縺吶＃縺�縺ｮ謚倥ｊ邏吶�ｮ繧ｷ繝�繝医ｒ縺ゅ▲縺溘ｈ�ｼ��ｼ��ｼ�

Research: What are the Gnostics?

During the show Gospel of Judas they made mention of the word "gnostics" alot.
Here's what it means:

Christian and non-Christian groups of the second and third centuries. Although there were many types, they all seemed to think that the individual can obtain spiritual liberation from the bodily world of ignorance and illusion through gnosis or insight and identification with the divine. Their ideas challenged the unity of the church because they denied the goodness of creation and the humanity of Jesus Christ.
gbgm-umc.org/umw/corinthians/glossary.stm

comes from Greek "gnosis" meaning "knowledge of God".
anomalous-images.com/text/appb.htm

Gnosticism is a blanket term for various mostly mystical religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostics

Mother's Day

Don't forget that May 14th (sunday) is Mother's Day!
Hope to invite mum for service.

Health: Explosive Diarrhea

Wah...this must be a first in my life!
To date I've had 9 explosive diarrhea episodes in the last 36 hours.
I feel so dehydrated.
But thank God my stomach held up during my DFD paper today.

I want to get better....FAST....

Testimony: GSK JOB

The HR officer Michelle just called to inform me that I can start work at GSK on 3rd May which is the day right after my last paper. And I'll be working till June 30th after which I start work at Alexandra Hospital on July 3rd. Wow...really packed.

Still I thank God for His timely provisions cuz this way I'll have money to pay for my upcoming mission trip and my livelihood. If not I wonder what I'll be living on for the next 2 months since my bank account is depleted after the many months of penalty from mum. And upon graduation how can one still have the cheek to ask for money from one's parents? Plus my parents are now in their "reaping" mode. So its not very possible to get any moola from them.

So really want to thank God; my Jehovah Jireh.
_______________________________
Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Testimony: Healing

So far I have had 5 explosive diarrhea episodes with severe stomachache in the last 24 hours.
I was having body aches and fever this morning too. According to Bro Ben last bs session, 70% of illnesses are psychosomatic. Yet no matter how I try to mentally convince myself that I was ok my stomach just wouldn't listen to my brain. And I dun want to be sick during this examination period cuz with or without a medical certificate (MC) I'll have to re-sit the papers next semester.I that happens I won't be able to graduate this year and qualify to start my pre-registration training. In short, if I can't take my exams now I'll have to wait for one year doing nothing at all. Yes, maybe some part-time worker drawing a wage of an A level student.

Moreover, Luis is having dengue fever right now and he had the same symptoms as me. Many people at PGP are down wtih dengue too and I have this other pharmacy classmate called SueHuey who is hospitalised at NUH right now. What really worried me was that I had been bitten by lots of mosquitoes in the last week. It got so bad I started fumigating my bedroom with insecticide but didn't seem to reduce the mosquito population at all. Sigh. But I seriously do not want to have dengue. And I hate seeing doctors. I think I act like a stubborn old lady. So Mum said if I do not get any better after tomorrow's exam I cannot escape the fate of seeing a doctor like I did today. Based on my experience, I'll have to do a blood test if things dun look up. (More on dengue at the end of this article).

Anyhow, I thank God for strength as I forced myself to go for the exam this morning after taking 2 anarax tablets for my fever and body aches. It was hard for me to concentrate on the questions when my stomach was threatening to do a diarrhea on me the whole time. And I was so physically exhausted from all the diarrhea. But I pulled through and I'm just believing God for a miracle for my paper. I haven't been able to study for my paper tomorrow as I collapsed on my bed in total exhaustion from another explosive diarrhea episode after returning home today. I slept the whole time. Yet before I try to do some revision now for tomorrow's paper, I want to thank God for sustaining me today. I have to graduate this semester...

_________________________
Dengue fever




















Alternative names
O'nyong-nyong fever; Dengue-like disease; Breakbone fever

Definition
Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It is characterized by fever, rash, and muscle and joint pains. See also Dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Dengue fever is caused by several related viruses (four different arboviruses). It is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes, most commonly Aedes aegypti, found in tropic and subtropic regions. This includes portions of Southeast Asia, the Indonesian archipelago into northeastern Australia, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of South and Central America.

Dengue fever begins with sudden onset of a high fever, often to 104-105 degrees Fahrenheit, headache, and slightly later the appearance of severe joint and muscle pains.

A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body early during the fever. A second rash, measles-like in appearance, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.

Dengue fever is being seen more in world travelers. It is generally self-limited and although uncomfortable is not fatal. Diagnosis may depend on a traveler telling his or her doctor of any visits to areas of the world where dengue fever is known to occur.

Dengue fever should not be confused with Dengue hemorrhagic fever, which is a separate disease and frequently fatal.

Symptoms
fever
rashes
muscle aches (myalgia)
joint aches (arthralgia)
headache
nausea
vomiting
enlarged lymph nodes

Signs and tests
CBC (shows mildly increased white blood cells, decreased platelets, and increase in hematocrit)
acute and convalescent serum (measures an increase in antibody titer for dengue virus types)
serologic studies (demonstrates antibodies to dengue viruses, may be type-specific)
Treatment Return to top

Rehydration is necessary if dehydration is evident. The high fever can be treated with acetaminophen (avoid aspirin).

Expectations (prognosis)
Full recovery is expected.

Complications
febrile convulsions
severe dehydration

Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you have been traveling in an area where dengue fever is known to occur and have developed symptoms suggested above.

Prevention
There is no vaccine currently available for dengue fever. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), research is underway for the development of a vaccine. However, the prediction is that there will not be a vaccine available for 5 to 10 years.

Using personal protection (clothing, mosquito repellent, netting, etc.) and traveling during periods of minimal mosquito activity can be helpful. Mosquito abatement programs may reduce the risk of infection, but vaccination is the only sure method of prevention.

Family: My Japanese Wedding

Homework for after the exams:
draft for wedding

Ha, never too early to plan.
If you can see it
you can have it.

• http://www.japanesegifts.com/adishes.asp
• http://www.kr-aki.co.jp/ken2/wedding/Wedding.index.html
• http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~kirin/ehp/sake_food/
  kagamiwari/ kagamiwari.htm
• http://www.anahotel-jrhtb.co.jp/information/english/
  wedding.stm
• http://www.venus-japan.co.jp/wedding/japanese.html
• http://www.threeweb.ad.jp/~mciccone/photoe.htm
• http://www.japan-style.co.uk/index_022.htm
• http://www.bestweddingtips.com/wedding-themes/
  asian-wedding-themes/
  japanese-wedding-theme/
• http://japanamac.com/2003/page/3/
• http://www.japaneseweddingfavors.com/
  wedding_kimono.htm
• http://www.happymall.com/japan/doll.htm
• http://www.mynewyorkwedding.com/categories/
  wedding_planners/ userprofiles/weddingplanners_382.html

Family: Singapore Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Measures 2004

Woah, this is part of my examinable module for this semester's exam titled woman's health.
I went to a do a further research on the government's policy for childbirth at the IRAS website.

One child, NO REBATE under the PTR scheme.
Note: PTR replaces the old STR scheme.

It seems that if we ladies wanna maximise our tax rebates, we must have our 2 second child before we hit 29 years old. Under the Parenthood Tax Rebate you get $15000 if you give birth to your second child before 29 years old. (Yes, the old STR was better) Any other age the PTR is $10000. Third child $20000 regardless of age. Fourth child still $20000 regardless of age. So bo3 hua2 to get a 4th child.

Hospital rebate has been withdrawn for the 4th child so still bo3 hua2 to get a 4th child.

For more details and other rebates available to us ladies you can refer to:

http://fcd.ecitizen.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/4372BDDA-2F95-4484-AE4B-13B1FDF6C93B/0/marriage_parenthood.pdf

http://app.mcys.gov.sg/web/corp_press_story.asp?szMod=corp&szSubMod=press&qid=453

http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_2004/budget_speech/section19.html

http://app.mof.gov.sg/budget_2006/benefits_calculator/ (interesting link for your to play w/)
____________________________
Side track abit....

If I do my calculations now, I have less than 5 years to
get married and have kids before I hit 29!

Get a guy and ROM = 1 year
Get a place to stay+ renovation + wedding =1 year
Honey Moon period for two only = 1/2 year
Conceive and 1st pregnancy = 1 year
Rest = 1/2 year
Conceive and 2nd pregnancy = 1 year

Wah...running on a very tight scehdule here....haha...unless I get twins...

And hopping over to the congenital birth defects chapter, the risk of getting a Down's syndrome child doubles and triples after the age of 30 and 35 repectively.
Ladies are reaching menarche earlier these days which means that their ova's quality deteriorate and they hit menopause at an earlier age. Down's syndrome occurs as a result of an extra chromosome number 21 which can arise due to an abnormal ovum or from the inheritance of a translocated chromosome 21 from a carrier parent (either from the father or the mother).

Good that we are having the "Finding the Right Partner BS" now.
Haha, hope to get married asap and have healthier children. And then top it up with the maximum government tax rebates and incentives. Hee, I think I can be a govn't spokesperson to help increase the nation's fertility rates. BTW, the fertility rate for Singapore in 2003 was 1.26 and declining. Which means on the average ppl are having only one child. Way below replacement. Haha... no wonder the govn't is worried.
But for me two is just nice to replace me and my hubby.
And a third child is for growing the nation and God's pop of workers here on Earth. Haha.
But it is hard work raising a kid... not to mention two or three...bleah...

Reading Now: Reduce me to Love by Joyce Meyer

Bought the book before service yesterday because I felt it was calling out to me.

And bro Ben said we should start the day in prayer/praise/ reading God's word and such;
just to dedicate our day to God.
So I'll start my day reading this book so that God can mould me more and more into a vessel of His love for others.

Yes, everything can be solved only if you loved - completely loved the way God teaches you.
(Recall Corinthians..Love is...Love is...Love is...)

Cuz true love leaves no room for doubts/suspicions, fear, selfishness and pride.
And true love seeks/brings out the best solutions in every situation.

If you seek love, seek to love first.
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Will update this blog entry with the latest keypoints I learn from the book; so that we can all benefit from it.

Haha... this is going to cause me to have even higher expectations for true love.

Family: Naming my Children

A Christian friend called Shannon (this is her baptism name which means "wisdom" in Hebrew) whom I met while working at GSK last Dec said that the meaning behind one's name is important because when people call you by name they are actually confessing things into your life. So she asked me why I used "Priscilla" which means "ancient" in Hebrew? Dang... But too bad... It was chosen by my church leaders back in my old church as my baptism name. And I liked the sound of it cuz not many had that name in the past until recently. Too bad... But at least it means I will find my Aquila. Haha. And we can be tent makers.

=) Anyway, after a conversation I had with JianFeng in his car after service and after some thought I think I know what to name my children in the future! Haha.

Children are gifts and miracles from God. And it'll be awesome to be confessing miracles into their lives whenever you call them by name. i.e. Mira-chan...Kiseki-chan...("chan" can also be used for calling little boys) Not only will they be the living testimonies of God's miraculous creation, but they will also become vessels of faith through which God can work His miracles through. And I definitely pray that signs and wonders of God will abound in my children's lives.
Haha...

If I had a daughter I'll name her " Mira" "繝溘Λ" for Miracle 繝溘Λ繧ｯ繝ｫ in short.

繝溘Λ is pronouced as "mee-ra" in Japanese and not "my-ra"
though the latter sounds nicer in English.

繝溘Λ繧ｯ繝ｫ (mi-ra-ku-ru) is pronounced as "mee-ra-ku-ru"
This is the official katakana adaptation of "miracle".

And if I had a son, he can be called "Kiseki" which also means miracle.
This is the hiragana version of the native Japanese word "miracle".
_______________________
繝溘Λ繧ｯ繝ｫ
(n) miracle; (P)

螂�霍｡縲舌″縺帙″縲�
(n) miracle; wonder; marvel; (P)
_______________________

In the Dictionaries:

• miracle
  n 1: any amazing or wonderful occurrence 2: a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of God.
  (2003 Princeton University)
  
• mirﾂｷaﾂｷcle ( P ) Pronunciation Key (mr-kl)n.
  An event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God: 窶廴iracles are spontaneous, they cannot be summoned, but come of themselves窶� (Katherine Anne Porter).
  One that excites admiring awe. See Synonyms at wonder.
  A miracle play.
  (The American Heritageﾂｮ Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
  
• miracle
  an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or thesimple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of beingdiscerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission ofa religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38). Itis an occurrence at once above nature and above man. It shows the interventionof a power that is not limited by the laws either of matter or of mind, a powerinterrupting the fixed laws which govern their movements, a supernatural power."The suspension or violation of the laws of nature involved in miracles isnothing more than is constantly taking place around us. One force counteractsanother: vital force keeps the chemical laws of matter in abeyance; andmuscular force can control the action of physical force. When a man raises aweight from the ground, the law of gravity is neither suspended nor violated,but counteracted by a stronger force. The same is true as to the walking ofChrist on the water and the swimming of iron at the command of the prophet. Thesimple and grand truth that the universe is not under the exclusive control ofphysical forces, but that everywhere and always there is above, separate fromand superior to all else, an infinite personal will, not superseding, butdirecting and controlling all physical causes, acting with or without them."God ordinarily effects his purpose through the agency of second causes; but hehas the power also of effecting his purpose immediately and without theintervention of second causes, i.e., of invading the fixed order, and thus ofworking miracles. Thus we affirm the possibility of miracles, the possibilityof a higher hand intervening to control or reverse nature's ordinary movements.
  In the New Testament these four Greek words are principally used to designatemiracles:
  
  (1.) Semeion, a "sign", i.e., an evidence of a divine commission; anattestation of a divine message (Matt. 12:38, 39; 16:1, 4; Mark 8:11; Luke11:16; 23:8; John 2:11, 18, 23; Acts 6:8, etc.); a token of the presence andworking of God; the seal of a higher power.
  
  (2.) Terata, "wonders;"wonder-causing events; portents; producing astonishment in the beholder (Acts2:19).
  
  (3.) Dunameis, "might works;" works of superhuman power (Acts 2:22; Rom.15:19; 2 Thess. 2:9); of a new and higher power.
  
  (4.) Erga, "works;" the worksof Him who is "wonderful in working" (John 5:20, 36). Miracles are seals of adivine mission. The sacred writers appealed to them as proofs that they weremessengers of God. Our Lord also appealed to miracles as a conclusive proof ofhis divine mission (John 5:20, 36; 10:25, 38). Thus, being out of the commoncourse of nature and beyond the power of man, they are fitted to convey theimpression of the presence and power of God. Where miracles are there certainlyGod is. The man, therefore, who works a miracle affords thereby clear proof thathe comes with the authority of God; they are his credentials that he is God'smessenger. The teacher points to these credentials, and they are a proof thathe speaks with the authority of God. He boldly says, "God bears me witness,both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles." The credibility ofmiracles is established by the evidence of the senses on the part of those whoare witnesses of them, and to all others by the testimony of such witnesses.The witnesses were competent, and their testimony is trustworthy. Unbelievers,following Hume, deny that any testimony can prove a miracle, because they saymiracles are impossible. We have shown that miracles are possible, and surelythey can be borne witness to. Surely they are credible when we have abundantand trustworthy evidence of their occurrence. They are credible just as anyfacts of history well authenticated are credible. Miracles, it is said, arecontrary to experience. Of course they are contrary to our experience, but thatdoes not prove that they were contrary to the experience of those who witnessedthem. We believe a thousand facts, both of history and of science, that arecontrary to our experience, but we believe them on the ground of competenttestimony. An atheist or a pantheist must, as a matter of course, deny thepossibility of miracles; but to one who believes in a personal God, who in hiswisdom may see fit to interfere with the ordinary processes of nature, miraclesare not impossible, nor are they incredible.
  (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)

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Other names that can be considered:

• MEIR
  Gender: Masculine Means "giving light" in Hebrew.
  
• NESSA
  Gender: Feminine Means "miracle" in Hebrew.
  
• NOGAH (this one sounds like a name you would encounter in a Jap anime; noga-kun)
  Gender: Masculine & Feminine Means "brightness" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of King David in the Old Testament. In modern times it is sometimes used as a feminine name.
  
• SHIRA
  Gender: Feminine Means "poetry" or "singing" in Hebrew.
  
  For more Hebrew names :http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/jew2.php

Prayer Request: For my Exams

YY made this for me to put on my desktop! Sweet right? Exactly how I like it. Japanese!!! And the days of the week are in Japanese kanji too! Wooo...

Lesson: Generosity

CG offering msg by John:

Abraham the father : God the Father
Isaac the son: Jesus the Son
Eliezer the servant: The Holy Spirit
Rebeccah the bride: You and I

(if you want more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebekah)

Generosity
- not just monetary offering
- forgiveness towards ppl (impacted me)
- time for God (my own reflection)
- time for ppl (my own reflection)

Reflection: The potent combination for evangelism

Sensitivity to people's needs + high emotional quotient (EQ) = super evangelist

"People wun care how much you know until they know how much you care."
Familiar verse from church! But knowing is one thing and applying it is another.
It won't work unless we apply it.

Read the Aussie magazine that was given to us at service today under Pst Kong's feature story.
What was his secret to growing the church?
Its about being concerned about people's lives instead of church statistics.
If you are in a cell group, it would also mean cg statistics. Friends will be difficult if you are only interested in their attendence and not in their individual lives.

Yes, God is interested in numbers. He knows the number of hair on our heads at the back of His hand. And there is even a book of NUMBERS in the bible. But do you think He is more interested in cg or church attendence or in the number of actual souls saved? When one is sensitive to others' needs growth will soon follow.

Testimony: Blessed Today

• YY blessed me with a cup of my favourite honey green tea bubble tea before cg. It was really good cuz it was a very hot day and a long walk to Huiying's place from my place.
  And she carried my bag to Huiying's place (act of service) and it was a good time of fellowship as we walked to her place. So it was good decision to walk instead of taking the bus.
• Today's cg meeting was awesome. Brother Ben is as steady a leader as a solid rock and Jasper was a talented guitarist. The message was so relevant for me and it helped to conclude the end of my 2nd depression in life. And this time I made it out of the valley in one short week. (Thank God for the Lily in the Depth of the Valley; for no matter how low we think we go there will always be that Lily of hope cuz God is a good God and He will not allow us tribulations that we cannot cope.) Last time I was in depression was 4 years ago and it was really bad cuz it dragged for 3 months and I went 1month without sleep at all so I was terribly ill. (was depressed over my dad's adultery, my mum's gambling habits, grandpa's death, superficial friends in school, stress from school work, move from a big HDB to a small condo). The only similarity between all my depressive episodes was that GOD was the one who led me out each time! I was in another church but I wasn't as grounded in God's word cuz they did not have the resources. I'm glad to be here with this present church now cuz it thoroughly equips us with the Word of God for spiritual warfare. God is good. And I'm ready to embark on a new journey and start a new season of my life with God. One observation is that everytime I get out of depression I get out of it stronger than before and learning something new. Let's move from glory to glory, level to level! Praise God! Can't wait to get the makeup brushes to start my new ministry.
• Silin blessed me with $10 after cg today! She was blessed with $5000 by her dad today. And because she has chosen to bless others in return she is truly blessed to be a blessing.
• I ministered to a walk-in called Joyce tonight during service and I'm meeting her for service next Saturday!!! HA! Coincidently I brought two notebooks out today without knowing and I blessed her with one. She was very thankful and it made me so happy! Very joyful Indian lady! And she lives around Woodlands! Hohoho! Pray for her to be integrated! I feel so happy to be used for the extension of God's kingdom. I love evangelism cuz I've decided to live for the great commission. Men perish without a vision. And likewise I thrive and am happy when I know I'm walking in my purpose.
• JianFeng met me after service today and blessed me with a cup of soya bean drink, a bottle of honey lemon tea and he drove me home as I was very tired cuz I had not really slept for the last few nights when i was still down. BUT now I'm VERY HAPPY cuz I met Joyce!!!
• AND YAY! BoChao has agreed to visit Jason and his mum at the hospital tomorrow with me! Pray for Jason's mum; she has been diagnosed with lymphoma (for more on lymphoma: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=7030)

Dun want to be negative anymore. And if I'm going to be oversensitive let it be used for sensing people's needs instead. Awesome God and great people abound on the face of this earth. My life is on the rebound and it is good!

Testimony: Idols Have to Flee

I prayed frequently for that idol to break and shatter into pieces or to be removed by my parents. And it left my home officially today after many months of praying.

Apparently, it showed my aunt "supernatural" signs recently after my aunt came to visit my home and took pictures of the idol with her handphone.
The picture flashed on her handphone (spooky) at her home even after she had switched her handphone off. The handphone was not faulty and it was really switched off, but the picture kept flashing on the hp screen. She took it that the idol is telling her it has a special affinity for her.

Anyhow, my aunt and my mum consulted their Buddhist master (Mr Dai) the next day.
He said that the idol does have supernatural powders after he looked at the pictures on my aunts hp. Next he advised them to ask the idol if it really wanted to leave. So my parents went thru a series of "bua3 buei1" (hokkien) and no matter how they rephrased their questions (at least ten) the outcome was it wanted to leave my house and FAST! My parents confirmed the outcome with that Mr Dai, and he added that they can "invite" the idol back home after their daughter (me) got married out. HA! I'll make sure that doesn't happen.

The idol left my home officially today; my parents brought it to my aunt's place asap as the idol had "instructed" them to.
Praise GOD! Where God is, demons and idols will have to flee.
The war had already been won but its up to you and me to claim that authority of victory over Satan. (Recall: Authority of Victory BS)

Now i have a window of opportunity for my family's salvation.
Bro Ben said that it was a powerful testimony and he also agreed its an opportunity for my household to be saved.

Enrichment: 5 Love Languages

Express your way more effectively and efficiently my knowing your partner/friend/family member's primary love language.

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Receiving Gifts
3. Physical Touch
4. Acts of Service (My primary love language)
5. Quality Time