Fatty

On a fun note,

The number of times I have/will be eating out this week:

Tuesday Lunch -> Sushi Buffet
Wednesday Dinner -> East Side Mario's
Thursday Dinner -> Sushi Buffet
Friday Lunch -> Indian Buffet
Friday Dinner -> CCF Banquet
Saturday Lunch -> Somewhere special with Zoe

That's right. Three buffets in a week. Ironically, May is the beginning of my gym membership at Good Life. I guess I am packing on the fat right before I start. :)

Purge Pt. 2

Zomg, things are so expensive.

For anime, $20 or so per 5 episodes? It's ridiculous!
$144 for the entire season of Evangelion? That series is at least 10 years old.
Still looking for a decent mp3 service.

Not too mention, I can't find Battlestar Galactica.

The lack of Christian music in Mississauga is appalling.

The end.

QOD

"A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group."

- Russell H. Ewing

Lullaby

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Edward Mote, c.1834

Swine Flu

One quote of many:

I'm a specialist doctor in respiratory diseases and intensive care at the Mexican National Institute of Health. There is a severe emergency over the swine flu here. More and more patients are being admitted to the intensive care unit. Despite the heroic efforts of all staff (doctors, nurses, specialists, etc) patients continue to inevitably die. The truth is that anti-viral treatments and vaccines are not expected to have any effect, even at high doses. It is a great fear among the staff. The infection risk is very high among the doctors and health staff.

There is a sense of chaos in the other hospitals and we do not know what to do. Staff are starting to leave and many are opting to retire or apply for holidays. The truth is that mortality is even higher than what is being reported by the authorities, at least in the hospital where I work it. It is killing three to four patients daily, and it has been going on for more than three weeks. It is a shame and there is great fear here. Increasingly younger patients aged 20 to 30 years are dying before our helpless eyes and there is great sadness among health professionals here.
Antonio Chavez, Mexico City

Source

QOD

"An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject."

— Robert Heinlein

(1907-1988) U.S. author - science fiction writer; worked as announcer for Apollo luner landing in 1969; best-known for Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) and Starship Troopers (1959), both Hugo Award winners.

Speech

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Eph 4:29

Sometimes, we have to put aside the childish things and resist the urge to crack jokes. When a person is willing to open themselves up to you, we must seize that moment. The temptation to joke shall not wrench it from our grasp.

Value

I was having a talk with my cousin last night, and a good portion of our time was spent on our perceived value. It was kind of funny, actually. Talking to him, I learned of what my family (all the aunts and uncles) care about. To put this into context, he is non-Christian. My family are predominantly non-Christian, as well. To date, I count 1 Christian among the "adults", and 3 Christians among the "kids". I have a large extended family, so this amounts to probably less than 10%.

Anyways, we were talking about value. From the unbeliever's perspective, value can be defined by the individual. Although, most people let society tell them if they are valuable or not. My success as a person is related to how society perceives me. From this, I derive my value. What does society value? Money, Power, Looks, Fame, etc. People that are rich, or have power, or are attractive are held up as people to emulate and become.

Now, people will follow this perspective at varying degrees. Some, actually try to be an individual and shun the things that society values. Some (I still speak of the unbeliever) do seek different ways of living their lives. For instance, they could perform acts of charity. This is all fruitless. Their value is based off of something human. They idolize those that are perceived as awesome, and strive to make themselves idols to be worshiped. Again, and again...they will fail.

Money? You could go broke.
Power? Someone else is always bigger.
Looks? They fade.
Fame? Enjoy your 15 minutes.
Charity? For what purpose?

If we are to base our lives on meaningless human endeavours, we become slaves to it. Our happiness, our contentedness, our satisfaction with who we are will be subject to the ebbs and flow of that thing we attach ourselves to.

But, do not lose HOPE!

For those that believe in Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16, Acts 4:12, 1 Cor 15:3-4), we become his adopted sons and daughters (Rom 8:16, Gal 3:27). We are to live for God (Rom 12:1-2, 1 Cor 10:31), One who does not change (Heb 13:8, Jas 1:17). We are loved (Rom 8:35-39). And if we have any problems we are comforted (2 Cor 1:3-4), and we have Jesus who has gone through all things and advocates for us at the right hand of God (Heb 4:14-16). Our value is based off of God's grace, which does not have to be won or earned (Eph 2:8,9) lest we cheapen it. And as a product of that grace, a Christian responds in good works (Eph 2:10, John 15, Jas 2:26). I pray that for you believers out there, that you not take value in earthly things, but keep your mind on heavenly things (Col 3:1).

[And if any of us feel that need to boast.. I have a better job, have a hotter girlfriend, am ridiculously good looking... do as Paul said, boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal 6:14)]

As for my family, I know they value things like marriage and a stable income. They do not see the futility of it all. I pray that if it is in His will, that he will draw them to him (Jn 6:44).

Purge

And so it begins...

Addendum:

Where do you guys and girls buy your mp3's?

QOD

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.'"

-- Sam Levenson

I laughed.