President Obama: 'I am a Christian By Choice...The Precepts of Jesus Spoke to Me'

At a backyard town hall in Albuquerque, NM, Tuesday, President Obama was asked “Why are you a Christian?” The question, from teacher’s assistant Elizabeth A. Murphy, 42, was one of three “hot topics” she raised with the president.

“I’m a Christian by choice,” the president said. “My family didn’t -- frankly, they weren’t folks who went to church every week. And my mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew, but she didn’t raise me in the church.”

The president said he “came to my Christian faith later in life and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead -- being my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper, treating others as they would treat me. And I think also understanding that Jesus Christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings, that we’re sinful and we’re flawed and we make mistakes, and that we achieve salvation through the grace of God. But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people and do our best to help them find their own grace.”

The president said “that’s what I strive to do. That’s what I pray to do every day. I think my public service is part of that effort to express my Christian faith.”

I am Down with Flu

I was down with flu since 2 days ago and yesterday I went to see the doctor near my house. As he normally has few patients, I don't have to wait too long. He gave me cough mixture and I requested for the non-drowsy type, otherwise I cannot work here and have to sleep the whole day in bed. He also gave me anti-biotics and pills for the phlegm. It was very tiring yesteday when I self-medicated and took the cough mixture that makes me very drowsy. Hence, was lying in bed almost the whole morning and evening. Wish I will get well tomorrow soon.

Heaven is Rich

There's lots of gold bullion in heaven. Even the streets are solid gold and not gold plated. They are paved with gold. Since the Bible is the inspired word of God, and it is clearly stated so, hence I believe it. Also heaven is a place where is the no more suffering, no more tears and no more sickness and death. You will live for eternity and that is a very long time to come. There will be a new heaven and a new earth where all the animals will live at peace with each other.

There will not be any more killing for food or murders. Everyone will live at peach with each other and this is the ultimate goal in life later on. But for now, we have to endure suffering, disease, sickness, illness and aging. But it will all come to pass and a new life begins. So in the meantime, while we are here on earth, let us life at peace with each other until Jesus returns in the Second Coming of Christ to be reunited with his fellow Christians.

We cannot get away from present sufferings like earthquakes, tsunami, pestilences, wars and more wars, etc. So, while life here in imperfect, we have to make do with the present circumstances.

Thank God Every Day

I thank God every day for my blessings such as a dream job to work at home since February 2004 until today. Sometimes, I am required to travel often to Kuala Lumpur to meet up with clients with my colleague and we stay in a rented apartment in USJ, Subang Jaya. The apartment is rented by my company and it is like a home office with printer, table and chair. I just need to lug my laptop along to continue to check for emails and to reply on the go to enquiries from customers. Now I need to work hard for my retirement and save enough so that I don't have to depend on people for financial help in my golden years.

Bought 9 message CDs from Joseph Prince's Online Store

Just 2 days ago, I decided to buy 9 message CDs on behalf of a friend from Pastor Joseph Prince's online store for more than RM200 after conversion to ringgit from Singapore dollars, including express delivery by DHL. It was sent out the same day I ordered later in the evening and I received it the following day. That is superb customer service and typical of Singapore - customers come first and the customer is always right! This was the motto of my Singaporean company where I worked for while teaching clients how to use Microsoft Office and Lotus 1-2-3.

Perils of Worldly Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 2

Todays reading is from 1 Cor 1:18 - 2:16. We rely too much on our worldly wisdom to get us what we want. Life as God intended it to be is simple, yet deep and meaningful but soulish man has made life shallow, complicated and stressful. I hope the Datuk lawyers (or killer lawyers?) will be brought to justice for murdering millionaires to get their money and properties unlawfully and 17 missing people has been linked to the 2 lawyer Indian brothers in Malaysia. Some stumble at the cross. Rather than a testimony of weakness, the cross is a tremendous testimony of power. The Holy Spirit is the anti thesis of the spirit of the world.

The Nuns have Taken a Vow of Poverty

My dad and two younger sisters are Catholics in the family. Only myself and mum are Protestants. But we believe in the same God. My parents help out every week in Little Sisters of the Poor where the nuns there have taken a vow of poverty - such humble actions on their part. They don't believe in amassing great wealth and certainly don't preach prosperity. They lead a very humble simple life in the organisation helping the aged and sick every day to do the necessary things and to keep them mentally occupied in their golden years.

Tithing is a Serious Matter in My Church

Tithing seems to be a very sensitive issue and a serious matter in my local church. Ever since I stopped tithing in November last year, there were many changes taking place in my local church! First was the printing of bulletin. They have decided to save money on paper and print once a month instead of every week. Then shortly later, they put donation envelopes in all the pews and every chair to make it so OBVIOUS that I should continue to tithe, like I am obligated to them! I have given thousands in the past and it is time to save up for my retirement. But I still continue to give offerings every week. The church does not see its own blessings from other givers but seem to focus on what is missing!

Streets of Gold in Heaven

In the bible, God has said that there are streets of gold in heaven. And it is not gold-plated but filled with solid gold inside out. There will be lots of gold bullion as part of the structures as well including precious gems like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, jade, etc. Heaven is the final destination for all the children of God, those who are born-again Christians. This is our ultimate promise by our Heavenly Father. And Jesus as redeemed us from sin and a life of sickness and curse for a life of blessings, health and prosperity. He will go and prepare a place for us. The greatest miracle in my life was when I became a Christian since 1985.

My Senior Church Pastor has Gone for 1 Month Sabatical Leave

It is certainly good to be able to go for 1 month's leave in a foreign country and my senior church pastor has gone to Australia together with his wife. It is so co-incidental that since I stopped tithing, the church has stopped corporate prayer for the members on Sunday service. Otherwise, they will always have prayer sessions for the members after service. Since I pay by cheque, they know who is paying and when. And since I have stopped, they have become more negligent in their duties by printing the brochures every month, instead of every week.