candles for Buddhist Lent

Candles for Buddhist Lent are made some time prior to the advent of Buddhist Lent, during which time monks are supposed to retreat to their temples for 3 months and devote their time to prayers and meditation. The need for candles therefore arises during this period.

For Buddhists, the making of candles for this occasion itself is regarded as a form of merit-making as their candles help in the religious duties of the monks during the holy months. They believe that they too will become enlightened through they participation in this prayerful period.


The candles when made will be paraded in a procession in a procession three times around the convocation hall before being lit throughout the three-month Lental Season. In the rural area, this marks an especially festive event. In some localities, candles are entered into contest for their creativity and the procession which parades around the city centre is particularly colorful. For other localities, however, this represents an annual event where villagers make merit by offering food to monks.

thoughts

random pics in my class

~no comment~

just enjoying a very challenging class





sleepless nights just drawing my project

develop your talents, it's worth it...

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Call for Volunteers

The Lord calls for volunteers who will take their stand firmly on His side, and will pledge themselves to unite with Jesus of Nazareth in doing the very work that needs to be done now, just now.-- "Fundamentals of Christian Education," p. 488 .

One Solitary Life By Rev. James Allan Francis

He was born in an obscure village,
a child of a peasant woman.
He grew up in another obscure village
where he worked in a carpenter shop
until he was thirty.
Then for three years
he was an itinerant preacher.
He never had a family.
Or owned a home.
He never set foot inside a big city.
He never traveled two hundred miles
from the place he was born.
He never wrote a book
or held an office.
He did none of the things
that usually accompany greatness.
While he was still a young man,
the tide of popular opinion
turned against him.
His friends deserted him.
He was turned over to his enemies.
He went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross
between two thieves.
While he was dying,
his executioners gambled
for the only piece of property he had,
his coat.
When he was dead,
he was taken down
and laid in a borrowed grave.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
and today he is still the central figure
for much of the human race.
All the armies that ever marched,
All the navies that ever sailed
And all the parliaments that ever sat
And all the kings that ever reigned
Put together
have not affect the life of man
Upon this earth
As powerfully as this
One Solitary Life.

After researching authorship of this piece we found it goes back to the book entitled "The Real Jesus and Other Sermons". The author's name is the Rev. James Allan Francis. Published in 1926 by Judson Press in Philadelphia (p. 123-124 "Arise Sir Knight!").

The Power Of A Smile

“Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ~Mother Teresa~

~~~~~

have you got a sunshine smile
have you got a sunshine smile
wherever you may go
whatever you may do
have you got a sunshine S~M~I~L~E

Thomas Edison’s dreams

Thomas Edison dreamed of a lamp that could be operated by electricity, began where he stood to put his dream into action, and despite more than ten thousand failures, he stood by that dream until he made it a physical reality. Practical dreamers do not quit!

It's not the Critic Who Counts

It is not the critic who counts,
not the man who points out
how the strong (wo)man stumbles
or where the doer of deedscould have done them better.

The credit belongs to the (wo)man
who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marredby dust and sweat and blood,
who strives valiantly,
who errs and comes short again and again
because there is no effortwithout error and shortcomings,
who knows the great devotion,
who spends himself in a worthy cause,
who at the best knows in the end
the high achievement of triumph
and who at worst,
if he fails while daring greatly,
knows his place shall never be
with those timid and cold souls
who know neither victory nor defeat.
~ Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US President

mission slogans

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" -- John Keith Falconer

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" -- William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions

"If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn't it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent the cure from the eternal wages of death." -- Dave Davidson

"Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart" -- Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

"Our God of Grace often gives us a second chance, but there is no second chance to harvest a ripe crop." -- Kurt von Schleicher
"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." -- Nate Saint, missionary martyr

"Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions" -- Roderick Davis

If God's love is for anybody anywhere, it's for everybody everywhere.
-- Edward Lawlor

Never pity missionaries. Envy them. They are where the real action is, where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge. -- Robert C. Shannon, Christian Standard, January 1983

"Missionary zeal does not grow out of intellectual beliefs, nor out of theological arguments, but out of love" -- Roland Allen

thoughts

My Life is in Your Hands by Kathy Troccoli

This is a video I got on youtube by Ralph.
Grateful for this...

Life can be so good
Life can be so hard
Never knowing what each day
Will bring to where you are

Sometimes I forget
And sometimes I can't see
That whatever comes my way
You'll be with me

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I'm never without love
Not when my future is with you
My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

Nothing is for sure
Nothing is for keeps
All I know is that your love
Will live eternally
So I will find my way, yes
And I will find my peace
Knowing that you'll meet my every need

My life is in your hands
My heart is in your keeping
I'm never without love
Not when my future is with you
My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

When I'm at my weakest love
You carry me
Then I become my strongest love
In your hands
My life is in your hands
And though I may not see clearly
I will lift my voice and sing
Cause your love does amazing things
Lord, I know, my life is in your hands

I trust you Lord
My life is in your hands

My Life is in Your Hands by Kirk Franklin

You don't have to worry
And don't you be afraid
Joy comes in the morning
Troubles they don't last always
For there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if your heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say

Oh I know that I can make itI
know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

So when your tests and trials
They seem to get you down
And all your friends and loved ones
Are nowhere to be found
Remember there's a friend in Jesus
Who will wipe your tears away
And if you heart is broken
Just lift your hands and say

Oh I know that I can make it
I know that I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands
With Jesus I can take it
With Him I know I can stand
No matter what may come my way
My life is in your hands

teach to teach

It was a busy week and just so happy to have week-ends. Yesterday, I was really exhausted and could hardly wait for my last class to finish. The last subject was for Freshman highschool. My topic was about "Food". Just simply unlock the difficulties, improve their vocabulary and speaking and then games to motivate them. Honestly, pretty challenging to teach ESL especially students with behavior problems, so I really need to be motivated too, and be as flexible as I can in my teaching style. So, most of my Thai students did not know the English terms for common food.. And so I used pictures on the chalkboard. While I paused for a drink, the repeater student, Jakkrid, who's really no read no write in THAI, took my stick and then pointed the pictures and eventually asked his classmates, What is this???? What is this???? And so the classmates answered. I was stunned what this student was doing.... then we were all laughing... It was fulfillling for the first time he participated in class. I can't speak Thai, he can't speak English. So what I did, I let him hold all the flashcards for the other students to answer. But one thing happened, he chose all the cards that he knew (just learned by listening) and answered first before showing to his classmates. So everyone in class just enjoyed of his cleverness to answer. What a great day!
When teaching seems tough yet rays of learning appear to students, everything will seem joyful and fulfilling amidst challenges.

take my life.. and make it yours Lord....

How can you respond if you hear the spirit's call???

See this video I made...




Give me ears to hear Your Spirit
Give me feet to follow through
Give me hands to touch the hurting
And the faith to follow
You Give me grace to be a servant
Give me mercy for the lost
Give me passion for Your glory
Give me passion for the cross

And I will go where there are no easy roads
Leave the comforts that I know
I will go and let this journey be my home
I will go
I will go
I'll let go of my ambition
Cut the roots that run too deep
I will learn to give away
What I cannot really keep
What I cannot really keep

Help me see with eyes of faith
Give me strength to run this race
I will go Lord where Your glory is unknown
I will live for You alone
I will go because my life is not my own
I will go...............

links

hey everyone.. i've posted links in my blog... please spend time to watch it... very inspiring! just click on the link.......................... enjoy life!
love & peace, joy