Incident in UK supermarket‏

I got this from an email. I find the analogy very interesting and yet, thought-provoking.

I am passing this on for your information
An incident occurred in a UK supermarket recently, when the following discussion was witnessed:

A Muslim woman dressed in a Burkha (A black gown & face mask) was standing with her shopping in a queue at the checkout.
When it was her turn to be served, and as she reached the cashier, she made a loud remark about the English Flag lapel pin, which the female attending the checkout was wearing on her blouse.

The cashier reached up and touched the pin and said, 'Yes, I always wear it proudly. My son serves abroad with the army and I wear it for him'.

The Muslim woman then asked the cashier when the UK was going to stop bombing and killing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi.

At that point, a Gentleman standing in the queue stepped forward, and interrupted with a calm and gentle voice, and said to the Iraqi woman:

'Excuse me lady, but hundreds of thousands of men and women, just like this lady's son have fought and sacrificed their lives so that people just like YOU can stand here, in England, which is MY country and allow you to blatantly accuse an innocent check-out person of bombing YOUR countrymen'.

'It is my belief that if you were allowed to be as outspoken as this when in Iraq, which you claim to be YOUR country, then we wouldn't need to be fighting there today '.

'However - now that you have learned how to speak out and criticize us English people who have given you the protection of our country,
I will gladly pay the cost of a ticket to get you back to Iraq.'
'When you get there, and if you manage to survive for being as outspoken as what you are here in England, then you should be able to help straighten out the mess which your countrymen have got you into in the first place, which appears to be the reason that you have come to MY country to escape from.'

All listening cheered and applauded.


In a way, it is true. The intention of the so-called "War on terror" is good, and there are many reasons why the US and the UK government would send in troops to invade Iraq. The only problem I think most people would have is how the war is managed. Whether or not the benefits of the war would be worth all the pain the soldiers have to endure and the taxpayers' pockets have to endure, I'm not so sure.

MYF Youth Retreat. is.......just read the post.

I was in the bus near Bukit Merah and I thought to myself: "What in God's name am I participating in some "youth retreat" camp costing as much as Tiger Wood's dignity organized by some church I rarely go to? What's worse, I barely know anyone there??!!"

Oh yeah, I and my BK classmates promised Joanne we will join the camp last year so....yeah, I DID forget why I went there in the first place. More so, I and Jo Lene were the only ones who followed Joanne there. Jonathan was working in Breeks, and Nathaniel is in Subang, or is it Petaling Jaya? Either way, all places in Selangor look and smell the same. =.=

Anyway, I was acquainted with Denise so it wasn't really that bad, and also Anne, who was a friend of Sook Koon. In the bus, I only talked with Jo Lene because I wasn't really acquainted with the others.

But after 4 days in Cheefoo ( The venue), things changed. Alot. There weren't many people who joined this retreat(think 19++) and it was very easy for us to communicate. They started talking to me, I started talking to them, somehow the barriers were broken.

Dr. Sam's sharing of the word was also something to look upon. He really brings a new dimension when it comes to sharing, he taught us songs before he starts preaching without fail, from the very hilarious (Ping Pong song XD) to the melodious (Dona Nobis Pacem) and many more.It does make you wonder, how shallow are the lyrcis in today's Christian Music compared to those found in Hymns, many which we the younger ones will never learn to embrace.

Aunt Valarie and Uncle Geam Liang was also very fun to talk with and share things with. They really know how to relate with Teenagers, and come out with some witty one-liners as well. I really can't imagine the Trinity Youth without them...haha...

I also like the whole program, which ironically doesn't really have much in it.XD Why? Well, this is the camp where we are not burdened with intense programs and scheduling,there's no need to start exactly by time or end by a certain time(though we usually abide by the rules when it comes to sleeping) and most of all, we have freetime!! Lot's of them. And to me, this epitomizes what a retreat is all about, we have the luxury to TRY* to learn how to maneuver a Rip-stick, play basketball, try out the cool playground(not the McD ones, thankfully) We even get to do Star-Gazing for one night and two comets pass us by!!

I can even play Football!! And better still, not by myself! Apparently there is also FGS Subang Jaya who were also sharing the place and well, someof the MYF-ers were quite intimidated by the sheer number of ppl (Me and Jo Lene, we're used to it =.=||) but once we get 2 know them, they are a bunch of friendly people. I even get to score a goal....since October. XDDDD

Of course, I didn't just sign up for this camp just for the fun of it(I did have lots of it), or to see pretty girls(Not alot, but still 'ada' XD) but more so to learn about God, without distractions from computers or people I know. Throughout the course, we are told that we are never to young to be a disciple, I couldn't agree more, cause even if you don't want to be want, God will put you in situations where you can't help but share a little bit of the Gospel or Christianity(It does happen, trust me.) There's is no way you can outsmart God.

But, God has a tender side to him too. One of my most significant event during the whole camp was when I prayed my whole heart out to God about every,everything. But as I was praying, suddenly I just can't speak, I have no idea what happened. I tried to utter a word, but I just can't move my lips, that's when God told me to not worry so much. I can feel that he was trying to calm me down and just showed me that he is my shepherd and that he cares for me. I was really comforted from that moment.

I have no regreats joining this camp, it's the camp where eveybody talks with everyone, and it's a rare sight for many camps I been too..... new friendships are forged, and somehow, I believe they will last than some I foolishly keep.

Right now, the guys are now spamming a photo on facebook. Right now there's about 117 comments, still a long way to beat my primary school photo(443+), ironically, I chose the Youth Retreat than the hotel-stay with my primary school. THANK GOD!!

Edu fair > Fasting > SPM results

I went for the education fair in PISA last saturday and sunday. The main reason I gone there is partly because my parents insist on going, and I'm also quite curious about what may colleges have to offer.

So, to make the story short, it opened my mind. After that, I told my mum that I wanted to fast and pray for 3 days starting from Tuesday and to Thursday.This was the first time I did such a thing and so I only had a solid-food fast. I get to have water, and only water.

Well, it was an enriching experience for me. Some religion made it tradition to fast for a certain number of days on a certain month.(Think Hari Raya for example). But I believe many people do not know the significance of fasting(Malay Term= Berpuasa). Basically we keep the body symbolically empty and cleanse our body so that we can worship God without any foreign substances. For me, it also shows how one can go great lengths to pray and ask for anything to God.

Ironically, not eating to fill my stomach made me feel at peace with God. It felt that God is the only thing that matters to me during that 3 days, although I do go out and live a life, I felt no distraction or feel gloomy. It was wonderful.

And then the SPM results came, I got 7A's(A+,A,A-) and well, I reallly hoped for 8A's at least but, I have to thank God for my results, and although on that day I was REALLY dissapointed cause many of my friends got really good results(think 9-15A's), I now really feel okay about it. Gid also reminded me that many of my friends too did quite disappointing in their own view so that's why God reminded me that "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." (Deut 8:2)

Of course my family never went through the 40 years of exile, but I believe it applies to everyone who has suffered difficulties of varying degrees and that God has kept his promised to protect us. Now is up to us to remember what he has done for us. And right now, I have to keep his commands to thank the Lord for whatever he has given to me, even the 7A's I get. The Lord has tested me, and I have to admit it was difficult on the 1st day...but today....I'm glad for the 7A's.

Thank You Jesus. =)