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Remembering MH17

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Where is Christ?

After decades of fierce opposition to the use of all contraception, the Pontiff has ended the Church’s absolute ban on the use of condoms.

He said it was acceptable to use a prophylactic when the sole intention was to “reduce the risk of infection” from Aids.  While he restated the Catholic Church’s staunch objections to contraception because it believes that it interferes with the creation of life, he argued that using a condom to preserve life and avoid death could be a responsible act – even outside marriage.

  - The Telegraph, 6th August 2012

A historic shift indeed. Many will salute this step forward into a sense of modernization of the Catholic Church. Be that as it may, how many Catholics actually take this seriously? Do Catholics really care whether or not the Pope and his Cardinals feel its okay to practice safe sex? If they do, the real questions is ... WHY? How many of you, who already practice safe sex, are actually going to feel a guiltless sense of liberation the next time you do?

"Oh thank goodness, I shall remain in the Pope's good books."

Yeah, 'cos that's what anyone thinks about in those moments. 

Is it really going to make that much of difference?

It shouldn't.

My parents, like most staunch Catholics I know, fail to understand why many young adults while still remaining in faith with Christ, remove themselves from the Catholic community. It's because of simple things, for example:

• After having missed mass ONE Sunday, I was nagged to attend mass on one of the weekdays to make up for it. While there may be nothing wrong in doing so if you should so have the urge to, forcing anyone to do so is inadvertently implying that somewhere up there someone is sitting with a register in hand, marking your attendance. 

• "You have to go to church." One day I asked why. "Why does my faith and relationship with God depend on whether I attend mass on Sunday?" "Because that's how you were raised." - Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should all stop atteding mass altogether, I would never say that, but really, does our faith and relationship with Christ REVOLVE around attending mass on Sundays? 

• "But I never see you praying" - My mother's favorite retort.   

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matt 6:5-8    

• Recently a friend shared this thought, "The Catholic Church is against homosexuality. So what if I have a gay friend and I don't do anything about it? Does that mean I am sinning?" Notice how she says "The Catholic Church ... " Where is Christ in this question?  

You may be wondering why I'm beating around the burning bush with all of this but if you notice in all the scenarios, everyone preached on how to be a Good Catholic. Use a condom. Go for mass. Say No to Homosexuality. No one mentioned Christ. 

I'm no scholar or theologian but what I've learned from the Teachings of Christ is there are TWO rules (the rule of two?!) --  Love God and Love Your Neighbor. 

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matt 22:34-40

That is all Christ asks of us. To love God and neighbour with a sincere heart. 

It's time to teach your kids to be good Christians.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the author.

Day 9 - Someone I Wish I Could Meet

ALAN ROGER DAVIES

I first came across Alan Davies when out of sheer boredom I scoured YouTube for something that could have the ability to hold my attention for more than, say, 15 minutes. On that somewhat fateful day, I chanced upon QI: Quite Interesting with Stephen Fry. QI is a British panel show hosted by the wonderful Stephen Fry in which Alan Davies is a permanent panelist. The nature of the show, which awards points for being interesting instead of accurate or relevant seems to bring out what I would simply love about anyone. Here's a video compilation of their ninth season: 

I've watched more than 50 episodes to date and since Alan is a permanent panelist, he's been in all of them! Except for their episode on Divination, where he magically disappears behind a "poof" of smoke and spends the rest of the show answering in a bellowing voice from what is seemingly portrayed as perhaps "another dimension" of sorts (read: audio room). Needless to say, I did not quite enjoy that episode. It sorta reminded me of those days when you go to school and you realise your best friend isn't there. Thankfully, at this instance, I could leave and go home ... by which I mean, skip to the next episode. 

I suppose the nature of the show is one that brings out what's best in individuals like Alan who have more of a knack for being interesting rather than being rather dully intelligent. To put it in a simpler manner, Alan is sort of the class clown who will sometimes pleasantly surprise you with his trivial (non-literal sense)  knowledge on various topics that range from football (strictly British), history, and being a pescetarian; giving "headmaster" Stephen Fry a sometimes-needed reminder that he's not just a pretty face. 

The truth is if Alan was the clown of my class I'd have a big, fat crush on him (already do, actually) because I love everything from his springy curls, silly antics to the impish smile he wears when he surprises Mr. Fry with bouts of trivia. Oh, Alan!

Why Maybank Should Give Me Tickets to Legoland

For many years I was the only girl in the house and I did everything with my two older brothers, Christopher and Brendan. Even after my younger sister, Kimberley, was born, it was still only the three of us who did everything together because she was too young. Basically, this meant that there really was not much room for Barbie dolls or masak-masak sets (I did not mind, really). Playtime and the weekends usually comprised:

However there were two things we loved more than anything else in the world - Michael Jackson and our Lego set and believe me, that's the truth! 

With my brothers, Christopher (L) and Brendan (R).    

Striking a pose with my battleship

After years and years of building skyscrapers, warcraft machinery, firearms and the odd-house or two (I was after all, a girl), I often found myself yearning for more. After watching  at least a dozen times, I wanted to see them move. I wanted animation, I wanted them to tell a story. Suffice to say, 3-pairs of hands were never really enough. So you can only imagine my delight when I accidentally came across a whole collection of StopMotion Mini Story videos filmed with Lego! The icing on my Lego cake? A Michael Jackson tribute!! I squealed, jumped and cheered enough for my brothers to come see what all the fuss was about - then they started buzzing with excitement too!!

My heart and spirit soared with every movement. Who knew there was a whole community of LegoLovers like me out there? There were others who wanted to see them come to live! I wasn't alone!!

It was amazing! Sorta like having one of my childhood dreams come true. Today, even I try my hand at Stop Motion mini Lego movies on my Mac!

 

Now, there's only one thing missing: an opportunity to immerse myself in all that is Lego! To take the experience to a whole new level! Although I do have some money left in my MAYBANK Savings Account - I was hoping to use that to invest in a brand-new LEGO set! 

Please Sir, may I have tickets to Legoland?