Families

The real things that matter in life are the families we have and create. We may be rich, successful, popular and intelligent but the real test of our life is what we establish in the buildings of our own homes. Doing all these things well can never compensate for failure in our own homes.

And Life Goes On

The seeds are planted, the flowers grow and insects come and go.

The rain starts coming and heat commences and soon there will be snow.

The months pass by and clouds do fly switch years to years again.

A family is born, with parents passing do morn and children are suddenly then.

A life is full sentimental flavor the taste of goodness one only can savour.

Imagine

For one moment can you sit back, close your eyes and picture yourself when you were a little baby. What did you look like, what did you do and how did you smell. Then open your eyes and look that little creature up and down and scream at the top of your lungs "I did it." Yes your imagination suddenly became a reality and your little junior has been created. And he looks just like you. For those of you who have the choice having your very own little child is the best thing in the whole world. Nothing can better the choice words of..."I love you daddy!'

Contemplation

As I sit and contemplate,

The journey of my terrible plight,

I feel the jaws of deep despair,

And wonder if my Lord is there.

Oh how can such a rich reward,

Be thwarted by this tragic death,

That leads us all to gasp for breath-and realize,

That life itself is but a spell,

That leads to emotional hell.

But wait I hear a still small voice,

It is familiar- I hear it thrice,

It says-don't cry-don't cry-don't cry,

This life is but the wink of an eye.

I will be with you again-its true,

Our lives will touch and start anew,

How glorious then will be the day,

When i see you and you shall say,

"I love you!"

A poem by Joan Wood

Elder Wood the Poet

It's happy but wear a frown,

The way someone dies and is forgotten in the ground,

And the symbol of their life is shown by a rock,

Placed at the head of their wooden box.

And to the atheist type the spirit and body decay,

And the living wait for their own dreadful day

When they themselves will be forgotten in the grave.

But we know better, we've seen and heard,

The steps that follow a persons' last words;

How the spirit departs and leaves his box behind,

And enters into peace, a place more divine,

Where he works and waits for the time to arrive

When the scriptures have said, "in Adam all die,

For in Christ all shall be made alive"

....

And thus we see that the frown

Is a weakness worn by the flesh

That quickly melts away after death

To the realization of a continued spiritual breath.

1 korinthians 15:22 By Landon Peter Wood who is currently serving a Mission in Madagascar and speaks fluent Malagasy

BMW or Banyan Tree

Have you ever wanted to own a brand new BMW? Perhaps you have always had a fetish for unique trees or special types of wood. Well I am pleased to say that through all the ranting and raving about life and the intricacies therein...our BMW is finally here! Yes that is to say that our Banyan tree has arrived safe and sound.

I Saw You

I saw that you were sad today and I felt sad for you.

I saw that you were thinking hard and I thought for you.

I saw that you were having a child and I rejoiced for you.

I saw that you were in a beautiful land and I sang for you.

I saw that you were very beautiful and I yearned for you.

I saw that you were crying and I cried for you.

I say that you were smiling and I smiled for you.

I say that you were laughing and I laughed for you.

Amidst all these visions it was you that I saw.

Amidst all these joys is was you that I saw.

Amidst all these heartaches it was you that I saw.

And in the end we became one person,

with one heart and one mind and one soul.

We saw each other for who we were and who we had become.

Diet Coke and Mentos Lovers

For those of us who love to drink Diet Coke and Eat Mentos here is a delicious treat for you. I can only imagine what would happen if you down 2 litres and pop a couple packages...try that for experiment # 187. Needless to say I don't think Diet Coke will ever touch my lips again. As for the Mentos a few still might find their way in. Enjoy!

Signs in China

Have you ever seen a sign that just didn’t make sense or perhaps was written in some pigeon style English? Well it is fair to say that many (if not the majority) of signs in out of the way places in China will bring a smile to your face and giggle to your tummy. In the UNESCO protected site of Dan Xia Shan there was no exception to these great signs. I just can’t imagine how a country with over a billion people can’t hire one native English speaker to be the sign police and save the embarrassment. Yet although it may be loosing face to the Chinese the foreigner wouldn’t change them for the world. Perhaps they did hire just the lad and he is just having fun keeping all these signs just the way they are.

“No Burning” – I am not quite sure if I should be smoking when I see this but about a dozen other Chinese people who were there at the same time as me interpreted this as “no burning” as they took long meaningful puffs on their cigarettes. So I am proud to say the sign did not get burned as a result.

“Up Special Way Slip With Care” – As we went up the special way (which mind you was the only way) we made sure so slip with care and even style as we finally made it to the top.

“Upper The Highest Peak” – This was an especially satisfying time as we went highest before reaching the upper peak…or was that upper before the highest peak. Anyway we made it to the top of something…

“Caution Dander" – Deep in the heart of this wilderness likes the dreaded beast "Dander". Luckily we were careful and did not run into this kind of Danger!

Bush and the Common People

For those who would like a good laugh I think it is worth watching this hilarious Andy Dick parody on President Bush. Watch the Video.

Or perhaps you want to laugh some more watch this other Video.

And finally if you are enjoying this so much and need more watch this third Video.

I love People

For one small moment I look at someone, my heart swells, I get prickles all over and exclaim with jubilation, “Why are you so cute.” The simple fact is all of us no matter where we live or how we were raised is inherently good. Not only good but we all have beauty. It’s when that certain person treats you not so kind that perhaps their beauty turns into ugliness. Three cheers for goodness and beauty with all of us!

These two people have a special place in my heart. They are both super cute and sold me something in Yang Shuo, China. The thing I bought was insignificant to the precious gift I received from them…Kindness.

Get Happy

Please take a few minutes out of your busy schedules to breath, watch and think about Mark Osborne’s Academy-Award Nominated short film. Let me know how it makes you feel and perhaps happiness will also garnish your thoughts.

Please watch GET HAPPY.

The Tibetan People

The Traditional Tibetan people are so devoted to their religion that many walk around their holy temples and places spinning a massive prayer wheel while yet others recite endless mantras while moving their worn fingers over countless prayer beads. The people are so unique in their approach to life that their God and religion are the center of almost everything. Even their famous butter lamps are kept burning for a millennia to send praises to the Holy Dalai Lama. The harsh environment gives almost everyone scorched cheeks and a weaning smile. They know how to endure, suffer and bear even the most challenging circumstances politically, economically, culturally, spiritually, and emotionally. These are truly exceptional people in exceptional environments. Let us one and all send our praise and adoration to these phenomenal people.

Milosevic Dies without His Reward

On March 12, 2006 Slobodan Milosevic former president of the Yugoslav Federation dies in his cell at the United Nations war Tribunal in The Hague. For millions of Croats, Bosnians, Albanians, Kosovans and Serbs, this man was both hero and murderer. Indicted on 27 May 1999 for war crimes and crimes against humanity he was the master mind behind the Serbian uprising that ultimately was a result of genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass rapes. He was the first heads of states indicted for these types of crimes and his case has been held at the UN’s International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

For the past few years he has been fighting not only his persecutors but his declining health conditions. Many across the world are expressing grave frustration that Justice was not done and a judgment was not yet rendered to the now diseased Milosevic. There is currently speculation that Milosevic committed suicide or even murdered which would cast huge embarrassment on the tribunal. The official cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

As someone who has traveled and visited the affected areas of Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina which resulted from the mass genocide I can lend my views and feelings on the people and situation. The main place of genocide in question is the famous area of Srebrenica. There are countless video and audio clips depicting the issues involved and the turmoil surrounding the event. Seeing the mass graves and reading accounts of the people there was shocking and unreal. It was sobering to see lines after lines of graves that descended from a plea that this kind of thing never happens again to anyone anywhere. From the words of a carved stone at one of the burial sites:

“In the name of God the most merciful, the most compassionate. We pray to Almighty God, May grievance become hope! May revenge become justice! And mothers’ tears may become prayers that Srebrenica never happen again to no one anywhere!” Raisu-l-ulama, Srebrenica Prayer, Potocari, July 11, 2001

Logic screams insanity for the thick mist of sadness that permeates this place of tragedy. It seems only natural to assume that someone or group of people will be held accountable for the mass killings of men, and young boys who simply were part of a different religion than their captors. One particular grave stuck me with compassion and curiosity the flowers still fresh from some unknown guest. His name was Pitarevicn (Husejin) Adnan Peci born 1981 died 1995. At the ripe age of 13 or 14 what had this young boy done to deserve this fate? He had simply been born to the wrong parents in the wrong town, practiced the wrong religion and died a wrong death. It is utterly appalling that war (despite its necessity at times) can harness so devastating an impact as to obliterate a people as harmless and defenseless as these. So defenseless were they in fact that the Dutch Prime minister Wim Kok and his cabinet resigned after confirming reports that his Dutch army relinquished a ‘safe’ area to the Bosnian Serbs who then committed these atrocities.

For all those whose lives have been affected by this event my hope is that justice will be done. If you believe in an after life rest assured that Milosevic will receive a proper judgment that will remain with him for all time and eternity. And for all mortal time to come the voices as if crying from the graves stand as a firm testament that these acts never again take place. Humanity will win in the end!

Iran’s Prince Reza Pahlavi Speaks

Watch the video clip of his interview with Fox News. Keep in mind that only a few decades ago Iran was the most progressive modern society in the Middle East. They are the second leading producers of oil and are currently under scrutiny from the international community for their nuclear development programs. Price Reza Pahlavi the son of the former Shah is a very likely candidate (from the people of Iran) to become the next democratic leader. Much of his work continues to revolve around Washington in hopes to soon liberate the people of Iran from the current ruling regime.

The Search for Meaning

Who of you have traveled the world in search of something? Maybe you sought to find adventure, peace or mystery? Throughout all of my travels I have come to see that despite the desire to help others I was the one that benefited the most. In a way after a number of trips I felt a little selfish. Can there be an ultimate trip of voyage that can give back to what I have taken and received.

The quest is but an instant in the realm of life yet when all is said and done who will remember our reaching and stretching for betterment? What decisive and unique contribution will each of us have made to humanity? Or will we like so many others end this life with only a couple remembering our name, our smile, our warm touch, our sharing, our caring, our giving, and our love?

I found a unique film that shows the efforts of a young man and his search for something as he walks across Japan. I hope you enjoy this film entitled “Kintaro Walks Japan.”

Pictures Reveal All

Crazy, twisted, grotesque and squeamish tell the tale of the man behind the picture. How many ways can you show your face?

Who’s Your Daddy?

Can you believe all of this turmoil in the world right now? When is comes down to it we are all brothers and sisters are we not? Do we not all come from the same father and mother (spiritual speaking)? The fact of the matter is the biggest religious conflicts in the past centuries seem to be from three main religions that I would like to mention here…Judaism, Christianity and Islam. When you look at the bare roots of these religions they all pray to the same God, and come from the same father. This father I am talking about is of course the famous Abraham himself. I suppose we can just look at these religions and think ‘oh, it’s just like a couple rival siblings duking it out,’ but then there are major wars and countless deaths, unfortunately we must need take a closer look.

Abraham is basically the second most important person in all three religions, the first being Moses to Jews, Jesus to Christians, and Mohammed to Moslems. Yet of all the information we have of Abraham where are his writings? According to all these religions, prophets receive the word from on high and are then commanded to write, so we the populous can have the words of God. This is the method that God reveals his word and yet Abraham one of the most important historical figures does not have any writings…or does he? I have found the prophetic words written by Abraham that were translated in the mid 1800’s. They are profound and give huge incite to the big question of this legendary man. Now who’s your daddy?

Here is the online version of the Book of Abraham.

Here is the complete explanation of the Book of Abraham.

St. Paul’s Ruins in Macau

These ruins are clearly the center piece of this historic country. With the Portuguese landing here in the 1550’s they established a city and effective port of trade. Many years after the name evolved to Macau and it has been a point of intrigue ever since.

St. Paul’s Cathedral was built in 1620 and all that remain of this glorious structure is its magnificent stone façade and grand staircase. It was also the first Western college in the Far East serving astronomers and mathematicians. It is truly and place of history and peace.

Jyllands-Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy

Every day now for the past week I can’t seem to get away from the constant onslaught of news articles relating the protest by the Muslim world over the cartoons of the prophet Mohammed from a Danish newspaper. So I did my self some digging to find out just what the different parties involved has to say.

Have a look at the twelve cartoons that were published by the Danish newspaper. Also see them in The Brussels Journal.

First of all I would like to put my self in perspective. Although I am not a Muslim I have lived in many countries, and in particular for over 6 months in a 98% African Muslim society. I wore their clothes, grew a beard, studied their religion and culture, and gained respect from the religious leaders during my stay. I have also been involved in protesting and more recently participated in the WTO protest in Hong Kong. I am all for respecting others and more notably for freedom of expression.

There is certainly a lack of understanding on all sides. There is a very concise article entitled “Honourable Fellow Citizens of the Muslim World” written by the Danish newspaper that published these cartoon the Internetavisen Jyllands-Posten where they clearly apologize for their offending anyone and in the same note categorically state that this was part of an ongoing debate of how people felt of Islam. They furthermore have issued a direct appalling statement to the extra cartoons that they did not ever publish and would not ever publish because of their ethics stance. This leads me to believe that there are people at work adding fuel to the fire and new cartoons to the list. I wonder who these people are and what their goal in doing this might be? One article has called this The Cartoon Hoax.

There are countless Muslims scholars that condemn these riots and even a Lebanese Minister that has quit his job. Not to mention the mass amounts of damage to buildings and many deaths as a result. Is all this protesting really necessary? It seems to simply show the lack of respect and control that is having drastic ramifications on those who are not in any way involved. Peaceful demonstrations certainly have great impact on showing the world true feelings. If someone took my God (and I am very religious) and defamed and offended that sacredness I would certainly like to show my feelings…however when they involved killings of innocent people I think this is gone way to far. Allah will judge these people and give them their reward…the protesters and the cartoonists.

I give Islamic community a certain respect to speak out and express their feelings as the cartoons have been reprinted in more that 30 countries. They have a right to show disapproval and demand apologies. The simple difference I see is the lack of separation between state and religion in many parts of the Islamic world. While in the west we see cartoons of Bush for example which are morally degrading yet scream freedom of speech. If someone posted morally degrading cartoons about the Ayatollah would that person fear for their life?

Has not enough damage been done to innocent people to prove a point? I initially supported the respectful protest of Muslims and yet now all I see is disaster and lack of understanding…for it has been said that “God is a God of understanding.” I pray resolution to this challenging ordeal.