silence...

silence.. will be the sound of my blog for these few days. Nothing to write? In fact, things are so overwhelming that typing them out for a few seconds will tire me down.

sigh... not writing. for now. =)

But for those curious ones... I'm happy, grateful and in a joyous mood now. Appreciative. Thankful.

Awed.

It's so dificult.

Human beings are a complex entity. Sometimes the reason why I prefer dogs and cats are they are so much more straight forward, if they love you, they tell you. If they hate you, they let you know so.

Knowing someone who's a straight-forward loud mouth may not be as dangerous compared to someone who's tolerant, and quiet. We may not know. We may never know. Sometimes our instincts spell things right. But even if you know, what good does it do unto you? Perhaps, it helps you prevent your fall. perhaps...

I watch the person treating her friend so nicely, so forgiving with all the jokes, but when the friend's away, she couldn't help complaining about the friend. In another term, it's backstabbing. I know, human nature, many "friends" do this.

Sometimes ppl who do not speak the truth face to face really sicks me off. Just live life simple, can't they? Well, things are not the same, if when you speak the truth at their faces, ISA's gonna come get you. But if you call yourselves "friends"?

But the scene is so hard to bear.


Dear Lord,

help me to not jump to conclusions and make quick judgments. Help me always to realize that I don't have all the facts when it comes to another person's attitude, actions and reactions.

Give me a gracious and loving spirit that always thinks the best of others and closed lips when I don't. In Jesus' Name i pray, Amen

Camping close to SiN

Wow.. i just visited this website.. and i couldn't help.. but it's too good.. i cant resist linking it here.

Read it, and be blessed. ;-)
http://ihaveplans4u.blogspot.com/2009/04/camping-too-close-to-sin.html

facts on bottled water - save the earth today, do it.

Do you use bottled waters? How often? Do you love the planet earth? Ever thought of living peacefully on earth with your grandchildren? peace? green?ever thought of doing your part in keepin it green? What should you ditch? Why is bottled water a big disaster to Earth? Learn the facts.

TODAY.

help, income tax month, e-filing? LHDN?!

oh yeah, this is the month of tax tax tax tax tax... i cant find the right word. perhaps, to declare and report your taxable income? Whatever. For those whose salary is lower than RM2500, don't worry.. you're exempted from this ordeal. To those with higher salary - sorry.. face the penalty of TAXATION!! (oops, is there such a word?) Whatever.

Gee.. guess i'm falling into the attitude of "Whatever". which really annoys myself too. Whatever.

So I've found a very good info ffrom a superb website by my fantastico radio station - MIX.FM!!!
yahoo.. they never fail me! I'm sharing some of the info from their website. Use it. Use it. Use it. Relieve yourselves from the torment of TAXATION! (yes, i just checked the dictionary - this word does exist. yahoooo.. i'm correct! )

DEDUCTION, RELIEF AND TAX REBATES FOR INDIVIDUAL

TYPE OF RELIEF
LIMIT
Individual
RM8,000
Disabled Individual (Additional0
RM6,000
Wife/Husband
RM3,000
Disabled Wife/Husband
RM3,500
Medical Expenses for own parents certified by medical practitioner
RM5,000
Cost of basic supporting equipment for disabled self, spouse, child or parent
RM5,000
Medical expenses for serious diseases (and full medical examination up to RM500) for self, wife and child
RM5,000
Fees expanded at a recognized institutions of higher learning
RM5,000
Purchase of books, journals or magazines and other similar publications (excluding newspapers and any prohibited publication)
RM1,000
Purchase of personal computer for Individual (once in 3 years allowed)
RM3,000
Net deposit in Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional for children
RM3,000
Purchase of sports equipment for any sports activity
RM300
Deduction for Children

Under 18 years
RM1,000
18 years/above and receiving full-time education at

School
RM1,000
Higher Educational Institute in Malaysia and outside Malaysia
RM4,000
Disabled Child
RM5,000
Disabled Child pursuing full-time education at Higher Educational Institute in Malaysia and outside Malaysia
RM9,000
EPF Contribution and life insurance premium
RM6,000
Education and Medical insurance premium
RM3,000

TYPE OF DEDUCTION
LIMIT
Gift of money to Government / Local Authority
NONE
Cash donation paid to approved institutions or organizations
Not exceed 7% of the Aggregate Income
Gift of money or cost of contribution for the approved sport activity or sports body
Gift of money or cost of contribution for any project of national interest approved by the Minister of Finance
Gifts of artifacts, manuscripts or paintings to the Government
NONE
Cash donation to public libraries and libraries of schools and institutions of higher education
RM20,000
Gift of money or in-kind for the provision of facilities in public places for the benefit of disabled persons
NONE
Cash contribution or medical equipments to any healthcare facility approved by the Ministry of Health
RM20,000
Gift of painting to the National Art Gallery or any state art gallery
NONE

TAX REBATE
LIMIT
CONDITION FOR REBATE
SELF
RM350
If Taxable Income does not exceed RM35,000
WIFE/HUSBAND
RM350
If Taxable Income does not exceed RM35,000 and husband/wife has no income/no total income
ZAKAT/FITRAH
NONE
Limit to amount of Total Tax Charged
FEES/LEVY
NONE
Paid by a holder of an Employment Pass, Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) or Work Pass

HBA - house buyers dilemma - prevent it!

Bravo to HBA (house buyer association) for this article!!! =)

And the best part about HBA is.. they're made up of voluntary lawyers!! oh... God bless them.. love you all!! :*)

---
House buyers, take note of differences in systems

WE at the HBA view with interest some housing project advertisements in the newspapers recently. They prominently state 10-90 as the mode of payment and went on to say, “Pay 10% and no payment until vacant possession.”

It would appear as if the mode of payment is similar to the Build-then-sell (BTS) 10-90 that HBA has been lobbying for and for which the Government is offering incentives to developers to adopt the system.

HBA feels that it is incumbent upon us to explain to potential house buyers the differences between the advertised 10-90 and the BTS 10-90 promoted by the Government under the amended Housing Act .

The advertised 10-90 system is actually a loan package deal whereby the buyer pays 10% upon signing the Sales and Purchase Agreement and the balance is progressively paid through the buyer’s housing loans. The loan is progressively disbursed to the developer as he builds the houses.

Hence the “… no payment until vacant possession” is not wholly true because, in actual fact, the buyer’s loan is used to progressively pay the developer. However, the interest payable for the progressive payments during the construction phase is shouldered by the developer.

In the BTS 10-90 system, the buyer pays 10% upon signing the SPA and does not make any more payment until the house is completed, with all the certifications obtained. Only then does the housing loan kick in and the buyer then pays the remaining 90%.

The vital difference between the advertised 10-90 system and the BTS 10-90 is that in the advertised 10-90 system, should the developer abandon the project, the buyer is left with a partially disbursed housing loan to settle.

The primary borrower is still the buyer and it is his sole responsibility to continue with the proper conduct of his loan from the financiers.

Banks have not been known to be sympathetic to victims of abandoned projects and the loans still have to be settled, house or no house. This is the predicament presently faced by tens of thousands of naïve and innocent buyers.

We would like to categorical­ly state that we are by no means implying that the advertised project is likely to be abandoned. This letter is only to inform potential buyers the differences between the advertised 10-90 and the BTS10-90 systems.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/8/focus/3637467&sec=focus

youtube: SPCA Adlan Laika Eng (Yasmin, autism, dog, malaysia)

A much, long-waited film. Thank you so-very-much, Yasmin for the production. God bless you, abundantly. =)

Please spread this little film.

Adlan was an extreme autistic who, for 7 years, behaved like he was trapped in a bubble, unable to communicate with the outside world, and vice versa.What finally brought him out of that state is shown in the commercial you see here.

Adlan was an extreme autistic who, for 7 years, behaved like he was trapped in a bubble, unable to communicate with the outside world, and vice versa.What finally brought him out of that state is shown in the commercial you see here.

The dog is the most misunderstood animal in this country. Its haters, I'm sad to say, are largely Malays who often don't even know the difference between "haram" and "najis", let alone the finer points and different degrees of najis.

With this little film, I urge my people to read more about the true Islamic rules concerning this beautiful creature of God, and to please refrain from being cruel to it.

Source: http://yasminthefilmmaker.blogspot.com/2009/02/please-spread-this-little-film.html

I knew of your coming-betrayal, yet I forgive you even before you repent.

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31 NIV emphasis added).

Friend to Friend

I'm so glad Jesus picked Peter to be one of His disciples. Time and time again we see him with his foot in his mouth, his pride in his pocket, and his temper on his sleeve. Satan knew Peter was going to have a big impact on the church at large, and he tried many times to get him off course. During the last supper, Jesus warned Peter that he was about to be tested..."Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31 emphasis added).

Peter puffed out his chest, lifted his head and said, "I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

I imagine Jesus thought, Sure you are, buddy.

Just a few hours later, the sifting began. As Peter stood by the fire just outside where Jesus was being beaten and tried, a little servant girl asked if he was one of Jesus' followers.

"Woman, I don't know him," he said.

Then again...

"Man, I am not (one of his disciples)!" Peter replied.

And again...

"Man, I don't know what you're talking about!"

And just as the third denial slipped off Peter's lips, the rooster crowed to remind him of Jesus' words, "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."

Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny him, and yet, before he even fell from grace, Jesus was picking him up. Yes, Peter was absolutely crushed at his weakness in denying Jesus three times. But then, the ray of God's love reminded him of Jesus' words... "When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

After Jesus' resurrection, he reminded Peter to invest what he had learned in other people. Three times Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" After each of Peter's affirmations, Jesus said, "Feed my lambs...take care of my sheep...feed my sheep." Peter did exactly what Jesus asked and spent the rest of his life investing in other people.
---
Hush.. do you see what I see? Jesus foreknew Peter's betrayal, yet he mentioned or did NOTHING to condemn Peter. To add grace to mercy, he forgave Peter by saying this, "When you have turned back... strengthen your brothers"

What He was saying was, in our language, "When you're through with what you do, come back. "

Wow.. this was the first time this phrase touched me so greatly. Truly as Jesus said, "You wil be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes."

No wonder why so many people reads the Bible, and yet, never understand the simple words written within.

Forgiven Much - gwen smith

Source: Girlfriends in God
Forgiven Much - Gwen Smith

Today's Truth

"Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him." Psalm 32:2

Luke 7 introduces us to a woman who endured her shame publicly. She was guilty of something, though we are never told what. She is simply described as a woman "who had lived a sinful life." Though she is nameless to you and me, the people of her town surely knew her name. The Pharisees knew enough to condemn her with judgmental thoughts.
Her sin was public, not private. Yet, the public disgrace of this broken, sinful woman became the perfect canvas for Jesus Christ to paint a beautiful picture of extravagant grace.

"Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on the." (Luke 7:36-38, NIV).

Imagine what a scandalous moment this must have been. I'm sure the host was wondering how this uninvited woman managed to get into his home. We know his mind was racing, because the next few verses tell us.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 7:39-48)

Imagine the freedom that flooded her soul when this woman looked up, through tear-filled eyes, into the face of grace for the very first time. Jesus looked beyond her reputation to her regret. Then He forgave her. Not because she had earned forgiveness, but because Jesus loved her.

She was forgiven much, so she loved Him much. Oh, how I can relate to this sinful woman. The love that resides in my heart is so great because the sins I've been forgiven of are so many.

Jesus still loves to extend grace, and I am so thankful. Grace! What none of us deserves, but each of us longs for. Philip Yancey in his book, What's So Amazing about Grace?, wrote:
Grace does not excuse sin, but it treasures the sinner. True grace is shocking, scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on getting close to sinners and touching them with mercy and hope. It forgives the unfaithful spouse, the racist, the child abuser. It loves today's AIDS-ridden addict as much as the tax collector of Jesus' day.
In his book 3:16, The Numbers of Hope, Max Lucado writes, "The heart of the human problem is the heart of the human. And God's treatment is prescribed in John 3:16." You have probably heard this verse since you were a child -- the verse scribbled on cardboard signs and held up at sporting events. The verse that gives hope to each and every one of us: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Why would He lay down His life for you, for me, and for all humanity? In one word: love. Perfect, unconditional, doesn't-matter-who-you-are-or-where-you've-been-or-what-you've-done love. God made a new and living way through the blood shed by Jesus Christ so our wounded hearts could be restored.

LET'S PRAY
Heavenly Father, You are above all and beyond all! You are mighty to save, gracious to forgive, and merciful to forget all that I've done wrong. I praise You for who You are, and thank You for the grace that is at work in my heart and in my life. Help me cast aside everything that keeps me from You today, Lord.

In Jesus' Name, I pray.

Amen.