Hi guys.. i decided to concentrate on my studies more... i'm now trying to work for decent grades.. really planning for my future.. =) Well, ever since i stepped into poly, i realised that i have undergone many changes.. well, i'm happy that they are mostly quite positive..
And i guess i have experienced a lot more than before.. i' m more satisfied with simple things now.. not really interested in wealth or in glory or fame.. i'm just content being accepted in christ and doing his work.. Well, thats one of the reasons why when i was coming to the end of my 1st year in Sp, my entire career choice totally changed.. I was no longer concerned about getting that "good" job that every other parent would have hopes of their children having.. i did not even tink about having any lavish lifestyle or anything else.. to me, this seemed so insignificant.. so unimportant , than spreading the truth about Jesus Christ, and the wonders he worked in my life..
They say that the more our faith has grown, the less important other things of the world become. And once we have started to experience this, we will all begin to see how true that phrase is.. Well, i have started becoming more compassionate towards to less-fortunate.. I mean, i always was.. but well, i just became more of a good Samaritan these days.. I mean, i am now constantly donating money to charity.. helping strangers in streets.. etc..
Well, reflecting back, i recall many incidents in my life that i am not happy about.. But, i am learning hard to forgive those who have trespassed against me.. Triying so hard to forgive them and compromise.. I'm also trying hard to become more sensitive to other people's needs... Well , many times, i always feel that i am tackling too many areas in my life to bring abt changes. I keep pushing myself to be better in certain areas in my life.. I keep trying to force changes in me.. until i start to see myself falling apart..
And this makes me easy prey to the devil.. The devil has tried many a time to sow the seeds of discord and distrust within me.. Well, i fell for it hook line and sinker.. And its really bad just to think about how i was so easy tricked by the devil.. How the devil made me have feelings of anger, jealousy, hatred when reacting to varous events in my life.. And how i didn't even realise i was being used, until the damage was done..
I'm facing many problems in my life. i may look very calm and composed on the outside, but deep down inside, i'm bottling up many feelings.. and many times i keep finding the wrong ways to release my inner feelings.. I keep feeling that i am a nobody in this world.. But i know, that in God's eyes , i am somebody, accepted and free..
I realised that i am a very people -riented guy, very easily swayed by peer pressure and public opinion.. I just do not have my own stand.. and that is a major stumbling block in my life.. I just keep following the world blindly.. following the norm, the majority.. and it makes me wonder what will happen when Christianity is no longer followed or accepted by the majority anymore.. Would i still choose to stand firm? o=Or will i choose to let go? I just cannot give an answer..
to be continued..
Is City Harvest a cult? (Taken from this website.. ------> http://www.geocities.com/acity_harvest/ )
< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Answer this question,
Is City Harvest a place where...
a) a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by are promoted
OR
b)a place where extreme or excessive admiration for a person, philosophy of life, or activity is conducted
Firstly, let me state that, i am not in anyway against the belief of a god(s). What i am against is the active searching out of and roping in of new members of your "church" and asking for donations.
Now granted, people may choose not to donate, but seeing how everyone of the other people do so, they will feel peer pressure to do the same. i especially abhor the way in which your "church" sets out to recruit prospective new members. By telling them that they will go to hell if they do not attend your church or believe in (your) God, you are blalantly insulting the right of that person to his/her choice of religous belief. And i would like to remind everyone that NOT believing in God is a choice of religous belief as well.
By hosting youth activities at the church, you are encouraging young members to ask their friends to come and participate in them, but once at these events, the young people will feel obligated to join by the intense peer pressure. Soon, more young people will join, because it seems to be the "in" thing to do, and this use of peer pressure, whilst brilliant, is utterly immoral.
Many of these young people have no grasp of the religon at all, and are simply repeating what is told to them by those in charge at the church. Often they go to extremes such as walking around and praying openly, or excessively buying biblical books.They do not truly believe in the religon, although they may think they do, they simply do it because they're friends do it, and Hey! if that many people are doing it, it can't be wrong can it?Well, up until the mid 1800's people all over the US had slaves, and no one can doubt the wrongness of that can they?
The point is, just because everyone does it doesn't make it right.Haven't we had that old adage drilled into our heads from youth? To the young people attending City Harvest at the behest of their friends, i strongly urge you to reconsider. City Harvest members who are reading this, i welcome your LOGICAL reasoning and explaination. (Please don't give me any crap about burning in hell. i'll just laugh in your face and ignore you).
edit(26/10/03) : I don't know why i even bother. the cult has just gone from mindless mass of people, to even greater mindless mass of fools.
One of the members spoke out against them in the newspapers, and was viciously quashed. Who knows what kind of pressure and threats they used. Which answer did you choose for the first question?
a) was the definition of a religon
b) was the definition of a CULT
Lyrics - (well, some parts of the lyrics are so true in my life.. i'm walking away.. from the troubles in my life.. i'm truly sorry..)
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away
sometimes some people get me wrong
when it's something I've said or done
sometimes you feel there is no fun
that's why you turn and run
but now I truly realise some people don't wanna compromise
well I saw them with my own eyes spreading those lies
and well I don't wanna live my life too many sleepless nights
not mentioning the fights i'm sorry to say lady
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away
Well I'm so tired baby
things you say you're driving me away
whispers in the powder room baby don't listen to the games they play
girl I thought you'd realise I'm not like them other guys
cuz I saw them with my own eyes
you should've been more wise
and well I don't wanna live my life too many sleepless nights
not mentioning the fights I'm sorry to say lady
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away
Many times.. i keep telling myself.. no i keep telling others.. that i'm fine.. i'm ok.. i can handle things.. but many times, is the enitre opposite.. well, many ppl keep asking the usual question.. "how are you?" Well, how do you expect me to answer this question?? If i said i'm not ok. then they will go like "Why?" And then i have to spend time explaining stuff.. occasionally to more than one person.. Well, the audience i'm hinting to is none other than the crusade..
As many of you ppl have realised, i'm having problems inside Crusade.. so much that i'm qutting it.. And i'm sure the reaction to the last sentence would be a big "Why?" "How Come?" etc.. ok.. i am so tired of explaining why over and over again.. so i guess apart from those i shared to, the rest of you ppl will have to be left in the dark.. haixx..
Well, if you guys have been following the postings of the past few months, i did talk abt some infatuation problem.. i'm sorry to say ppl, its still unsolved.. i've tried to run away from the problem but why does it still come back to haunt me?? Well, i hope that not being in Crusade anymore might help solve my problem.. I need God to deliver me from this problem.. I am just not strong enough to handle it.. Its starting to tear me apart like it did before.. And all i can do is stand at one corner helplessly as a victim..A victim of something so common.. crushes.. damn..
And well, i'm beggining to learn how to tap into the neverending flow of God's strength.. ok.. i know there may be times where i choose to rely solely on myself, but its a good start.. =)
Alright.. my postings are slowly getting shorter and shorter.. well, i'm not really into the blogging mood anymore.. haixx.. =(
Ok.. here are the lyrics from the winners of the wurovision contest.. (basically a singing and band contest for the whoe europe where only one can win) and the winners are lordi!! a metal band who won with their song "hard rock hallelujah".. Well, scanning thru their lyrics, its hard not to guess tht despite their "satanic oufits" during performances, they are actually Christians.. =/ Or is their God that "God of Rock"?? oh man.. -.="
Hard Rock Hallelujah original English lyrics
music & lyrics: Mr Lordi
arrangement: Lordiperformer: Lordi
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
The saints are crippled
On this sinners’ night
Lost are the lambs with no guiding light
The walls come down like thunder
The rocks about to roll
It’s the Arockalypse
Now bare your soul
All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God’s creation supernatural high
The true believers
Thou shall be saved
Brothers and sisters keep strong in the faith
On the day of Rockoning
It’s who dares, wins
You will see the jokers soon’ll be the new kings
All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God’s creation supernatural high
Wings on my back
I got horns on my head
My fangs are sharp
And my eyes are red
Not quite an angel
Or the one that fell
Now choose to join us or go straight to Hell
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God’s creation supernatural high
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
True Ryan Cabrera lyrics
Artist: Ryan Cabrera
Album: Take It All Away
Y ear: 2004
Title: True
I wont talk
I wont breathe
I wont move till you finally see
That you belong with me
You might think I dont look But deep inside In the corner of my mind Im attached to you Im weak Its true Cuz im afarid to know the awnsers Do you want me too? Cuz my heart keeps fallnig faster
Ive waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing thats true
So I will not hide
Its time to try
Anything to be with you
All my life ive waiting
This is true
You dont know what you do
Everytime you walk into the room
Im afarid to move
Im weak Its true
Im just scared to know the ending
Do you see me too?
Do you even know u met me?
Ive waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing thats true
So I will not hide
Its time to try anything to be with you
All my life i've waited
This is true
I know when I go ill be on my way to you
The way thats true
Ive waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing thats true
So I will not hide
Its time to try anything to be with you
All my life i've waited This is true
Well, posting today.. actually, i wasn't intending to post in my blog today.. well, i don't know what to say or write.. but these lyrics shld express how i feel.. ok i know its by westlife and they are so outdated.. but well, i can't find better lyrics to express how i feel.. other then from Ryan Caberra..
[Shane:] Day after day Time passed away And I just can't get you off my mind Nobody knows, I hide it inside I keep on searching but I can't find
[Mark:] The courage to show to letting you know I've never felt so much love before
[All [Shane lead]:] And once again I'm thinking about Taking the easy way out
[All:] But if I let you go I will never know What my life would be holding you close to me Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
[[Shane:] oh yeah] How will I know
[Shane:] if I let you go?
[Bryan:] Night after night I hear myself say Why can't this feeling just fade away There's no one like you [no one like you] You speak to my heart [speak to my heart] It's such a shame we're worlds apart
[Shane:] I'm too shy to ask, I'm too proud to lose But sooner or later I gotta choose And once again I'm thinking about Taking the easy way out
[All:] But if I let you go I will never know What my life would be, holding you close to me Will I ever see you smiling back at me? [oh yeah] How will I know
[Shane:] if I let you go ?
[Shane:] If I let you go ooooh baby Ooooooooohhhhh
[Bryan:] Once again I'm thinking about Taking the easy way out Ooooooooohhhhh
[All:] But if I let you go I will never know What my life would be, holding you close to me
[[Mark:] close to me] Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
[[Shane:] oh yeah] How will I know
[[Bryan:] if I let you go?] But if I let you go I will never know
[[Mark:] oh baby] Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
[[Shane:] oh yeah] How will I know
[Shane:] if I let you go ?
After all the mystery and controversy, The Da Vinci Code was finally unlocked for the public.
There was nothing cryptic about what was found. It was a hit.
Domestically, the film adaptation of Dan Brown's super popular novel earned an impressive $77 million, while raking in a huge $224 million worldwide.
Expressing delight, Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures, said the derisive reception given the work of director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks at the $125 million's production's Cannes Film Festival premiere, as well as threats of boycotts by religious groups, clearly hadn't hurt business.
In fact, all the press coverage was probably a boost to an already high profile because of the success of Brown's thriller, which is built around a thesis that Jesus and Mary Magdalene's offspring live on, and that certain factions of the Roman Catholic Church are very, very unhappy about that. Unhappy enough to kill.
"I think basically this was certainly a film that audiences were going to make up their own minds about. Having a lot of newscasters from TV and radio and from newspapers asking audiences what they thought, raised awareness. And certainly we had some very high profile critics who liked the film. And probably our most important critic of all is Dan Brown--and he loved it!" Bruer said.
The PG-13 movie skews towards an adult audience, which bodes well for continued business during the upcoming weeks.
"Adult films tend to hold up better. They tend to play off over a period of time and certainly here in the U.S., with Memorial Day coming up next weekend, prospects are very good for a strong hold-over," said Bruer, who called the domestic gross above what the studio had anticipated and the worldwide gross "incredible."
"Audiences decide for themselves," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, Inc., the company that tallies studio grosses. He also noted that media reports of controversy about both the content and critical response undoubtedly created additional "awareness," which made even people who hadn't bought the book, "want to see what the fuss was about."
The movie, which also stars Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina and Paul Bettany, as the albino killer monk, earned $29 million on Friday, $27.5 million on Saturday, and $20 million on Sunday, averaging a very impressive $20,616 per screen at 3,735 sites throughout North America. That only added up to enough to be the 13th best domestic opening, but gave both Howard and Hanks their best ever openings. (The record for the number one domestic opening is held by Spider-Man's $114.8 million.) Internationally--playing in 90 markets--the gross added up to the second best opening ever, reportedly surpassed only by Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which this time last year opened at home with $108.4 million, part of its whopping record $253 million worldwide.
A considerable way back in second place this weekend was Over the Hedge, the latest critter cartoon. But the DreamWorks pic's $37.2 million opening was slightly above studio expectations, according to Jim Tharp, president of motion picture distribution for Paramount Pictures, which now releases DreamWorks product.
"It's funny," said Tharp, citing the family friendly appeal of the PG-rated CGI tale about a pushy raccoon (voiced by Bruce Willis) who leads a bunch of furry pals on raids against humans whose suburb has encroached on their wilderness. Opening at 4,059 theaters, it averaged $9,172.
Also opening wide was yet another Lions Gate horror flick, the R-rated See No Evil. At 1,257 sites the pluck-out-your-eyes gory stuff, starring wrestler Glen "Kane" Jacobs, scared up $3,461 per screen for $4.3 million, only enough for sixth place.
The arrival of the two new hits pushed Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible III down to third place as it dropped 56 percent in its third week. But by earning $11 million, the action sequel edged past the significant $100 million mark to reach $103.2 million.
That's respectable, especially when compared to another recent expensive production Poseidon. Never successfully afloat, the big boat a-sinking drama sank 58 percent in its second weekend, taking in just $9.2 million to bring its current gross to merely $36.7 million.
At just one theater The King, ThinkFilm's R-rated religious themed drama starring Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt, kicked off with $9,100.
Although this weekend was up 80.1 percent over last weekend, it wasn't better than this time last year. The combined top 12 gross of $153.1 million was actually 2.1 percent below the $157.6 million generated when Revenge of the Sith hit screens 12 months ago.
Next weekend, which sees the arrival of Fox's X-Men: The Last Stand, has a chance to be a very successful Memorial Day weekend if business for this week's top entries hold up as expected.
Final figures are due Monday. The estimated top 10 domestic grosses for this weekend follow:
1. The Da Vinci Code, $77 million
2. Over the Hedge, $37.2 million
3. Mission: Impossible III, $11 million
4. Poseidon, $9.2 million
5. RV, $5.1 million
6. See No Evil, $4.3 million
7. Just My Luck, $3.3 million
8. An American Haunting, $1.6 million
9. United 93, $1.4 million
10. Akeelah and the Bee, $1 million
‘Da Vinci’ undermines faith, survey claims
Controversy over film reaches fever pitch a day before its world debut
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 4:11 p.m. ET May 16, 2006
“The Da Vinci Code” has undermined faith in the Roman Catholic Church and badly damaged its credibility, a survey of British readers revealed Tuesday as tensions over — and hype for — the forthcoming film reached a fever pitch.
As its stars off headed to walk the red carpet at Cannes, where the film was set to debut Wednesday before a worldwide release Friday, at least two countries limited the film's release.
The British survey, released by a group of prominent Catholics, revealed that readers of Dan Brown's blockbuster novel are twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children and four times as likely to think the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei is a murderous sect.
“An alarming number of people take its spurious claims very seriously indeed,” said Austin Ivereigh, press secretary to Britain’s top Catholic prelate Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. “Our poll shows that for many, many people “The Da Vinci Code” is not just entertainment.”
He heads a prominent collection of English Roman Catholic monks, theologians, nuns and members of Opus Dei, who commissioned the survey from pollster Opinion Research Business (ORB) and have sought to promote Catholic beliefs amid the film’s release.
ORB interviewed more than 1,000 adults last weekend, finding that 60 percent believed Jesus had children by Mary Magdalene — a possibility raised by the book — compared with just 30 percent of those who had not read the book.
The group, which stopped short of following the Vatican line of calling on Catholics to boycott the film, accused Brown of dishonest marketing based on peddling fiction as fact.
Ivereigh complained that Brown and film studio Sony Pictures “have encouraged people to take it seriously while hiding behind the claim that it is fiction.
“Our poll shows they should take responsibility for their dishonesty and issue a health warning.”
The novel, which has sold over 40 million copies, also depicts Opus Dei as a ruthless Machiavellian organization whose members resort to murder to keep the Church’s secrets.
In the survey, readers were asked if Opus Dei had ever carried out a murder. Seventeen percent of readers believe it had, compared with just four percent of non-readers.
Opus Dei spokesman Jack Valero said he was astonished.
“Since we were founded in 1928, Opus Dei has promoted the highest moral standards at work, spreading a message of Christian love and understanding,” he said.
“Yet the Da Vinci Code has persuaded hundreds of thousands of people that we have blood on our hands.”
Release halted in IndiaThough controversy has largely emanated from Europe and the United States, India took perhaps the strongest move against the film Tuesday, temporarily halting its release until it could be screened for Catholic groups. The move came in response to sporadic protests by some Christian and Muslim groups.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said he had received more than 200 complaints. The release “may be delayed by a day or two,” he said.
“We are a secular country. On any sensitive issue, we should take action after we examine every aspect,” Dasmunshi told reporters. “We have to be careful.”
The national censor in the largely Catholic Philippines, meantime, gave the film an “adults only” certificate on Tuesday, banning under-18s from viewing it. Consoliza Laguardia told reporters the film, based on the best-selling novel of the same title, required “mature discernment” because of a plot that involves Jesus Christ having a child with Mary Magdalene.
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairwoman Marissa Laguardia also cited scenes of “self-flagellation involving clerical assassination, violent images and a fleeting sexual ritual,” but she said the film did not directly attack the Catholic Church and did not merit an X-rating or any cuts.
What do you think about ‘The Da Vinci Code’?
Because SM cinemas, the largest chain of movie theatres in the Philippines, does not show R-18 films, the move will largely push “The Da Vinci Code” out of Philippine theaters. But it will hardly stop eager patrons from watching.
Laguardia said the movie would be a “test of faith” for many people in the Philippines.
“But it has to be shown,” she said. “Thirty-six countries have already reviewed this film and they have not banned it. So are we just out of the stone age?”
Manila’s hawkers have already started flogging a documentary on “The Da Vinci Code” as the real movie, and pirated copies of the feature film are expected to hit the streets soon.
In Thailand, a coalition demanded that government censors cut the film’s final 15 minutes.
“We asked that they cut out the conclusion of the movie that Jesus still has heirs alive today,” said a spokesman for the groups, Manoch Jangmook of the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand.
A South Korean court rejected a request from a Christian group for an injunction blocking the screening of the movie, saying the group’s reasons lacked merit.
“As it is clear that the novel and movie are all fiction ... there is no probability that the movie can make viewers mistakenly believe the contents of the movie are facts,” chief judge Song Jin-hyun of the Seoul Central District Court said.
Last week, the Philippines’ powerful Catholic bishops gave priests guidelines on how to refute the book’s plot and reminded parishioners that the novel was a work of fiction. But they stopped short of calling for the film to be banned. But some younger Filipinos were angry at what they saw as faith intruding on entertainment.
“Something such as religion should not be a standard for whether we should let movies be played,” said Peterson Poon, 16. “It annoys me that I have to buy a DVD.”
Such local efforts come amid the Vatican's vocal effort to dissuade viewers worldwide from flocking to what church officials view as a misleading and heretical piece of work. The latest message came Monday, when the Vatican's culture minister portrayed the popularity of “Da Vinci” as a shocking indication of mass ignorance and the “voluptuous pleasure” the media take in promoting works with no basis in truth.
Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, told Europe 1 radio he had no objection to people seeing the film if they understand it is fiction, but many would watch this “nonsense” and think that it was true.
‘Shocking and worrying’The film of the best-selling novel, which says Jesus had a child with Mary Magdelene and the Roman Catholic Church hushed this up, debuts at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.
Poupard is the Vatican’s highest authority on cultural issues after Pope Benedict.
“This is a shocking and worrying cultural phenomenon that reflects, on the one hand, the ignorance of millions of people and, on the other, the voluptuous pleasure the media take in promoting products that have nothing to do with the truth,” the 75-year-old French-born cardinal told the radio station.
Italy’s most senior cardinal, Camillo Ruini, also lambasted the film’s plot as “fantasies and falsifications” but said he believed people were more fascinated by truth than illusions.
“If it is clear this has nothing to do with truth and it amuses you to go see it, why not?” he said when asked if movie-goers should boycott the film, which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou.
In recent weeks, cardinals have urged everything from a boycott of the film by Catholics to legal action against both the novel and the film.
But the dust-up hardly dissuaded “Da Vinci's” stars from taking a turn in the spotlight. Tom Hanks and his fellow cast members set off Tuesday for Cannes on the high-speed Eurostar train.
The special train, nicknamed The Da Vinci Code for the occasion, was in pursuit of a world record. Going nonstop over the 883 miles from London to the festival in southern France would put it into the Guinness World Records book.
Hanks, who plays Robert Langdon in the film, posed for pictures Tuesday at London's Waterloo station with Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno and Alfred Molina, director Ron Howard and author Dan Brown.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ok.. why is time passing by SO FAST.. its already 4 whole days since my last posting.. and i remember that my last post was SO RECENT.. haixx.. gotta keep gg up on my feet and keep posting regularly.. Can u believe this? I just am not disciplined to carry on with this nonsense any much longer.. Whats so good about writing in a blog man..crap.. i gotta improve on this blog.. simply no time.. thats why i had this blog skin. not that it reflects me in any way whatsoever..
don't get the wrong ideas..
alright.. since time flies so fast, i have got to decide on what i want to see myself in the future.. Hmm.. lets see.. job wise.. well, i am a very low up keep person..I am not looking for riches or wealth or glory or fame or whatever.. Christian or non-Christian, i will still have a very simple lifestyle.. Well, i like community work lots.. Like helping those unfortunate people are maybe even those endangered animals..
Last time i was a member of the WWF (World Wildlife Fund For nature) even... =P
So, lets jsut put it this way.. Community work is definitely in.. I would love to go to help in places like World Vision or GreenPeace or maybe be some wandering Missionary.. But yeah, if i really was to settle down, i would go ahead to be a teacher.. sec sch, poly.. jc.. whichever i can get in.. haha.. well i would love to help in educating students.. maybe i can also use this opportunities to share Christ.. hahaha..
hmm.. well, got lots more to say but simply no time.. I AM TOO BUSY!!
--to be continued--
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2 Timothy 2 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
2 Timothy 2
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
A Workman Approved by God 14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Blogging once again..
I'm very very confused over why so many people are having problems with their faith..so much that they keep complaining abt it..
The answer to their problems is all there.. if they choose to trust in the Lord and stop depending on their own strength to carry on with life in this forsaken world...
Every other Christian is complaining of problems here and there.. But, we are just making noise in without raising possible solutions ot our problems.. Its like we expect God to keep providing for us and make our lives better.. But thats not the point..
I am particularly disheartened by a freshman who has joined my Crusade.. Through my conversations with him, i keep getting this impression that he wishes to join cca's in Sp if they can provide enough friends or if they are "cool" enough.. And these are the reasons why he joined City Harvest Church in the first place.. He even confessed that when his close friend who brought him to City Harvest Church backslidded, he found no reason to continue in that church..
I mean, this is ALL SO WRONG... But yet so many people out there are like this.. Christians who are unsure of why they are Christians.. with no complete assurance of their salvation..
--to be continued--
------------SEPTEMBER BABY ---------------
Active and dynamic.
Decisive and haste but tends to regret.
Attractive and affectionate to oneself.
Strong mentality.
Loves attention. Diplomatic.
Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems.
Brave and fearless.
Adventurous.
Loving and caring.
Suave and generous.
Usually you have many friends.
Enjoys to make love.
Emotional.
Stubborn.
Hasty.
Good memory.
Moving, motivates oneself and others.
Loves to travel and explore.
Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can understand.
Your Brain Usage Profile:
Auditory : 58%
Visual : 41%
Left : 25%
Right : 75%
No matter which side of your brain is dominant,
M i n d W a r e
can strengthen your emotional brain power by helping you understand how
you feel about yourself.
--View Summary--
Isaac, you show a slight right-hemisphere dominance with a moderate preference for auditory processing, an unusual and somewhat paradoxical combination of characteristics.
You are drawn to a random and sometimes nonchalant synthesis of material. You learn as it seems important to a specific situation, and might even develop a resentment of others who attempt to direct your learning down a specific channel.
Your right-hemispheric dominance provides a structure that is only loosely organized and one which processes entire swatches of reality, overlooking details. You are emotional in your reactions and perceptual more than logical in your approach, although you can impose structure and a language base when necessary.
Your auditory preference, on the other hand, implies that you process information sequentially and unidimensionally. This combination of right-brain and auditory modes creates conflict, as you want to process data more rapidly than your natural processes allow.
Your tendency to be creative and free-flowing is accompanied by sufficient ability to organize and be logical, allowing you a reasonable degree of success in a number of different endeavors. You take in information methodically and systematically which can then be synthesized rapidly. In this manner, you manage to function consistently well, although certainly less efficiently than you desire.
You prefer the abstract and are a theoretician at heart while retaining the ability to be practical. You find the symbolism in a great deal of what you encounter and are something of a "mystic."
With regards to your lifestyle, you have the mentality which would be good as a philosopher, writer, journalist, or instructor, or possibly as a systems designer or social worker. Perhaps most important is your ability to "listen to your inner voice" as a mode of skipping over unnecessary steps to achieve your goals.
Refering to the 2nd last paragraph.. i'm a "mystic"?? hahaha...
Last parangraph.. systems designer.. SHIT!! I should have gone too the IS(Information Systems) option in my DIT course!!
Social Worker? hmm.. haha.. i already knew this one..
And the rest of the paragraphs just shows me to be an impatient and quick to be angry person.. something like the the average ah beng? What the f***..
Today was a rather "significant" day for me as it was the day i spent recollecting all the things i did in my CCA Campus Crusade and how i really felt inside it.. Yupz.. some of you might have already known.. i'm so sick of being in Crusade.. i just cannot tolerate it siah..
And today, when i attended its Campus Life meeting.. i hoped to feel God's presence as i went to worship.. well, i didn't exactly get what i wanted, but whatever i thought of Crusade before was confirmed.. Today night, one of the Crusade Staff Priscilla went abt talking about how there are ppl in Crusade that pretended to be "enthu" but were in actual fact not "enthu" for Chirst.. but hey, i already felt this in Crusade long ago.. -.-" Well, it was confirmed by another freshy who said that he had noticed this while in Crusade for a while..
Note to all Crusaders: Please watch yourselves.. i myself didn't do anything but the freshys are already observing lots of things..
Well, in Crusade, frankly speaking, its like those active Crusaders are mostly those holding leadership roles.. This made me wonder many times.. what happened to all the others?? Where have they all gone too?? Has the Crusade been too ineffective in keeping its members that mostly those having leadership roles chose to stay behind?
If this is so true, then is the Crusade giving a wrong impression of being regular to the Christian students in Sp?? Are leadership roles in Crusade so important that if you don't have one, you can decide not to stay in Crusade and migrate to your other cca's?? Or are they giving excuses that they are too busy in their lives??
Please man!! Crusade is not meant to be a cca!! Can't you people get this into your heads?!?! Its not about having leadership roles or about having more "prestige" or more cca points!!
Nowadays, eveytime i pay short visits to Crusade activites, i keep getting the impression that its an organisation filled with mostly leaders and some other members.. What ever happened to all the other members?!?!
And, its so hard to be inside trying to fellowship when everyone is like so busy... i mean, when we try to commit to Crusade and become "active" are we doing it for the right reasons?? Or are we just after the praises of other Crusaders?? Are many of us really so blinded by leadership that we have come to think of ourselves as better than other Crusaders?? I have not come to any conclusion.. But i feel that as the time comes, the truth ill reveal itself..
Furthermore, as many of us continue to serve in Crusade, i don't think we will have the time to buld up our friendships or even evangelise properly to our friends.. One of the many traps in Crusade is that Crusaders start to base everything on Crusade.. and when they come out of poly after their 3 or more years inside, they start to backslide..
I keep feeling that the Crusade may have its good intentions as an Organisation.. But, one thing we have obviously failed is this.. (No Crusader can deny this fact!!) It is the fact that many of us seem to be so caught up in our roles or are so busy that apparently we do not do enough to keep the people in our cca.. Our fallout rate is high!! And its bad!! Considering that we are not supposed to be a cca but a Christian organisation meant to spread the truth!!
If Christians or even Crusaders who quit have known that the Crusade is their BEST BET in reaching out to the lost in Sp, then they may not have quit..
If they felt accepted in Crusade, we may have gained ground..
But are we losing ground faster in our Crusade than we can take ground from Sp??
Can we consider ourselves an effective Organisation to reach to the lost and enlarge God's territory if our own territory is slowly shrinking??
Lastly, this is a question that i am giving out to all those Crusader's under leadership roles.. Please take some time to reflect upon it and answer the question truthfully..
Q1) If you were in Crusade for so long but were not given any leadership roles, would you still consider on being "active" in Crusade? By "Active", i mean coming for its activities as faithfully as you did in year 1.. If deep down inside, your answer is no, then i would suggest reflecting on the reasons of being a leader and how you would wish to be a leader whose actions are pleasing to God..
The writer has chosen not to encourage Crusaders thru the Campus Crusade yahoo groups website due to some bad experiences and postings he has made inside.. As such, even though the writer feels that a good encouragement posting in yahoo groups will help lift the spirits of the Crusader's having leadership in Crusade, he still finds in a hastle to have his postings undergo "checkouts" with the staff before it is displayed.. As such, he has decided to use his blog only as it gives him the ultimate freedom of speech..
March 2005
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[x] World Vision International
[x] WorldWildlifeFund For Nature
[x] SPCA
[x] Cat Welfare Society
[x] -=aUdIo JuiCe.NeT=-(eURO dANCE rADIO)
[x] biblegateway
[x] who lives near you
[x] Campus Crusade Singapore
[x] free techno remixes downloads
[x]Ivan-1
[x]Ivan-2
[x]Christine(Chc)
[x]Derrick
[x]Alvin
[x]Alvin (spccc)
[x]Cuz Dawn
[x]Guoxiong
[x]Tze Wei(JUDGE)
[x]Cindy
[x]Vammy
[x]Stevanus
[x]Yik Shu Xek
[x]Wilson
[x]Fang Zheng
[x]Davin
[x]Azlan
[x]Fook Yuan
[x]YuXiang
[x]LeeMin
[x]Cara
[x]Yung Sheng
[x]Yong Xun
[x]Jian Yi
[x]Siling
[x]Amy
[x]Daryl
[x]Wen Fang
[x]Adelene
[x]Jesper
[x]Ian
[x]Edwin
[x]Evangeline
[x]Ivan
[x]Wai Seen
[x]Fiona
[x]Daniel
[x]Pei Shan
[x]Angela
[x]Andrew
[x]Belinda 1
[x]Belinda 2
[x]Winston
[x]Timothy
[x]Khalis
[x]Jeremiah
[x]Joel Kee
[x]Nissi Cellgroup
[x]Subaru (tkd)
[x]Stephen
[x]Alicia
[x]Evelyn
[x]Hui Jun
[x]Wan Ru
[x]Serene
[x]Sino
[x]Zhenwei + Wan Ling
[x]Isaac
[x]Phebe
[x]Clarice
[x]Xiu Ting
[x]Sharon
[x]Winnie Yeo
[[ Don't spam, it's very rude ]]
Hi guys.. i decided to concentrate on my studies more... i'm now trying to work for decent grades.. really planning for my future.. =) Well, ever since i stepped into poly, i realised that i have undergone many changes.. well, i'm happy that they are mostly quite positive..
And i guess i have experienced a lot more than before.. i' m more satisfied with simple things now.. not really interested in wealth or in glory or fame.. i'm just content being accepted in christ and doing his work.. Well, thats one of the reasons why when i was coming to the end of my 1st year in Sp, my entire career choice totally changed.. I was no longer concerned about getting that "good" job that every other parent would have hopes of their children having.. i did not even tink about having any lavish lifestyle or anything else.. to me, this seemed so insignificant.. so unimportant , than spreading the truth about Jesus Christ, and the wonders he worked in my life..
They say that the more our faith has grown, the less important other things of the world become. And once we have started to experience this, we will all begin to see how true that phrase is.. Well, i have started becoming more compassionate towards to less-fortunate.. I mean, i always was.. but well, i just became more of a good Samaritan these days.. I mean, i am now constantly donating money to charity.. helping strangers in streets.. etc..
Well, reflecting back, i recall many incidents in my life that i am not happy about.. But, i am learning hard to forgive those who have trespassed against me.. Triying so hard to forgive them and compromise.. I'm also trying hard to become more sensitive to other people's needs... Well , many times, i always feel that i am tackling too many areas in my life to bring abt changes. I keep pushing myself to be better in certain areas in my life.. I keep trying to force changes in me.. until i start to see myself falling apart..
And this makes me easy prey to the devil.. The devil has tried many a time to sow the seeds of discord and distrust within me.. Well, i fell for it hook line and sinker.. And its really bad just to think about how i was so easy tricked by the devil.. How the devil made me have feelings of anger, jealousy, hatred when reacting to varous events in my life.. And how i didn't even realise i was being used, until the damage was done..
I'm facing many problems in my life. i may look very calm and composed on the outside, but deep down inside, i'm bottling up many feelings.. and many times i keep finding the wrong ways to release my inner feelings.. I keep feeling that i am a nobody in this world.. But i know, that in God's eyes , i am somebody, accepted and free..
I realised that i am a very people -riented guy, very easily swayed by peer pressure and public opinion.. I just do not have my own stand.. and that is a major stumbling block in my life.. I just keep following the world blindly.. following the norm, the majority.. and it makes me wonder what will happen when Christianity is no longer followed or accepted by the majority anymore.. Would i still choose to stand firm? o=Or will i choose to let go? I just cannot give an answer..
to be continued..
Is City Harvest a cult? (Taken from this website.. ------> http://www.geocities.com/acity_harvest/ )
< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Answer this question,
Is City Harvest a place where...
a) a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by are promoted
OR
b)a place where extreme or excessive admiration for a person, philosophy of life, or activity is conducted
Firstly, let me state that, i am not in anyway against the belief of a god(s). What i am against is the active searching out of and roping in of new members of your "church" and asking for donations.
Now granted, people may choose not to donate, but seeing how everyone of the other people do so, they will feel peer pressure to do the same. i especially abhor the way in which your "church" sets out to recruit prospective new members. By telling them that they will go to hell if they do not attend your church or believe in (your) God, you are blalantly insulting the right of that person to his/her choice of religous belief. And i would like to remind everyone that NOT believing in God is a choice of religous belief as well.
By hosting youth activities at the church, you are encouraging young members to ask their friends to come and participate in them, but once at these events, the young people will feel obligated to join by the intense peer pressure. Soon, more young people will join, because it seems to be the "in" thing to do, and this use of peer pressure, whilst brilliant, is utterly immoral.
Many of these young people have no grasp of the religon at all, and are simply repeating what is told to them by those in charge at the church. Often they go to extremes such as walking around and praying openly, or excessively buying biblical books.They do not truly believe in the religon, although they may think they do, they simply do it because they're friends do it, and Hey! if that many people are doing it, it can't be wrong can it?Well, up until the mid 1800's people all over the US had slaves, and no one can doubt the wrongness of that can they?
The point is, just because everyone does it doesn't make it right.Haven't we had that old adage drilled into our heads from youth? To the young people attending City Harvest at the behest of their friends, i strongly urge you to reconsider. City Harvest members who are reading this, i welcome your LOGICAL reasoning and explaination. (Please don't give me any crap about burning in hell. i'll just laugh in your face and ignore you).
edit(26/10/03) : I don't know why i even bother. the cult has just gone from mindless mass of people, to even greater mindless mass of fools.
One of the members spoke out against them in the newspapers, and was viciously quashed. Who knows what kind of pressure and threats they used. Which answer did you choose for the first question?
a) was the definition of a religon
b) was the definition of a CULT
Lyrics - (well, some parts of the lyrics are so true in my life.. i'm walking away.. from the troubles in my life.. i'm truly sorry..)
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away
sometimes some people get me wrong
when it's something I've said or done
sometimes you feel there is no fun
that's why you turn and run
but now I truly realise some people don't wanna compromise
well I saw them with my own eyes spreading those lies
and well I don't wanna live my life too many sleepless nights
not mentioning the fights i'm sorry to say lady
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away
Well I'm so tired baby
things you say you're driving me away
whispers in the powder room baby don't listen to the games they play
girl I thought you'd realise I'm not like them other guys
cuz I saw them with my own eyes
you should've been more wise
and well I don't wanna live my life too many sleepless nights
not mentioning the fights I'm sorry to say lady
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away from the troubles in my life
I'm walking away oh to find a better day
I'm walking away
Many times.. i keep telling myself.. no i keep telling others.. that i'm fine.. i'm ok.. i can handle things.. but many times, is the enitre opposite.. well, many ppl keep asking the usual question.. "how are you?" Well, how do you expect me to answer this question?? If i said i'm not ok. then they will go like "Why?" And then i have to spend time explaining stuff.. occasionally to more than one person.. Well, the audience i'm hinting to is none other than the crusade..
As many of you ppl have realised, i'm having problems inside Crusade.. so much that i'm qutting it.. And i'm sure the reaction to the last sentence would be a big "Why?" "How Come?" etc.. ok.. i am so tired of explaining why over and over again.. so i guess apart from those i shared to, the rest of you ppl will have to be left in the dark.. haixx..
Well, if you guys have been following the postings of the past few months, i did talk abt some infatuation problem.. i'm sorry to say ppl, its still unsolved.. i've tried to run away from the problem but why does it still come back to haunt me?? Well, i hope that not being in Crusade anymore might help solve my problem.. I need God to deliver me from this problem.. I am just not strong enough to handle it.. Its starting to tear me apart like it did before.. And all i can do is stand at one corner helplessly as a victim..A victim of something so common.. crushes.. damn..
And well, i'm beggining to learn how to tap into the neverending flow of God's strength.. ok.. i know there may be times where i choose to rely solely on myself, but its a good start.. =)
Alright.. my postings are slowly getting shorter and shorter.. well, i'm not really into the blogging mood anymore.. haixx.. =(
Ok.. here are the lyrics from the winners of the wurovision contest.. (basically a singing and band contest for the whoe europe where only one can win) and the winners are lordi!! a metal band who won with their song "hard rock hallelujah".. Well, scanning thru their lyrics, its hard not to guess tht despite their "satanic oufits" during performances, they are actually Christians.. =/ Or is their God that "God of Rock"?? oh man.. -.="
Hard Rock Hallelujah original English lyrics
music & lyrics: Mr Lordi
arrangement: Lordiperformer: Lordi
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
The saints are crippled
On this sinners’ night
Lost are the lambs with no guiding light
The walls come down like thunder
The rocks about to roll
It’s the Arockalypse
Now bare your soul
All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God’s creation supernatural high
The true believers
Thou shall be saved
Brothers and sisters keep strong in the faith
On the day of Rockoning
It’s who dares, wins
You will see the jokers soon’ll be the new kings
All we need is lightning
With power and might
Striking down the prophets of false
As the moon is rising
Give us the sign
Now let us rise up in awe
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God’s creation supernatural high
Wings on my back
I got horns on my head
My fangs are sharp
And my eyes are red
Not quite an angel
Or the one that fell
Now choose to join us or go straight to Hell
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
Demons and angels all in one have arrived
Rock ’n roll angels bring thyn hard rock hallelujah
In God’s creation supernatural high
Hard Rock Hallelujah!
True Ryan Cabrera lyrics
Artist: Ryan Cabrera
Album: Take It All Away
Y ear: 2004
Title: True
I wont talk
I wont breathe
I wont move till you finally see
That you belong with me
You might think I dont look But deep inside In the corner of my mind Im attached to you Im weak Its true Cuz im afarid to know the awnsers Do you want me too? Cuz my heart keeps fallnig faster
Ive waited all my life
To cross this line
To the only thing thats true
So I will not hide
Its time to try
Anything to be with you
All my life ive waiting
This is true
You dont know what you do
Everytime you walk into the room
Im afarid to move
Im weak Its true
Im just scared to know the ending
Do you see me too?
Do you even know u met me?
Ive waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing thats true
So I will not hide
Its time to try anything to be with you
All my life i've waited
This is true
I know when I go ill be on my way to you
The way thats true
Ive waited all my life to cross this line
To the only thing thats true
So I will not hide
Its time to try anything to be with you
All my life i've waited This is true
Well, posting today.. actually, i wasn't intending to post in my blog today.. well, i don't know what to say or write.. but these lyrics shld express how i feel.. ok i know its by westlife and they are so outdated.. but well, i can't find better lyrics to express how i feel.. other then from Ryan Caberra..
[Shane:] Day after day Time passed away And I just can't get you off my mind Nobody knows, I hide it inside I keep on searching but I can't find
[Mark:] The courage to show to letting you know I've never felt so much love before
[All [Shane lead]:] And once again I'm thinking about Taking the easy way out
[All:] But if I let you go I will never know What my life would be holding you close to me Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
[[Shane:] oh yeah] How will I know
[Shane:] if I let you go?
[Bryan:] Night after night I hear myself say Why can't this feeling just fade away There's no one like you [no one like you] You speak to my heart [speak to my heart] It's such a shame we're worlds apart
[Shane:] I'm too shy to ask, I'm too proud to lose But sooner or later I gotta choose And once again I'm thinking about Taking the easy way out
[All:] But if I let you go I will never know What my life would be, holding you close to me Will I ever see you smiling back at me? [oh yeah] How will I know
[Shane:] if I let you go ?
[Shane:] If I let you go ooooh baby Ooooooooohhhhh
[Bryan:] Once again I'm thinking about Taking the easy way out Ooooooooohhhhh
[All:] But if I let you go I will never know What my life would be, holding you close to me
[[Mark:] close to me] Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
[[Shane:] oh yeah] How will I know
[[Bryan:] if I let you go?] But if I let you go I will never know
[[Mark:] oh baby] Will I ever see you smiling back at me?
[[Shane:] oh yeah] How will I know
[Shane:] if I let you go ?
After all the mystery and controversy, The Da Vinci Code was finally unlocked for the public.
There was nothing cryptic about what was found. It was a hit.
Domestically, the film adaptation of Dan Brown's super popular novel earned an impressive $77 million, while raking in a huge $224 million worldwide.
Expressing delight, Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures, said the derisive reception given the work of director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks at the $125 million's production's Cannes Film Festival premiere, as well as threats of boycotts by religious groups, clearly hadn't hurt business.
In fact, all the press coverage was probably a boost to an already high profile because of the success of Brown's thriller, which is built around a thesis that Jesus and Mary Magdalene's offspring live on, and that certain factions of the Roman Catholic Church are very, very unhappy about that. Unhappy enough to kill.
"I think basically this was certainly a film that audiences were going to make up their own minds about. Having a lot of newscasters from TV and radio and from newspapers asking audiences what they thought, raised awareness. And certainly we had some very high profile critics who liked the film. And probably our most important critic of all is Dan Brown--and he loved it!" Bruer said.
The PG-13 movie skews towards an adult audience, which bodes well for continued business during the upcoming weeks.
"Adult films tend to hold up better. They tend to play off over a period of time and certainly here in the U.S., with Memorial Day coming up next weekend, prospects are very good for a strong hold-over," said Bruer, who called the domestic gross above what the studio had anticipated and the worldwide gross "incredible."
"Audiences decide for themselves," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, Inc., the company that tallies studio grosses. He also noted that media reports of controversy about both the content and critical response undoubtedly created additional "awareness," which made even people who hadn't bought the book, "want to see what the fuss was about."
The movie, which also stars Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina and Paul Bettany, as the albino killer monk, earned $29 million on Friday, $27.5 million on Saturday, and $20 million on Sunday, averaging a very impressive $20,616 per screen at 3,735 sites throughout North America. That only added up to enough to be the 13th best domestic opening, but gave both Howard and Hanks their best ever openings. (The record for the number one domestic opening is held by Spider-Man's $114.8 million.) Internationally--playing in 90 markets--the gross added up to the second best opening ever, reportedly surpassed only by Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which this time last year opened at home with $108.4 million, part of its whopping record $253 million worldwide.
A considerable way back in second place this weekend was Over the Hedge, the latest critter cartoon. But the DreamWorks pic's $37.2 million opening was slightly above studio expectations, according to Jim Tharp, president of motion picture distribution for Paramount Pictures, which now releases DreamWorks product.
"It's funny," said Tharp, citing the family friendly appeal of the PG-rated CGI tale about a pushy raccoon (voiced by Bruce Willis) who leads a bunch of furry pals on raids against humans whose suburb has encroached on their wilderness. Opening at 4,059 theaters, it averaged $9,172.
Also opening wide was yet another Lions Gate horror flick, the R-rated See No Evil. At 1,257 sites the pluck-out-your-eyes gory stuff, starring wrestler Glen "Kane" Jacobs, scared up $3,461 per screen for $4.3 million, only enough for sixth place.
The arrival of the two new hits pushed Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible III down to third place as it dropped 56 percent in its third week. But by earning $11 million, the action sequel edged past the significant $100 million mark to reach $103.2 million.
That's respectable, especially when compared to another recent expensive production Poseidon. Never successfully afloat, the big boat a-sinking drama sank 58 percent in its second weekend, taking in just $9.2 million to bring its current gross to merely $36.7 million.
At just one theater The King, ThinkFilm's R-rated religious themed drama starring Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt, kicked off with $9,100.
Although this weekend was up 80.1 percent over last weekend, it wasn't better than this time last year. The combined top 12 gross of $153.1 million was actually 2.1 percent below the $157.6 million generated when Revenge of the Sith hit screens 12 months ago.
Next weekend, which sees the arrival of Fox's X-Men: The Last Stand, has a chance to be a very successful Memorial Day weekend if business for this week's top entries hold up as expected.
Final figures are due Monday. The estimated top 10 domestic grosses for this weekend follow:
1. The Da Vinci Code, $77 million
2. Over the Hedge, $37.2 million
3. Mission: Impossible III, $11 million
4. Poseidon, $9.2 million
5. RV, $5.1 million
6. See No Evil, $4.3 million
7. Just My Luck, $3.3 million
8. An American Haunting, $1.6 million
9. United 93, $1.4 million
10. Akeelah and the Bee, $1 million
‘Da Vinci’ undermines faith, survey claims
Controversy over film reaches fever pitch a day before its world debut
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 4:11 p.m. ET May 16, 2006
“The Da Vinci Code” has undermined faith in the Roman Catholic Church and badly damaged its credibility, a survey of British readers revealed Tuesday as tensions over — and hype for — the forthcoming film reached a fever pitch.
As its stars off headed to walk the red carpet at Cannes, where the film was set to debut Wednesday before a worldwide release Friday, at least two countries limited the film's release.
The British survey, released by a group of prominent Catholics, revealed that readers of Dan Brown's blockbuster novel are twice as likely to believe Jesus Christ fathered children and four times as likely to think the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei is a murderous sect.
“An alarming number of people take its spurious claims very seriously indeed,” said Austin Ivereigh, press secretary to Britain’s top Catholic prelate Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. “Our poll shows that for many, many people “The Da Vinci Code” is not just entertainment.”
He heads a prominent collection of English Roman Catholic monks, theologians, nuns and members of Opus Dei, who commissioned the survey from pollster Opinion Research Business (ORB) and have sought to promote Catholic beliefs amid the film’s release.
ORB interviewed more than 1,000 adults last weekend, finding that 60 percent believed Jesus had children by Mary Magdalene — a possibility raised by the book — compared with just 30 percent of those who had not read the book.
The group, which stopped short of following the Vatican line of calling on Catholics to boycott the film, accused Brown of dishonest marketing based on peddling fiction as fact.
Ivereigh complained that Brown and film studio Sony Pictures “have encouraged people to take it seriously while hiding behind the claim that it is fiction.
“Our poll shows they should take responsibility for their dishonesty and issue a health warning.”
The novel, which has sold over 40 million copies, also depicts Opus Dei as a ruthless Machiavellian organization whose members resort to murder to keep the Church’s secrets.
In the survey, readers were asked if Opus Dei had ever carried out a murder. Seventeen percent of readers believe it had, compared with just four percent of non-readers.
Opus Dei spokesman Jack Valero said he was astonished.
“Since we were founded in 1928, Opus Dei has promoted the highest moral standards at work, spreading a message of Christian love and understanding,” he said.
“Yet the Da Vinci Code has persuaded hundreds of thousands of people that we have blood on our hands.”
Release halted in IndiaThough controversy has largely emanated from Europe and the United States, India took perhaps the strongest move against the film Tuesday, temporarily halting its release until it could be screened for Catholic groups. The move came in response to sporadic protests by some Christian and Muslim groups.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said he had received more than 200 complaints. The release “may be delayed by a day or two,” he said.
“We are a secular country. On any sensitive issue, we should take action after we examine every aspect,” Dasmunshi told reporters. “We have to be careful.”
The national censor in the largely Catholic Philippines, meantime, gave the film an “adults only” certificate on Tuesday, banning under-18s from viewing it. Consoliza Laguardia told reporters the film, based on the best-selling novel of the same title, required “mature discernment” because of a plot that involves Jesus Christ having a child with Mary Magdalene.
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairwoman Marissa Laguardia also cited scenes of “self-flagellation involving clerical assassination, violent images and a fleeting sexual ritual,” but she said the film did not directly attack the Catholic Church and did not merit an X-rating or any cuts.
What do you think about ‘The Da Vinci Code’?
Because SM cinemas, the largest chain of movie theatres in the Philippines, does not show R-18 films, the move will largely push “The Da Vinci Code” out of Philippine theaters. But it will hardly stop eager patrons from watching.
Laguardia said the movie would be a “test of faith” for many people in the Philippines.
“But it has to be shown,” she said. “Thirty-six countries have already reviewed this film and they have not banned it. So are we just out of the stone age?”
Manila’s hawkers have already started flogging a documentary on “The Da Vinci Code” as the real movie, and pirated copies of the feature film are expected to hit the streets soon.
In Thailand, a coalition demanded that government censors cut the film’s final 15 minutes.
“We asked that they cut out the conclusion of the movie that Jesus still has heirs alive today,” said a spokesman for the groups, Manoch Jangmook of the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand.
A South Korean court rejected a request from a Christian group for an injunction blocking the screening of the movie, saying the group’s reasons lacked merit.
“As it is clear that the novel and movie are all fiction ... there is no probability that the movie can make viewers mistakenly believe the contents of the movie are facts,” chief judge Song Jin-hyun of the Seoul Central District Court said.
Last week, the Philippines’ powerful Catholic bishops gave priests guidelines on how to refute the book’s plot and reminded parishioners that the novel was a work of fiction. But they stopped short of calling for the film to be banned. But some younger Filipinos were angry at what they saw as faith intruding on entertainment.
“Something such as religion should not be a standard for whether we should let movies be played,” said Peterson Poon, 16. “It annoys me that I have to buy a DVD.”
Such local efforts come amid the Vatican's vocal effort to dissuade viewers worldwide from flocking to what church officials view as a misleading and heretical piece of work. The latest message came Monday, when the Vatican's culture minister portrayed the popularity of “Da Vinci” as a shocking indication of mass ignorance and the “voluptuous pleasure” the media take in promoting works with no basis in truth.
Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, told Europe 1 radio he had no objection to people seeing the film if they understand it is fiction, but many would watch this “nonsense” and think that it was true.
‘Shocking and worrying’The film of the best-selling novel, which says Jesus had a child with Mary Magdelene and the Roman Catholic Church hushed this up, debuts at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.
Poupard is the Vatican’s highest authority on cultural issues after Pope Benedict.
“This is a shocking and worrying cultural phenomenon that reflects, on the one hand, the ignorance of millions of people and, on the other, the voluptuous pleasure the media take in promoting products that have nothing to do with the truth,” the 75-year-old French-born cardinal told the radio station.
Italy’s most senior cardinal, Camillo Ruini, also lambasted the film’s plot as “fantasies and falsifications” but said he believed people were more fascinated by truth than illusions.
“If it is clear this has nothing to do with truth and it amuses you to go see it, why not?” he said when asked if movie-goers should boycott the film, which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou.
In recent weeks, cardinals have urged everything from a boycott of the film by Catholics to legal action against both the novel and the film.
But the dust-up hardly dissuaded “Da Vinci's” stars from taking a turn in the spotlight. Tom Hanks and his fellow cast members set off Tuesday for Cannes on the high-speed Eurostar train.
The special train, nicknamed The Da Vinci Code for the occasion, was in pursuit of a world record. Going nonstop over the 883 miles from London to the festival in southern France would put it into the Guinness World Records book.
Hanks, who plays Robert Langdon in the film, posed for pictures Tuesday at London's Waterloo station with Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno and Alfred Molina, director Ron Howard and author Dan Brown.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ok.. why is time passing by SO FAST.. its already 4 whole days since my last posting.. and i remember that my last post was SO RECENT.. haixx.. gotta keep gg up on my feet and keep posting regularly.. Can u believe this? I just am not disciplined to carry on with this nonsense any much longer.. Whats so good about writing in a blog man..crap.. i gotta improve on this blog.. simply no time.. thats why i had this blog skin. not that it reflects me in any way whatsoever..
don't get the wrong ideas..
alright.. since time flies so fast, i have got to decide on what i want to see myself in the future.. Hmm.. lets see.. job wise.. well, i am a very low up keep person..I am not looking for riches or wealth or glory or fame or whatever.. Christian or non-Christian, i will still have a very simple lifestyle.. Well, i like community work lots.. Like helping those unfortunate people are maybe even those endangered animals..
Last time i was a member of the WWF (World Wildlife Fund For nature) even... =P
So, lets jsut put it this way.. Community work is definitely in.. I would love to go to help in places like World Vision or GreenPeace or maybe be some wandering Missionary.. But yeah, if i really was to settle down, i would go ahead to be a teacher.. sec sch, poly.. jc.. whichever i can get in.. haha.. well i would love to help in educating students.. maybe i can also use this opportunities to share Christ.. hahaha..
hmm.. well, got lots more to say but simply no time.. I AM TOO BUSY!!
--to be continued--
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Couldn't copy and paste the results coz this blogskin juz wouldn't show it.. %#$%&#&#...
2 Timothy 2 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
2 Timothy 2
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 13if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
A Workman Approved by God 14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Blogging once again..
I'm very very confused over why so many people are having problems with their faith..so much that they keep complaining abt it..
The answer to their problems is all there.. if they choose to trust in the Lord and stop depending on their own strength to carry on with life in this forsaken world...
Every other Christian is complaining of problems here and there.. But, we are just making noise in without raising possible solutions ot our problems.. Its like we expect God to keep providing for us and make our lives better.. But thats not the point..
I am particularly disheartened by a freshman who has joined my Crusade.. Through my conversations with him, i keep getting this impression that he wishes to join cca's in Sp if they can provide enough friends or if they are "cool" enough.. And these are the reasons why he joined City Harvest Church in the first place.. He even confessed that when his close friend who brought him to City Harvest Church backslidded, he found no reason to continue in that church..
I mean, this is ALL SO WRONG... But yet so many people out there are like this.. Christians who are unsure of why they are Christians.. with no complete assurance of their salvation..
--to be continued--
------------SEPTEMBER BABY ---------------
Active and dynamic.
Decisive and haste but tends to regret.
Attractive and affectionate to oneself.
Strong mentality.
Loves attention. Diplomatic.
Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems.
Brave and fearless.
Adventurous.
Loving and caring.
Suave and generous.
Usually you have many friends.
Enjoys to make love.
Emotional.
Stubborn.
Hasty.
Good memory.
Moving, motivates oneself and others.
Loves to travel and explore.
Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can understand.
Your Brain Usage Profile:
Auditory : 58%
Visual : 41%
Left : 25%
Right : 75%
No matter which side of your brain is dominant,
M i n d W a r e
can strengthen your emotional brain power by helping you understand how
you feel about yourself.
--View Summary--
Isaac, you show a slight right-hemisphere dominance with a moderate preference for auditory processing, an unusual and somewhat paradoxical combination of characteristics.
You are drawn to a random and sometimes nonchalant synthesis of material. You learn as it seems important to a specific situation, and might even develop a resentment of others who attempt to direct your learning down a specific channel.
Your right-hemispheric dominance provides a structure that is only loosely organized and one which processes entire swatches of reality, overlooking details. You are emotional in your reactions and perceptual more than logical in your approach, although you can impose structure and a language base when necessary.
Your auditory preference, on the other hand, implies that you process information sequentially and unidimensionally. This combination of right-brain and auditory modes creates conflict, as you want to process data more rapidly than your natural processes allow.
Your tendency to be creative and free-flowing is accompanied by sufficient ability to organize and be logical, allowing you a reasonable degree of success in a number of different endeavors. You take in information methodically and systematically which can then be synthesized rapidly. In this manner, you manage to function consistently well, although certainly less efficiently than you desire.
You prefer the abstract and are a theoretician at heart while retaining the ability to be practical. You find the symbolism in a great deal of what you encounter and are something of a "mystic."
With regards to your lifestyle, you have the mentality which would be good as a philosopher, writer, journalist, or instructor, or possibly as a systems designer or social worker. Perhaps most important is your ability to "listen to your inner voice" as a mode of skipping over unnecessary steps to achieve your goals.
Refering to the 2nd last paragraph.. i'm a "mystic"?? hahaha...
Last parangraph.. systems designer.. SHIT!! I should have gone too the IS(Information Systems) option in my DIT course!!
Social Worker? hmm.. haha.. i already knew this one..
And the rest of the paragraphs just shows me to be an impatient and quick to be angry person.. something like the the average ah beng? What the f***..
Today was a rather "significant" day for me as it was the day i spent recollecting all the things i did in my CCA Campus Crusade and how i really felt inside it.. Yupz.. some of you might have already known.. i'm so sick of being in Crusade.. i just cannot tolerate it siah..
And today, when i attended its Campus Life meeting.. i hoped to feel God's presence as i went to worship.. well, i didn't exactly get what i wanted, but whatever i thought of Crusade before was confirmed.. Today night, one of the Crusade Staff Priscilla went abt talking about how there are ppl in Crusade that pretended to be "enthu" but were in actual fact not "enthu" for Chirst.. but hey, i already felt this in Crusade long ago.. -.-" Well, it was confirmed by another freshy who said that he had noticed this while in Crusade for a while..
Note to all Crusaders: Please watch yourselves.. i myself didn't do anything but the freshys are already observing lots of things..
Well, in Crusade, frankly speaking, its like those active Crusaders are mostly those holding leadership roles.. This made me wonder many times.. what happened to all the others?? Where have they all gone too?? Has the Crusade been too ineffective in keeping its members that mostly those having leadership roles chose to stay behind?
If this is so true, then is the Crusade giving a wrong impression of being regular to the Christian students in Sp?? Are leadership roles in Crusade so important that if you don't have one, you can decide not to stay in Crusade and migrate to your other cca's?? Or are they giving excuses that they are too busy in their lives??
Please man!! Crusade is not meant to be a cca!! Can't you people get this into your heads?!?! Its not about having leadership roles or about having more "prestige" or more cca points!!
Nowadays, eveytime i pay short visits to Crusade activites, i keep getting the impression that its an organisation filled with mostly leaders and some other members.. What ever happened to all the other members?!?!
And, its so hard to be inside trying to fellowship when everyone is like so busy... i mean, when we try to commit to Crusade and become "active" are we doing it for the right reasons?? Or are we just after the praises of other Crusaders?? Are many of us really so blinded by leadership that we have come to think of ourselves as better than other Crusaders?? I have not come to any conclusion.. But i feel that as the time comes, the truth ill reveal itself..
Furthermore, as many of us continue to serve in Crusade, i don't think we will have the time to buld up our friendships or even evangelise properly to our friends.. One of the many traps in Crusade is that Crusaders start to base everything on Crusade.. and when they come out of poly after their 3 or more years inside, they start to backslide..
I keep feeling that the Crusade may have its good intentions as an Organisation.. But, one thing we have obviously failed is this.. (No Crusader can deny this fact!!) It is the fact that many of us seem to be so caught up in our roles or are so busy that apparently we do not do enough to keep the people in our cca.. Our fallout rate is high!! And its bad!! Considering that we are not supposed to be a cca but a Christian organisation meant to spread the truth!!
If Christians or even Crusaders who quit have known that the Crusade is their BEST BET in reaching out to the lost in Sp, then they may not have quit..
If they felt accepted in Crusade, we may have gained ground..
But are we losing ground faster in our Crusade than we can take ground from Sp??
Can we consider ourselves an effective Organisation to reach to the lost and enlarge God's territory if our own territory is slowly shrinking??
Lastly, this is a question that i am giving out to all those Crusader's under leadership roles.. Please take some time to reflect upon it and answer the question truthfully..
Q1) If you were in Crusade for so long but were not given any leadership roles, would you still consider on being "active" in Crusade? By "Active", i mean coming for its activities as faithfully as you did in year 1.. If deep down inside, your answer is no, then i would suggest reflecting on the reasons of being a leader and how you would wish to be a leader whose actions are pleasing to God..
The writer has chosen not to encourage Crusaders thru the Campus Crusade yahoo groups website due to some bad experiences and postings he has made inside.. As such, even though the writer feels that a good encouragement posting in yahoo groups will help lift the spirits of the Crusader's having leadership in Crusade, he still finds in a hastle to have his postings undergo "checkouts" with the staff before it is displayed.. As such, he has decided to use his blog only as it gives him the ultimate freedom of speech..