Head-dibs

The cardboard outer shell is recyclable, made of recycled materials (but please responsibly dispose the plastic container that actually holds the product, inside).

"Māgha Pūjā,  Makha Bucha, or the  Full Moon of Tabaung  . . .  is an important  Buddhist festival  celebrated in  Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos on the full moon day of the third lunar month (this usually falls in February). The third lunar month is known in the Thai language as Makha (Pali: Māgha); Bucha is also a Thai word (Pali: Pūjā), meaning 'to venerate' or 'to honor'. As such, Makha Bucha Day is for the veneration of Buddha and his teachings on the full moon day of the third lunar month." (source: Wikipedia) This is a day Buddhists strive not to sin, to do only good and purify the mind. This worldview is not understood with ease, being a kind of atheism that rejects the belief of a personal God yet is deeply concerned with maintaining purity with a non-personal Universe. Simply put (as much as one is able), the founder of Buddhism observed a world of suffering and evil under the watch-care of a personal God and he ...

A few observations from Proverbs 2 (NASB) I. “If” and “then” (Proverbs 2:1-5) A. If you 1. Recieve/Treasure 2. Hear/Incline heart (listen) 3. Cry/lift voice (pray) 3. Seek/search (read, study) B. Then 1. You will take God seriously 2. Know what is on His mind II. “For” and “then” (Proverbs 2:6-9) A. For the LORD 1. Gives Wisdom/knowledge/understanding 2. Stores up wisdom 3. Shields/ guards/ preserves B. Then you will discern (by taking Him seriously, knowing what is on His mind) 1. righteousness 2. justice 3. equity III. Outcome (Proverbs 2:11-22) A. Be Guarded (11) B. Delivered from 1. way of evil 2. perverse men 3. disobedient men 4. adultery C. Upright 1. walk 2. living 3. see the application of justice

Starting today through February 24 is the Jewish holiday, “The Feast of Purim,” or “The Fast of Esther,” recalling the events that led to and resulted from Esther’s two fasts. “Fasting” is the generally described as the practice of withholding from eating for a period of time. What caused this Esther-person to stop eating, twice; and, why recall the event even today? Ahasuerus (also known as the Persian King, Xerxes) gave a massive feast to basically show off his wealth, including Vashti, his beautiful queen; but, she refused to participate in the festival (wanting to shame the king) and was banished by irrevocable law. Ahasuerus stormed off to war against the Greeks and when he returned four years later, held a beauty contest to look for a replacement queen. Esther, a relative of Mordecai (a Jew), wins the kings heart while Mordecai saves the kings life after uncovering an assassination plot. Haman (an Agagite) receives a promotion and nurses his hatred against Jews because of Mordec...

So good it deserves a post all it's own (and "ha, ha" the conductor at 4:10): [ht: Failblog]

Looking for something to help re-adjust your key goals and life aspirations? Coming soon to a State Fair near you . . .

The third Monday of February is "Family Day" in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, a day set aside to celebrate family and family life. We Americans celebrate birthdays, Mother's Day, Fathers's Day and even Grandparent's Day, but why not the context of the relationship? I love this idea! What a marvelous idea for communities to focus on the family, especially in the context of the many threats imposed against children by other human beings. Each person has a responsibility to make a family unit: parents (fathers and mothers with their responsibilities) and children (who must learn theirs). What happens as a family is vital. A wise eye once observed that 1% of a modern child's influence comes through the local church; 7% of his influence from public school; 92% from the family.

What do YOU think he meant, after considering the statement in context? Straightforward answer appreciated, converse with civility. Foul language not permitted.

Some of Christianity’s top missiologists, mission administrators and teachers will gather at Columbia International University (CIU) for the annual Southeast regional meeting of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) March 8-9, 2013. The EMS exists to advance the cause of world evangelization through study and evaluation of mission concepts and strategies from a biblical perspective with a view to commending sound mission theory and practice to churches, mission agencies, and schools of missionary training around the world. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Missionary Family: Witness, Concerns, and Care.”  The keynote speaker will be  Dr. Jerry Rankin , the director of the  Zwemer Center for Muslim studies at CIU . His topic will be “The Family – An Asset to Fulfilling God’s Mission.”  Other CIU professors who will be making presentations at the conference include the dean of the CIU College of Counseling  Harvey Payne , counseling profes...

Ash Wednesday is the day many show an outward sign of repentance before God by wearing an imposing application of ash on the head or in the hair. This is derived from the biblical practice of mourning over sin “in dust and ashes.” What does it mean to mourn over sin? Consider the question in light of A.W. Pink’s thoughts on the Apostle Paul’s inspired teaching, "The sorrow of the world works death." (2 Corinthians 7:10): “Just as surely as happiness is the attendant of holiness--so misery is the certain result of sin. The sorrow of the world is not occasioned by mourning over sin as sin --but over the retribution which sin brings. The sorrow of the world does not arise from just views of sin, nor does it proceed from any concern that God has been offended. It does not lead the soul to God in true penitence, nor to turn to Him for consolation. When the worldling's dream of earthly happiness has been dispelled by misfortune--he feeds only on the sour bread of self-...

Shrove Tuesday gets its name from an obscure term (“shrive”) that means “absolve” or “forgive” and is specifically used in reference to one seeking forgiveness of sin by means of confession and works of repentance. Another way to explain this would be thus: this is the day to tell God one is sorry for sin, receive forgiveness and demonstrate one’s sorrow by doing works of penance before returning back to normal life. We just need to say “sorry” and God will forgive? How is this possible when God says that’s not how it works? “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” (Proverbs 17:15). If someone merely tells God, “sorry for my sin” then God would be an abomination to Himself by letting the sinner go without punishment (“the wages of sin is death” Romans 3:23). God cannot simply “just forgive.” He cannot be bribed by good works. Eat as many pancakes as you like. God can’t overlook sin.

Betcha didn’t know you were right in the middle of a party, didja? Yep. It started Saturday and will be going for a few more days (at least 15 days). The party goes by several names, depending on who is observing it; but for simplicity, we will call it “Lunar New Year,” and focus on the “Chinese New Year.” Be encouraged to do some reading on this because the event is ancient and celebrated by many cultures. Regardless, t he celebration is also family oriented, including reunion dinners among so many other meals marking opportunities of starting fresh. No matter “who” celebrates “where,” the Lunar New Year celebrations are intensely spiritual starting from the days of preparation when familiar spirits are honored and the evils ones are chased away. 正如有許多的物理定律管理著物質的宇宙，同樣也 有一些屬靈的定律管理著 和神的關係 。

One downfall to being a bibliophile and active reader is that I like to read what others are reading because I have developed this strange desire to know what shapes thought. Reading becomes quite enjoyable, yet reading can become overwhelming--especially when I encounter a good quote, such as the twoI am about to share. Footnotes, bibliographies and "for futher reading" sections  can be are quite destructive to my personal reading list. I don't even know why I have one as it keeps growing and growing and growing . . . Regardless, here are a couple of thoughts that are going to drive me to pick up yet another book, hence the name of this post "Anti-Book Review." Perhaps the best name should be "Book Anti-review" because I have not read the book yet. I am not anti-books, just the ones that increase my "to read" list. ;-) Here's the book I've yet to read: "The Divine Conspiracy" by Dallas Willard. Here are the two quot...

“Waitangi Day is a public holiday held on 6 February every year to commemorate the signing of New Zealand's founding document - the Treaty of Waitangi - in 1840. The national holiday was first declared in 1974, and since then has grown in significance for all New Zealanders through the Māori renaissance that has fostered better understanding of the Treaty’s ramifications. Official celebrations are held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands, Northland, but there are also many other events throughout the country.” (from newzealand.com ) I know a New Zealander who like to describe his home as that vast country found off the coast of the small island known as Australia. The official languages are English and Maori though Samoan is also widely spoken among twenty other languages. 53% of the population identify themselves as Christian and 18% of those are evangelical. As I’ve been reading about this day and the Maori people of New Zealand, one fact does not escape notice....

Today Mexico observes "Dia de la Constitucion", marking the end of a long journey that began in 1810 when liberty was won from Spain. The current document called the “Constitution of Mexico” was not drafted or penned in one sitting, but is the result of many revisions that began over 200 years ago. 1824, Mexican sovereignty was established, patterned after the government of the United States. When the French seemed to threaten Mexican Independence in, another draft of the constitution was approved. 1916 was the year the 1857 draft was revised and a Magna Carta was produced this day in 1917. That’s the hyper-short version. Longer versions include figures like Pancho Villa--and guns. Many differing voices speak about “constitution,” and two ideas are not that far from each other. Constitution is a document that reflects what makes or defines an entity (in my own words). It’s what “makes us up.” What we are as people or a nation cannot simply “be” but must come at a price. A br...

. . . are Twinkies ever "fresh?" Saw this nifty little item for sale at  Kilwins in Atlanta.  Am positive the price has since gone up, if not purchased by now.

February 1 is Federal Territory Day or Hari Wilayah Persekutuan , a state holiday for federal territory in Malaysia, celebrated each year in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. Wikipedia explains the day was introduced in 1974. “The date marks the anniversary of the formation of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory ceded by the state of Selengor to the federal government of Malaysia.” The capitol (Kuala Lumpur) is found in Western Malaysia. Operation World reports a population of nearly 28,000,000 people divided into 183 people groups, speaking 145 languages. 62% of the population are Muslim and approximately 12% are Hindu. Since sharing the gospel with Malay people is illegal, materials like this are intended for non-Malay peoples.