterday. This brings to mind an article I have written, Down and Out and Suicidal, and the people I have walked/journeyed with who were suicidal. I am glad they are all well and no longer suicidal.

Suicide was an acceptable option in Greek/Roman philosophies. The 'open door' thinking is that you can check out anytime whenever the going get tough. In the last century, this thinking in the guise of personal autonomy has made a come-back. Christian thinking has always being against suicide because the right of life and death belongs to God. However I do not think that suicide is an unforgivable sin.

read these two articles and let me know what you think.

by Chris Capozziello

In the Valley of the Shadow of Suicide A mother catches glimmers of hope after losing a son. By Christine A. Scheller Preventing Suicide Fast facts about risk factors, warning signs, and tips for saving lives. By Christine A. Scheller

Sharing Academic Knowledge Online

I am a firm believer that knowledge should be free. I am against the commercialization and institutionalization of knowledge and learning. And I believe that the Internet is the medium for sharing. Thus I am pleasantly surprised to read in TIME magazine, April 27, 2009 (Asia edition) about the steps taken by some people and institutions to share their knowledge free.

Logging On to the Ivy League

By Andrea Ford Thursday, Apr. 16, 2009

UC Berkeley biologist Marian Diamond, a legendary lecturer.

Kathrin Miller for TIME

Diamond is an esteemed neuroanatomist and one of the most admired professors at the University of California, Berkeley. It would be a privilege for anyone to sit in on her lectures. And, in fact, anyone can. Videos of her popular course are available free online, part of a growing movement by academic institutions worldwide to open their once exclusive halls to all who want to peek inside.

read more

Check out some of the resources here
YouTube EDU, Academic Earth , Free Online Courses from Great Universities, TED, Fora.tv, and iTunes University.

Sharing Academic Knowledge Online

I am a firm believer that knowledge should be free. I am against the commercialization and institutionalization of knowledge and learning. And I believe that the Internet is the medium for sharing. Thus I am pleasantly surprised to read in TIME magazine, April 27, 2009 (Asia edition) about the steps taken by some people and institutions to share their knowledge free.

Logging On to the Ivy League

By Andrea Ford Thursday, Apr. 16, 2009

UC Berkeley biologist Marian Diamond, a legendary lecturer.

Kathrin Miller for TIME

Diamond is an esteemed neuroanatomist and one of the most admired professors at the University of California, Berkeley. It would be a privilege for anyone to sit in on her lectures. And, in fact, anyone can. Videos of her popular course are available free online, part of a growing movement by academic institutions worldwide to open their once exclusive halls to all who want to peek inside.

read more

Check out some of the resources here
YouTube EDU, Academic Earth , Free Online Courses from Great Universities, TED, Fora.tv, and iTunes University.

Postcard from the Edge (13)

These are special issue stamps from Australia

Postcard from the Edge (13)

These are special issue stamps from Australia

Breast Feeding and The Mommy Wars

I am not aware of the Mommy Wars until I read this interesting article by Christine Gardner. As a practicing paediatrician, I always advise for breast feeding. I wish Christine all the best in her breast feeding.


The Politics of the Pump

How breast-feeding became the new front in the Mommy Wars — and why I'm going to breast-feed my first child.

Christine J. Gardner | posted 4/22/2009 09:03AM

The Mommy Wars are alive and well. In the latest skirmish, the attack is squarely on the most womanly of arts: breast-feeding. Harvard historian Jill Lepore fires the first volley in the January issue of The New Yorker. "Is human milk an elixir, a commodity, a right?" she asks. Apparently, it has been all three and more, including a weapon of terrorism and life-saving medication:

Can a woman carry containers of her own milk on an airplane? Before the summer of 2007, not more than three ounces, because the Transportation Security Administration classed human milk with shampoo, toothpaste, and Gatorade, until a Minneapolis woman heading home after a business trip was reduced to tears when a security guard at LaGuardia poured a two-day supply of her milk into a garbage bin. Dr. Ruth Lawrence, of the breast-feeding committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, promptly told the press, "She needs every drop of that precious golden fluid for her baby"; lactivists, who often stage "nurse-ins," sent petitions; and the T.S.A. eventually reclassified human milk as "liquid medication."

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Breast Feeding and The Mommy Wars

I am not aware of the Mommy Wars until I read this interesting article by Christine Gardner. As a practicing paediatrician, I always advise for breast feeding. I wish Christine all the best in her breast feeding.


The Politics of the Pump

How breast-feeding became the new front in the Mommy Wars — and why I'm going to breast-feed my first child.

Christine J. Gardner | posted 4/22/2009 09:03AM

The Mommy Wars are alive and well. In the latest skirmish, the attack is squarely on the most womanly of arts: breast-feeding. Harvard historian Jill Lepore fires the first volley in the January issue of The New Yorker. "Is human milk an elixir, a commodity, a right?" she asks. Apparently, it has been all three and more, including a weapon of terrorism and life-saving medication:

Can a woman carry containers of her own milk on an airplane? Before the summer of 2007, not more than three ounces, because the Transportation Security Administration classed human milk with shampoo, toothpaste, and Gatorade, until a Minneapolis woman heading home after a business trip was reduced to tears when a security guard at LaGuardia poured a two-day supply of her milk into a garbage bin. Dr. Ruth Lawrence, of the breast-feeding committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, promptly told the press, "She needs every drop of that precious golden fluid for her baby"; lactivists, who often stage "nurse-ins," sent petitions; and the T.S.A. eventually reclassified human milk as "liquid medication."

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Something for Me

Thanks, Sora. I needed that.

Something for Me

Thanks, Sora. I needed that.

John Calvin's Prosperity Gospel

RE-FORMED The Real Prosperity Gospel God's ways may be hidden, but his purpose for us is not. By John Calvin with Knox Bucer-Beza

John Calvin's Prosperity Gospel

RE-FORMED The Real Prosperity Gospel God's ways may be hidden, but his purpose for us is not. By John Calvin with Knox Bucer-Beza

The Missional Character of the Christian Church

From Missional Journal, published by Biblical Seminary, April 2009, Vol.3, No.2


The Missional Character of the Christian Church

We believe the life and witness of the church should be thoroughly shaped by its participation in the mission of God to reconcile the world to himself in Jesus Christ, and by the call of Jesus to be the people of God sent into the world to proclaim and live out the gospel.[i]

Perhaps the first observation to be made is that a statement about mission is not usually the first point mentioned when seminary teachers present their theological convictions. The reason is that for centuries mission simply has not been central to the teaching and research that most theologians do.

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The Missional Character of the Christian Church

From Missional Journal, published by Biblical Seminary, April 2009, Vol.3, No.2


The Missional Character of the Christian Church

We believe the life and witness of the church should be thoroughly shaped by its participation in the mission of God to reconcile the world to himself in Jesus Christ, and by the call of Jesus to be the people of God sent into the world to proclaim and live out the gospel.[i]

Perhaps the first observation to be made is that a statement about mission is not usually the first point mentioned when seminary teachers present their theological convictions. The reason is that for centuries mission simply has not been central to the teaching and research that most theologians do.

read more

Evolution and Intelligent Design

This is an interesting lecture about evolution and intelligent design from WIRED magazine videos.

Cell biologist and author Kenneth Miller discusses the scientific theory of evolution and the recent legal battles to teach intelligent design in school.

Evolution and Intelligent Design

This is an interesting lecture about evolution and intelligent design from WIRED magazine videos.

Cell biologist and author Kenneth Miller discusses the scientific theory of evolution and the recent legal battles to teach intelligent design in school.

Movie Review: Into the Great Silence

Will you watch a 162 minutes movie/documentary with no music score, no voice over and no archival footage? And all about monks?

Into the Great Silence is about the life in the monastery of The Grand Chartreuse in the French -Alps. It is considered one of the most ascetic monastery in the world. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Groning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. Sixteen years later, they replied that they are ready to be filmed.

Groning spent six months living in the monks' quarters recording the documentary, without a crew or artificial lighting. It was first shown to a stunned world in 2005 and became a great spiritual classic.

This 2007 2-disc release features the original documentary on the first disc. The second disc shows a full Night Office service, video-documentary history of the Carthusians, photo gallery of the monastery and many others.

I was hesitant to watch this last night because my soul was in anguish in learning about a good friend who has been diagnosed to be suffering from an incurable disease which has no effective treatment. We have worked together in an NGOs to help the poor and the sick. Apart from that he has contributed a lot to the community in Johor Bharu. In a way, I was angry at God for the injustice in making him suffer.

This silent movie was a balm to my soul. In the daily routine of the monks, in their prayers, their tasks, their daily rituals and their rare outdoor excursions reveals to me the transcendence and immanence of God. In the slow dance of light and darkness, movement and hush, doing and being, I begin to see what the Teacher in Ecclesiastes was teaching us about living and dying, and what Job discovered in God's answer to his questions about God and living.

What others say

• Decent Film Guide
• New York Times

Movie Review: Into the Great Silence

Will you watch a 162 minutes movie/documentary with no music score, no voice over and no archival footage? And all about monks?

Into the Great Silence is about the life in the monastery of The Grand Chartreuse in the French -Alps. It is considered one of the most ascetic monastery in the world. In 1984, German filmmaker Philip Groning wrote to the Carthusian order for permission to make a documentary about them. Sixteen years later, they replied that they are ready to be filmed.

Groning spent six months living in the monks' quarters recording the documentary, without a crew or artificial lighting. It was first shown to a stunned world in 2005 and became a great spiritual classic.

This 2007 2-disc release features the original documentary on the first disc. The second disc shows a full Night Office service, video-documentary history of the Carthusians, photo gallery of the monastery and many others.

I was hesitant to watch this last night because my soul was in anguish in learning about a good friend who has been diagnosed to be suffering from an incurable disease which has no effective treatment. We have worked together in an NGOs to help the poor and the sick. Apart from that he has contributed a lot to the community in Johor Bharu. In a way, I was angry at God for the injustice in making him suffer.

This silent movie was a balm to my soul. In the daily routine of the monks, in their prayers, their tasks, their daily rituals and their rare outdoor excursions reveals to me the transcendence and immanence of God. In the slow dance of light and darkness, movement and hush, doing and being, I begin to see what the Teacher in Ecclesiastes was teaching us about living and dying, and what Job discovered in God's answer to his questions about God and living.

What others say

• Decent Film Guide
• New York Times

John Donne on Life and Death

For Whom the Bell Tolls
Confined to a sickbed, the English poet John Donne penned his finest meditations on life and death.
Introduced by Leland Ryken

Being confined to bed with a long illness need not be a burden. For John Donne, it became the occasion for a prolonged meditation on his own mortality, his brotherhood with his urban neighbors, and his desire for union with God.

Finish this article from ChristianHistory.net.

John Donne
"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so ...
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die."

John Donne on Life and Death

For Whom the Bell Tolls
Confined to a sickbed, the English poet John Donne penned his finest meditations on life and death.
Introduced by Leland Ryken

Being confined to bed with a long illness need not be a burden. For John Donne, it became the occasion for a prolonged meditation on his own mortality, his brotherhood with his urban neighbors, and his desire for union with God.

Finish this article from ChristianHistory.net.

John Donne
"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so ...
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die."

Ten Great Church Buildings in the World

From oodee.com, an interesting website featuring many oddities in the world.

Harajuku: Japanese Futuristic Church

This futuristic protestant church is located in Tokyo and it was first unveiled by the design firm of Ciel Rouge Creation in 2005. The ceiling is specially made to reverberate natural sound for 2 seconds to provide a unique listening experience for worshipers and tourists.

Saint Basil's Cathedral: The Red Square's Colorful Church

(photo: Lst1984) The St. Basil's Cathedral is located on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia. A Russian Orthodox church, the Cathedral sports a series of colorful bulbous domes that taper to a point, aptly named onion domes, that are part of Moscow’s Kremlin skyline.

The cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. In 1588 Tsar Fedor Ivanovich had a chapel added on the eastern side above the grave of Basil Fool for Christ, a Russian Orthodox saint after whom the cathedral was popularly named.

Hallgrímskirkja: Iceland's Most Amazing Church

(photo: Stuck in Customs) The Hallgrímskirkja (literally, the church of Hallgrímur) is a Lutheran parish church located in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres (244 ft), it is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 to 1674), author of the Passion Hymns. State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson's design of the church was commissioned in 1937; it took 38 years to build it.

Temppeliaukio Kirkko: The Rock Church

The Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church) is a thrilling work of modern architecture in Helsinki. Completed in 1952, it is built entirely underground and has a ceiling made of copper wire. It was designed by architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969. They chose a rocky outcrop rising about 40 feet above street level, and blasted out the walls from the inside. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki and frequently full of visitors.

Cathedral of Brasília: The Modern Church of architect Oscar Niemeyer

The Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida in the capital of Brazil is an expression of the architect Oscar Niemeyer. This concrete-framed hyperboloid structure, seems with its glass roof to be reaching up, open, to heaven. On 31 May 1970, the Cathedral’s structure was finished, and only the 70 m diameter of the circular area were visible. Niemeyer's project of Cathedral of Brasília is based in the hyperboloid of revolution which sections are asymmetric. The hyperboloid structure itself is a result of 16 identical assembled concrete columns. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven. The Cathedral was dedicated on 31 May 1970.

Borgund Church: Best Preserved Stave Church

The Borgund Stave Church in Lærdal is the best preserved of Norway’s 28 extant stave churches. This wooden church, probably built in the end of the 12th century, has not changed structure or had a major reconstruction since the date it was built. The church is also featured as a Wonder for the Viking civilization in the video game Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings.

Las Lajas Cathedral: A Gothic Church Worthy of a Fairy Tale

(photo: Jungle_Boy) The Las Lajas Cathedral is located in southern Colombia and built in 1916 inside the canyon of the Guaitara River. According to the legend, this was the place where an indian woman named María Mueses de Quiñones was carrying her deaf-mute daughter Rosa on her back near Las Lajas ("The Rocks"). Weary of the climb, the María sat down on a rock when Rosa spoke (for the first time) about an apparition in a cave.

Later on, a mysterious painting of the Virgin Mary carrying a baby was discovered on the wall of the cave. Supposedly, studies of the painting showed no proof of paint or pigments on the rock - instead, when a core sample was taken, it was found that the colors were impregnated in the rock itself to a depth of several feet. Whether true or not, the legend spurred the building of this amazing church.

St. Joseph Church: Known for its Thirteen Gold Domed Roof

The St. Joseph The Betrothed is an Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Chicago. Built in 1956, it is most known for its ultra-modern thirteen gold domed roof symbolizing the twelve apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome. The interior of the church is completely adorned with byzantine style icons (frescoes). Unfortunately the iconographer was deported back to his homeland before he was able to write the names of all the saints as prescribed by iconographic traditions.

Ružica Church: Where Chandeliers are made of Bullet Shells

Located over the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia, the Ružica Church is a small chapel decorated with... with trench art! Its chandeliers are entirely made of spent bullet casing, swords, and cannon parts.

The space the church now occupies was used by the Turks as gunpowder storage for over 100 years and it had to be largely rebuilt in 1920 after WWI. Though damaged by bombings there was an upshot to the terrible carnage of The Great War. While fighting alongside England and the US, Serbian soldiers on the Thessaloniki front took the time to put together these amazing chandeliers. It is one of the world's finest examples of trench art.

Chapel of St-Gildas: Built into the base of a bare rocky cliff

The Chapel of St-Gildas sits upon the bank of the Canal du Blavet in Brittany, France. Built like a stone barn into the base of a bare rocky cliff, this was once a holy place of the Druids. Gildas appears to have travelled widely throughout the Celtic world of Corwall, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. He arrived in Brittany in about AD 540 and is said to have preached Christianity to the people from a rough pulpit, now contained within the chapel.

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HT: Peter Coburn