Doesn't really matter* - Janet Jackson

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart". Ecclesiastes 7:2

I find this verse so true. I attended the funeral of a friend's father recently. It wasn't fun. It was sobering. And it really brings a lot of things into perspective. Death as the verse say is the destiny of all. No matter who we are, how rich we are, how clever we are (and since I'm in Malaysia, let's bring race into the matter - what race we are), one thing that is certain is that we all will die (or be raptured up to be with Christ when he returns). Remembering and realising that, a lot of things do not matter much anymore - like winning that competition or buying that thing or getting the approval of people who do not really care or watching the final installment of Avengers or Star Wars or eating at that Michelin Star restaurant. Instead, one will realise the importance of family, of true friends, of spiritual matters. I don't think anyone at their deathbed will regret not spending enough time at the office but many will regret not spending more time with their family.

So what if I won't get to see the Northern Lights, or drive a Lamborghini or watch Liverpool play live at Anfield or act in a musical at West End or perform live on stage with Queen (for the Queen!)? What's more important is that I spend time with my wife, my two girls, my aged mom and make sure that they know how much I love them.

*This song was recorded for the soundtrack of Nutty Professor 2.

This I promise you* - NSYNC

I was at a friend's father funeral today and was looking at the tombstones in the cemetery. I came across one of a girl who passed away when she was 9 years old and it had this written on it:-

Yohanes 14:1-4
"Janganlah gelisah hatimu; percayalah kepada Allah, percayalah juga kepada-Ku. Di rumah Bapa-Ku banyak tempat tinggal. Jika tidak demikian, tentu Aku mengatakannya kepadamu. Sebab Aku pergi ke situ untuk menyediakan tempat bagimu. Dan apabila Aku telah pergi ke situ dan telah menyediakan tempat bagimu, Aku akan datang kembali dan membawa kamu ke tempat-Ku, supaya di tempat di mana Aku berada, kamu pun berada. Dan ke mana Aku pergi, kamu tahu jalan ke situ."

What a wonderful hope this promise gives. Something that this little girl's parents can hold on to.

*This hit song of theirs was written by Richard Marx.

So long, farewell* - The cast of The Sound of Music

It was reported in the news today that a famous sports journalist from Taiwan ended his life today at a clinic in Switzerland. He passed away away after taking the drugs (poison?), surrounded by his family members. I can only imagine what his family went through.

According to the news report, he raised the cup, and said to the camera: “Farewell, so long” in Chinese and English. His family softly sang a hymn as he took four sips, and his son said: “Dad, I love you,” and “Relax, there's no more pain”. He then collapsed in his son's arms as his family clapped and sobbed....

One of the most difficult issues for me personally as a pro-life person. But what kind of life is it if it is in constant and unbearable pain and anguish? Should the right to life also include the right to choose not to live?

If the right to freedom of religion includes a right not to have a religion, the right to life can be arguably be said in to include the right not to choose life. Although i do not agree that the right to end one own's life should be allowed in any situation, i know of people who are in constant and unbearable pain - where sadly, the only way to end it is to end life. Very difficult issue - for me.

Inhumane treatment - that is also another point. Isn't allowing a person to suffer excruciating pain and slowly waste away a form of torture or cruel or inhuman or degrading treatment?

To make things even more difficult, I am a pro-life Christian! The Bible does say that we shall not kill. That is clear. But that is also the general rule. We cannot take that to be absolute - cannot kill in any or all situations. God had many times commanded his people to kill those who are evil and sinful. In Exodus 22:2, it is provided that killing in self-defence is allowed (killing a burglar).

Having said that, nothing is said expressly regarding terminally ill people who are going through agonising pain and suffering.

While I also agree that whatever torment we face here will ultimately end, it is of no (or little) comfort to the person who is going through such suffering. The question is whether is it God's will for such a person to suffer like that or should they be allowed to choose to end it?
Very difficult issue for me...

*Who can forget the cute scene where the little children had to go to sleep and sang this song before leaving?