After my last post on Monday, someone asked me whether I had gone soft? or have I decided to change tack and go the healthy route and promote fruits and vegetable or have I gone astronomical and look at stars and galaxies? Neither!
I am still very much in love with our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact by looking at the wonder of the banana and its numerous properties, I cannot help but admire the wisdom of our Lord when He created the fruit. Besides all those great properties of the fruit, do you know how useful the banana tree is? I can tell you all about that as I have a mini banana farm in my garden and recently I transferred some sampling over to my backyard to start another clump of trees. The trunk makes excellent fertilizer for the young trees (for seven years, I did not have to put any growth hormones or pellets to the trees as the nutrients from the decaying trunks become fodder for the rest). The leaves make good wrappers and also add flavor to cooking.
And then the galaxies speak volumes of the Creator. Who else do you think place the galaxies in their exact locations? too near and they will tend to collide and too far they will not be able to stay in their orbits. How wise our Creator God is.
So, every time I need good encouragement, I just have to behold the wonders of nature and my heart will well up with worship of Him Who made all these for our enjoyment.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
"Going Bananas"
A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class once explained the expression 'going bananas' and enumerated the effects bananas have on the brain.
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
1. Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
2. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
3. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
4. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
5. Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
6. Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
7. Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
8. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
9. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
10. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
11. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
12. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
13. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
14. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
15. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
16. Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
17. Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
18. Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
19. Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.1. Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
2. PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
3. Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
4. Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
5. Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.6. Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
7. Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
8. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
9. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
10. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
11. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
12. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
13. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
14. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
15. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
16. Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
17. Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
18. Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
19. Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Two Moons - Special Phenomenon
Two moons can be seen in the night sky on 27 August, a day the Whole World is waiting for......... ....
Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will
cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles off planet Earth.
Be Sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 AM It will look like the earth has 2 moons.
The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.
Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will
cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles off planet Earth.
Be Sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 AM It will look like the earth has 2 moons.
The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Why doesn't the Lord grant us everything we prayed for?
Someone once posed this question to me 'why doesn't the Lord grant us everything we prayed for?' some years ago and I tried to explain but the answers given were not accepted. The argument was centered on this - that since the Father did not spare His Son but sent Jesus to die for us, how can He not give us everything? if He had already spared His most precious possession, how difficult is it for Him to grant mere men's requests?
Obvious, the confusion lies in Romans 8:26-27 and recently I read an excellent explanation of these two verses from "The Letter to the Romans - The NEW Daily Study Bible" by the late William Barclay. On page 131, he said. "Paul is saying that, because of our weakness, we do not know what to pray for, but the prayers we ought to offer are offered for us by the Hly Spirit. The New Testament scholar C.H. Dodd defines prayer in this way: 'Prayer is the divine in us appealing to the Divine above us.'"
In his book, he explained that there are two very obvious reasons why we cannot pray as we ought. We cannot pray aright because
1. we cannot foresee the future. We cannot see a year or even an hour ahead; and we may well pray, therefore, to be saved from things which are for our good, and we may pray for things which would be to our ultimate harm.
2. in any given situation we do not know what is best for us. We are often in the position of children who want something which would be bound only to hurt them; and God is often in the position of parents who have to refuse their children's requests or compel them to do something they do not want to do, because the parents know what is good for them far better than the children themselves.
Wow, when I read that I was relieved because that is exactly how things should be. To his readers who argued with him, Paul wrote in Romans 9:20-21,
v20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"
v21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
So the moral of the story - the Lord wants us to have the best and He will not short-change His children. So go ahead and give thanks for whatever He gives us.
Obvious, the confusion lies in Romans 8:26-27 and recently I read an excellent explanation of these two verses from "The Letter to the Romans - The NEW Daily Study Bible" by the late William Barclay. On page 131, he said. "Paul is saying that, because of our weakness, we do not know what to pray for, but the prayers we ought to offer are offered for us by the Hly Spirit. The New Testament scholar C.H. Dodd defines prayer in this way: 'Prayer is the divine in us appealing to the Divine above us.'"
In his book, he explained that there are two very obvious reasons why we cannot pray as we ought. We cannot pray aright because
1. we cannot foresee the future. We cannot see a year or even an hour ahead; and we may well pray, therefore, to be saved from things which are for our good, and we may pray for things which would be to our ultimate harm.
2. in any given situation we do not know what is best for us. We are often in the position of children who want something which would be bound only to hurt them; and God is often in the position of parents who have to refuse their children's requests or compel them to do something they do not want to do, because the parents know what is good for them far better than the children themselves.
Wow, when I read that I was relieved because that is exactly how things should be. To his readers who argued with him, Paul wrote in Romans 9:20-21,
v20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'"
v21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
So the moral of the story - the Lord wants us to have the best and He will not short-change His children. So go ahead and give thanks for whatever He gives us.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Blood-Slurping Bacteria - Klebseilla
I met up with an old friend on Tuesday afternoon August 5 for afternoon coffee and she shared an amazing testimony that happened in her life.
Back in 2005 when the property market was taking a nosedive because of economic conditions, she found herself working doubly hard to keep pace with her expenses because prices fell to half what they were previously. She ended up working almost round the clock trying on her own strength to make ends meet. One day towards the end of that year (or was it in early 2006?), she fell very sick and had to be warded in the ICU. The doctors found that her liver was being attacked by a type of bacteria that simply loves to drink up all the blood that they could find and when they found the source in the liver, they stayed there and had a feast. According to her doctor, the name of that particular bacteria is "Klebseilla" and is actually in each and every one of our bodies; the difference is that they may be dormant in some but active in other persons like cancer cells are present in everyone's body. I have added the short description of this bacteria which I found in the on-line encyclopedia.
Klebsiella is a genus of non-motile , Gram-negative , Oxidase-negative bacteria with a prominent polysaccharide-based capsule. Frequent human pathogens , Klebsiella organisms can lead to a wide range of disease states, notably pneumonia , urinary tract infections , septicemia , Ankylosing ...
My friend was 'living in the hospital for seven months struggling for her life and even momentarily lost it. She described how she felt herself floating towards the ceiling and she could see her lifeless body on the bed with her husband bent over and feeling sad and there was a man dressed in white (which she later found out was her doctor) standing at her bedside and discussing something with her husband. She said that she kept calling her husband by name but he did not hear her (obviously). And then she did something abnormal - she actually told the Lord that she was not ready to die but that should she be granted another opportunity, she will spend more time in His Word.
And no sooner had the words left her lips that she came back into her body and the recovery started at that moment. She later asked her husband what the doctor was telling him at that precise moment when she was trying to call him and he replied that the doctor advised that the team had done everything that they knew of and that he had to prepare for the worst. But praise be to the Lord she did not die but now lives and she is a changed person. Her outlook for life had indeed changed for the better and now she is actively immersed in the Word absorbing all that she can.
Now the most important question that needs to be answer - Klebseilla is present in everyone's body but is not active in many. Why? Because the trigger for this bacteria is actually STRESS. When a person is full of stress, his body's defence line is affected as the bacteria are awakened and they will then search out the weakest point(s) and lodge there. This was exactly what took place in my friend's life.
So my friend, leave all your worries to the Lord and do not be discouraged for discouragement is one form of stress. Put all your faith and hope in the unchanging love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who not only came to be one of us in the human race but He also came to die for our sins (our diseases and our sicknesses) and in exchange we will then rightfully inherit His divine health.
Try that today and learn to 'take no thought for tomorrow'.
Back in 2005 when the property market was taking a nosedive because of economic conditions, she found herself working doubly hard to keep pace with her expenses because prices fell to half what they were previously. She ended up working almost round the clock trying on her own strength to make ends meet. One day towards the end of that year (or was it in early 2006?), she fell very sick and had to be warded in the ICU. The doctors found that her liver was being attacked by a type of bacteria that simply loves to drink up all the blood that they could find and when they found the source in the liver, they stayed there and had a feast. According to her doctor, the name of that particular bacteria is "Klebseilla" and is actually in each and every one of our bodies; the difference is that they may be dormant in some but active in other persons like cancer cells are present in everyone's body. I have added the short description of this bacteria which I found in the on-line encyclopedia.
Klebsiella is a genus of non-motile , Gram-negative , Oxidase-negative bacteria with a prominent polysaccharide-based capsule. Frequent human pathogens , Klebsiella organisms can lead to a wide range of disease states, notably pneumonia , urinary tract infections , septicemia , Ankylosing ...
My friend was 'living in the hospital for seven months struggling for her life and even momentarily lost it. She described how she felt herself floating towards the ceiling and she could see her lifeless body on the bed with her husband bent over and feeling sad and there was a man dressed in white (which she later found out was her doctor) standing at her bedside and discussing something with her husband. She said that she kept calling her husband by name but he did not hear her (obviously). And then she did something abnormal - she actually told the Lord that she was not ready to die but that should she be granted another opportunity, she will spend more time in His Word.
And no sooner had the words left her lips that she came back into her body and the recovery started at that moment. She later asked her husband what the doctor was telling him at that precise moment when she was trying to call him and he replied that the doctor advised that the team had done everything that they knew of and that he had to prepare for the worst. But praise be to the Lord she did not die but now lives and she is a changed person. Her outlook for life had indeed changed for the better and now she is actively immersed in the Word absorbing all that she can.
Now the most important question that needs to be answer - Klebseilla is present in everyone's body but is not active in many. Why? Because the trigger for this bacteria is actually STRESS. When a person is full of stress, his body's defence line is affected as the bacteria are awakened and they will then search out the weakest point(s) and lodge there. This was exactly what took place in my friend's life.
So my friend, leave all your worries to the Lord and do not be discouraged for discouragement is one form of stress. Put all your faith and hope in the unchanging love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who not only came to be one of us in the human race but He also came to die for our sins (our diseases and our sicknesses) and in exchange we will then rightfully inherit His divine health.
Try that today and learn to 'take no thought for tomorrow'.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Our Blood Pressure
A few days ago, a friend of mine who emigrated with his family of five from Singapore to Perth wrote and said that he noticed his blood pressure had gone up recently and that it was not rational to him. The reason he emigrated there was so as to adopt a slower pace of life and in the process, enjoy a fuller lifestyle with improved blood pressure. But it was not the case for him.
You see, many people had the impression that in a society where the system had been in place, there is wide spaces to roam and people generally adopt a strict nine-to-five work habit, the pace of life should be simpler. Unfortunately they cannot be more incorrect in their reasoning.
Pressure on oneself is not dictated by the external environment but directed by one's attitude. There can be a storm outside but when we are secure in my hearts that we are not going to succumb to the external pressures, we will be able to withstand the pressure and excel. Peace can only come from within and cannot be dictated from the external.
That is why our Lord Jesus Christ emphasized to us time and again the need to "do not worry", "let not your heart be troubled", "peace", "take no thought for tomorrow, what you shall eat, what you shall wear.." In fact if you care to count all of them (in the four books of the Gospel), you will notice that those phrases and other similar ones appear 365 times so that we are reminded once each day not to worry but to trust Him to win our battles for us and we just need to rest in His finished work on the Cross. AMEN.
You see, many people had the impression that in a society where the system had been in place, there is wide spaces to roam and people generally adopt a strict nine-to-five work habit, the pace of life should be simpler. Unfortunately they cannot be more incorrect in their reasoning.
Pressure on oneself is not dictated by the external environment but directed by one's attitude. There can be a storm outside but when we are secure in my hearts that we are not going to succumb to the external pressures, we will be able to withstand the pressure and excel. Peace can only come from within and cannot be dictated from the external.
That is why our Lord Jesus Christ emphasized to us time and again the need to "do not worry", "let not your heart be troubled", "peace", "take no thought for tomorrow, what you shall eat, what you shall wear.." In fact if you care to count all of them (in the four books of the Gospel), you will notice that those phrases and other similar ones appear 365 times so that we are reminded once each day not to worry but to trust Him to win our battles for us and we just need to rest in His finished work on the Cross. AMEN.
Friday, August 1, 2008
The Rapture - What Will Happen In The End?
Recent events around the world had led many to start asking what is happening and whether what we are experiencing will get worst. Even the experts have no explanation as they are equally stumped with what to say; usually they would endeavor to venture some educated guestimate on the severity and when they think the smoke will clear but not this time. Notice that none of them would want to put his/her foot in the mouth.
Well, the Bible does have something to say about the future and I would encourage you to start going back to the Scripture and search for the answers to your many questions.
At this time, many Christians are turning to God and are looking for this phenomenon called The Rapture or as the Apostle Paul would describe it as the 'catching away of the saints' at the sound of the trumpet (read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) and then all Christians will be 'snatched away' and those left behind will see them no more.
I am providing two URLs here for you to copy and paste onto your toolbar.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWwucp20OM
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXATog6WJFo&feature=related
I pray that you will be better informed after viewing the two videos.
Well, the Bible does have something to say about the future and I would encourage you to start going back to the Scripture and search for the answers to your many questions.
At this time, many Christians are turning to God and are looking for this phenomenon called The Rapture or as the Apostle Paul would describe it as the 'catching away of the saints' at the sound of the trumpet (read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) and then all Christians will be 'snatched away' and those left behind will see them no more.
I am providing two URLs here for you to copy and paste onto your toolbar.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWwucp20OM
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXATog6WJFo&feature=related
I pray that you will be better informed after viewing the two videos.
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