Like That Also Can ?

Shouldn't we return things that doesn't belong to us?

Is this an act of defiant, not letting go of things that are no longer yours?

Common Beliefs Men Have About Women

I got this from a friend and I thought - "I need to share it with all my friends out there, especially the guys... "

Belief 1:

She'll never be satisfied.

Truth:

Women are always looking for ways to make things better. Don't take her suggestions as complaints and critisisms, but as her desire to make the relationship or situation the best is can be.

Belief 2:

A strong, confident woman doesn't need a man to take care of her.

Truth:

Everyone loves to be taken care of and to feel needed. Even if a woman can fix things around the house and change the oil in her car, she will still ask for your help so that she can feel your strength, support and protection. Don't ever stop asking "What can I do for you?" because it shows her that you care.

Belief 3:

Women only want to control men.

Truth:

It's not about control; it's about love. When a woman sees a man hurting, struggling or overwhelmed, her goal is to help, not control. Let her give you a helping hand.

Belief 4:

Keeping a woman requires a lot of hard work, time and money.

Truth:

A serious relationship requires time and effort to cultivate it. You shouldn't look at it as a burden. Your wife or your girlfriend will recipocrate the effort you put into it.

Belief 5:

You can't lie to a woman

Truth:

Women are extremely capable of picking up moods and attitudes and can easily read body language and facial expressions. Although you may think you have gotten away with a great lie, she is either letting it slide because she wants to keep the peace, or she is lying to herself because she is afraid of the truth.

Belief 6:

Jealousy and possesiveness are part of being a woman.

Truth:

Women are protective of what belongs to them. They protect the things they value, especially when it comes to relationships. It's not that she doesn't trust you; she is guarding the relationship. You are too precious for her to allow anything bad to happen.

Belief 7:

Women are emotional.

Truth:

Women don't hide their feelings. They articulate what is going on in their minds. There is nothing wrong with emotions - we all have them. Being in touch with their emotions causes women to be sensitive and caring, and that's why men love them.

Now I am sure all you ladies out there agree with these common beliefs. Lets share it with our men. If all men and women share the same, common beliefs, the world will be such a lovely place to be and there will be less domestic violence.

Cheers....

Biblical Reflections for Ash Wednesday

It Took 40 Days …

On Ash Wednesday the Church begins her great Lenten journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. For centuries, Lent has been a very intense spiritual journey and experience for the followers of Jesus Christ.

Why are there 40 days in Lent?

• It took 40 days for sinfulness to drown in the flood before a new creation could inherit the earth.
• It took 40 years for the generation of slaves to die before the freeborn could enter the Promised Land.
• For 40 days Moses, Elijah and Jesus fasted and prayed to prepare themselves for a life's work.

Lent invites us to turn from our own selves, from our sin, to come together in community. Self-denial is the way we express our repentance. Self-denial is threefold, advises Matthew's Gospel.

• We pray: "Go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private."
• We fast: "No one must see you are fasting but your Father."
• We give alms: "Keep your deeds of mercy secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

Through the Lenten exercise of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we spring-clean our lives, sharpen our senses, put tomorrow in its place and treasure the day at hand.

One of the three Lenten practices open to most misinterpretation today is that of fasting. Fasting has become an ambiguous practice. In antiquity, only religious fasting was known; today, political and social fasting exists (hunger strikes), health and ideological fasting (vegetarians), pathological fasting (anorexia), aesthetic fasting (the cult of the body -- believing that thinner is better). There is, above all, a fast imposed by necessity: that of millions of human beings who lack the indispensable minimum and die of hunger.

These fasts in themselves have nothing to do with religious or aesthetic reasons. In aesthetic fasting at times one can even "mortify" the vice of gluttony only to obey another capital vice, that of pride or vanity.

Fasting, in itself, is something good and advisable; it translates some fundamental religious attitudes: reverence before God, acknowledgment of one's sins, resistance to the desires of the flesh, concern for and solidarity with the poor. ...

As with all human things, however, it can fall into "presumption of the flesh." Remember the words of the Pharisee in the temple: "I fast twice a week" (Luke 18:12).

Lent is a time for us to discover the reasons for the pious practices, disciplines and devotions of our Catholic Christian tradition. What have we done with the important Lenten practice of fasting? If Jesus were here to speak to disciples of today, what would he stress most?

We regard as more important the need to "share bread with the hungry and clothe the naked"; we are in fact ashamed to call ours a "fast," when what would be for us the height of austerity -- to be on bread and water -- for millions of people would already be an extraordinary luxury, especially if it is fresh bread and clean water.

In his message for Lent 2009, Benedict XVI writes: "At the same time, fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live. In his First Letter, St. John admonishes: 'If anyone has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, yet shuts up his bowels of compassion from him -- how does the love of God abide in him?' Voluntary fasting enables us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes to the help of his suffering brother.

"By freely embracing an act of self-denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger. It is precisely to keep alive this welcoming and attentive attitude towards our brothers and sisters that I encourage the parishes and every other community to intensify in Lent the custom of private and communal fasts, joined to the reading of the Word of God, prayer and almsgiving. From the beginning, this has been the hallmark of the Christian community, in which special collections were taken up, the faithful being invited to give to the poor what had been set aside from their fast. This practice needs to be rediscovered and encouraged again in our day, especially during the liturgical season of Lent."

Fasting helps us not to be reduced to pure "consumers"; it helps us to acquire the precious "fruit of the Spirit," which is "self-control," it predisposes us to the encounter with God.

We must empty ourselves in order to be filled by God. Fasting creates authentic solidarity with millions of hungry people throughout the world.

But we must not forget that there are alternative forms of fasting and abstinence from food. We can practice fasting from smoking and drinking. This not only benefits the soul but also the body. There is fasting from violent and sexual pictures that television, movies, magazines and Internet bombard us with daily as they distort human dignity. There is the fasting from condemning and dismissing others -- a practice so prevalent in today's Church.

"For now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!"

We need Lent to help us recognize that our identity and mission are rooted in Jesus' dying and rising. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the pillars of the Lenten journey for Christians.

Lent is a time to fast from certain things, but also a time to feast on others.

Fast from discontent, anger, bitterness, self-concern, discouragement, laziness, suspicion, guilt.
Feast on gratitude, patience, forgiveness, compassion for others, hope, commitment, truth, and the mercy of God.

Lent is just such a time of fasting and feasting!

God's Gift to Us, Catholics

** Updated **

Today's paper, The Star has published an article over this matter.

** Previous **

Herald has been granted permission to use the word 'Allah' in its publication. This is a victory for the Catholic Church.

It is indeed God's gift to us...

Praise be to God....

(But I have yet to see this news on any pof the major paper. Lets hope tonight's news will have something on this.)

Increase of Toll Rates ???

I was elated when one of the toll on NPE was abolished - which means I dun have to pay additional RM 1.60 if I wanna go to KL.

Today, the Works Minister announced that there will be an increase of toll for 5 highways.

Wow, I mean, I felt that I am being cheated. First, you announced the goodies, and let the people be happy for few days, then you take away our happiness by your second announcement.

I dunno if this is a smart way to go. You readers decide yourself. I wonder if this will affect the popularity of the current government.....

A Plea From Anas

I found Anas's plea when I was reading Marina Mahathir's blog - check it out here.

I too, who like to echo Anas's sentiments. It is time for our Yang Berhormats to turn your focus to us, the Rakyats, especially in these trying times.

If you agree with Anas, please forward the message around.


Dear Malaysian Politicians,

Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.

I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments. Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.

I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.

Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.

Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.

Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.

Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.

Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.

Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.

So this is my plea.

Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.

Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.

BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.

Focus on the people.

Focus on the economy.

Anas Zubedy
Managing Director
Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd

Lent Is 'Round D Corner

Again, it is time of the year - time of fast and abstinence.

As a Catholic, this is a time for us to reflect on Jesus's sufferings for mankind, the love He had for us, that He died to set us free.

Am I letting Him died in vain? Have I done enough to build His church on earth? Most of all, have I spread His love to everyone?

Looks like I need to do some serious soul-searching, and also to prepare myself for confession.

Daniel is 2 months old and he can lift up his head already ...

Amazing huh .... Daniel is only 2 months old and his head is already so high up, looking around.

Unreasonable ... And Conflicting Views

** Updated**

Harian Metro news this morning states that PAS sympathized with what happened to MB Elizabeth and hope that the culprit will be caught soon.

Now, I wonder, is the same person giving statement to 2 different paper ? How come the report is so different? Or is it the writer's fault?

** Previous **

I came across this article in the Utusan Malaysia today. And I got irked by what PAS had requested PKR to do. I mean, already MB Elizabeth is a victim of some irresponsible person, she is hurt and her job is in jeorpady and yet PAS have the guts to ask PKR to punish her.

I thought we should punish people who does wrong, not the other way wrong ? Why punish the victim ?

I find that people with politic on their mind, most of the time do not know what their talking. In this case, the PAS leaderwho made the statement seems to me, a very stupid statement.

Belajar saja tinggi-tinggi, tapi hampeh !

People With No Ethics

This post is refers to our MB Elizabeth - whose semi-nude photos taken without her knowing and is now being distributed by someone she used to trust.

Why kind of human being is this ? Nope, wait. This person isnt fit to even be called a human being for human beings dun do these kind of things to another human being.

I can imagine MB Elizabeth's feelings right now - anquish, hurt, etc...

I can only pray that the Lord will grant her streangth to overcome this matter and the Holy Spirit will comfort her at all times. I also pray that the culprit shall be caught soon and God will punish the person.

Handbook for the Year 2009

I received this from a close friend of mine and thought that I would like to share it with all of you....



Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E ' s -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
    

Personality:

1. Don ' t compare your life to others ' . You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don ' t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don ' t over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don ' t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don ' t waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don ' t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past.. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don ' t hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don ' t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
    

Society:

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. GOD heals everything.
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
6. The best is yet to come.
7. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
8. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

So, my friends, bottom line is to be happy always ! Cheers !

Back To Work Again

I started working as of 16 Feb 2009, after 2 months of maternity leave.

How should I describe my feeling - I am contented by just staying at home and looking after Daniel and the house, but at the same time, I am also looking forward to come back to the office.

Anyway, lets not dwell on the possibility of staying at home full time for it is not possible. Not when we need the money to pay our house loan and other expenses...

So, when am I gonna get rich so that I can goyang kaki at home ? Never mind, the Lord has blessed me and family in every way. He tends to all our needs as He said "My grace is sufficient for you..."

Uphold Our Rukun Negara

As Malaysians, we have be taught and memorize since young, our Rukun Negara.

Let us refresh back on that:

1. Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan
2. Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara
3. Keluhuran Pelembagaan
4. Kedaulatan Undang-Undang
5. Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan

If it is in China, a person who commits treason will be sentenced to death. Here, we are still very accomodating. But, it has to have some limits. A Ruler is just like our parents, who wants the best only for the children (in this case, the Rakyat).

Let us continue to uphold the sovereignity of our Rulers, not like some people who doesnt display respect to the Ruler as he should. Call himself MB/Wakil Rakyat but doesnt act like one.

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