Apostles' Creed

I saw a quotation in the net "God is too big to fit in one religion". This quotation is refer to an analogy where the is a hill and to reach the top, there is many ways, in other words, there are many religions that lead us to God, but is that true? Let us listen to what Jesus said:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

So obviously that quotation and that analogy is totally WRONG. It is WRONG to say that there are many religions that lead to one true living God, only through Jesus, we can know our heavenly Father.

By the way, all religions have different view of God. Buddists not believe in God, but believe in reincarnation and karma. Hindus believe there are many gods (polytheism). Muslims believe in Allah alone, they don't believe Trinity, and they recognize Jesus as a prophet only, but Jesus himself said that he is Son of God*. The most important is, all religions other than Christianity believe in work-based salvation, i.e. by accumulating piles of good work, one may gain entry into heaven, but we should know that the entrance into heaven is received, not earned!

* But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:63-64)

So what christians believe? The answer can be found in Apostles' Creed.

The Apostles' Creed
Source: http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/apostles.htm

I BELIEVE in God the Father almighty,
I also believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord,
conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.
suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell,
rose again the third day,
ascended into heaven,
sat down at the right hand of the Father,
thence he is to come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the remission of sins,
the resurrection of the flesh and life eternal.

Christian = ?

Many people might ask, "Who is Christian?" Since the word Christian come frome the combination of Christ + ian, a simple answer to that is the follower of Jesus Christ. But this answer don't really reflect who Christian actually is.

I found a very good definition for the word Christian from a English dictionary (better than those given in Wikipedia >.<).

Chris-tian ( krɪs-tʃən) n. A person who believes in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior from sin, eternal death, and the devil; one who knows that he has eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ who died for him and rose again: The disciples of Jesus were first called Christian at Antioch [in Syria] (Acts 11:26).

Note: ...... A Christian knows that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Roman 6:23). He knows that it is by grace (unmerited love and favor of God) that we have been saved through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). A person may become a Christian, no matter who he is or what evil he has done if he repents (turns from his evil ways) and believes (out his trust in) Jesus for salvation. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord [Jesus] will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15).
Have you repent and call on the name of the Lord already?

When I say... 'I am a Christian'

Note: This is written by someone, and I found it very meaningful and would like to share it with others

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,'
I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain....
I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow.

渺小，好比沧海一粟

“人子啊，你对推罗君王说，主耶和华如此说：因你心里高傲，说：‘我是神；我在海中坐　神之位。’你虽然居心自比　神，也不过是人，并不是神！哪，你比但以理更有智慧，甚麽秘事都不能向你隐藏。你靠自己的智慧聪明得了金银财宝，收入库中。你靠自己的大智慧和贸易增添资财，又因资财心里高傲。”

所以主耶和华如此说：“因你居心自比　神，我必使外邦人，就是列国中的强暴人临到你这里；他们必拔刀砍坏你用智慧得来的美物，亵渎你的荣光。他们必使你下坑；你必死在海中，与被杀的人一样。在杀你的人面前你还能说我是　神麽？其实你在杀害你的人手中，不过是人，并不是神。”

以西结书 28：2-9

在小学的时候，老师们常常教导我们要勤力和自律，“世上无难事，只怕有心人”。我觉得我的生活掌握在我手中，我的努力将决定生活的成败。渐渐的，我变得很信靠自己的力量，并觉得自己的努力很了不起。因此我抱着这想法生活了很多年 ，并在学业上得到不错的成绩，而且还拿到奖学金来到伏尔加格勒求学。

然而，当我来到异乡后，生活渐渐的碰上许多的麻烦和问题。虽然学业进展得不错，但学业和生活上的压力几乎把自己搞得喘不过气。自己的骄傲变成了自私和怕输的心态，与朋友的相处渐渐出现了问题。一直想靠自己的力量过个好生活，但常常有心无力。

在大二开学时，不小心将自己的钱包遗失在小巴里。遗失了钱包里的钱是小事，但遗失了钱包里的提款卡可是大事啊，没了它就不能取钱。当我跑回去道路，想找回那辆小巴，但那辆车却从我眼前飞驰而过，我想追那辆车，却力不从心，只能眼巴巴地看着那辆车越走越远。突然发现自己的力量是那么的渺小，好比沧海一粟。曾经以为自己是生活上的主宰者，一直以来一直照着自己的方式做事，并没有听神的指示，而且没将应有的荣耀归与神，但这个时候才发现自己的能力是那么的有限。当是我想求上帝的帮助，却发现自己身为一个罪人， 并没有资格向神求助。 “我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义 。”（约翰一书1：9）我向神认错，并祈求他的原谅，求他给予我力量支持下去。 神透过这事件让我了解到自己的自大和软弱，神要我学会谦卑 “所以，你们要自卑，服在神大能的手下，到了时候他必叫你们升高。”（彼得前书 5：6）

过了几天，还是没有钱包的消息。心情很失落，觉得神好像抛弃了我。这时，我的基督徒室友从教会回来，想送我书签。他让我从两个书签选一个。我就随手抽一个。奇迹出现了，书签上居然写着：“因为主曾说：‘我总不撇下你，也不丢弃你。’”（希伯来书 13：5） 这是何等的安慰啊！神居然用这样的方式安慰我。有些人会觉得这只是个巧合，因为我也曾这样怀疑，如果我选另一张书签，可能就读不到那经文。过了一段日子，我看到另一个书签在我的室友的书桌上。书签上写着：“ 耶和华必在你前面行；他必与你同在，必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。”（申明记 31：8）。结论是，无论当时我选哪一张，他还是跟我说一样的话：“我不撇下你，也不丢弃你”。世人要求奇迹，对我来说，这就是奇迹。

很多人要求神出现在她们的面前，并和他们说活，但神是万能的，他用他自己独特的方式传达他的话语。神曾经跟你说过话吗？

Plastic Bags

Recently too busy with studies, but anyway I'll post something. I think most people knew this joke already.

Q: Who is the most stupid person in the world?
A: Superman, because he wears underwear outside his pants.

Q: Who is more stupid than Superman?
A: Batman, because not only he wears underwear outside his pants, he also wears underwear on his head.

Q: Who is more stupid than Batman?
A: Their authors/designers, cause they created them.

Q: Who is more stupid than their authors/designers?
A: We, because we like to watch Superman and Batman.

Now a medical version of this joke.

Q: Who is the most stupid person in the world?
A: Medical students who are going to hospital, because they wear plastic bags on their foot.

Q: Who is more stupid than medical students who are going to hospital?
A: Medical students who are going to surgical department, because not only they wear plastic bags on their foot, they even wear plastic bags on their head.

Q: Who is more stupid than medical students who are going to surgical department?
A: The russians in Volgograd, because they created this rules.

Q: Who is more stupid than the russians?
A: Medical students, because they are following those rules.

I derived this joke from my internal disease lecturer. He asked us to bring slippers and medical caps, cause future doctors should have proper attire, and shouldn't put plastic bags on their foot or head. This rule (putting "plastic bags") sounds stupid but it is for hygienic purpose, especially in place with winter.

A Matter of Faith

Note: Another one week to go.

The title of this post came from the inspiration of a book entitled "A Matter of Honour" by Jeffery Archer. The reason I write this post is because recently a friend of mine just asked me about my faith, and why as a medic student I still can believe in God since science can't prove the existence of God or spirits. Well, I can't really answer that question, what I can say is, it is a matter of faith. I found some interesting stories too share, but the second story is kind of long, you can skip it if you wish.

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Story 1
Source: From an e-mail

One day, a professor of a university decided to defy his pupils.
Prof. : Did God create everything that exists?
Stud. B : Yes, He did. (answered bravely)
Prof. : Everything?
Stud. B : Yes, everything.
Prof. : In this case, God also created evil, correct? Because evil exists.

To that, the student had no answer and remained in silence. The teacher was delighted at the opportunity to prove one more time that faith was only a myth. To that, the student had no answer and remained in silence. The teacher was delighted at the opportunity to prove one more time that faith was only a myth. Suddenly, another student raised his hand and asked a question.

Stud. A : May I ask you a question , professor?
Prof. : Of course.
Stud. A : Does cold exist?

Prof. : Of course. Did you never feel cold?
Stud. A : Actually, sir, cold does not exist. According to studies in Physics, cold is the total and complete absence of heat. An object can only be studied if it has and transmits energy and it is the heat of an object that transmits it’s energy. Without heat, the objects are inert, incapable to react. But cold does not exist. We created the term cold to explain the lack of heat. And darkness?

Prof. : It exists.
Stud.A : Again, you’re wrong sir, darkness is the total absence of light.
You can study light and brightness, but not darkness. The prism of Nichols shows the variety of different colors in which the light can be decomposed according to the longitude of the waves. Darkness is the term we created to explain the total absence of light. And evil, sir, does evil exist?

Prof. :Of course it exists, as I mentioned at the beginning, we see violations, crimes and violence anywhere in the world, and those things are evil.
Stud. A : God did not create evil. Evil is the absence of God in people’s hearts, it is the absence of love, humanity and faith. Love and faith are like heat and light. They exist. Their absence lead to evil”

Now it was the professor’s turn to remain silent..

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Story 2
Source: http://groups.google.com/group/hk.talk.feelings/msg/80ba1918f0c58fe4?hl=en&pli=1

"LET ME EXPLAIN the problem science has with Jesus Christ." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes, sir."
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Ahh! THE BIBLE!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here, and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help them? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"Why not say that? You would help a sick and maimed person if you could...... in fact most of us would if we could...... God doesn't."
No answer.
"He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
No answer.

The elderly man is sympathetic. "No, you can't, can you?" He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. In philosophy, you have to go easy with the new ones. "Let's start again, young man."
"Er... Yes."
"Is Satan good?"
"No."
"Where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From...God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?" The elderly man runs his bony fingers through his thinning hair and turns to the smirking, student audience. "I think we're going to have a lot of fun this semester, ladies and gentlemen." He turns back to the Christian.
"Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? Did God make everything?"
"Who created evil?"
No answer.
"Is there sickness in this world? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All the terrible things - do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"Who created them?"
No answer.

The professor suddenly shouts at his student. "WHO CREATED THEM? TELL ME, PLEASE!" The professor closes in for the kill and climb into the
Christian's face.
In a still small voice: "God created all evil, didn't He, son?"
No answer. The student tries to hold the steady, experienced gaze and fails. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace the front of the classroom like an aging panther. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues, "How is it that this God is good if He created all evil throughout all time?" The professor swishes his arms around to encompass the wickedness of the world. "All the hatred, the brutality, all the pain, all the torture, all the death and ugliness and all the suffering created by this good God is all over the world, isn't it, young man?"
No answer.
"Don't you see it all over the place? Huh?" Pause. "Don't you?"
The professor leans into the student's face again and whispers, "Is God good?"
No answer.

"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor. I do."
The old man shakes his head sadly. "Science says you have five senses
you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever
seen your Jesus?"
"No, sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"
"No, sir. I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus... In fact, do you have any sensory perception of your God whatsoever?"
No answer.
"Answer me, please."
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"You're AFRAID... you haven't?"
"No, sir."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"...yes..."
"That takes FAITH!"
The professor smiles sagely at the underling. "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son? Where is your God now?"
The student doesn't answer.
"Sit down, please."
The Christian sits...Defeated.

Another Christian raises his hand. "Professor, may I address the class?"

The professor turns and smiles. "Ah, another Christian in the vanguard! Come, come, young man. Speak some proper wisdom to the gathering."

The Christian looks around the room. "Some interesting points you are making, sir. Now I've got a question for you. Is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"Is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No, sir, there isn't."

The professor's grin freezes. The room suddenly goes very cold. The second Christian continues. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold, otherwise we would be able to go colder than 458 - You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."........Silence.

The professor replied,"First . I have never said that cold is the opposite of heat. By your implying that that I did, you are putting words in my mouth. Cold is a relative measurement of heat especially below zero. Any temperature of heat under zero can be described by the definition of cold. As I said that cold is not the opposite of heat, it is merely a description of heat in relation to its relative state to absolute zero. Furthermore, I can extend the premise of your arguement and apply it to the description of size. There is no such thing as shrinkage because being small is just the absence of being big or absence of positive growth in size. The smallest particle in this universe is electron that resides in an atom, Since anything that shrinks will eventually end up not going any smaller, can we say that the process of shrinkage never exists?"

The Christian is perplexed and confused. This Christian is really ready to give up knowing otherwise that he would make a scene out of himself and be the laughing stock of others for the rest of the semester. Silence sweeps through the room. After a brief pause, the crowd is thrilled and thrown to the edges of their seats between this exchange of words.

A piece of paper drops from the Christian's hand. On the paper is a list of questions that the Christian has prepared previously which he perceives now to be too ridiculous to bring up. As the Christian is almost ready to make his way back to his seat, he is asked to stay further more to challenge the professor. He reluctantly obliges.

"Is there such a thing as darkness, professor? I know it is now a
stupid question."

"That's a dumb question,right on, son. What is night if it isn't a state of darkness? What are you getting at...? Didnt God say in your Bible,' let there be dark' Are you getting at denying this so-called act of God?"

"So you say there IS such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes..., speaking in your own term as according to your Bible...... and...... No in the sense that darkness is a state and not a thing."

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something, it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly, you have nothing, and it's called darkness, isn't it?"

"That is what I said, you idiot. I said that darkness is not a thing just as being hungry, being small, being rich, being poor, being dark, being light is not a thing. Well darkness can be the state of relative presence of something."professed the professor.

"That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, Darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker and give me a jar of it. Can you...give me a jar of darker darkness, professor?"

"Of course, only idiot like you would come up with the question of misleading somebody into acknowledging that darkness is a thing. Can you give me a jar of "small", "hungry". How about your God which claims to be omnipotent?"

Despite getting the upper hand, the professor smiles at the young effrontery before him. "This will indeed be a good semester. Would you mind telling us what
more you have got in your magic box, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with and so your conclusion must be in error...."

The professor goes toxic. "Flawed...? How dare you...!"

"Sir, may I explain what I mean?"

The class is all ears.

"Explain... oh, explain..." The professor makes an admirable effort to help the Christian regain control because he is suffering from an unstable state of mind after being overwhelmed by the professor's show of intelligence. As usual, he is affability itself. He waves his hand to silence the class, for the student to continue.

"You are working on the premise of duality," the Christian explains."That for example there is life and then here's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science cannot even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism but has never seen, much less fully understood them. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, merely the absence of it."

"Did I say life is the opposite of death? Did I say that I am viewing things in duality? There is no such state as being in the opposite. Just as there is no such thing as baby being the opposite of old man or healthy new-born baby girl being the opposite of old woman with cancer. All things only exist in a state along a line of continuum. Human is a continuation of four-legged animal and plants. This is evolution, the science of the respect for growth. You never witness the folks compling the Bible, can we say that Bible can be written by aliens from outer space?"

The young man holds up a newspaper he takes from the desk of a neighbor
who has been reading it. "Here is one of the most disgusting tabloids this country hosts, professor. Is there such a thing as immorality?"

"Of course there isn't, experience and facts are only as good as the meaning we attach to them. Nothing is immoral just as nothing is moral."

"Wrong again, sir. You see, immorality is merely the absence of morality. Is there such thing as injustice? No. Injustice is the absence of justice. Is there such a thing as evil?" The Christian pauses. "Isn't evil the absence of good?"

"No, immorality is not the abscence of morality. Immorality is morality in the eyes of the beholder."

The Christian continues. "If there is evil in the world, professor, and we all agree there is, then God, if he exists, must be accomplishing a work through the agency of evil. What is that work, God is accomplishing? The Bible tells us it is to see if each one of us will, of our own free will, choose good over evil."

"Evilness and righteousness is a zero-sum game. They cancel out each other in principle. One's act can be considered as evil and righteous at the same time. They co-exist and can not be mutually exclusive. What makes you think that God is accompishing something even if he exists? This is just your assumption that God can not stand doing nothing and sitting around. If evilness is the agency then its purpose is to combat the so-called righteousness because it is again a zero-sum game. "

The professor bridles. "As a philosophical scientist, I don't vie this matter as having anything to do with any choice; as a realist, I absolutely do not recognize the concept of God or any other theological factor as being part of the world equation because God is not observable."

"I would have thought that the absence of God's moral code in this world is probably one of the most observable phenomena going," the Christian replies.

"What makes you think that there is no moral code in this world just because it is not coming from the Bible?"

"Newspapers make billions of dollars reporting it every week!"

"How about newspaper reporting Christians acting in voilence? We read news like that all the time.Those are people mind-controlled by God's will."

"Tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?" The professor makes a sucking sound with his teeth and gives his student a silent, stony stare.

"Professor. Since no-one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a priest?"

"Well, can you prove that your stomach really absorbs your breakfast today. How about the breakfast 50 years ago? Can you prove that the world is round with your naked eyes without any scientific instruments? If you eye-witness someone fires a gun at a victim, can you prove that the victim is really killed by the bullet because you can never see the bullet after its entrance in the victim's body. If you testify in court that you witness A firing a gun at B ,are you not just offering an opinion only. Furthermore,the bullet sweeps across the air so fast that you will never even see it as an object after it is propelled from the barrel of the gun. If we cannot even trust our observation, what makes your spiritual connection with your God any more trustworthy. I'll overlook your impudence in the light of our philosophical discussion. Now, have you quite finished?" the professor hisses.

"So you don't accept God's moral code to do what is righteous?"

"If anyone can belive in any sets of moral code, he can just be easily swayed into believing in any other moral codes - I choose science!"

"Ahh! SCIENCE!" the student's face spits into a grin.

"Sir, you rightly state that science is the study of observed phenomena. Science too is a premise which is flawed..."

"SCIENCE IS NOT FLAWED,ONLY OUR CURRENT STATE OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE IS. Science exists long before man roamed the world. All answers are already out there, they are just awaiting discovery and the right piece of invention to dig them out." the professor splutters.

The class is in uproar in reaction to the professor's insights. The Christian remains standing until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, may I give you an example of what I mean?"

The professor wisely keeps silent.

The Christian looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out in laughter.

The Christian points towards his elderly, crumbling tutor.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain... felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so."

The Christian shakes his head sadly."It appears no-one here has had any sensory perception of the professor's brain whatsoever. Well, according to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says the professor has no brain."

The professor replied:" Well, let me rectify your flaw. Let's say a blind person never sees you as an entity, can you say that you never exist. The world can see but can be blinded by their obesession over some sugar-coated misleading propaganda released by some unscrupulous politicans or religious leaders."

The class is in chaos and cheers for the professor in ecstasy.

The Christian sits in shame... Because that is the state in which he is originally to be there for.

The *god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
* P/S: god of this age refers to Satan

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Actually I heard these stories a long time before, though that time I was not really a christian, but they really give me some deep inspirations. Some people might ask, "What is faith?" Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Many people demand to that they will only believe God if only God will appear in front of them. But I tell you the truth, even if do appear in front of them, they will still not believe. Why? The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve, and appeared in front of them. Yet they still disobeyed Him. During the time of Old Testament, God sent so many prophets to tell His messages, yet people didn't believe in them and disobeyed God. Finally Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humbles himself, came in the form of human flesh to the earth. When he was in the age of 30, he started to preach to the people, he done miracles, he healed many. Many times he claimed to be the Son of God, yet many still do not believe. The Jew leaders and Pharisees didn't believe in him and they even crucified him, nailed him on the cross.

Actually, why should be bother so much about seeing God before believe Him? Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, doesn't believe that Christ risen from dead although everyone is telling him and even Jesus himself prophesies it before he was crucified.

So the other disciples told him (Thomas), "We have seen the Lord!" But he (Thomas) said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (John 20:25)

Only after Jesus appeared in front of him, and let him touch his scares, Thomas believed the resurrection of Jesus. Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

Nowadays we might heard many people say, "Have faith in yourself" or "Have faith in the thing that you do" etc. Many people mix up 'faith' and 'general believe'. It is important to know that faith ≠ general believe. To put faith on something that is vain is just nonsense. Faith should put on truth, like Jesus Christ, and not just on sincere or enthusiasm . Faith is blind unless it is put on content that is true. It is important to know that this faith doesn't come from ourselves, it is God that gives us this faith to believe in him, after we are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some people might ask, "Why do you choose God, why go you love Him?"
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10) It is God the one who created us, made us and love us, so that we can experience that love, and know how to love Him and our neighbour.

Tailor + Photographer = ?

Yesterday I went to a photography studio with my family because my sister and brother wanted to make a graduation albums and also wanted to take a family photo. The photographer has his studio together with his wife's tailor shop. What surprised me is that I saw a chinese Bible in their shop. So I picked it up and start reading it. The tailor saw me and asked me whether I am a believer or not, and from there our conversation started. We start sharing about our faith. Just like me, both of them are young believers. They heard the gospel for a long time, but they just came to Christ two years ago, after they married. Though they are young believers, but they have strong faith and they received a correct teaching.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

It feels glad to meet someone who are also in Christ, they are like our own brothers and sisters, because they are also the children of God, who received this saving grace and putting their faith on the living God. May God bless this couple and strengthen they faith. Amen.

A(H1N1)

Due to the outbreak of 2009 flu pandemic, our health is endangered and I still see quite a number of people wearing mask in shopping mall. Everyone mentioned about A(H1N1) virus, but do you know what A(H1N1) means?

It actually refer to Influenzavirus A subtype H1N1. Influenzavirus A is one of the five genera under the family Orthomyxoviridae. Other genera are Influenzavirus B, Influenzavirus C, Isavirus, and Thagotovirus. Only Influenzavirus A classified into different subtypes, based on antigen associated with outer viral proteins or spikes, namely hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). There are 14H and 9H subtypes, so the subtypes are named according to the combination of HA and NA, e.g. H1N1, H5N1, etc.

Why suddenly there is an appearence of A(H1N1) virus and it started to infect people around the whole world? Influenzavirus A has 8 different helical nucleocapsod genome, i.e., it has 8 RNA genome segments. HA is encoded by RNA segment 4 while NA is encoded by RNA segment 6. HA and NA are the factors that cause antigenic variation.

Appearence of new subtype is due to the antigenic shift (major anitgenic change), whoch occurs infrequently, maybe once every 10-20 years. When two genetically different influenzaviruses (e.g human influenzavirus and animal influenzavirus) infect in the same cell, there might be a reassortment of genomes between these two different strain, because genome segment are enveloped in a random manner. The progeny virus contains some RNA segments from one parent and other RNA segments from another parent. As a result a new virus with different genetic constitute produced.

This new virus has a different anitgenic structure, so most humans do not have antibogies against this virus, i.e. most people are immnunologic naive or susceptile towards this new virus. Hence there will be a pandemic outbreak of disease.

Psalm 23:4

Notes: Atlhough I don't know who is reading my blog, I want to apologise to them for not posting for a long time even though having holiday now.

It has been about 1 month after coming back to PJ, and already used to life here now. Well, thank God that many things going according to my plans, but due to my laziness, many things still left untouched yet >.< . Anyway, I feel very glad, not only because I met up with some friends already, but also I found that there is another church located outside my house, just about 10-15 mins by foot. It is called Calvary Jaya Bible-Presbyterian Fellowship. Although not quite used to the way they worship, I found that this church is much more comfortable than the Glad Tiding Church, which I attended before, because:

1. It is a presbyterian church, governed by a pastor, elders and deacons.
2. The preaching is deeper and more organised. The sermon is conducted by the pastor alone.
3. The church is smaller, got about 120 members only. They are more friendly.
4. They have many bible studies, Sunday schools and other activites.
5. It is located much nearer, and the traffic is never a problem.

But being in Malaysia is like a fear for me, because here has many distraction and temptations.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

I saw this pictures few weeks before, and I hope I can be like that cat, walking through the valley of the shadow of death without fear. Life is full of difficulties, hardship and temption, in fact everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). But Jude asked us to be contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3), because I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philipians 4:13). So instead of trsuting our own wisdom, let us put our trust and faith on God.

Back to Malaysia

On 3rd July 2009, 2135 (GMT +8), I reached KLIA. Well, nothing very special. My parents keep remind me to wear mask when coming back. So when we reached Moscow airport, we found out that we are the only foriengers who are wearing. Ok that's fine cause there is only a small amount of people infected by H1N1 in Russia. When we reached Dubai airport, there were only a few out of hundreds or even thousands who are wearing mask, and in KLIA there is slightly more people wearing mask. I thought they will be many medical staffs and guards who will perform the checking for H1N1, but it turned out that we just need to pass up the forms that we filled up in the airplane. No wonder many H1N1 carriers bring the viruses to Malaysia.

Well, forgot about H1N1. Suffering from jet lag now. But it is weird that I didn't experience jet lag when going to Russia. Due to this jet lag, I can't sleep properly, until 5.00 am I am still awake ><. When I was coming back I worry that I am not able to find a healthy church in Petaling Jaya (there is healthy church, but never a perfect church, cause we are all sinners, dead in the transgression of sin). But thank God that I found a church soon through the net. The good news is that it fulfills the requirements to be a healthy church: their statement of faith is very biblical, having other activities other than Sunday services such as bible studies, youth and senior groups, etc. Another thing is that it located very near my house. But all these things are just stated on their homepage, the most important is whether they really apply it.

So today Sunday morning I went to have a look for myself. It is stated that the service start from 9.00 to 10.30am, but when I reached there at 8.55am, the praise and worship almost end, but I managed to have the Holy Communion. Later I found out that the service actually start at 8.30am, that means they didn't update their homepage =_=. The place is very huge, and there is few hundreds or even thousands of people. The most impressive is their sound system and projector, it makes me feel that what I do inmy church is just nothing as great as them, but I realised that they don't know a better trick to do the power point presentation (actually most of the people don't know).

When we are taking the communion, I found out that their believes is biblical, e.g. what is the meaning of Holy Communion (aka the Lord Supper), what is salvation, what is sin, etc. But like what my pastor and brothers said, not everyone in a church is a believer, cause I notice some people didn't take the communion (because only believer takes the communion). After greeting and some announcements, a pastor comes out to the stage and start to preach about discipline from 2 Timothy 2:3-6. I was quite enjoying with the beginning of the sermon or preaching, because he preached expositionally, like what my pastor did. He explained what is discipline, the paraphases of soldier, athlete, and farmer used by Paul (1 and 2 Timothy is written by Paul to a young pastor called Timothy). He also talked about distraction by using example of Peter walking toward Jesus on water.

But...... as the sermon is going on, I realised something. He rarely quotes verses from the Bible except those I mentioned above. Instead, he like to quoted more from other sources. He jokes a bit throughout the sermon so that it won't be so boring, but later he jokes more and more rather that explaining the Scriptures. The congregation keep laughing, but I didn't feel quite nice about it. The thing that annoyed me the most is that at the last part of the sermon he talks about marriage vow, which is not so relevent with the theme discipline. This is just what I feel and think only, but honestly the whole service is quite good, cause at least they didn't preach false teaching.

Btw, I personally not use to such a big church with such huge number of people, because my church in Volgograd is just a small local church with the amount of only less than 40 people ><. I feel kind of sad because even though there is so many people there, I don't know anyone of them, and after service usually all the people went off =(.

Anyway, the future plan of my holiday:

1. [x] Find a local church.
2. [x] Apply for a new IC and ATM card since I lost my wallet.
3. [x] Meet up with Madam Penny to pass something to her.
4. [/] Meet up with my friends and maybe my Chinese teacher.
5. [x] Go to Kamal bookstore to buy some medical books.
6. [/] Study my russian, Microbiology, Philosophy, and Internal Diseases.
7. [x] Going back to Sibu to visit my relatives.
8. [/] Do some sports
9. [/] If God allows, I might meet up with my brothers and sisters.
10. [/] Almost forgot one more thing, do that stupid computer objective questions.

[-] Not yet start [/] Doing half way [x] Done

Before I finish this blog, here is a verse for my seniors who have graduated and also my friends:
Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Post-Examination Period

25 June 2009

Last time I always wanted to watch sunrise, and last year I forgot to watch. I can 't sleep well, so I planned to go watch sunrise. Where? Just watch at the balcony outside the kitchen of my hostel ^^. P/S: All the times stated in the [square barracks] are just rough approximation.

The sky still dark, and you can see the The Motherland Calls (Родина-мать зовёт) in Mamayev Kurgan (Мамаев Курган) in Volgograd [around 4.00 am]

The sky getting brighter, and you can see a 'red' cloud [around 4.30-5.00 am]

The sun started to rise [around 5.20 am]

A closer view [around 5.20 am]

The sun slowly rises up [around 5.30 am]

The sun rises high up above the cloud [around 5.45 am]

A further view [around 5.45 am]

God made two great lights - the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:16-18)

26 June 2009

Today is the exam day for Physiology, so early morning I went to hand up my credit book to the Physiology Department. In 2.00 pm, it was the convocation of the graduates (from foreign countries only) from my university.

It was held in the hall. Before the ceremony start, all the students, parents and the professors were very 'kelam-kabut', everyone tried to find a place to sit.

The ceremony start with a small video clip or slide show. It was quite boring, cause it keep showing many nice scenes in different countries, until the last part I fell asleep and my friend from behind woke me up.

After the video clip, some professors gave some short speeches (not like in Malaysia). This person is Spasov A.A., the vice-rector of our university.


The ceremony continues by giving the certificates together with flowers to the graduates. You can see the graduate receiving the certificate from Spasov A.A. and his picture and name is displayed on the big screen. It took quite a long time, cause there is more than 100 graduates, and I heard that some of the parents fell alseep. By around 3.30 - 4.00 pm the ceremony finished. So what we going to do later? Go out outdoor and take photos!

Joshua, his wife Jean, and Zhuo Ling. Did you notice that Zhuo Ling's certificate is red colour?

The person in the middle is our pastor, Frank.

Jiann Woei, Khiong, Kok Tong, and Jeremy.

Kok Tong with his parents.

Unkown russian guy, Jean, Janet, Wen Tao.

Wai Lup, Kah Wei, Joshua, Khiong.

The person hold the T-shirt is Albert. Notice what is written on the shirt.

The graduates from our university.

27 June 2009
After our Sunday Service in the church, we have another small convocation in our church.


Convocation means we gonna said good bye to these brothers and sisters. Kind of sad actually......

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,11)

Well, there is time for everything, and I guess is time to sat good bye, but we know that we will meet again back in Malaysia, and most important, in the kingdom of heaven. Amens

Dreams

Note: Few days ago, a friend of mine told me some secrets, and I was astonished that there are actually many things happened without other people's knowledge. But since those things are not good news, so I'll keep it to myself.

I am sure that everyone has dreams before when sleeping. According to Wikipedia, dreams can be defined as a series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The scientific study of dreams is known as oneirology.

According to Old Testament and New Testament, God sometime reveals his will to his people through dreams and visions. Examples are Joseph, King Solomon, and Peter.

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." (Genesis 37:5-7)

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." (1 Kings 3:5)

'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.' (Acts 2:17)

Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. " (Acts 11:4-5)

My Chinese teacher, who is a buddist, taught me History in From 1 and taught me Chinese Language from Form 2 until Form 5. Last summer holiday, I returned to Samad to give some souvenirs to my teachers. The one of the teachers that I didn't meet is my Chinese teacher, cause they told me that she had been transfered to a school in Bandar Utama. That time I am lazy to find out where is that school or where she lives, so I didn't give the souvenirs to her.

I remembered during this year winter holiday, I have a dream. In my dream, I met my Chinese teacher, I forget what are we talking about, but I remembered she mentioned the words "Holy Spirit". This word shouldn't come out from the mouth of a buddist. So later I asked her, "Do you believe in Christianity?". She replied, "Last time yes, but now no." After that I woke up from my dream.

Few days ago, I have a dream, and I met her again, and I gave her some ang-pao packets that I collected, cause she told us before that she likes to collect these ang-pao packets. Later we talked for a while, and in the dream I wanted to ask her a question, but I forgot what is that question. After that, I woke up.

What do these dreams mean? Does God want me to find that teacher when I go back Malaysia during the summer holiday?

Don't Waste Your Life?

Recently my life is very relaxing, no stress, no tension. Recently reading some books, online and preparing a bit for next semester materials. Just finished reading "the Heavenly Man", still reading a book entitled "What Did Jesus Demanded from the World" by John Piper, and also a book that my friend just lent me yesterday, entitled "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. If anyone of you saw these books, you should read them.

"Why didn't you go somewhere 'jalan-jalan'?"
Well, I have been here for almost two years, where should I go for 'jalan-jalan'?

"If I was you, I will be in Sochi now."
Well, different people like to do different things. Some people said now is a good time to go sight seeing in places such as Moscow, St. Peterburg, etc. But I don't like to go travel alone. Btw travelling need money and wise planning, if someone didn't plan properly for the trip, then it will be just a waste of money, and I admitted that I am terrible in planning.

"What are you doing here? Don't waste your life here"
When he said 'Don't waste your life', this caught my attention, I asked him, "What do you mean by 'Don't waste your life'?" I asked him twice but he didn't really answer my question. He said, "Just don't waste your life. Go wear nice shirts, go around the town, go to the opposite side of Volgo River to meet some girls" =___=||

Well, for me, It is very wasting life by having excess entertainment, by watching films, movies and dramas the whole day, by sitting inside the room and play computer games or online the whole days. Of course I am not against entertainment, cause all works and no play make Billy a dull boy. But excessive entertainment is really making someone 'no life' (that's what my friend described it). I personally experienced it before.

After SPM, while waiting for the result, I was staying at home, practically doing nothing. I went to learn driving, but driving lesson was just few hours per week. My mom asked me to go read up some Form 6 books, cause that might be a possibility for my future, but after reading the first chapter of Biology about carbohydrate, I stopped. So I end up just staying at home playing online game. When I think back about this, the first thing came to my mind is "wasting life". It is really a waste of time, I played for days and nights, and what I get is just some success in a virtual world, and some excitement and fun when playing. But when the excitement and fun was over, what is left is emptiness. What a waste of life.

Last year after my summer exams in first year, I have few days time before going back Malaysia. So what I did? Again I end up in excessive entertainment, but this time not online game, cause no one can effort that high cost of internet fee, since it is counted by per byte received. So what I did, like others I end up watch dramas and animes whole day, very meaningless, very wasting life. When I went back to Malaysia, I met up with my teachers and friends in Samad, but most of them busy with their studies in college or Form 6, so is impossible that I met up with them everyday. My parent busy with their works and my siblings also busy with their studies, so I end up watching TV in morning, sleeping in afternoon, at night watch TV and online. What a waste of life.

But at least now I know I am not wasting life, because God found me. The greatest thing happened in my life is God brought me to this place and made himself known to me. It is really great to know there is a creator that not only created you, but he also loves you. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) I am also very glad because I have the chance to read God's Words or the Bible, because All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Heavenly Man 天上人

Today I just finished reading a book entitled "The Heavenly Man" (天上人). It is a remarkable true story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun (云弟兄).


The title comes from the name by which Brother Yun was known amongst the house church networks. He gained that name from one night of interrogation when he would only answer "I am a heavenly man!", instead of revealing his true name, in order to protect other Christians from the police. This book is co-written and translated by Paul Hattaway and published by Monarch Publications. This book was awarded the Christian Book of the Year in 2003.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Yun

My friend described this book as the modern-day version of the Book of Acts in the Bible. Indeed, it is like the Book of Acts. Brother Yun came from the Henan Province in China and came to Christ and start to preach the gospel in the age of 16. Through out the book we can see how he and other christians in China suffered from persecutions in China. During that time China is ruled by Communist Party, under the leadership of Mao Zedong. So to say "I believe in Jesus Christ" or "Praise to our Lord" is like suicide. Christians in China are considered as counter-revolutionists and will be thrown into jail. All the Bibles are confiscated, all foreign missionaries are not allowed.

But in spite of all the persecutions, Brother Yun still eagerly preaches the gospel throughout China and leads many people to Christ. The persecutions force the christians to run from towns to towns in order to escape the pursue from authorities, but when they run from towns to towns, the gospel also spreads from towns to towns. Christians who are in prisons also bring the good news about Jesus Christ to other prisoners and lead them to Christ. Ironically, under such persecutions and harsh conditions, the gospel spreads quickly to many areas in China.

Not only so, through out the book we can see how God works in Brother Yun's and other christians' life. We can see how God performs miracles through Brother Yun, we see how Brother Yun received his first Bible, we see many people were healed, we see how Brother Yun fasted for 74 days without food and water, we see how he miraculously escaped from the prison, like what happen to Apostle Peter, and we see how God brings him to Germany.

After read this book, I appreciate all the things that given by God. Compared to Brother Yun, my life is so peaceful. He prayed for three months to get his first Bible, but my first Bible was given to me, even though I never demand it from God. I can bravely proclaim the name of Christ without entering the prison, but just because of Christ's name, Brother Yun was thrown into the prisons for many times and was tortured by the authorities. Now only I fully realised that how blessed I am, because I need not to go through what Brother Yun went through.

But everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). I can feel that there are many persecutions waiting for me in the future, but blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

A quote from this book:
Jesus is truly worth knowing. He is worthy to receive our whole lives. If you do give him your life, you'll surely never regret it.
Will you follow him?

Amazing Grace

~ Amazing Grace ~ How sweet the sound ~ That save a wretch like me ~

Many people should be very familiar with this hymn "Amazing Grace" written by John Newton. Today I just watch a film produced in 2006, entitled "Amazing Grace" directed by Michael Apted. It is about a true story of William Wilberforce and his 20-years courageous fight to abolish the British slave trade. Along the way Wilberforce meets intense opposition from the members of Parliament but his old preacher, John Newton, a reformed slave ship captain, urges him to see the cause through. Although he failed once and having severe chronic colitis, but with the strength from God he succeed in the abolition of slave trade in British.

The synopsis of the film:

The film begins with Wilberforce severely ill and taking a holiday in Bath, Somerset, with his cousin, Henry Thornton. It is here that he is introduced to his future wife, Barbara Spooner. Although he at first resists, she convinces him to tell her about his life. The story flashes back 15 years to 1782, and William recounts the events that led him to where he is now. Beginning as an ambitious and popular Member of Parliament (MP), William was persuaded by his friends William Pitt, Thomas Clarkson, Hannah More and others to take on the dangerous issue of the British slave trade which led him to become highly unpopular in the House of Commons amongst the Members of Parliament representing vested interests of the trade in the cities of London, Bristol, and Liverpool.

Exhausted, and frustrated that he was unable to change anything in the government, William becomes physically ill (in the film he is depicted as suffering from chronic colitis), which brings the story back to the present day. Having virtually given up hope, William considers leaving politics forever. Barbara convinces him to keep fighting because if he does not, no one else is capable of doing so. A few days afterward, William and Barbara marry; and William, with a renewed hope for success, picks up the fight where he had previously left off, aided by Thornton, Clarkson and James Stephen. In time, after many attempts to bring legislation forward over twenty years, he is eventually responsible for a bill being passed through Parliament in 1807, which abolishes the slave trade in the British empire forever.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace_(2006_film)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Suffering >.<

Just now when I read "Our Daily Bread", I came across to this verse: Just as it pleased the LORD to make you prosper and increase in number, so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess. (Deuteronomy 28:63)

When I read this, it reminded me a problem that my friends and I are facing now, if this problem is not settle, then we might need to stay here for the summer holiday. I don't mind staying here, but the money will be wasted, and I can't meet my family and friends. I don't know what is the outcome of this problem, but I know no matter what will be the result, not only it will be the best result (because God prepared the best of us) but it will bring glory and pleasure to Him.

Even though now I am facing this problem, this suffering, this trouble, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4) and God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). Amen.