Horoscope

Sometimes the truth hurts, and that may be the case with something someone is communicating to you right now. Nonetheless, you need to be made aware of a particular flaw of yours that is holding you back. Don't look at someone's critique of your skills or personality quirks as unkind, because the messenger here may be doing you quite a favor. Listen carefully to any personal feedback you receive today, whether you asked for it or not. If you can implement what you learn immediately, you may open the door to an unexpected opportunity.

Take this Quiz

Take this quiz: 
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. 
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. 
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress. 
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners. 
How did you do? 

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are 
no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. 
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. 
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one: 
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special. 
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not 
the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. 
Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life. 

THE OBSTACLE IN OUR PATH

 

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.

             Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

BUTTERFLY

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!

The Brick

About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and - WHUMP! - it smashed Into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH..!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"

"Please, mister, please. . . I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" Pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE -a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. . . Some bricks are softer than others. Feel for the bricks of life coming at to you. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers.

Packaging

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For 
     many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's 
     showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told 
him that was all he wanted. 

     As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited 
     signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the 
morning  of his graduation his father called him into his private 
  study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine 
son, and  told him how much he loved him. He handed his son 
a beautiful   wrapped gift box. 

     Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man 
     opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, 
he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you 
give  me  a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy 
book. 

     Many years passed and the young man was very successful in 
business. 
     He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his 
     father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He 
had   not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make 
     arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had 
     passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He 
needed   to come home immediately and take care things. 
When he arrived at  his father's house, sudden sadness and 
regret filled his heart. 

     He began to search his father's important papers and 
     saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With 
tears,  he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he 
read those   words, a car key dropped from an envelope 
taped behind the Bible. 
It  had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the 
sports  car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, 
     and the words...PAID IN FULL. 

     How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not 
     packaged as we expected? 

Dream Enviro Toilet

 

the experiences you find in taxis...... a step nearer to heaven or to hell

Due to the reckless driving of this SMRT cab on my way to work, I might not be alive or able to type this email right now. In stark contrast, on my way back, this time in another cab, there's inspiration to be drawn from the discussion of heaven and hell.

Honestly, at twelve midnight, leaving from Millenia Tower back home, I did not expect any heavy duty conversation, not when I am still nursing a stuffy nose & long drawn cold after 4 hours of intense work. It started with an innocent question pointed to the beeping ERP device ..*low value*

While he mentioned that there's no ERP on Sundays so no major worries, I added that's provided he will not be parking anywhere indoors tomorrow. 

He then proclaims that he parks in a mosque near his place, so no parking charges. Oh... really ? Din realise that. So can anyone park there or is it only for Muslims? Well, he said he saw people of all sorts parking there, even company vans. Well, guess I am the only Singaporean who does not know of this free parking opportunity, 24/7. 

I asked him if he prays everyday at the mosque. He said yes. Five times per day? Yes to that too. (He must be a very pious man.)

He then asked me abt my religion and my parents. I said I am free thinker but my parents are Buddhists and I appreciate that I have a choice. Maybe this is what sparked it all off. He then shared about the Buddhist father who lets the children choose to be Christian..I think it was some story in the New Paper. He tried to ask me why the Father will not ask the Children to believe in his religion if he truly believes in it? Don't he want the best for his children? Don't he love them? 

I suggested that perhaps Love is not just about asking them to do what you think is right for them (i mean how do we know we are right always?) , maybe it's always giving them a Choice and about supporting them in the decisions they make. 

Somehow, perhaps both sides knew each other either don't understand each other's viewpoint or knew that each other couldn't be fully convinced, the conversation very quickly turned to what is the purpose of life? 

Well, at this juncture, I stuttered. For once, no smart aleck answers from me. I mustered something along the line of .. "hmm..I don't have an answer ....surely it cannot be to help other people, cox if everyone's purpose is to help other people, then there's really no purpose and not so many people to be helped. Well, I don't know and since my stop is near, why don't you share your view?"

He then shared that the purpose in life based on the Quran is to worship Allah and spread his faith around. Those who do will go to heaven. 

So I asked, what if you believe in Allah but do not spread the faith,do you go straight to hell? He said that it depends on the person's good deeds. Fair enough. He then asked me if I believe in Heaven or Hell in the first place. 

I said I don't know if there's Heaven or Hell but I believe in God. 

He said that's cute. (wonder what means???)

Well, I think I cannot be more honest.

In any case, still no answers for me, so what is our Purpose in Life ? Is it linked to the hours we put at work every day, friendships, achievements, faith and spreading the faith, kinships, serving the society? If what we do every day is not related to our Purpose, then are we wasting our precious time on earth? 

What is the purpose of life?

It's a question that I always thought I have considered, especially after my dosage of Mitch Albom and Paulo Coelho but strangely, when asked tonight, I felt stunned and lost for words. 

It's time to reflect. 

why cabs are disappearing in CBD?

Why are there so few cabs in CBD area at night now ?? 

Cox of the IR ....  

Why ? 

There's surcharge of $3 ... 

Yes, but there is the same surcharge for CBD area. ...

Taxi Uncle also go IR to gamble?

Yes, some do but that's not the main reason. 

Then what is it??? 

Make a guess.....

Only constant thing in life is change

Today I received news that my ex boss is leaving which is pretty sad as I think she is one of those finer bosses that I really respect. However, nothing in life is for sure right? I didn't expect to be back so soon in the Singapore and I didnt expect her to be leaving so shortly thereafter as well. In fact, in hindsight, none of the people who were in my team has already left, all within 2 years. Now if change is not the only constant, what is ?

 

Well, having said that, thankfully good friends don't really change all the time . .. and tonight I had a fabulous dinner with Xian and Shu at Gobi , and service was really good too! Think should be heading back there again. Penne Pasta & Minestroni is recommended!

 

what if 2012 is for real ?

With the recent disaster in Haiti, followed by Chile, against the backdrop of extreme cold weather in Europe , US and China, I can't help but wonder if 2012 could be for real.

 

So if we assume there's a fifty percent chance it could happen, what would you do?

 

Will all be kinder towards each other or will it be a matter of fighting for survival ? Will people try to profit from the fear or will unemployment go up as people decide they don't want to work so hard after all ? 

 

 

When there's a will, there's a way

I broke my glasses last Wednesday. And when it comes to the time to pick out a new pair, it was yet again a very difficult choice because I tend to look like a school teacher wearing specs.

Choosing amongst all the designer brands was no mean feat for they all have fanciful sides, just like my sun glasses.

Finally, I settled on a pair and its unique selling to me was the inscription on the inside which says " when there's a will,there's a way "

How absolutely positive!

I decided to get it for the constant reminder to stay positive.

Christianity vs Catholicism - Difference?

Answers from Wiki Answers. 

Answer

This should read "what are the differences between Catholicism and other Christians?" because Catholicism is one of the branches of Christianity. 

Or this should read "what are the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism?" 

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Answer
As the person above states, the question should be "What are the differences between Catholicism and other Christians?" 
Before delving into differences, it would be beneficial to list things that all Christians, including Catholics, have in common:
* God is the Creator, and Sustainer, of the Universe . 
* God is deeply interested in the human race. 
* God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit: 3 persons but 1 God. 
* God became incarnate in the person known as Jesus. (Incarnation) 
* The Virgin Mary conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, not through 
any sexual act with another person. 
* Jesus is completely human and completely divine. 
* Human beings turned away from God's wisdom: this is sin. Actually, humans ate of the apple of knowledge, becoming aware of the existence of sin and thereby losing their innocence. They did so out of disobedience to God and as a result of listening to the serpent (Satan, the deceiver, formerly first among the angels and cast down by God), and the result was being thrown out of Eden. 
* Only God can save human beings from the grasp of sin. 
* Jesus (God incarnate) saved humanity by His freely-given sacrifice on the cross. 
* Jesus rose from the grave, conquering death, and ascended in to Heaven. 
* Christ will return one day; how, and in what form, we do not know. Anlthough scripture suggests that His return will be as a lion rather than as a lamb, perhaps meaning that He will not be as gentle when He returns. 
* Through Christ's passion, death + resurrection, God reconciled humanity to Himself. 
* God's grace (His love) and the salvation offered are completely free and cannot be 
earned by what a person does, no matter how noble. 
* The Holy Spirit dwells within each person. 
* The Bible is a collection of works written by men. Some of these works were divinely inspired and are the word of God. All of the works in the current bible were selected by the Catholic church, with some books being omitted since they did not support the Catholic view. 
* Jesus Christ is Head of the Church and is always present. 
* Jesus left Christians the command to spread the Good News of salvation. 
* Jesus directly left Christians 2 sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist. 
* God's will is that all people accept the salvation and eternal life offered. 
. 
Now, the main doctrinal differences between Catholics and Protestants
* Catholics believe that after the Fall in the Garden of Eden, some original innocence and goodness remained in humanity whilst much of Protestantism (e.g. Presbyterianism, Lutheranism, Methodism, Baptists, Assemblies of God, Pentecostalism) teaches that humanity became totally depraved. A citation is needed for this thought, because not all Christians are taught that humanity is without goodness and innocence. 
* Catholics: The bread and wine in the Eucharist are miraculously, and mysteriously, changed in to the Body and Blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Protestants believe there is no change and that Christ's presence is symbolic (though many Anglicans do believe there is a change) 
* Catholics: There are seven sacraments (holy moments): Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, Reconciliation/Confession and Anointing of the Sick. Protestants have only 2 sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist (though some Anglicans also believe in seven) 
* Catholics: It is Christ's will that there be 3 types of minister in the Church: bishops, presbyters/priests and deacons.Protestants sometimes have deacons but no presbyters/priests or bishops. A citation is needed for this thought, because most Christian churches have pastors/priests. 
* Catholics: The saints are worthy of both honour and respect due to their fidelity to Christ. Catholics do not pray tosaints, but ask saints to pray for them just as they would ask any person of faith for prayer. For Catholics, saint's physical bodies may be dead, but they are spiritually with Christ. Protestants do not ask saints for prayer because they believe that only Christ can intercede with God the Father. Most non-Catholic Christians also view the practice of praying to saints as idolatry. 
* Catholics: The greatest saint is Mary, Mother of Jesus. Mary was so full of love for God that she did not sin (Immaculate Conception). Protestants respect Mary as Jesus' mother but believe that she sinned like any other person. They believe that Mary was entirely human, and not holy. 
* Catholics: Because she did not sin, Mary's resurrected body was taken into heaven immediately after her death (the Assumption). Protestants believe Mary's body was buried, but where is the proof of what happened to her body? 
* Catholics believe that only a person perfectly open to God can enter heaven; thus, when someone dies the sinfulness left inside is purged (Purgatory) by God's love. Purgatory is not a place but an experience. Protestants do not accept the doctrine of cleansing/purgation but say that a soul goes immediately to either heaven or hell. However, Christians that accept that Jesus died for all of their sins, and thereby reconciled them to God, believe that everyone who accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, who died to deliver them from their sins goes to Heaven. There is no mention of Hell in the bible at all, however their is a mention of eternal damnation for those who refuse Jesus. 
* Catholics: God not only speaks to His people through Sacred Scripture, but also through the daily life of the Church over a long period of time; this is called tradition, and, although important, can never contradict Scripture. Protestantsbelieve in sola scriptura: Scripture alone, although some groups (e.g. Anglicans) do value tradition. However, some Christians do not believe that the bible is the unadulterated word of God. It only includes the works selected by Catholics, not selected by the Apostles, and as such is only the word of Catholics. The word of God is present in the bible, but the Catholics have selected works that supported their sect and perhaps omitted the word of God that was present in other works of the time. 
* Catholics: The Bishop of Rome (pope) is the spiritual leader of the Church (Christ is the Head), as this is Christ's will.Protestants do not accept the pope as spiritual leader, although some non-Catholics (e.g. Anglicans) have their own spiritual leader. Most Christians who are not Catholic view Jesus as the head of the Church. In this view, there is no need for other religious figures, since Jesus fulfills all religious needs. Jesus has already granted us Salvation without any requirements aside from believing on the Lord and being saved. 
* Catholics: Though he is capable of making mistakes, when the pope formally speaks about morals or dogma in the name of the whole Church, he cannot make a mistake because the Holy Spirit guides the Church. (Infallibility). This has only happened twice. Protestants do not accept papal infallibility and do not believe that any one person can speak for the Church. Jesus was the only person who could speak for the church, because he was also divine. The Apostles were directly influenced by Jesus, and could also speak for Jesus. Beyond this, nobody has authority to give morals or dogma because the time of Prophets is over, we are told by God in the Bible. 
Non-doctrinal differences:
There are other differences, due to human (not divine) law, and these may change. 
* Catholic priests of the Latin Rite may not be married (Eastern Rite Catholic priests may be married). Protestant clergy may be married. 
* Catholic laity have a voice in the Church but they do not help govern. In Protestant (and Orthodox) churches the laity help make every day decisions. 
* Catholics have no say in whom their leaders will be while in Protestant (and Orthodox) churches people usually either choose or have real influence. 
* Catholicism tends to be more prescriptive when it comes to what vestments to wear during services whilst inProtestant churches clergy have great freedom. 
* Catholicism tends to be much more centralized than Orthodoxy and Protestantism. 
* Catholicism does not allow a divorced person to be remarried in church unless a Church annulment has been granted. Whilst a few Protestant churches (e.g. Church of England) do not like to remarry divorcees, most permit remarriage after divorce. 
* Catholicism allows non-Catholics to receive Holy Communion only under strict conditions. Protestant churches usually allow any baptized person to receive Communion, although some non-Catholic churches do not observe Communion. (Orthodox churches totally forbid the practice). 
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Answer
The mainstream religions of the world and Catholics themselves consider Catholicism to be Christianity. 
A difference between Protestantism and Catholicism includes celibacy of the clergy, that is that priests cannot be married, (Jesus is not recorded in the Bible as making that a requirement, and the apostles were all married, save St. John, though they were married before they knew Jesus). The defense of a non-married clergy comes from the understanding that Jesus was not married since He dedicated His life solely to God, and sought to teach people the Word of God free of familial obligations. Hence, the Catholic priests of today do not marry so they may dedicate their lives to God and teach people the Word of God. Eastern rite priests, however, can be married before they enter the seminary to become priests.

Another difference is in receiving Communion. Catholics are offered Communion at every Mass. The idea being that, as human beings, they can receive the Body and Blood of Christ and the strength it gives to live a Christian life. 
A third difference is the idea of confession. Catholics believe that they should go to confession to verbally express their sins. Besides the grace of the sacrament and the guarantee that their sins are forgiven by Christ who acts through the priest, Catholics also feel a natural sense of peace. Some other religions think that a Catholic has to go to confession, almost as a punishment. However, most Catholics feel this give them happiness, joy and strength. 
Catholics are Christians and they believe in Christ. 

Even what is "written in the Holy bible is just the word of man". As what is written in the Magisterial Teachings of the Roman Catholic church. The differences are huge and many between the numerous denominations of Christianity to the point one wonders so many beliefs are really from God or man-made. However, most Christians believe there is only one God, and that no matter the name you attach to your one God, we all worship the same one God.