Hey guys, if u've never gotten this email before... i do hope u enjoy it :) It's seriously quite cool. (Martin should enjoy this lol)
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty. He asks one of his new students to stand and.....
Prof: So you believe in God? Student: Absolutely, sir. Prof: Is God good? Student: Sure. Prof: Is God all-powerful?
Student : Yes.
Prof: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn't. How is this God good then? Hmm?
(Student is silent.)
Prof: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, young fella. Is God good? Student :Yes. Prof: Is Satan good?
Student : No.
Prof: Where does Satan come from?
Student : From...God...
Prof: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student : Yes.
Prof: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Prof: So who created evil?
(Student does not answer.)
Prof: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student :Yes, sir.
Prof: So, who created them?
(Student has no answer.)
Prof: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son...Have you ever seen God?
Student : No, sir.
Prof: Tell us if you have ever heard your God?
Student : No , sir.
Prof: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelled your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Prof: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student : Yes.
Prof: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.
Prof: Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Prof: Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as cold?
Prof: Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn't.
(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)
Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, 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. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)
Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Prof: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness 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? In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?
Prof: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Prof: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. 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: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Prof: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)
Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavour, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class is in uproar.)
Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?
(The class breaks out into laughter.)
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelled it?.....No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Prof: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.
Student : That is it, sir.. The link between man & god is FAITH. That is all that keeps things moving & alive.
That young man was ALBERT EINSTEIN
God Bless and hav fun studying for CAs :)
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Hmmm... ...
Hey T14,
I came across this in an e-mail and I thing it is really
meaningful and thought provoking. Hope you all like it!!!
"Happiness keeps u Sweet,
I came across this in an e-mail and I thing it is really
meaningful and thought provoking. Hope you all like it!!!
"Happiness keeps u Sweet,
Trials keep u Strong,
Sorrow keeps u Human,
Failure Keeps u Humble,
Success keeps u Glowing,
But only God Keeps u Going
If GOD brings you to it, HE WILL bring through it"
Do take care everyone and have a great weekend, see you all
on Monday. Cheers!!! :)
Sorrow keeps u Human,
Failure Keeps u Humble,
Success keeps u Glowing,
But only God Keeps u Going
If GOD brings you to it, HE WILL bring through it"
Do take care everyone and have a great weekend, see you all
Saturday, July 21, 2007
my first post.. T_T kidz say the cutest things
A group of professional people posed this question toa group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper thananyone could have imagined. See what you think:
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bendover and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, evenwhen his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name isdifferent. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts onshaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."Karl - age 5
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody mostof your French fries without making them give you anyof theirs." Chrissy - age 6
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy andshe takes a sip before giving it to him, to make surethe taste is OK." Danny - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you gettired of kissing, you still want to be together andyou talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. Theylook gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas ifyou stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"If you want to learn to love better, you should startwith a friend who you hate." Nikka - age 6 ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, thenhe wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old manwho are still friends even after they know each otherso well." Tommy - age 6
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I wasscared. I looked at all the people watching me and sawmy daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scaredanymore." Cindy - age 8
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep atnight." Clare - age 6
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece ofchicken." Elaine-age 5
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty andstill says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Love is when your puppy licks your face even afteryou left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives meall her old clothes and has to go out and buy newones." Lauren - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and downand little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and shedoesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you meanit. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.People forget." Jessica - age 8
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscagliaonce talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caringchild. The winner was a four year old child whose next doorneighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recentlylost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into theold gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and justsat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to theneighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"
DC
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bendover and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, evenwhen his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name isdifferent. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts onshaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."Karl - age 5
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody mostof your French fries without making them give you anyof theirs." Chrissy - age 6
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy andshe takes a sip before giving it to him, to make surethe taste is OK." Danny - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you gettired of kissing, you still want to be together andyou talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. Theylook gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas ifyou stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
"If you want to learn to love better, you should startwith a friend who you hate." Nikka - age 6 ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, thenhe wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old manwho are still friends even after they know each otherso well." Tommy - age 6
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I wasscared. I looked at all the people watching me and sawmy daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scaredanymore." Cindy - age 8
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep atnight." Clare - age 6
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece ofchicken." Elaine-age 5
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty andstill says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Love is when your puppy licks your face even afteryou left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives meall her old clothes and has to go out and buy newones." Lauren - age 4
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and downand little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and shedoesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you meanit. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.People forget." Jessica - age 8
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscagliaonce talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caringchild. The winner was a four year old child whose next doorneighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recentlylost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into theold gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and justsat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to theneighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"
DC
IMPT ANNOUNCEMENT
Hi ppl... got impt announcement to all.... Abt the CJC Gymnastics Charity Concert....anyone interested?? I wasn't told much abt the detail by alvan.... i tink it cost $10...to go there see ppl flying around.... then the $$$ collected all go to charity la...ah bu then.... Then i hope u all ppl will go there to support la.... I dun know if Mandy will be participating the event.... but if she does.... the more we shld go there to support her.... Then i need ur reply by monday....coz ticket collection will be on tues.... Sry sia....shld have made the announcement on fri....but totally forgot abt it.....
Then still got more.... THE PAINTING A BIN THINGY....DAMN IMPT.... DIE DIE GO READ EVERYTHING..... so labrooy say liao....we will be doing it on monday, 23/7 from 4 to 6pm.... I doubt tat those ppl as designers have start anything....so i ask alston to come up with something during the wkend...when he got nothing better to do..... then the rest will draw the designs on the bin on tat day..... IT MUZ INCLUDE SCHOOL LOGO, DATE OF COMPLETION, AND OUR CLASS.... THE DESIGN MUZ BE BASED ON THE THEME WE CARE, WE SERVE, WE BUILD COMMUNITY....
PPL I NEED ALL OF U ALL TO BRING OLD T-SHIRT, A LOT OF NEWSPAPER, THEN UR OWN PAINT BRUSH FOR THOSE DESIGNERS AND PAINTERS.... CLEANERS MUZ GO BRING TURPENTINE.... then we are only supplied with three colours, white, yellow, and blue...... I SAY THEY SIAO AH....WAN US TO INCLUDE CJC LOGO BUT NEVER GO SUPPLED US WITH RED COLOUR.... SO I NEED U ALL TO BRING WADEVER COLOR PAINT OSO CAN.... OR ELSE OUR CJC LOGO WILL BE IN BLUE, YELLOW OR WHITE COLOUR..... Don't come to sch on monday then never bring anything.... then go say wad u dun have or u forgot.....
OK....then the skit i tink all of us will perform..... if it is chosen.... It is written by our johan.... talented piece of word.... we all gonna go to the stage to sing..... ok all the best to T14....with our brains, talents and cooperation we gonna win the the bin and the basketball thingy..... WE ARE THE BEST, THE REST ARE ASS!!!
HTC
Then still got more.... THE PAINTING A BIN THINGY....DAMN IMPT.... DIE DIE GO READ EVERYTHING..... so labrooy say liao....we will be doing it on monday, 23/7 from 4 to 6pm.... I doubt tat those ppl as designers have start anything....so i ask alston to come up with something during the wkend...when he got nothing better to do..... then the rest will draw the designs on the bin on tat day..... IT MUZ INCLUDE SCHOOL LOGO, DATE OF COMPLETION, AND OUR CLASS.... THE DESIGN MUZ BE BASED ON THE THEME WE CARE, WE SERVE, WE BUILD COMMUNITY....
PPL I NEED ALL OF U ALL TO BRING OLD T-SHIRT, A LOT OF NEWSPAPER, THEN UR OWN PAINT BRUSH FOR THOSE DESIGNERS AND PAINTERS.... CLEANERS MUZ GO BRING TURPENTINE.... then we are only supplied with three colours, white, yellow, and blue...... I SAY THEY SIAO AH....WAN US TO INCLUDE CJC LOGO BUT NEVER GO SUPPLED US WITH RED COLOUR.... SO I NEED U ALL TO BRING WADEVER COLOR PAINT OSO CAN.... OR ELSE OUR CJC LOGO WILL BE IN BLUE, YELLOW OR WHITE COLOUR..... Don't come to sch on monday then never bring anything.... then go say wad u dun have or u forgot.....
OK....then the skit i tink all of us will perform..... if it is chosen.... It is written by our johan.... talented piece of word.... we all gonna go to the stage to sing..... ok all the best to T14....with our brains, talents and cooperation we gonna win the the bin and the basketball thingy..... WE ARE THE BEST, THE REST ARE ASS!!!
HTC
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Choices
Hey guys, something my sis found on the internet. It's a cool story that talks about choices. Do take the time to read.
As Nicolas walked down the street of the hillside town where he lived, he was greeted with the same sight he had seen since he was old enough to walk.
The mountain terrain made for a rocky road with many houses stacked next to each other on one side of it. On the other side of the road was a vast meadow.
Plants of every kind could be seen everywhere he looked and the Carpathian Mountains up ahead offered the small town a much welcomed shade from the scorching sun.
Beautiful villa's surrounded Nicolas as he made his way toward a small church, where he knew most of the people would be.
Within a few moments he knew his struggle over the rolling hills had paid off, as he reached his desired location. The church was small with white stone as its only protective layer. It only had one window and a chimney that kept the religious people inside it warm during the harsh winter months.
The window could be easily avoided, not that anyone would notice with the amount of singing going on inside. As Nicolas made his way to the back of the church, he was greeted by five teenage boys. A high pitched voice greeted him as he approached the group. "Hey what took you so long?" his friend Eddy asked. "None of your business" he answered as he lit a cigarette. "These people are never gonna leave" another boy chimed in. "Well then we're just gonna have to make them" the always overconfident Russell answered.
Each boy grabbed his bat and they all looked toward Russell for the signal. Russell was the leader of their group and obviously the strongest; next to him was Nicolas, the brains of the operation. "Ok guys lets see if their religion can save them now" Russell said with a laugh. In a few moments the boys had started running around the church screaming and beating on the doors, walls and window. The people inside ran out frantically, and the boys put their bats to use. They attacked the small crowd aiming to leave a mark. The crowd disappeared in a few moments, everyone running home for safety. "Run bastards, run" Nicolas shouted as he ran after two young boys. "Nick wait, where are you going?" Russell yelled as he caught up with him. "C'mon lets go find something else to do" Eddy shouted out of breath as he ran up to them. "They won't be coming back to church any time soon" another boy chimed in as the group went to find another activity.
Three weeks had passed and the boys were outraged with the church going people. They had been there three times and each time they had chased the frightened crowd off. Each time they had been certain the crowd wouldn't come to church again; each time they had been wrong. Nicolas was curious to find out why the people kept coming back to church. He came earlier and went in while they were praying. The pastor prayed for all poor people and for everyone in the church. The thing that struck a chord with Nicolas was that at the end of the prayer they had prayed for them.
"And God please bless those who come to hurt us and lead them to your path", as the pastor finished up the prayer Nicolas found it impossible to breathe. How could they pray for us, he wondered. His thoughts soon ended as he noticed his friends coming toward him. "Hey you're early for once" Eddy tried to joke. Nicolas slapped him over the head and headed for town. "Where are you going?" Russell ran after him. "I just don't feel like doing this anymore, It's getting old" and with that said he headed away from the church. The boys followed him and went to a bar; but the rest of the afternoon and much of the night he couldn't stop thinking about the people in that church.
Two weeks had gone by and Nicolas still couldn't stop thinking about that prayer. One day he decided that he would go and see what it was like, just out of curiosity. All eyes were on him as he entered the modest building; they were afraid of him and he could feel the tension. He turned back and as he headed for the door he bumped into a boy about his age. "Sorry" the boy murmured. Nicolas couldn't look him in the eyes and tried to make his escape as quickly as possible. The boy seemed to notice this and started making conversation with him. "Hey don't you go to my school?" he asked.
Nicolas looked him over and remembered seeing him somewhere; it must have been school. "Yeah", he answered. Aren't you going to ask me if I'm here to beat you up, Nicolas wondered. The boy as it turned out didn't seem to know this fact at all; he treated him as if they were the best of friends. "Come sit with me" he pulled Nicolas into a chair. Nicolas sat down reluctantly and tried to focus on the sermon, he could feel eyes of everyone on him. He knew that people were afraid of him by the sideways looks they gave him; but no one confronted him about it. The boy, Paul, had turned into a good friend and he found he could associate better with him then he ever could with his other friends.
Nicolas soon found out that he enjoyed going here and meeting with these people on a regular basis; he didn't anticipate that it all came with a price. One afternoon as he was coming from church he met his friends. "Where have you been these past two weeks", Russell asked in a low serious tone. "I've been busy", Nicolas tried to put on a strong show. Out of nowhere Russell jabbed him in the stomach and Nicolas buckled to the ground as all the boys surrounded him. They thrashed his body with kicks and punches until he lost conciseness. As he walked home that evening with many bruises and blood dripping down his forehead, he understood exactly how it felt to suffer for his beliefs. The real trouble awaited him at home.
Slowly, he entered his pathetic excuse for a home, noticing the stains and trash all around both the inside and outside the house. "Where have you been all night?" His father asked in a slurred voice. Nicolas could smell the alcohol on his breath from where he stood at the door and didn't want to go any further. "Nowhere", he answered. "You wouldn't believe what your friends have been saying about you" his father said as he came closer. "They say you're going to some church at the end of town", he was only a few feet away now and the smell of his breath was nauseating. "What do you care?" Nicolas answered back as he tried to make an escape to his room. "You think you're so much better than us, don't you?" Nicolas was too slow as his fathers' fist made contact with his jaw.
Already suffering from bruises Nicolas fell back against the wall behind him. He couldn't take this again and did the only thing he could. He gathered all his strength and pushed the drunken man into a recliner, and then he made a quick escape to his room. He locked the door as quickly as he could and grabbed a backpack and stuffed some clothes in it. His father was busy trying to knock down his door, as Nicolas slipped out the window of his mess of a room.
Nicolas ran as far as his legs could carry him, and realized he had nowhere to go. He knew that his father would get sober and in a few days he would forget all about the matter. The only problem he had now was where to wait out the days. His friends were no longer his friends and wouldn't take him in. He walked half the night and somehow managed to end up at Paul's house; with no other choices he entered through the gate and knocked on the door. Paul's father answered the door with a sleepy look on his face; Nicolas had forgotten how late it was. Surprisingly Paul's father didn't shut the door in his face; he only opened it wider to let Nicolas in. Nicolas reluctantly stepped into the light and he could see a surprised look in Paul's father's eyes, the man said nothing, but turned to another room. Paul and his father returned a few moments later and Paul led Nicolas to the guest room; no one asked any questions. The next morning as Nicolas looked in the mirror he was shocked at what seemed to be his face. At that point he realized that his life had to change.
Is it often that we are faced with having to make choices that put us in a less than favourable position?
Are willing to stand for what we think is right or do we just follow the 'flow' just for the sake of wanting to be 'relevant' to the people around us?
Are we the ones who give these people (like Nicolas) such a hard time? Trying to impose one's beliefs on someone else forcefully?
just some things to ask ourselves :)
Jam.Josh.
As Nicolas walked down the street of the hillside town where he lived, he was greeted with the same sight he had seen since he was old enough to walk.
The mountain terrain made for a rocky road with many houses stacked next to each other on one side of it. On the other side of the road was a vast meadow.
Plants of every kind could be seen everywhere he looked and the Carpathian Mountains up ahead offered the small town a much welcomed shade from the scorching sun.
Beautiful villa's surrounded Nicolas as he made his way toward a small church, where he knew most of the people would be.
Within a few moments he knew his struggle over the rolling hills had paid off, as he reached his desired location. The church was small with white stone as its only protective layer. It only had one window and a chimney that kept the religious people inside it warm during the harsh winter months.
The window could be easily avoided, not that anyone would notice with the amount of singing going on inside. As Nicolas made his way to the back of the church, he was greeted by five teenage boys. A high pitched voice greeted him as he approached the group. "Hey what took you so long?" his friend Eddy asked. "None of your business" he answered as he lit a cigarette. "These people are never gonna leave" another boy chimed in. "Well then we're just gonna have to make them" the always overconfident Russell answered.
Each boy grabbed his bat and they all looked toward Russell for the signal. Russell was the leader of their group and obviously the strongest; next to him was Nicolas, the brains of the operation. "Ok guys lets see if their religion can save them now" Russell said with a laugh. In a few moments the boys had started running around the church screaming and beating on the doors, walls and window. The people inside ran out frantically, and the boys put their bats to use. They attacked the small crowd aiming to leave a mark. The crowd disappeared in a few moments, everyone running home for safety. "Run bastards, run" Nicolas shouted as he ran after two young boys. "Nick wait, where are you going?" Russell yelled as he caught up with him. "C'mon lets go find something else to do" Eddy shouted out of breath as he ran up to them. "They won't be coming back to church any time soon" another boy chimed in as the group went to find another activity.
Three weeks had passed and the boys were outraged with the church going people. They had been there three times and each time they had chased the frightened crowd off. Each time they had been certain the crowd wouldn't come to church again; each time they had been wrong. Nicolas was curious to find out why the people kept coming back to church. He came earlier and went in while they were praying. The pastor prayed for all poor people and for everyone in the church. The thing that struck a chord with Nicolas was that at the end of the prayer they had prayed for them.
"And God please bless those who come to hurt us and lead them to your path", as the pastor finished up the prayer Nicolas found it impossible to breathe. How could they pray for us, he wondered. His thoughts soon ended as he noticed his friends coming toward him. "Hey you're early for once" Eddy tried to joke. Nicolas slapped him over the head and headed for town. "Where are you going?" Russell ran after him. "I just don't feel like doing this anymore, It's getting old" and with that said he headed away from the church. The boys followed him and went to a bar; but the rest of the afternoon and much of the night he couldn't stop thinking about the people in that church.
Two weeks had gone by and Nicolas still couldn't stop thinking about that prayer. One day he decided that he would go and see what it was like, just out of curiosity. All eyes were on him as he entered the modest building; they were afraid of him and he could feel the tension. He turned back and as he headed for the door he bumped into a boy about his age. "Sorry" the boy murmured. Nicolas couldn't look him in the eyes and tried to make his escape as quickly as possible. The boy seemed to notice this and started making conversation with him. "Hey don't you go to my school?" he asked.
Nicolas looked him over and remembered seeing him somewhere; it must have been school. "Yeah", he answered. Aren't you going to ask me if I'm here to beat you up, Nicolas wondered. The boy as it turned out didn't seem to know this fact at all; he treated him as if they were the best of friends. "Come sit with me" he pulled Nicolas into a chair. Nicolas sat down reluctantly and tried to focus on the sermon, he could feel eyes of everyone on him. He knew that people were afraid of him by the sideways looks they gave him; but no one confronted him about it. The boy, Paul, had turned into a good friend and he found he could associate better with him then he ever could with his other friends.
Nicolas soon found out that he enjoyed going here and meeting with these people on a regular basis; he didn't anticipate that it all came with a price. One afternoon as he was coming from church he met his friends. "Where have you been these past two weeks", Russell asked in a low serious tone. "I've been busy", Nicolas tried to put on a strong show. Out of nowhere Russell jabbed him in the stomach and Nicolas buckled to the ground as all the boys surrounded him. They thrashed his body with kicks and punches until he lost conciseness. As he walked home that evening with many bruises and blood dripping down his forehead, he understood exactly how it felt to suffer for his beliefs. The real trouble awaited him at home.
Slowly, he entered his pathetic excuse for a home, noticing the stains and trash all around both the inside and outside the house. "Where have you been all night?" His father asked in a slurred voice. Nicolas could smell the alcohol on his breath from where he stood at the door and didn't want to go any further. "Nowhere", he answered. "You wouldn't believe what your friends have been saying about you" his father said as he came closer. "They say you're going to some church at the end of town", he was only a few feet away now and the smell of his breath was nauseating. "What do you care?" Nicolas answered back as he tried to make an escape to his room. "You think you're so much better than us, don't you?" Nicolas was too slow as his fathers' fist made contact with his jaw.
Already suffering from bruises Nicolas fell back against the wall behind him. He couldn't take this again and did the only thing he could. He gathered all his strength and pushed the drunken man into a recliner, and then he made a quick escape to his room. He locked the door as quickly as he could and grabbed a backpack and stuffed some clothes in it. His father was busy trying to knock down his door, as Nicolas slipped out the window of his mess of a room.
Nicolas ran as far as his legs could carry him, and realized he had nowhere to go. He knew that his father would get sober and in a few days he would forget all about the matter. The only problem he had now was where to wait out the days. His friends were no longer his friends and wouldn't take him in. He walked half the night and somehow managed to end up at Paul's house; with no other choices he entered through the gate and knocked on the door. Paul's father answered the door with a sleepy look on his face; Nicolas had forgotten how late it was. Surprisingly Paul's father didn't shut the door in his face; he only opened it wider to let Nicolas in. Nicolas reluctantly stepped into the light and he could see a surprised look in Paul's father's eyes, the man said nothing, but turned to another room. Paul and his father returned a few moments later and Paul led Nicolas to the guest room; no one asked any questions. The next morning as Nicolas looked in the mirror he was shocked at what seemed to be his face. At that point he realized that his life had to change.
Is it often that we are faced with having to make choices that put us in a less than favourable position?
Are willing to stand for what we think is right or do we just follow the 'flow' just for the sake of wanting to be 'relevant' to the people around us?
Are we the ones who give these people (like Nicolas) such a hard time? Trying to impose one's beliefs on someone else forcefully?
just some things to ask ourselves :)
Jam.Josh.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
timetable
timetable for those too lazy to log on to colac:
see you guys tomorrow! dont be late yeah? and good luck to all! :D
see you guys tomorrow! dont be late yeah? and good luck to all! :D
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