Tag: Holidays

To All The Good People Of The World

On By Paul2 Comments

42-17891336Give Take & Share

Your little good gesture

will help us start off

our worthy venture!

Let me share a beautiful story here:

57 Cent Church  

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was ‘too crowded.

‘I can’t go to Sunday School,’ she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: ‘This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.’

For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there….

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.

When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide..

Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000.00–a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit TempleUniversity, where thousands of students are educated. 

Have a look, too, at the Good   Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

Dr. Russell ConwellDr. Russell H. Conwell

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, ‘Acres of Diamonds’.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

YOU can be a part of this worthy cause in helping us to “helping people in plight” & saving lives.

Touching hearts and spreading cheer . . . Wiping off both sorrow and fear . . . Since you pass this place but once . . . you can at least extend your help just once.

Open your heart

&

Send your donation to

Asian Australian Initiative Inc.

Westpac Account No: 736 – 065 182364

Thank You

It’s your compassion we seek

For the funds that we need

For more info

CLICK >>>  https://paulchong.net/2012/12/13/asian-australian-initiative-inc/

Further Read . . . Helping People in Plight – Asian Australian Initiative Inc.

N G O

Non-Governmental Organisation

Registered No: A1007004H Incorporated in Western Australia

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Chinese Style of Celebration

On By Paul1 Comment

 

 

English: Traditional Chinese wedding attire

 

Contemporary red envelopes
Contemporary red envelopes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

There is something to be said about the Chinese when it comes to the question of celebration. And celebration not quite in the sense as generally observed by most people. Being a Chinese myself and having been largely Western educated with the benefits of having lived one score & ten years of my life in Australia, I can safely tell you that the Chinese are the most assiduous economic seekers.

 

They work both hard & smart without really ever taking a break or a holiday.

 

Before the introduction of modern way of business & labour operation, the Chinese as I know them work 24/7. Their holidays mean work & more work, as I would always say “Hard work will not a person kill, but sheer idleness will.”

 

My own grandfather & father lived by this philosophy, and in all the years of my father’s natural life, who raised up the nine of us siblings literally with the skills of his two hands, he had only been to Singapore and once to India with a cousin of mine. Needless to say, my grandfather known as “Mopeng Kaya” by the local Malays, never went anyway for holidays.

 

From thew womb to the tomb, the Chinese will never fail to celebrate the great & memorable occasions of birth, wedding & death.

 

Baby’s Full-Moon Celebration

 

30 days after being born, a Chinese baby is held in high esteem & will celebrate the occasion known as the “Full Moon” with red eggs, yellow rice & chicken curry, distributed far & near among all relatives & some close friends. It’s a real big thing.

 

 

Character represents “Longevity”

 

The other question of birth has to do with birthdays and not just any birthday. It is mandatory to celebrate the 60th & the 80th birthdays. These two great days are significant in the life of the Chinese. Red is the colour to go by in all the celebrations as in the distribution of red packets containing even sum of money known as “Ang Pow”.

 

Chinese “Ang Pow”

 

Chinese wedding celebration knows no limit too. The grandeur of its celebration spells the status & wealth of the people concerned. Rolls-Royce limousines as bridal vehicles & other luxurious imported vehicles make the scene.

 

 

Chinese wedding traditions

 

 

In life as in death, celebration goes on. Celebration mean eating. Food is the medium of celebration. The size of the banquet depends upon the economic status of the celebrants & also upon the significance of the day. There is also the question of “saving face” or as in Singapore they would express the notion of “Kian Soo” (not to lose out). In the Western world, it’s worthy in keeping up with the Joneses but for the Chinese it’s more by outdoing your relatives, friends & neighbours. Of late it was reported of a wedding banquet for 808 tables held at Liede Village, Guangzhou,

 

That is how celebration takes on the progressiveness of immensity.As a nation, there are other great festival celebrations such as Autumn Spring Festival or known abroad among the Chinese folks simply as Chinese New Year celebration, an occasion to match Christmas, or if not to outmatch it.

 

National holiday such as this create great havoc as great problems arise out of the need to cater transport for mass movement of people – a MUST-GO-HOME kind of thing to celebrate. But these days,the Chinese are beginning to take holiday trips locally to places of interest or abroad for their holidays. With millions on the move, that itself create the atmosphere of celebration.

 

With redness prominent everywhere & the ding & the bang of “noise” fill the air. It’s more “noise” than “music” with the classic display of lion dance & dragon dance for bigger occasions. These dances are performed with great kung-fu skills & artistry – nothing short of great gymnastic performances.

 

A picture is greater than ten thousand words. Here’s a slideshow to depict the colour, size & immensity of Chinese celebrations:

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Reminiscing & Reflecting

On By Paul2 Comments

 

Life is worth the living

Though it may be fleeting

Three scores or more would slip you by

Rejoice in the Lord always as the years go by.

Kids say the most refreshing things in their own ways to make

you realise interestingly of their innocence.

My young grandson, Nathanael (4), asked me once upon wishing me Happy Birthday. He asked me how old I was, and I told him, 74. My grandson was quiet for a moment, and then asked,”Did you start at 1?”

Yes, one day, one week, one month, one year . . . but where did all the years go? Is our life’s journey merely a doomed destination? Were we born to die? Realistically, from the womb to the tomb, there’s but one room – 3 by 6 by 6 . . . it’s a dreaded hole for most to inter our flesh & bones. But then, we can look ascendingly unto Heaven to meet our Maker & God. Be prepared for that glorious day when we all must bid farewell to our loved ones & friends.

If you are not sure of your age, as old people tend to become forgetful, listen to this. “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” my grandson would advise “Mine says I’m 4 to 6.” That is, if you are still wearing underwear!

Talking of birthdays, the more you have . . . the longer you are going to live. We should rejoice and celebrate as the years go by & let our doctors worry about our chronological age . . . it’s just a number.

Funny, we seniors are beginning to attend more funerals than birthday or wedding parties. It’s a morbid thought. It’s so sad to see your loved ones & buddies go when the use-by date expires. There’s no coming back. It’s a journey of no return. AsEtienne de Grellet (1773 – 1855) would say: “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, I can do or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

There’s enough of dying as it is without having dominant world leaders adding it on with senseless wars. What does war achieve?

 

Stop the wars!

Stop killing one another

To what end & purpose?

Let’s all live harmoniously

&

Appreciate what God has given us!

All nations can survive & prosper without having to dominate!

Celebrating Father’s Day in Australia

On By Paul5 Comments

By P Chong                                                Sunday 5 September 2010

With Grandson Matti Cutting A Specially Baked “Durian” Cake

Father’s Day in Canada, the U.K. and the United States is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. In Australia, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September. Why Australia chooses to be different, I have no clue. This year it falls on 5 September.

 

To me, Father’s Day is simple & pleasurable just to have family members getting together at home & have a day of eats, Karaoke singing, fun & laughter & fellowship. It’s generally a chance for families to get together and celebrate in similar way to Mother’s Day. Dads are spoilt and made to feel special & pampered.

 

Our two grandsons in Perth, Mattheson (7) & Nathanael (2), are wonderful to be around – for they sure make you want to live life all over again! Our other two grandchildren, Daniel (7 plus) and Stephanie (2 plus), live in Hong Kong. If only they could be around as well . . . but an army of four might bring the roof down!

 

It is a day for people to show their appreciation for fathers and father figures. Father figures may include stepfathers, fathers-in-law, guardians (e.g. foster parents), and family friends.

Cousins Catching Up with Old Times

 

 

 

I don’t expect presents but I sure appreciate our siblings’ presence. To other fathers, it may be a day out in the park, at the movies, at a zoo, or another place of interest . . . or getting handmade or Hallmark cards, food baskets, chocolates, clothing, gift vouchers etc.

 

This Father’s Day is very special indeed! We happen to have our relatives visiting from abroad . . . sister-in-law Beng from Singapore with her daughter-in-law Dawn & daughter Rachel, sister-in-law Hwa from Taiping, Malaysia. Others in the merry crowd include our cousins in Perth . . . Marie with her spouse Nigel and Joseph with his darling wife Mabel. Of course, our daughter Agnes & hubby Darren, our youngest son Andrew with Fiona – still very much the newly-wed on their honeymoon!

 

To me, home gathering is best. Each participating family member bringing along a dish of goodies to share in what I would call a “Potbless Fellowship” and with Karaoke singing . . . food galore . . . nothing seems more memorable!

`

Father’s day is not a holiday in Australia, since it’s a Sunday.

There are some suggestions that the idea of Father’s Day may have its origin in pagan sun worship. Some branches of paganism see the sun as the father of the universe.

As Christians we should remain very wary

Lest we be led astray!

Son-in-law Darren & Nathanael
Andrew Chatting Up with Nigel (Cousin-in-law)

Long-Lost Sis-in-law Christine in Canada Being Chatted & Introduced over SKYPE
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The Chinese Tradition of Marriage

On By Paul1 Comment

By P Chong                                                                               Sat. 4 September 2010

The Chinese Character for Double Happiness

There are three events in life that the Chinese really celebrate:

  • marriage celebration
  • the birth of a child (full moon celebration)
  • Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
  • Birthday celebrations are not a norm, except the landmark ages of 60, 70, 80 & all that . . . Celebration on the negative side will be in the event of “untimely” demise of the dear departed including Qingming Festival (All Souls’Day).

Red is Auspicious

Without order chaos exists. Even mechanical things work on a system, from a simple clock to the planetary system of the universe. If any part of the system should break down, the whole mechanism stops to function.

By the same token, it is true to say of the human society. It can only function properly with a system or order, otherwise chaos will prevail. This is a verified truism as exemplified by the way Chinese society is structured & conducted with particular reference to the question of marriage, which reflects the great importance attached to the concept of the family unit. The way the Chinese address their nation as their “national family” bespeaks the significance of the basic family as its core. Thus the way the individuals conduct themselves can make or break the hierarchy.

There is much to be said about arranged marriages in those days. Whatever your modern misgivings with ideals of love & romance, these marriages did come with problematic packages. The go-in-between and both the in-laws first investigated all details of the young man and lady in respect of compatibility with particular reference to their “animals” of birth, as whether it’s the year of the rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat monkey, chicken dog and pig. It’s astrology of an unique kind. The West would refer it as consulting the stars. There is much truth in that the characteristics of the personality do spell out clearly by the animal year of birth. Taking such precautionary steps avoid the pitfalls of marriage.

Talking of surprised or problematic packages in marriages, brings me to mind of a fictional story. It could well be true beyond your wildest imagination . . . it’s so funny, ridiculous & amazingly laughable.

This is seriously Funny . . .

Two men met at a bus stop and struck up a conversation. One of them kept complaining of family problems. Finally, the other man said: “You think you have family problems? Listen to my situation.”

“A few years ago I met a young widow with a grown-up daughter. We got married and got myself a stepdaughter. Later, my father married my stepdaughter. That made my stepdaughter, my stepmother. And my father became my stepson. Also, my wife became mother-in-law of her father-in-law.”

Much later the daughter of my wife, my stepmother, had a son. This boy was my half-brother because he was my father’s son. But he was also the son of my wife’s daughter which made him my wife’s grand-son. That made me the grand-father of my half-brother.”

This was nothing until my wife and I had a son. Now the half-sister of my son, my stepmother, is also the Grandmother. This makes my father, the brother-in-law of my child, whose stepsister is my father’s wife, I am my stepmother’s brother-in-law, my wife is her own child’s aunt, my son is my father’s nephew, and I AM MY OWN GRANDFATHER!”

And you think you have FAMILY PROBLEMS!!!”

Moral: Order prevails, otherwise chaos assails.

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A Wonderful Life . . .

On By Paul1 Comment

Starring: Ronald Cheng, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Vincent Kok, Teresa Mo, Yuk-Wah So   – It’s A Wonderful Life. 2007

The reality of life is that we are born to die. The future is set & final. It’s only the question of when & how – over which we have absolutely no choice or control.

From the womb to the tomb, one room in the ground is certainly waiting for us. There’s no escaping!

Some people always look to the future – moving forward, moving on, living for tomorrow, hoping for a better day. Others are grounded in the present and still others spend a lot of time reliving their past affairs and accomplishments.

Imagine the possibility of these scenarios:

  • Living a life without limits (Refer T D Jakes’ Reposition Yourself)
  • To have the option of living all over again repeatedly. (Refer “Groundhog Day” 1993)
  • To live life backwards – instead of living in a forwardly linear progression. (As propounded by T. H. White in “Living Backwards or In Reverse”). One takes inspiration from the past, energy from the present and vision from the future

Most will agree that living in the present is the most favourable and realistic rather than the three mindsets mentioned above. The present is all we have & anything that we can be certain of.

Often, in word processing software, we use the Un-Do button. Ever experienced a “faux pas” and wish life itself came equipped with such a key? Regrets live in that rear view mirror and no longer affect you. Hitting un-do brings the past back to the present only to force you to relive it. So, whenever you feel you’ve chosen poorly, forgive yourself and move on. There is no “retry” no “re-do” and no “un-do” to our experiences. What’s done belongs to history and you choose to either live with it and make it right the next time under similar circumstances or you can live your life in a constant loop of regret and blame. Life teaches us we can’t “un-do” anything. Choose instead to learn and grow. Make the best out of the circumstances.

In his song, “I Love The Now,” singer songwriter Jimmy Buffett writes:

“Tomorrow’s right around the corner

I’ll get there somehow

But I’m stuck in the meantime

And I love the now.”

The movie“Holiday” is about Johnny, a thirty-year-old man, played by Gary Grant who decides that he would like to use what little money he has to take a few years off for self-discovery. Afterward, he’ll be ready to settle down to a life of work and responsibility. Johnny feels, ‘Why wait until you’re old and sick to retire?’. That’s doing things backwards & it’s most mundane.

They say that “Youth is wasted on the young”. Alternatively, it’s often said “Don’t grow up so fast” or “Don’t grow old but grow up!” No matter how old you are, grab hold of that youthful spirit and natural ferocity and go for it. It may take some bending over backwards, but life happens now and the future becomes a memory in an instant.

Here’s Woody Allen’s Perspective on Living Backwards.

Woody Allen describes why he wants his next life to be in reverse, starting old and getting younger. Source: cslacker.com

I love words. It’s why I write & read. Also why I love lyrics and poems and movies. Words are powerful. They need to be guarded, for no retrieving is possible once they depart from our mouth. Most of us use words for the purpose of communication. Some of us wield words like artists wield brushes, painting something beautiful and or compelling out of what could have been merely mundane. Good writers have the ability to “paint with words”.

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