Monday, October 30, 2006

Treats or tricks!!! Halloween's here!



Halloween
Kid's Treat or Pagan Trick?

Many Christians celebrate holidays, such as Halloween, without thinking about their origins or true meaning. It is impossible to separate Halloween from the Druids because they originated the "holiday."

For several hundred years before Christ, the Celts inhabited what is now France, Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland. Celtic priests were called Druids. These people were eventually conquered by the Romans.

Information about the Celts and Druids comes from Caesar and the Roman historians, Greek writings from about 200 B.C., and very early records found in Ireland. Greek and Roman writings about the Druids dwell heavily on their frequent and barbaric human sacrifices. The ancient Irish texts say little about human sacrifices, but detail the Druids' use of magic to raise storms, lay curses on places, kill by the use of spells, and create magical obstacles.

Human Sacrifices

Davies, however, a 16th century writer who traced his family lineage directly back to Druid priests who fought against Caesar, clearly describes the human sacrifices of his ancestors and the secret sacrifices still performed regularly by the Druids of his time.

By 47 A.D., Rome finally defeated the Druids in Britain and outlawed human sacrifices. The few remaining Druids went underground.

Today a growing group of people claiming to be of direct Druid descent, still practice their religion, including human sacrifice. Those in England still perform ceremonies at Stonehenge.

November 1st was the Celtic new year

October 31st was celebrated by the Druids with many human sacrifices and a festival honoring their sun god and Samhain, the lord of the dead. They believed that the sinful souls of those who died during the year were in a place of torment, and would be released only if Samhain was pleased with their sacrifices.

Monks Fascinated By Druids

Irish records tell of the fascination the Catholic monks had with the powerful Druids, and Druids soon became important members of their monasteries. Pope Gregory the Great decided to incorporate the Druids' holiday into the church. He made the proclamation, "They are no longer to sacrifice beasts to the devil, but they may kill them for food to the praise of God, and give thanks to the giver of all gifts for His bounty." Pope Gregory III moved the church festival of October 31st to November 1st and called it All Hallows or All Saints' Day. Pope Gregory IV decreed that the day was to be a universal church observance. The term Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve.

The founding fathers of America refused to permit the holiday to be observed because they knew it was a pagan holiday. Halloween was not widely celebrated in the U.S. until about 1900. In the 1840's there was a terrible potato famine in Ireland which sent thousands of Catholic Irish to America. They brought Halloween with them.

The modern custom of going from door to door asking for food and candy goes back to the time of the Druids. They believed that sinful, lost souls were released upon the earth by Samhain for one night on October 31st while they awaited their judgment. They were thought to throng about the houses of the living and were greeted with banquet-laden tables. People greatly feared these spirits and thought that the spirits would harm and even kill them if the sacrifices they gave did not appease Samhain. They carved demonic faces into pumpkins or large turnips, placing a candle in them to keep the evil spirits away from their homes.

The tradition of bobbing for apples and giving out nuts came from a Roman addition to the Druidic New Year�s eve. The Romans worshiped Pomona who was the goddess of the harvest. They combined their harvest festival to Pomona with Halloween.

Very little archeological evidence of the Druids has been found, but there is excellent agreement between the Roman and Irish documents. Both clearly state that the knowledge of the Druids was never committed to writing but passed from generation to generation by oral teaching. This was to protect their secrets. In his writings, Davies indicates that he came under much persecution by his family for putting in writing his information about Druids. The same is true today. Nothing is put into writing. The Druids continue on secretly with much the same traditions.

The widespread problem of harmful substances such as razor blades, drugs, poisons, needles, etc. being placed in the Halloween treats here in America is no accident. Testimonies of several ex-Satanists show that these children killed and injured by the "treats" are sacrifices to Satan (or Samhain). Satanists throughout the world continue to perform human sacrifices on Halloween.

Is this something you want YOUR child to participate in?

More readings, click here Halloween

Sunday, October 29, 2006

SO SINGLISH...

Hehe, this sign is so singlish. Couldn't resist buying it coz it just reminded me of my days in S'pore. Has been on my pajero ever since.

Friday, October 27, 2006

The HOLY APPHABET

I found the following inspirational piece on the internet and I would like to share it with you today:



THE HOLY ALPHABET

A - Although things are not perfect

B - Because of trial or pain

C - Continue in thanksgiving

D - Do not begin to blame

E - Even when the times are hard

F - Fierce winds are bound to blow

G - God is forever able

H - Hold on to what you know

I - Imagine life without His love

J - Joy would cease to be

K - Keep thanking Him for all the things

L - Love imparts to thee

M - Move out of "Camp Complaining"

N - No weapon that is known

O - On earth can yield the power

P - Praise can do alone

Q - Quit looking at the future

R - Redeem the time at hand

S - Start every day with worship

T - To "thank" is a command

U - Until we see Him coming

V - Victorious in the sky

W - We'll run the race with gratitude

X - Xalting God most high

Y - Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but

Z - Zion waits in glory where none are ever sad!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

the 2 days of Raya breaks

This is how we spent the Hari Raya breaks...basketballing in GMC. shoot a few loops (haha mostly air balls) and most of the time...chasing after the ball.... haha, followed by a day with the Tan family.


Saturday, October 21, 2006

Who could resists them??? I sure couldn't

These furry darlings sure brings the sunshine back into my day today.







This one reminded me one of my crab analogy...shy shy crabbies.... scurrying for your burrows...


Gentle as a lamb.......



AN INFURIATING MORNING!! (in BK class)

BOY!....O BOY!! How annoying can it gets....sometimes i just don't know how to 'handle' this bunch of 16 yr-old monkeys . They are just so totally annoying. Friends and youth alike have mentioned their behaviour but i just kinda shrugged it off saying that they are just youngersters, full of energy...but i guess i was wrong ( i hope).





Then again, after "speaking" my thoughts and venting my "raw anger" to my best chatter on line, i kinda cooled down. Thanks Knarf for "listening".


God reminded me too that things cant be better if anger is in control....then again i was asking myself... why let anger take presidence over other things this morning. Saturday is always my best day of the week... Yeah! wont let it spoil my day. Afterall they are just youngsters, full of energy......





Now i am overcome with sadness...sad to see that these christian youth who are committed in church and school (ISCF), (not to mentioned some of them are on the prefectorial board) can behave in these manner; sad to see the way they response and react in class... such sad testimonies... Hopefully they will learn to channel their energy in the positively; to encourage other, to serve others, to love other, to do things that are glorifying to God.

On my part, teach me Father to learn to love them more and also to have more patience with them.




Thursday, October 19, 2006

NO APOLOGIES @ SMKCH 16-17 OCT 06


I love crowds....the mix, the chatter, the vibes.....


This round I had a most wonderful time this month with the Form 3 students here. They were fun and attentive..... though initially a bit shy and reserved at the beginning. Alicia and myself were conducting this workshop with the Group 2 in the makmal sains.







DAY 1
7.45am I rushed to the lab only to find (to my disappointment) that the PA was not even set up. PA Prefects were engaged in exams and could only extend their help at 9am earliest. Not to mention that the day was hot, hot, hot and the very fact that i had lost my voice.

8.20am Started with the Worskshop without a mic to "amplify" my husky voice.... boy, it definitely took a lot of effort to get the attention of the students. The rest of the workshop went as planned.





Day 2
Started the 2nd session without any hick-ups... However when it comes to the Q&A session, boy...did we get all sorts of 'cute' questions. Appended below are two examples:

1. 男人不坏, 女人不爱, is it true?
2. After marriage, when is the most suitable time to make love?
Hahaha!




Auntie Alicia and Gaston Agan



Leh Bing and I

I enjoyed these two days with the SMKCH kids too. It is always a joy to see them taking a step forward and making the Pledge of Abstinence.

Monday, October 16, 2006

COMBINED MINISTRIES NITE 13/10


An exuberant and uplifting praise and worship session led by the i-Youth. Keep it up youths, shine and burn for the Lord with your music, team spirit, INTEGRITY AND INFLUENCE!


The Airport Cell group with their actors and actresses....

Ah Mah ........

Well, this was the nite that i lost my voice......







Friday, October 13, 2006

NO APOLOGIES @ SMK ST CO

The interactive students of St. Co during the 2 days of the No apologies Workshop.


Look at the smiles on their faces.... yes! They definitely enjoyed their NO APOLOGIES workshop. Anyway, i enjoyed my time with them. They were most interactive and responsive. Thus making the sessions fun and exciting. There was never a dull moment with them. We joked, laughed and even dramatised "responding to negative peer pressure" slot. I am looking forward to more of these wonderful session with the St Co students.

They definitely make teaching and learning interesting and fun. Keep it up, St Columbans!