My Islam File        Muslim map of world

Story of South African policewoman who spent two months in a HK detention centre

4 minute video - has had 2,734,454 views: "women should not appear on Saudi TV"

Riot in HK women's prison:
Well, sort of. Yesterday in the laundry section of a prison, I was at a table talking with two African women, when a scuffle broke out behind me among the Chinese inmates. Lots of noise, some screaming, lots of slamming and banging. I didn't turn around, in case I beheld something unbecoming. Eventually I asked the two Africans "what's going on?" and they replied: "there's a mouse in the linen cupboard"!

Jonah 1

God said to Jonah: "Go to the city of Nineveh and preach repentance."  Jonah was afraid to go to Nineveh.  He ran away.

He boarded a ship  for Tarshish.
When the ship was at sea, a great storm hit the ship.

The sailors drew lots to see who was responsible for this bad luck.
The lot chose Jonah who admitted his guilt in disobeying God .

The sailors then threw Jonah overboard. The sea immediately became calm again.

Lord, please help me agree to do anything you ask me to do

Psalm 116

I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal. He turned his ear to me in the day when I called him.

They surrounded me, sorrow, distress and the snares of death. I was helpless, so the Lord saved me.

Calm down my soul, for the Lord has been good. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise to thank the Lord.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Lord, you have loosened my bonds. I am your servant.

Thank you, Lord, for all your goodness to me

Recording

1 John 6.3-10

Some people, because of ignorance and pride, have a craze for questioning and arguing about everything

Such a craze breeds jealousy and mistrust and unending disputes

People who have a craving to be wealthy are a prey to temptation.
They get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous schemes which ruin their lives

The love of money is the root of all evils. It can cause people to leave the faith

Jesus, help me be content with a simple lifestyle

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

 John 6.42-51

The people criticized  Jesus saying "We know his father and mother. How can he say he has come down from heaven?"

Jesus replied "I am the bread of life. If you eat this bread which has come down from heaven, you will live forever

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever

And the bread that I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world"

Jesus, living bread come down from heaven, please help me understand how you give your flesh for the life of the world

Recording

Climate change threatens major building projects, says Chinese expert     

The Lord works in mysterious ways. Still, he’s a decent boss

My weekly article in today's Ming Pao newspaper
with the topic: The story of Mary Jane ...and HK
is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK".
Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Tuesday,  please bless the people of South Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 5th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 5th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Boko Haram 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File    Muslim map of world

Is the Pope a feminist?

"Hold on to your rosary beads, because I am about to say something I never thought I would: thank you Pope Francis, for you have done more these past few days for feminism than I ever thought possible"

Kachulu primary school in Malawi - 5th photo in this file - had no electricity when I was there in January. I promised to try to help the school buy a solar power system. Well, thanks to the kind donation of a Yau Ma Tei parishioner in HK ...and the determined efforts of HK volunteer Janny Law in Malawi ....the school on May 1 got solar power, and can now have lights and TV and computer. Thank you Lord! 
Photos here

Amos 1-9

It was God who formed the mountains and created the wind.
The Lord is his name.

He says to the House of Israel:

Seek  me and you shall live. Do not go to the places of idol worship.

Seek good and not evil, so that you may live. Hate evil and love good.

Injustice and swindling, exploitation of the poor, this is the reason for earthquakes and disaster.

Lord, please help me to do good and avoid evil

My recording of this reading

Psalms 114-115

When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob's descendents from an alien people,

Judah became the Lord's temple,
Israel became his kingdom.

Descendents of Israel, trust in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.

To you may the Lord grant increase, to you and all your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.

Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings

Recording

1 Timothy 5.19-23

Never accept an accusation brought against a church elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. If an elder is at fault, reprimand him publicly as a warning to others

Be fair to everyone and never be influenced by favoritism

As regards your frequent illnesses, I suggest you give up drinking only water, and have a little wine for the sake of your digestion

Jesus, help church workers to be fair and impartial

Recording

John 6.35-40

Jesus said to the people "The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world

I am the bread of life. Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry. Anyone who believes in me will never be thirsty

It is my Father's will that whoever believes in me will have eternal life"

Jesus, living bread from heaven, please help more and more people believe in you and love you

Recording

How is Pope Francis doing in regards to Roman Curial Church Reform?
Reform is very, very hard to do. Why else did Luther finally nail his resolutions to a door and carry on his ministry without Rome? 

   Jimmy Carter calls situation in Gaza 'intolerable' eight months after war

Today an important day in China's history: The May 4 Movement

Just as the invasion of Iraq and Israel's injustice to Palestinians "radicalised" many young Muslims, so, in a similar weay, injustice to China at the Treaty of Versailles "radicalised" many young Chinese, causing them to turn their backs on democracy and look to Communism for help. If China had not been unjustly treated at Versailles, it probably would not have a Communist government today.

On this day in 1942:

A church burned down and the people had no place to hold there Sunday morning service. There was a bar right across the street, so the minister arranged to hold the service there since the bar was normally closed on Sunday morning. The minister is only concerned that the parrot who lives on a perch in the bar will use foul language. The owner of the bar assures the minister that the parrot never uses bad language since it's really a Baptist parrot. So, Sunday rolls around. The minister walks in and the parrot looks up and says, "Hey, look at that. A new bartender!" A few minutes later, the deacons walk in and the parrot says, "Hey, look at that. New waiters!" Several minutes later, all the parishioners walk in. The parrot looks up and says, "Oh, well, same old customers..."

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Monday,  please bless the people of Europe & Russia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 4th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangdong

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 4th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mozambique

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify ISIS 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     Muslim map of world

Today's Gospel 
- who or what is a "true vine" ?!

China is the new front in the global drug war

 Chinese factories are mass producing novel psychoactive substances that mimic banned substances, destined for an eager market in the US and UK

Janny Law is a HK volunteer working in one of Africa's poorest countries - Malawi. Photos of her work for the poor here and here. Janny is due to be in HK for a short holiday from May 14. She's due to say a few words at the end of my 8.30am Mass at St Paul's YMT on Sunday May 24. HK friends are most welcome to meet Janny at a simple Yum Cha after Mass on the 24th. Please contact me for more info: jdwomi@gmail.com 

c.f. Readings for "Easter 5"

Acts 9.20-31

After a few days, Paul began preaching in the prayer halls that Jesus is the Son of God. People were amazed at Paul's conversion

As time passed, the Jews planned to kill Paul. Paul heard of this and decided to leave the city. The Jews kept watch at the city gates to stop him leaving

Then one night he was able to escape: some disciples lowered him in a basket from the city wall

He went to Jerusalem and began preaching boldly in the name of the Lord

Soon another plot was made to kill him. Therefore the disciples sent him to Tarsus

After this the churches throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria were left in peace. They steadily grew, strengthened by the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, please strengthen me, as you strengthened Paul and the first believers

My recording of this reading

Psalm 33

Ring out your joy to the Lord, all good people, for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

For the Lord loves justice and right; he fills the earth with his love.

By his word the heavens were made, he spoke and the universe came into being.

They are happy, whose God is the Lord, he is the source of all true  joy.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, since we place all our trust in you.

Lord, we trust in your precious love

Recording

1 John 3.16-21

This has taught us love: that Jesus gave up his life for us. We too should give up our lives for others

If you see someone in need
and refuse to help him, how can the love of God be in you?

Our love must be put into practice, not be just words. Anyone who loves God must also love other people

Jesus, help me put my love into practice by helping people in need

Recording

Today's Gospel:

John 15.1-8

At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Each branch in me that bears no fruit, he cuts off. Each branch that does bear fruit, he prunes to make it bear even more fruit

As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, but must remain part of the vine, so you can't  bear fruit unless you remain in me. Cut off from me, you can do nothing

If you remain in me, and my words are alive in your heart, you can ask for any good thing and you will get it

It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit"

Jesus, please help me stay close to you. Help me bear much  fruit

Recording

A very special type of Grapevine

 Secret Aid Worker: After years in the field, I worry I've lost my compassion

A humanitarian worker in South Sudan talks about the effects of years of exposure to human suffering

Aung San Suu Kyi’s  NLD looks set to take power, International Crisis Group says

Shouldn't grapevine be called grapewine?

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Sunday,  please bless the people of Africa

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please bless all Muslims in my own country 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File      Muslim map of world

Fight to save Mary Jeane Veloso from death row continues   

  The police, however, clarified that Sergio did not surrender but only sought protection for alleged attempts on her life. The woman has denied that she recruited Veloso 

One problem overseas inmates face when first arrested in HK:  
they have to wait weeks, sometimes two months, before allowed to phone family. May write immediately, but letters to some parts of the world can take many weeks. If not from a country with a caring consulate, no consulate message will be sent to family.

So many families go through agony of no news for several weeks or longer. "Is he/she still alive? Has he/she had accident?" Which is why I'm using email to help families and inmates make contact. Families realise person is missing, maybe arrested,  and somehow find out my name. Or inmates ask me to contact families if consulate has not helped. See this letter

Joel 1-4

My country has been invaded. Joy has disappeared from the land.

Priests, put on sackcloth and lament. Proclaim a fast to pray for our nation.

Turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion.

Call out to the Lord for help. "Spare your people, Lord!"

The Lord replies: " I will save and rescue you. I will pour out my spirit on all peoples. Every one will prophesy and see visions.

You will learn that I am the Lord your God. Jerusalem will be a holy place."

Lord, please help us to be faithful to you

My recording of this reading

Psalm 113

Praise, O friends of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

May the name of the Lord be blessed, both now and for evermore.

From the rising of the sun to its setting, praised be the name of the Lord.

Who is like the Lord our God,
above the heavens his glory.

From the dust he lifts up the lowly, to put them in the company of royalty.

To the childless wife he gives a home, and gladdens her heart with children.

May the Lord be praised from sunrise to sunset

Recording

1 Timothy 5.1-14

Do not speak harshly to a man older than yourself, but advise him as you would your own father. Treat younger men as brothers.

Treat older women as you would your mother. Treat younger women with propriety, as if they were your sisters

Be considerate to widows. If a widow wishes to be enrolled as a church worker, she must be at least 60 years old, the wife of one husband

As regards young widows, it's best if they re-marry

Jesus, help church workers to be kind and caring

Recording

John 6.26-29

Jesus said to the people "You have come looking for me because you had so much bread to eat

Do not give so much concern to physical food. Be more concerned about the spiritual food that lasts forever. This is the  food I am offering you"

Jesus, please give us the food that lasts forever

Recording

Nepal: it didn’t need to be this bad
Our hope and prayer is that this earthquake will serve as a sad, timely reminder that prevention is better than cure, and that good governance can save lives.

Master of Ceremonies: Donald Cozzens' latest work revisits themes that have dominated much of his writing in the form of a mystery novel.

New feature started on HK' metro (MTR) yesterday:  advertisements everywhere about the governments 2017 campaign for fake democracy. Campaign should be subjected to scrutiny of HK Tourist Association which protects consumers from false advertising and fake goods

I'm now re-reading Sealed Orders by Agnes Sanford. Page 98 tells the story of when her younger son, only two or three years old, was healed of an ear infection by the prayer of a minister ...after which whenever the child was sick he'd say to his mother two simple words that summed up everything: "hurt....pray"!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Saturday,  please bless the people of Central & North America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Niger

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify the Taliban

New letter (in Swahili) from a Tanzanian inmate in a HK prison

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     Muslim map of world

'Am I being executed?' Brazilian killed by Indonesia unaware until end - Fr Charlie Burrows O.M.I.

Burrows told Guardian Australia that guards on Nusa Kambangan, the prison island where Indonesia executes convicts, had broken down crying when 30-year-old Mary Jane Veloso said goodbye to her two children for what was thought to be the final time.

“The whole place broke down in tears. The warden and attorneys felt real bad about it. They said to me they didn’t agree with the thing, they just had to do their job, that there should be a moratorium.”

He said some of the guards had asked him: “Are we responsible for the suffering of this poor woman and the families?”

Indonesia murdered eight people. The time for being polite is over:

... the 50-year-old Nigerian man was executed for possessing just 50g of heroin  (!)

He said he had several meetings with the judges during the trial, and that they had asked for more than A$130,000 to bring down a sentence of less than 20 years. Such meetings are illegal but “normal” in Indonesia, said Rifan.
He says the deal collapsed after the judges told him that senior legal and government members – the attorney general’s office and the supreme court – had ordered them to impose the death penalty. A lawyer for another condemned man, Nigerian Silvester Obiekwe Nwolise, has also claimed a judge offered a prison sentence rather than death if a bribe was paid.

Indonesia executions - prisoners sang Amazing Grace in last moments

c.f. readings for St Joseph the Worker

Genesis 1-2

God made the world. God made  the sun, the moon  and the stars .... the whole universe. God said "Let there be light" and there was light.

God made the earth with all its plants and trees and animals and fish and birds.

God made the first people ..... the first man and first woman. God made them in his own image and said to them "Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth."

God saw all that he had made, and all of it was good, very good

Dear God, thank you for making such a beautiful world!

My recording of this reading

Psalm 90

O Lord you have been our refuge 
from one generation to the next. Before the earth or the world existed, you are God, without beginning or end.

For you, a thousand years are like yesterday, come and gone so quickly.

We humans have a short life,
our life is over like a sigh. Our span is 70 years, or 80 for those who are strong.

Make us know the shortness of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart.

In the morning, fill us with your love. Give success to the work of our hands.

Lord, help us realize the shortness of our life, that we may live our lives more wisely

Recording

Colossians 3.23-24

Whatever your work is, put your heart into it as if it were for the Lord and not for people,

knowing that the Lord will repay you by making you his heirs. It is Christ the Lord that you are serving

Jesus, I offer you my work this day as a prayer for peace in the world

Recording

Matthew 13.53-58

One day Jesus went to Nazareth, his home town. In the prayer hall there he taught the local people.

But the local people would not accept him.  They said "Where did he get such  wisdom and miraculous power? He is just a carpenter's son. His mother is that woman called Mary.

His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Jude. His sisters are here, too.  He's nobody special."

Jesus said to them "A prophet is despised only in his own country and his own house".

And he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Jesus, please give me more faith in you .... and don't let me reject people 

Recording

Last Wednesaay afternoon, on returning by ferry to Central after a long afternoon at Hei Ling Chau detention centre, I was having bowl of Macaroni soup at Jollibee ....sitting by myself....when a Filipina from a group at a nearby table came over to me and gave me a chicken leg. 
I was flabbergasted and said "that's very kind of you, but why are you doing this?"  To which she answered "you have only soup, and I bought too much food".  A minute later she was back again, with a HK$100 note "here you are mister, buy some more food for yourself". 
"Do I look like a tramp?" I began to think (...was in normal battle dress ...blue shirt + Cross).
I then joined her group at their table, gave back the money, ate the chicken, and gave the group some Tagalog copies of Dr Jesus, showing them my name on the back.  Moral of the story? Soup goes a long way at Jollibee?

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Friday,  please bless the people of South America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zaire (Congo)

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, on this Muslim day of prayer, please bless all Muslims!

Message to Nigerians in Nigeria preparing to bring drugs to HK: "Many of us have been caught. We are in Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre, facing sentences of up to 20 years. Advise you don't come. HK airport now has new equipment to detect drugs" - Nigerian inmates in LCK

Four Nigerians arrested for drug trafficking at Enugu airport - one of the four aiming for "China" (= HK)

Cocaine cache found at HK airport in shoes of passenger from South America

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File     Muslim map of world

Mary Jane Veloso 

- an innocent victim 
- 5 years behind bars
- saved minutes before execution

What does this say about the Indonesian justice system? 

What does this say about other systems, like HK's, which also have not a few "Mary Janes" locked up for long years? 

Where did violence in the Quran come from? 

Muslims say that literally every word in the Q is from God, nothing from man .... which doesn't make sense because of the many dozens of historical mistakes and contradictions in the Q, especially the contradiction that a Merciful God orders his followers to cut the throats of all non-Muslims. Such violence comes not from God but from man. The Q's violence shows it is not a book from God

Hosea 7-14

God's message through Hosea:

Israel has forgotten its Maker. The people worship idols made by human hands.

It is time to seek the Lord. It is time to sow integrity and reap kindness.

Israel, come back to the Lord your God. Have no more to do with idols made by human hands.

Lord, please help us lead good lives, and thereby follow you

My recording of this reading

Psalm 112

Happy are people who love and honor the Lord, who take delight in his commands. The children of such people will be blessed.

Such people are a light in the darkness for others. Such people are generous, merciful and just.

They take pity and help those in need. They conduct their affairs with  integrity.

Open-handed they give to the poor. Their justice and goodness will never be forgotten.

Lord, please help me do more for the poor

Recording

1 Timothy 4.12-16

Do not let people disregard you because you are young. Be an example to all the believers in the way you speak and act

You have in you a spiritual gift which was given you when the church  elders prayed over you with the laying on of hands. Do not let this gift go unused

Take great care about what you do and what you teach. In this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you

Jesus, help me be a good example to other people

Recording

John 6.16-21

That evening, the disciples got into a boat to cross the sea to Capernaum. The wind became strong and the sea became rough

They had rowed about 4km when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, coming towards them

They were frightened, but he said "It is I. Do not be afraid"

He got into the boat, and it quickly arrived at Capernaum

Jesus, help me remember that you are in my boat

Recording

Indonesian executions:

The real villain in the piece is the AFP. [Australian Federal Police]. They were given a tip off by a lawyer acting on behalf of the father of one of the Bali 9 Scott Rush. The tip was that Scott Rush was on Heroin , had no visible means of support, yet had had 2 recent trips to Bali and was now off for a third visit. The obvious conclusion was that he was couriering drugs into Australia. The AFP were asked to interview him to scare him off. 

Instead of doing so the AFP decided to inform the Indonesian Police. This led to the arrest in Indonesia of the Bali 9.  The AFP have close relations with the Indonesian Police having amongst other things trained the Indonesian police anti terrorist squad and helped to set up the Indonesian Police telephone tapping facility 

The AFP appear to have decided to supply the information about the Bali 9 to the Indonesian Police as an act designed to say in effect to the Indonesian Police look we are doing you this friendly favor and to make the AFP look like they were hot shots. They didn't initially tell the Indonesians that the information came from a tip off but led the Indonesians to believe that the information was as a result of sophisticated police work.  This was a tip off about the import of drugs into Australia for distribution on the streets of this country.

The AFP should have with held its action and arrested the Bali 9 when they arrived in Australia. The drugs were never intended for use in Indonesia and the comments of the Indonesian President about the damage the drugs were doing to his country were in this particular case misdirected. 

In addition the AFP knew that the arrest of the Bali 9 in Indonesia was likely to lead to the death penalty and acted contrary to the Australian Government's bi partisan and long standing policy of opposing the death penalty, refusing to assist in cases involving Australians where the outcome might be application of the death penalty, and making representations for clemency against the imposition of capital punishment. - Comment by Peter Duncan at this article: 
Indonesia shows its ugly side with regressive executions

            Bali 9: our empathy wasn't little, but it was too late

- how the coal industry dumps its costs on us

10 years ago today

2005-04-30CAS  English Corners for primary 1B & 5A. Thank you Eva, Kelsey, Liam, Maureen & Ray

Recently I watched a YouTube video exposing some of the problems in Islam ....the video had been hacked ....the hacker putting the word "counterfeet" on the screen every so often ....   ("counterfeit"?) 

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Thursday,  please bless the people of S.E. Asia & Pacific

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 30th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 30th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Qaeda 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

My Islam File      Muslim map of world

As I continue to study the Quran, I'm increasingly worried by the frequent instructions to kill "non-Muslims". Then I remember that the Old Testament also has some ghastly passages about killing "non-Israelites". 

Some people try to justify these OT passages by all sorts of mental gymnastics. But for me the simple answer is: stuff like that in the OT came not from God but from man. Words were put in God's mouth, just as they were put in Moses' mouth. Christian Biblical scholarship has helped sort the "original" from the "added".

May the day come soon when scholars will produce a Bible which leaves out the "obviously-not-from-God" bits.  My Simple Bible is a an amateurish effort in that direction ... and if DV there are future editions of the SB, it will go even further towards that goal.

Before we complain about violence in the Quran, we need to address the issue of Old Testament violence. 

(Tomorrow:  Where did violence in the Quran come from, from man or God?)

Hosea 5-6

God's message through Hosea:

What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,
like dew that quickly disappears.

What I want  is love, not the sacrifice of animals in the Temple.
What I want is knowledge of God, not burnt offerings in the Temple.

Lord, please help us to love you as we should

My recording of this reading

Psalm 111

I will thank the Lord with all my heart. Great are the works of the Lord, to be pondered by all who love him.

His goodness stands firm for ever.
The Lord is compassion and love.

His precepts are for all peoples and all times. He is to be honored by all nations.

To love and honor the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Dear Lord, please help me to love and honor you every day

Recording

John 6.1-15 (a)

Near the Sea of Galilee, a large crowd followed Jesus, attracted by the way he healed so many sick people

Jesus climbed a hillside and sat there with his disciples. 

Seeing the huge crowd, Jesus said to one of his disciples  "How can we feed so many people?"

The disciple Andrew said "There's a young boy here with 5 loaves and 2 fish. But what good is that for such a huge crowd?"

Recording

John 6.1-15 (b)

Jesus said "Make the people sit down". The crowd of about 5,000 sat down on the grass

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all the people. He did the same with the fish. Everyone ate as much as they wanted to

The people, seeing this miracle, said "He really is God's great prophet".  Jesus, aware that they wanted to make him king, slipped away and went up the hill by himself

Jesus, please bless my prayers and actions to help others, just as you blessed the loaves and fish

Recording

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger) 

A crowded, lonely journey
The contrast between the fisherman alone on the lake under an early morning sun and the over-crowded vessels filled with anxious, frightened humanity, couldn’t be greater.

The Age live updates

Indonesian President Widodo under corrupt thumb of Megawati
Joko Widodo, who took power just six months ago with stratospheric approval ratings, should have been feted when he appeared before his party's national congress earlier this month. Instead, he was humiliated. As he sat in the front row, his party's chairperson, Megawati Soekarnoputri, harangued him from the lectern. She said that he owed the presidency to her. She told him to do as he's told

Geoffrey Robertson calls on Australian government to use international law to stop Indonesian executions

Brendan Hoban:
Disaffection with Disconnection

What happens when there is a disconnect between people who respond enthusiastically to the need for reform in the Church articulated by Pope Francis and the refusal of a bishop, appointed by Pope Benedict, because of his conservative disposition, to contemplate reform?

Robert Mickens:
The fear of real Roman Curia reform
The Curia stands in the way of subsidiarity and  decentralization. It has become a wall between the bishop of Rome and other bishops.

By failing to be more tolerant, Chinese officials fomented 'chaos' in Xinjiang

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Wednesday,  please bless the people of East Asia

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 29th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mauritania

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Shabaab 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

Pope Francis:
Thank you Holy Spirit

Inspiring photos:

Link
Link		Links 01  02	Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link		Link
Link	Link		Link

Newness, harmony, mission

Engagements of Pope Francis

Zenit.org - reports from Rome

This website's kind bloggers
(past and present)
with archives of articles:

Bakhita
 Hazel C
 Daniel Daring
Inigo Joachim
Brian Lewis
 Judith Lynch 
  Martin Mallon
Chris McDonnell
Bill Mulcahy 
Des O'Donnell
Darlene Starrs
 TASMAD
David Timbs 
Peter Wilkinson
   Harry Winter 
  John Wotherspoon

This website tries to stop "tanks"
(war, global warming, exploitation of the poor, globalisation of indifference, liturgical "reform of the reform" & other anti-Vatican II forces etc)

  Weekly Archive  of main page menus

Previous archives 
2013  2012  2011 2010  2009  2008

Previous Bible Blogs of this website

Previous Smiles file

John W: Previous Daily Blogs

The unjust treatment
 of Bishop Bill Morris

Hans Küng:  Letter to bishops  

Revolution to stop authoritarianism 

Fr Joseph Ratzinger: 
Writings on Vat II 

Robert Mickens:  
Vatican Implosion

Nicholas Lash:     Vatican II: 
Of Happy Memory - and Hope?

Robert McNally:  
Crisis & Criticism in the Church 

Priests 9 Masses a day
 - need to ordain married men

Why are women not being
 ordained to priesthood?   (updated)

A Call to Action
Assn Catholic Priests Ireland
Bp Pat Power
Bp Geoff Robinson
Bruce Duncan
Catalyst for Renewal
Catholica
Catholics for Ministry  
Catholics for Renewal 
STANDUP4VATICAN2
The Swag
VII - Voice of the Church
We Are Church

Excellent articles on Mission
  Hugh McMahon SSC

Imposter Priests
- refusing to pass on the teaching of Francis' The Joy of the Gospel

My Islam File

Political leaders who live(d) a simple life style and care(d) for the poor

HK Democracy File - essential reading

HK Asylum Seekers File

IS (ISIS) File - Essential Reading

Gaza File - essential reading

----------------------------

1998 ICEL Sacramentary

Misguided Missal 

The new translation
Ghastly process/result

Ron Schmit:
 1962 Mass a condemnation of Vat II

------------------------------------------

 Sacred Space  Daily prayer online.
Available in 19 languages

Jackie Evancho  - To Believe

Pray-as-you-go.org
Daily prayer with beautiful music

Whole text of 1966 Jerusalem Bible

The Last Supper -  Bohdan Piasecki 
(click to enlarge)

Bob Welsh - My Christmas Eve

 A Tale of Two Brains

The Story of Jonah 
as Told by The Cutest Little Girl
(gets even better as it goes along)

YouTube from KLM!

North Africa refugee boat - Link

Abortion Survivor’s Letter
 to the Abortionist

Tribalism lives on, 
for better and for worse

Video: Sydney Peace Prize Lecture by Julian Burnside  

16 Documents of Vatican II

This website's 
Reflections on the 16 documents
 of Vatican II

Be careful of junk reading re Pope:
Chancery report in English
Chancery report in Chinese

Why I collect rubbish for Pope

Taking a stand

Navigation Aids      

  Standing up to bullies

"Reform of reform" agenda

Too Western/European 

Abortion - a true story

The evil of compulsory celibacy

Link between compulsory celibacy
 and sexual abuse

"Same-sex marriage": 
two elephants in the men's room     

     Near Death Experiences

Globalisation of Indifference

Many thanks for checking
 this website each day

This site's full statistics
 for March 2015

To publish an article on this site please contact Fr John Wotherspoon omi:   jdwomi@gmail.com  

If you find a broken link in this website,
  please contact: jdwomi@gmail.com

John W's other sites: 

www.doctorjesus.org

www.riccicenter.com 

www.simplebible.info 

www.china8.org 

  www.jesustower.com 

www.oneminuteenglish.com 

China Library
 - essential reading for anyone interested in China's Christian history