Expatriates prefer KL, George Town
Published: Wednesday March 11, 2009 MYT 5:00:00 PM
SINGAPORE: The Malaysian cities of Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown are among the top 10 locations in Asia where Europeans prefer to work and live in, according to a latest international location ratings survey.
Kuala Lumpur was ranked ninth and Georgetown 10th, after Singapore, Kobe, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Macau, Seoul and Taipei, said ECA International, an agency that develops and provides solutions for the management and assignment of employees around the world, in its annual Location Ratings Survey.
The survey rates living standards in more than 400 locations globally, according to categories including climate, air quality, health services, housing and utilities, isolation, social network and leisure facilities, infrastructure, personal safety and political tensions.
Its overall ratings normally would be used by international human resources departments to establish allowances which compensate expatriate staff for the difficulties of adapting to living in their assignment location.
Both Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown were also ranked ninth in Asia for Asians to live in, the survey said, adding that in the world's rankings, they took 61st and 64th spots, respectively.
In that same global category, Singapore took first placing, followed by Kobe (3), Yokohama (4), Tokyo (6), Hong Kong (11), Taipei (56), Macau (56) and Bangkok (63).
"These rankings reveal a large gulf in the quality of living among Asian locations," said ECA International Regional Director Asia Lee Quane.
He said, while there were a handful of locations in Asia which offered Asian assignees a good standard of living, the majority of locations would be challenging in some shape or form and therefore, warranting high location allowances.
The survey also said Baghdad remained the least favourable location to live in, followed by Kabul, Karachi and Port-au-Prince.
"A lack of suitable facilities for expatriates, along with high personal security risk, makes these locations the least desirable," the survey said. - Bernama
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Fats!
11 March 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
1. TQ for your prayers. I am leaving again to Klang Valley to teach in the Bible College there. I will be finishing the courses on Pre-marital Counseling and Ezra-Nehemiah (the 7th to 12th session, having finished the 1st to 6th session during the trip in Feb).
2. I will also be preaching in several churches during that time. Covet your prayers as I preach in different denominations (EFC, AG, Baptist, Independent). Pray that the HS will challenge them to obey and serve the Lord even during this time of economic downturn.
3. Pray for my physical health. I went for a health screening test last month and the doctors said that I was 10 kg over weight, based on my BMI. My blood pressure was above normal (170 plus! Suppose to be below 130) and in the dangerous level. And I was experiencing some chest pain for some time!
4. So now I have to watch my diet until I bring it back to normal. I have also enrolled in a weight loss management to fight/burn the stubborn fats around the vital organs. God willing, I hope to lose about 6-8 kg over the next 3 months.
4. Jessie went on this program last year and lost about 7-8 kg over a 3 months period. She is currently maintaing her ideal weight now. I will keep you posted about my battle with the bulge as a form of accountability.
5. Upon hearing about my situation, one of our goddaughters is “forcing” me to go for the threadmill test. She is going to tow me to the clinic so that we know how serious the problem is. She refused to let me wiggle out from this – so I am cornered!
6. Pray for me as after March’s teaching, I will be going to Kuching, Sarawak in April to teach and preach there. They have already lined up back to back meetings for me. Then I will have to rush back to Singapore to do part of my doctorate assignments due in mid-May.
7. Pray for me as the ministry grows and many doors of opportunities are being opened. I wished I had listened and obeyed the Lord more closely and fully. I should have developed and prepared more teaching materials in the past.
8. There are many requests to teach the pastors and churches but I am unable to accept all of them because I do not have enough time to prepare them. I trust that you will learn from my mistakes (and laziness!) – and do not miss the opportunity to bless the Body of Christ.
9. And even now I am still trying to learn Mandarin as the windows are being opened to minister to them. I believed the Lord had spoken to me 20 over years ago to learn faster so that I can preach in it. But unfortunately I have yet to do so – and thus miss the golden opportunity to strengthen that part of the Body.
10. In addition, pray that the Lord will continue to raise up more regular financial supporters. Some of our supporters are being affected with the downturn and ministry expenses have grown. But the Lord is always faithful.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Cor 4:8-9).
Dear Prayer Partners,
1. TQ for your prayers. I am leaving again to Klang Valley to teach in the Bible College there. I will be finishing the courses on Pre-marital Counseling and Ezra-Nehemiah (the 7th to 12th session, having finished the 1st to 6th session during the trip in Feb).
2. I will also be preaching in several churches during that time. Covet your prayers as I preach in different denominations (EFC, AG, Baptist, Independent). Pray that the HS will challenge them to obey and serve the Lord even during this time of economic downturn.
3. Pray for my physical health. I went for a health screening test last month and the doctors said that I was 10 kg over weight, based on my BMI. My blood pressure was above normal (170 plus! Suppose to be below 130) and in the dangerous level. And I was experiencing some chest pain for some time!
4. So now I have to watch my diet until I bring it back to normal. I have also enrolled in a weight loss management to fight/burn the stubborn fats around the vital organs. God willing, I hope to lose about 6-8 kg over the next 3 months.
4. Jessie went on this program last year and lost about 7-8 kg over a 3 months period. She is currently maintaing her ideal weight now. I will keep you posted about my battle with the bulge as a form of accountability.
5. Upon hearing about my situation, one of our goddaughters is “forcing” me to go for the threadmill test. She is going to tow me to the clinic so that we know how serious the problem is. She refused to let me wiggle out from this – so I am cornered!
6. Pray for me as after March’s teaching, I will be going to Kuching, Sarawak in April to teach and preach there. They have already lined up back to back meetings for me. Then I will have to rush back to Singapore to do part of my doctorate assignments due in mid-May.
7. Pray for me as the ministry grows and many doors of opportunities are being opened. I wished I had listened and obeyed the Lord more closely and fully. I should have developed and prepared more teaching materials in the past.
8. There are many requests to teach the pastors and churches but I am unable to accept all of them because I do not have enough time to prepare them. I trust that you will learn from my mistakes (and laziness!) – and do not miss the opportunity to bless the Body of Christ.
9. And even now I am still trying to learn Mandarin as the windows are being opened to minister to them. I believed the Lord had spoken to me 20 over years ago to learn faster so that I can preach in it. But unfortunately I have yet to do so – and thus miss the golden opportunity to strengthen that part of the Body.
10. In addition, pray that the Lord will continue to raise up more regular financial supporters. Some of our supporters are being affected with the downturn and ministry expenses have grown. But the Lord is always faithful.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Cor 4:8-9).
Monday, March 9, 2009
False assumptions about marriage
Change Your Thoughts to Change Your Marriage
Whitney Hopler
Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Mitch Temple's book, The Marriage Turnaround: How Thinking Differently about Your Relationship Can Change Everything, (Moody Publishers, 2009).
Do you think your marriage should be making you happy? Are you trying to change your spouse? You may be carrying around a lot of marriage myths like these in your mind without even realizing it.
Our culture is full of commonly held false assumptions about marriage. If you believe them without examining them, they'll affect your marriage in ways that can be dangerous. But if you change your false beliefs about marriage to reflect biblical truth, you'll change your marriage for the better.
Here are some of the marriage myths you can overcome:
"The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." Although other men may seem better than your husband or other women may seem more appealing than your wife, everyone is human. Any other person you may choose to leave your marriage for will end up being just as flawed as your spouse. You're far better off using your time and energy to work on your existing marriage than leaving -- causing yourself and others deep pain the process -- only to see new problems spring up in a new relationship.
"Attitudes don't really count." Your attitudes determine your feelings and behaviors, so they actually affect your marriage profoundly. If you think negatively, you're likely to feel badly about your marriage and act in bad ways toward your spouse. But if you think positively, you'll often feel good about your marriage and choose good actions that will benefit your relationship. If your attitudes are on the right track, then the rest of your life -- including your marriage -- will be, too. So choose a hopeful attitude about your spouse and your marriage, every day. That will motivate you to make the positive choices that will improve your marriage.
"I need to change my spouse." No matter how much you'd like to change your spouse, you don't have the power to change another person. So instead of wasting your time and energy trying to change your spouse, ask God to help you understand, accept, and appreciate your spouse more. Get to know your spouse's unique personality better. When you're frustrated by one of your spouse's behaviors, pray about it and trust God -- the only One who can change your spouse -- to work in your spouse's life. If you want to change your marriage, focus on making changes in your own behavior, which will then change the dynamic of your relationship for the better and possibly inspire your spouse to change his or her own behavior.
Keep in mind that there are some aspects of your spouse that will remain the same, such as: gender, different communication styles, genetic influences, life history, and personality. Do all you can to show your mate that you accept him or her. Your unconditional love may motivate your spouse to change for the better (in ways that he or she can) at the right time and in the right ways.
"I didn't marry my soul mate." Marriage isn't a matter of finding the only person in the entire world you should marry or despairing that you've missed out if you haven't found that magical person. The truth is that you could have married any number of people and had your marriage would out just fine. Rather than worrying about finding a soul mate, focus on becoming one. Over time in your marriage, you and your spouse can become each other's soul mates by growing closer to God and each other.
An important part of building a soul mate relationship is simply showing up -- physically and emotionally -- no matter how hurt or hopeless you might happen to feel at a particular time. Also remember to keep your expectations of each other realistic. Your spouse is a real person who can't possibly measure up to a mythical idea of an ideal soul mate. Focus on your spouse as he or she actually is, and make up your mind to discover your soul mate -- and become one.
"My needs come first." You know you have a consumer attitude toward your marriage when you catch yourself thinking or saying things like,
* "What am I getting out of this marriage, anyway?"
* "I deserve better" or
* "What's in this for me?"
But the more you focus on getting your own needs met in your marriage, the less likely that is to happen because your attitude will undermine your relationship with your spouse and make him or her less likely to want to meet your needs.
Research has shown that the marriages that work best are those in which both spouses decide every day to make sacrifices for the good of the other. Ask God to help you overcome your selfish nature and develop a desire to serve your spouse daily. Pray for the compassion and empathy you need for your spouse. Be willing to help your mate whenever he or she needs it -- no matter how inconvenient it will be for you to help. Remember that, ultimately, it's God who meets your needs. Sometimes He just uses your spouse to do so. Whenever you're concerned that one of your needs isn't being met, pray about it and trust God to help you.
"Happiness is everything." There's simply no such thing as a happy pill you can take for your marriage. Sometimes you and your spouse will go through circumstances that make you feel happy, but sometimes you'll encounter challenges that will make you feel unhappy. Just as your circumstances will constantly change, so will your feelings. So decide to base your marriage decisions on something much more reliable than your feelings -- base them on timeless biblical truth. If you live by God's truths revealed in the Bible, you'll discover that right living -- doing the right thing, even when it doesn't make you happy -- will actually lead to more happiness in the long run because you'll be making decisions that protect you from lots of unnecessary pain.
So instead of spending your energy pursuing things that create happiness, direct your energy toward pursuing God above all else, and happiness will naturally come into your life. Rather than expecting your spouse to make you happy (which is futile), focus on serving your spouse, and enjoy the improvements that will bring to your marriage.
Be sure to forgive your spouse every time he or she hurts or offends you. Withholding forgiveness will prevent you from experiencing happiness in your life. Rely on God's help throughout the forgiveness process. When you decide to follow His call to forgive despite your negative feelings toward your spouse, God will give you His peace that you never could have experienced otherwise.
"It's okay to be rude -- we're married!" Although you may feel so comfortable around your spouse that you think anything goes in your relationship, being rude will only harm your marriage. Marriage doesn't give you a license to mistreat each other. Take your little annoying habits seriously because they may be big deal to your spouse. Ask God to help you stop whatever habits bother your spouse, from putting your feet on the furniture at home to making sarcastic comments about him or her in public.
Be patient while your spouse tries to change his or her own annoying habits. Recognize the significant effect that rude behavior in your marriage has not just on the two of you, but also on others in your lives, like your children. Do all you can to treat your spouse the way you would like your spouse to treat you.
"I shouldn't have to ask." Your spouse can't read your mind, so he or she doesn't automatically know what you need. If you need something from your spouse, you usually do have to ask for it -- and sometimes you have to ask several times until your spouse fully listens and understands.
Pray about your need first; then ask your spouse. Make suggestions instead of demands. Be flexible and don't push for a decision until he or she is ready.
When your spouse brings a request to you, don't get irritated or defensive. Instead, be thankful that your spouse cares enough to work on your relationship. Listen carefully, giving your spouse your full attention and refraining from making judgments or drawing conclusions until he or she is finished speaking. Seriously consider what your spouse is asking. Think and pray about it. Ask questions to clarify what your spouse needs. Remember that God calls you to put other's needs above your own.
"Conflict is bad." Conflict can be disruptive and scary, but like a good thunderstorm, it can clear the air. If you and your spouse use conflict constructively, it can help you each solve problems in your marriage and grow as people in the process. The key to effective conflict is learning when to engage and when to walk away.
Avoid destructive types of conflict, like criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling, and blaming. Use conflict to help clear contaminants out of your marriage and move you both in a positive direction. Follow these guidelines for fighting fair: Start the argument with a positive, respectful approach rather than with loud words, harsh statements, or judgmental accusations. Don't deny problems. Choose your battles, letting minor issues go. Schedule important discussions for the right times and places.
Avoid trying to do deal with issues during times of great stress or grief, and create an environment where you can be calm and not disturbed. Listen well. Don't use sex as a weapon in your arguments with your spouse. Never threaten divorce. Control your anger. Call a time out if either you or your spouse is becoming too angry, but be sure to come back later to discuss the issue again.
"A crisis means we're over." Every marriage experiences problems. Whenever you and your spouse encounter a crisis, it doesn't mean that your marriage is over. In fact, a crisis can actually strengthen your marriage if you trust God through it and learn from it. Pray for the help you need during a crisis. Commit to doing whatever it takes to work through the problem at hand.
Establish mutually agreed upon rules of interaction, such as no shouting or blaming. Cut off relationships with other people who have a negative influence on your marriage. Ask God to give you the discernment to know what to say and what not to say, when to speak, and how to say what you need to say.
"All pain in our marriage is bad." Pain is never pleasant to go through, but it can actually be a gift because it directs your attention to problems that need to be solved. When your spouse is in physical or emotional pain, never underestimate how much he or she may be struggling. Support your spouse without judging him or her; understand that your spouse won't be able to respond to you normally when in pain. Pray for your spouse. When you're in pain yourself, let your pain drive you to rely more closely on God and discover His grace.
"Marriage is just too hard." While marriage is definitely hard sometimes, it doesn't ever need to be too hard. Start making small, consistent investments in your marriage every day to make your marriage easier. You and your spouse can make deposits into each other's emotional bank accounts by doing or saying loving things for each other. Do what you can to cut down on the withdrawals you each make from each other's emotional bank accounts (ways you hurt each other).
Spend time doing simple activities together that you both enjoy, like walking or writing letters. Invest the time and energy necessary to keep romance alive in your marriage. Pray together and for each other often. Instead of relying on your own limited strength to maintain a close marriage, rely on God's unlimited power to guide and help you every day.
Adapted from The Marriage Turnaround: How Thinking Differently about Your Relationship Can Change Everything, copyright 2009 by Mitch Temple. Published by Moody Publishers, Chicago, Ill., www.moodypublishers.com.
Mitch Temple serves as the director over marriage programs at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He represents Focus at national events, seminars, media interviews, and radio programs. Mitch is a published author in various professional journals, and co-author of two marriage books. He served for 23 years as pulpit and counseling pastor, specializing in crisis, business, and marriage and family-related issues. He and his wife of more than 25 years have three children and live in Colorado.
Whitney Hopler
Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Mitch Temple's book, The Marriage Turnaround: How Thinking Differently about Your Relationship Can Change Everything, (Moody Publishers, 2009).
Do you think your marriage should be making you happy? Are you trying to change your spouse? You may be carrying around a lot of marriage myths like these in your mind without even realizing it.
Our culture is full of commonly held false assumptions about marriage. If you believe them without examining them, they'll affect your marriage in ways that can be dangerous. But if you change your false beliefs about marriage to reflect biblical truth, you'll change your marriage for the better.
Here are some of the marriage myths you can overcome:
"The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." Although other men may seem better than your husband or other women may seem more appealing than your wife, everyone is human. Any other person you may choose to leave your marriage for will end up being just as flawed as your spouse. You're far better off using your time and energy to work on your existing marriage than leaving -- causing yourself and others deep pain the process -- only to see new problems spring up in a new relationship.
"Attitudes don't really count." Your attitudes determine your feelings and behaviors, so they actually affect your marriage profoundly. If you think negatively, you're likely to feel badly about your marriage and act in bad ways toward your spouse. But if you think positively, you'll often feel good about your marriage and choose good actions that will benefit your relationship. If your attitudes are on the right track, then the rest of your life -- including your marriage -- will be, too. So choose a hopeful attitude about your spouse and your marriage, every day. That will motivate you to make the positive choices that will improve your marriage.
"I need to change my spouse." No matter how much you'd like to change your spouse, you don't have the power to change another person. So instead of wasting your time and energy trying to change your spouse, ask God to help you understand, accept, and appreciate your spouse more. Get to know your spouse's unique personality better. When you're frustrated by one of your spouse's behaviors, pray about it and trust God -- the only One who can change your spouse -- to work in your spouse's life. If you want to change your marriage, focus on making changes in your own behavior, which will then change the dynamic of your relationship for the better and possibly inspire your spouse to change his or her own behavior.
Keep in mind that there are some aspects of your spouse that will remain the same, such as: gender, different communication styles, genetic influences, life history, and personality. Do all you can to show your mate that you accept him or her. Your unconditional love may motivate your spouse to change for the better (in ways that he or she can) at the right time and in the right ways.
"I didn't marry my soul mate." Marriage isn't a matter of finding the only person in the entire world you should marry or despairing that you've missed out if you haven't found that magical person. The truth is that you could have married any number of people and had your marriage would out just fine. Rather than worrying about finding a soul mate, focus on becoming one. Over time in your marriage, you and your spouse can become each other's soul mates by growing closer to God and each other.
An important part of building a soul mate relationship is simply showing up -- physically and emotionally -- no matter how hurt or hopeless you might happen to feel at a particular time. Also remember to keep your expectations of each other realistic. Your spouse is a real person who can't possibly measure up to a mythical idea of an ideal soul mate. Focus on your spouse as he or she actually is, and make up your mind to discover your soul mate -- and become one.
"My needs come first." You know you have a consumer attitude toward your marriage when you catch yourself thinking or saying things like,
* "What am I getting out of this marriage, anyway?"
* "I deserve better" or
* "What's in this for me?"
But the more you focus on getting your own needs met in your marriage, the less likely that is to happen because your attitude will undermine your relationship with your spouse and make him or her less likely to want to meet your needs.
Research has shown that the marriages that work best are those in which both spouses decide every day to make sacrifices for the good of the other. Ask God to help you overcome your selfish nature and develop a desire to serve your spouse daily. Pray for the compassion and empathy you need for your spouse. Be willing to help your mate whenever he or she needs it -- no matter how inconvenient it will be for you to help. Remember that, ultimately, it's God who meets your needs. Sometimes He just uses your spouse to do so. Whenever you're concerned that one of your needs isn't being met, pray about it and trust God to help you.
"Happiness is everything." There's simply no such thing as a happy pill you can take for your marriage. Sometimes you and your spouse will go through circumstances that make you feel happy, but sometimes you'll encounter challenges that will make you feel unhappy. Just as your circumstances will constantly change, so will your feelings. So decide to base your marriage decisions on something much more reliable than your feelings -- base them on timeless biblical truth. If you live by God's truths revealed in the Bible, you'll discover that right living -- doing the right thing, even when it doesn't make you happy -- will actually lead to more happiness in the long run because you'll be making decisions that protect you from lots of unnecessary pain.
So instead of spending your energy pursuing things that create happiness, direct your energy toward pursuing God above all else, and happiness will naturally come into your life. Rather than expecting your spouse to make you happy (which is futile), focus on serving your spouse, and enjoy the improvements that will bring to your marriage.
Be sure to forgive your spouse every time he or she hurts or offends you. Withholding forgiveness will prevent you from experiencing happiness in your life. Rely on God's help throughout the forgiveness process. When you decide to follow His call to forgive despite your negative feelings toward your spouse, God will give you His peace that you never could have experienced otherwise.
"It's okay to be rude -- we're married!" Although you may feel so comfortable around your spouse that you think anything goes in your relationship, being rude will only harm your marriage. Marriage doesn't give you a license to mistreat each other. Take your little annoying habits seriously because they may be big deal to your spouse. Ask God to help you stop whatever habits bother your spouse, from putting your feet on the furniture at home to making sarcastic comments about him or her in public.
Be patient while your spouse tries to change his or her own annoying habits. Recognize the significant effect that rude behavior in your marriage has not just on the two of you, but also on others in your lives, like your children. Do all you can to treat your spouse the way you would like your spouse to treat you.
"I shouldn't have to ask." Your spouse can't read your mind, so he or she doesn't automatically know what you need. If you need something from your spouse, you usually do have to ask for it -- and sometimes you have to ask several times until your spouse fully listens and understands.
Pray about your need first; then ask your spouse. Make suggestions instead of demands. Be flexible and don't push for a decision until he or she is ready.
When your spouse brings a request to you, don't get irritated or defensive. Instead, be thankful that your spouse cares enough to work on your relationship. Listen carefully, giving your spouse your full attention and refraining from making judgments or drawing conclusions until he or she is finished speaking. Seriously consider what your spouse is asking. Think and pray about it. Ask questions to clarify what your spouse needs. Remember that God calls you to put other's needs above your own.
"Conflict is bad." Conflict can be disruptive and scary, but like a good thunderstorm, it can clear the air. If you and your spouse use conflict constructively, it can help you each solve problems in your marriage and grow as people in the process. The key to effective conflict is learning when to engage and when to walk away.
Avoid destructive types of conflict, like criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling, and blaming. Use conflict to help clear contaminants out of your marriage and move you both in a positive direction. Follow these guidelines for fighting fair: Start the argument with a positive, respectful approach rather than with loud words, harsh statements, or judgmental accusations. Don't deny problems. Choose your battles, letting minor issues go. Schedule important discussions for the right times and places.
Avoid trying to do deal with issues during times of great stress or grief, and create an environment where you can be calm and not disturbed. Listen well. Don't use sex as a weapon in your arguments with your spouse. Never threaten divorce. Control your anger. Call a time out if either you or your spouse is becoming too angry, but be sure to come back later to discuss the issue again.
"A crisis means we're over." Every marriage experiences problems. Whenever you and your spouse encounter a crisis, it doesn't mean that your marriage is over. In fact, a crisis can actually strengthen your marriage if you trust God through it and learn from it. Pray for the help you need during a crisis. Commit to doing whatever it takes to work through the problem at hand.
Establish mutually agreed upon rules of interaction, such as no shouting or blaming. Cut off relationships with other people who have a negative influence on your marriage. Ask God to give you the discernment to know what to say and what not to say, when to speak, and how to say what you need to say.
"All pain in our marriage is bad." Pain is never pleasant to go through, but it can actually be a gift because it directs your attention to problems that need to be solved. When your spouse is in physical or emotional pain, never underestimate how much he or she may be struggling. Support your spouse without judging him or her; understand that your spouse won't be able to respond to you normally when in pain. Pray for your spouse. When you're in pain yourself, let your pain drive you to rely more closely on God and discover His grace.
"Marriage is just too hard." While marriage is definitely hard sometimes, it doesn't ever need to be too hard. Start making small, consistent investments in your marriage every day to make your marriage easier. You and your spouse can make deposits into each other's emotional bank accounts by doing or saying loving things for each other. Do what you can to cut down on the withdrawals you each make from each other's emotional bank accounts (ways you hurt each other).
Spend time doing simple activities together that you both enjoy, like walking or writing letters. Invest the time and energy necessary to keep romance alive in your marriage. Pray together and for each other often. Instead of relying on your own limited strength to maintain a close marriage, rely on God's unlimited power to guide and help you every day.
Adapted from The Marriage Turnaround: How Thinking Differently about Your Relationship Can Change Everything, copyright 2009 by Mitch Temple. Published by Moody Publishers, Chicago, Ill., www.moodypublishers.com.
Mitch Temple serves as the director over marriage programs at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He represents Focus at national events, seminars, media interviews, and radio programs. Mitch is a published author in various professional journals, and co-author of two marriage books. He served for 23 years as pulpit and counseling pastor, specializing in crisis, business, and marriage and family-related issues. He and his wife of more than 25 years have three children and live in Colorado.
Come over to Asia!
SYDNEY, Mar 09, 2009 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- With the falling Australian dollar, the cost of living has plummeted across the country, but the most expensive city in the world is now in Asia, a survey has found.
The Economist magazine's cost of living survey shows Australian cities have become cheaper due to the battered Australian dollar, with Sydney dropping from 17th to 35th on its index of most expensive cities in the past six months.
Since September, Melbourne has fallen 15 places from 24 to 39, Brisbane from 35 to 57, while Adelaide plummeted to 72 after being listed at 48 in the last survey.
Auckland fell almost 30 places, from 49 to 78, while Wellington dropped 25 spots from 55 to 80.
A stronger yen saw Tokyo rise to top of the magazine's list of most expensive cities, knocking off Oslo in Norway, which fell to number five.
Osaka in Japan was listed at number two, Paris third, while Copenhagen in Denmark was fourth.
Apart from taking the top two spots, Asia boasted four of the five cheapest cities - Karachi in Pakistan, Mumbai and New Delhi in India, and Kathmandu in Nepal.
"(Asia) plays host to countries with the most and the least expensive cost of living in the survey," The Economist said in a statement.
"Cities in Australia and New Zealand have seen dramatic falls of between 21 and 25 index points.
"Conversely a stronger yen now means that the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka have become the most expensive cities in our survey.
"Asia is home to many of the least expensive cities in the world, supplying five of the ten cheapest locations in the survey, four of which hail from the Indian subcontinent."
The Economist magazine's cost of living survey shows Australian cities have become cheaper due to the battered Australian dollar, with Sydney dropping from 17th to 35th on its index of most expensive cities in the past six months.
Since September, Melbourne has fallen 15 places from 24 to 39, Brisbane from 35 to 57, while Adelaide plummeted to 72 after being listed at 48 in the last survey.
Auckland fell almost 30 places, from 49 to 78, while Wellington dropped 25 spots from 55 to 80.
A stronger yen saw Tokyo rise to top of the magazine's list of most expensive cities, knocking off Oslo in Norway, which fell to number five.
Osaka in Japan was listed at number two, Paris third, while Copenhagen in Denmark was fourth.
Apart from taking the top two spots, Asia boasted four of the five cheapest cities - Karachi in Pakistan, Mumbai and New Delhi in India, and Kathmandu in Nepal.
"(Asia) plays host to countries with the most and the least expensive cost of living in the survey," The Economist said in a statement.
"Cities in Australia and New Zealand have seen dramatic falls of between 21 and 25 index points.
"Conversely a stronger yen now means that the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka have become the most expensive cities in our survey.
"Asia is home to many of the least expensive cities in the world, supplying five of the ten cheapest locations in the survey, four of which hail from the Indian subcontinent."
Come over to Asia!
SYDNEY, Mar 09, 2009 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- With the falling Australian dollar, the cost of living has plummeted across the country, but the most expensive city in the world is now in Asia, a survey has found.
The Economist magazine's cost of living survey shows Australian cities have become cheaper due to the battered Australian dollar, with Sydney dropping from 17th to 35th on its index of most expensive cities in the past six months.
Since September, Melbourne has fallen 15 places from 24 to 39, Brisbane from 35 to 57, while Adelaide plummeted to 72 after being listed at 48 in the last survey.
Auckland fell almost 30 places, from 49 to 78, while Wellington dropped 25 spots from 55 to 80.
A stronger yen saw Tokyo rise to top of the magazine's list of most expensive cities, knocking off Oslo in Norway, which fell to number five.
Osaka in Japan was listed at number two, Paris third, while Copenhagen in Denmark was fourth.
Apart from taking the top two spots, Asia boasted four of the five cheapest cities - Karachi in Pakistan, Mumbai and New Delhi in India, and Kathmandu in Nepal.
"(Asia) plays host to countries with the most and the least expensive cost of living in the survey," The Economist said in a statement.
"Cities in Australia and New Zealand have seen dramatic falls of between 21 and 25 index points.
"Conversely a stronger yen now means that the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka have become the most expensive cities in our survey.
"Asia is home to many of the least expensive cities in the world, supplying five of the ten cheapest locations in the survey, four of which hail from the Indian subcontinent."
The Economist magazine's cost of living survey shows Australian cities have become cheaper due to the battered Australian dollar, with Sydney dropping from 17th to 35th on its index of most expensive cities in the past six months.
Since September, Melbourne has fallen 15 places from 24 to 39, Brisbane from 35 to 57, while Adelaide plummeted to 72 after being listed at 48 in the last survey.
Auckland fell almost 30 places, from 49 to 78, while Wellington dropped 25 spots from 55 to 80.
A stronger yen saw Tokyo rise to top of the magazine's list of most expensive cities, knocking off Oslo in Norway, which fell to number five.
Osaka in Japan was listed at number two, Paris third, while Copenhagen in Denmark was fourth.
Apart from taking the top two spots, Asia boasted four of the five cheapest cities - Karachi in Pakistan, Mumbai and New Delhi in India, and Kathmandu in Nepal.
"(Asia) plays host to countries with the most and the least expensive cost of living in the survey," The Economist said in a statement.
"Cities in Australia and New Zealand have seen dramatic falls of between 21 and 25 index points.
"Conversely a stronger yen now means that the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka have become the most expensive cities in our survey.
"Asia is home to many of the least expensive cities in the world, supplying five of the ten cheapest locations in the survey, four of which hail from the Indian subcontinent."
Friday, March 6, 2009
Such manipulation can border on witchcraft
Apostles, Prophets, and the Ministry of the Saints
By The 700 Club
CBN.com – The Coming Saints
Dr. Bill Hamon believes that God is changing our perspective in the 21st century from seeing the church as a building with four walls to the Church as a people. "The Church is wherever the saints are. The people of God will do ministry and miracles as God directs in business places also."
"It takes the same Holy Spirit, the same anointing, the same blood for the full-time Christian worker as it does for the Christian businessman," he says. "We need to know how to pray and intercede. God will raise up a great company of saints in the marketplace to demonstrate the power of God in the Kingdom of God."
According to Hamon, founder of Christian International Ministries, Christians will move in government and in the marketplace like Daniel and Joseph, in key places at key times. "Christian businessmen will see this move as not another way to get rich, but as a way to demonstrate the Kingdom of God on earth. They will be salt and light."
He believes that some business people will have daily staff times to train their people in the principles of God. "God is getting ready to invade the earth. According to Daniel 7:18, 22, 27, the saints will take the Kingdom."
Great Move
Dr. Hamon says that within the last 50 years of the 20th century God has reset, re-positioned, and restored all of the five-fold ministries. "God uses each decade to clarify, magnify, and reposition the church in a place to fulfill the vision," he says.
* In the 50s, the church saw the restoration and rise to prominence of evangelists like Oral Roberts and T.L. Osborn.
* In the 60s, great churches arose led by pastors such as David Yonghi Cho. Once a church of 500 was considered large, but today churches of 5000 or more are not uncommon.
* In the 70s, the charismatic teacher renewal was led by people like Derek Prince, Kenneth Hagin, and Dennis Bennett. These were not Pentecostal expounders. There was no prophecy nor praying for the sick. They taught and people came by the thousands. Prior to this move of God the teacher was seen as someone only in a Bible college.
* In the 80s, the prophets were restored to the Body of Christ; men like Bill Hamon and Paul Cain. Many denominations had not recognized the prophets, saying they were not for this dispensation, that there was no need for them since we had the Bible.
* The 90s, saw the emergence of the apostles, or the apostolic ministry. This ministry includes leaders like Peter Wagner and John Eckhart. Most Pentecostals have questions about the apostles; evangelicals practically have no place for them at all. They had to be restored to the Body per Ephesians 4:11-13, "And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…."
"When all five ministries have come together, we will relate together and equip the saints," Hamon declares. "Then we will see the 'saints movement' and they can go forth and compel people to believe with supernatural signs."
Prophetic Prayer
"Prophetic prayer is praying with the mind of the Holy Spirit," Hamon says. When intercessors pray, sometimes they pick up and see things in the spirit. They are watchmen on the wall, and God will share things with them."
According to Hamon, once God shares His foreknowledge, the intercessor must use wisdom on how to share that. "If they must share it with the leadership, they should 'give it and forget it,' and move on to something else," Hamon says. "They should not try to influence or impact the pastor or leader more than they should. Trust God to work it out. It is possible to make warfare in prayer."
Hamon believes that the prophetic warrior gets into trouble when he tries to manipulate and control the reaction or obedience of others. Such manipulation can border on witchcraft. "They are not the conscience of the leader or the Holy Spirit. They are a vital part of the ministry if they stay in their proper place."
"An ear should stay an ear, an eye should stay an eye," Hamon says. "Do what you are called to do. All leaders need prayer. Prophetic prayer can be some of the most effective prayer there is," he says. "Just know the power and the pitfalls.
By The 700 Club
CBN.com – The Coming Saints
Dr. Bill Hamon believes that God is changing our perspective in the 21st century from seeing the church as a building with four walls to the Church as a people. "The Church is wherever the saints are. The people of God will do ministry and miracles as God directs in business places also."
"It takes the same Holy Spirit, the same anointing, the same blood for the full-time Christian worker as it does for the Christian businessman," he says. "We need to know how to pray and intercede. God will raise up a great company of saints in the marketplace to demonstrate the power of God in the Kingdom of God."
According to Hamon, founder of Christian International Ministries, Christians will move in government and in the marketplace like Daniel and Joseph, in key places at key times. "Christian businessmen will see this move as not another way to get rich, but as a way to demonstrate the Kingdom of God on earth. They will be salt and light."
He believes that some business people will have daily staff times to train their people in the principles of God. "God is getting ready to invade the earth. According to Daniel 7:18, 22, 27, the saints will take the Kingdom."
Great Move
Dr. Hamon says that within the last 50 years of the 20th century God has reset, re-positioned, and restored all of the five-fold ministries. "God uses each decade to clarify, magnify, and reposition the church in a place to fulfill the vision," he says.
* In the 50s, the church saw the restoration and rise to prominence of evangelists like Oral Roberts and T.L. Osborn.
* In the 60s, great churches arose led by pastors such as David Yonghi Cho. Once a church of 500 was considered large, but today churches of 5000 or more are not uncommon.
* In the 70s, the charismatic teacher renewal was led by people like Derek Prince, Kenneth Hagin, and Dennis Bennett. These were not Pentecostal expounders. There was no prophecy nor praying for the sick. They taught and people came by the thousands. Prior to this move of God the teacher was seen as someone only in a Bible college.
* In the 80s, the prophets were restored to the Body of Christ; men like Bill Hamon and Paul Cain. Many denominations had not recognized the prophets, saying they were not for this dispensation, that there was no need for them since we had the Bible.
* The 90s, saw the emergence of the apostles, or the apostolic ministry. This ministry includes leaders like Peter Wagner and John Eckhart. Most Pentecostals have questions about the apostles; evangelicals practically have no place for them at all. They had to be restored to the Body per Ephesians 4:11-13, "And He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…."
"When all five ministries have come together, we will relate together and equip the saints," Hamon declares. "Then we will see the 'saints movement' and they can go forth and compel people to believe with supernatural signs."
Prophetic Prayer
"Prophetic prayer is praying with the mind of the Holy Spirit," Hamon says. When intercessors pray, sometimes they pick up and see things in the spirit. They are watchmen on the wall, and God will share things with them."
According to Hamon, once God shares His foreknowledge, the intercessor must use wisdom on how to share that. "If they must share it with the leadership, they should 'give it and forget it,' and move on to something else," Hamon says. "They should not try to influence or impact the pastor or leader more than they should. Trust God to work it out. It is possible to make warfare in prayer."
Hamon believes that the prophetic warrior gets into trouble when he tries to manipulate and control the reaction or obedience of others. Such manipulation can border on witchcraft. "They are not the conscience of the leader or the Holy Spirit. They are a vital part of the ministry if they stay in their proper place."
"An ear should stay an ear, an eye should stay an eye," Hamon says. "Do what you are called to do. All leaders need prayer. Prophetic prayer can be some of the most effective prayer there is," he says. "Just know the power and the pitfalls.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
More of the Word!
4 March 2009
Dear Prayer Partners,
1. TQ for your prayers, encouragement, and support during the last 2 weeks of hectic teaching and ministry. In the first weekend, I was preaching in a Malay-language congregation, located in the heart of the shopping belt of Klang Valley. A number of them are working as feet reflexologists, masseuses, students, security guards, taxi drivers, and others.
2. The church is strategically reaching out to a lot of these tribal people working there and seek to disciple them in their walk with Jesus. Many of them do not have a strong foundation in the Word, and hence easily convert to other religion. Pray for the leaders who are committed to raising up spiritual leaders among them.
3. Then I was in Bible college (Mon – Thur) to teach 2 courses – Premarital Counseling [PMC] (7pm-10pm) and Ezra-Nehemiah (8am-12pm). One of the full-time pastoral students is from the aborigine (OA) tribe from the state of Perak.
4. Upon learning who her pastor-father is, I told her I was the interpreter for her parents’ wedding around 23-24 years ago! I knew her when she was just one two years old, and she is now 22 years – in Bible school to be trained as a pastor. How time flies!
5. Another of the student, was someone whom I was looking for and whom I had lost contact since 1989/90. He is in his 40s and has since become a lay pastor in his church. The Lord seems to be bringing the past back to me.
6. In between the break of the first and second week of classes, I went to another church to help in their church strategic planning. I was playing the role of a church consultant and leading the discussion with the 4 pastors about the direction and vision of their church.
7. On Sunday I preached in an Eng-Chinese service. One of the church leaders, was someone whom I had met once, 20 years ago when I was ministering in the universities. At that time, this leader was a student, and came for one of the house services where I was preaching.
8. This was unusual as he is Chinese, and the service was in Malay-language with majority tribal peoples. He said I had prayed for him and gave a prophetic word. Since then, we had not met until late last year. He has become a successful businessman and one of the individuals that I had been discipling, happen to be working for him. So he recommended me to the church pastor and invited me to preach in the church.
9. Just before the service started, while talking to the pastor, something she mentioned reminded me of one my fellow student in seminary days. I then realized that the pastor was the sister in law of my fellow seminarian in Spore whom I had not met for 8-9 years. The past is catching up on me!
10. Then it was back to teaching in Bible college. During the second week, I preached in the chapel services encouraging about 70 trainee pastors to fulfill their roles as discerning priests unto the Lord. I am also encouraged that there are a number of mainland Chinese studying there to equip themselves further for the ministry. They have been in ministry for a number of years and are here in Klang Valley to upgrade themselves. They are very vibrant in their prayer life, probably due to the years of persecution in China.
11. During the weekend, I took the opportunity to teach different college students and challenged them to get deeper into the Word of God. I wish I can do more with the uni students as most of them desire to know the Word but not enough people to teach them. Pray for me as I may have to re-strategize myself.
12. On Sunday morning, I preached in an African church in Klang Valley. This was the same one that I preached a few months ago when they just opened. They are about 6 months old now and have started to reach out to the local Malaysians – a few of them have accepted the Lord. Indeed God uses whoever that avail themselves to Him.
13. After that African service, I was off to preach in a Malay-language service in the afternoon. It’s the church first youth celebration service, though a good number of old people came to the service as well. Seeing the tribal people always stir something in me. They need a lot of grounding and commitment in the Word, if they are going to energetically serve the Lord.
14. There are so many needs and so little time. Pray that I may receive wisdom and have an effective ministry among the various groups. Pray for the Lord’s anointing.
May Jesus reign in our hearts, our families, and our nations! May He alone be worthy to receive all praise and honor!
Dear Prayer Partners,
1. TQ for your prayers, encouragement, and support during the last 2 weeks of hectic teaching and ministry. In the first weekend, I was preaching in a Malay-language congregation, located in the heart of the shopping belt of Klang Valley. A number of them are working as feet reflexologists, masseuses, students, security guards, taxi drivers, and others.
2. The church is strategically reaching out to a lot of these tribal people working there and seek to disciple them in their walk with Jesus. Many of them do not have a strong foundation in the Word, and hence easily convert to other religion. Pray for the leaders who are committed to raising up spiritual leaders among them.
3. Then I was in Bible college (Mon – Thur) to teach 2 courses – Premarital Counseling [PMC] (7pm-10pm) and Ezra-Nehemiah (8am-12pm). One of the full-time pastoral students is from the aborigine (OA) tribe from the state of Perak.
4. Upon learning who her pastor-father is, I told her I was the interpreter for her parents’ wedding around 23-24 years ago! I knew her when she was just one two years old, and she is now 22 years – in Bible school to be trained as a pastor. How time flies!
5. Another of the student, was someone whom I was looking for and whom I had lost contact since 1989/90. He is in his 40s and has since become a lay pastor in his church. The Lord seems to be bringing the past back to me.
6. In between the break of the first and second week of classes, I went to another church to help in their church strategic planning. I was playing the role of a church consultant and leading the discussion with the 4 pastors about the direction and vision of their church.
7. On Sunday I preached in an Eng-Chinese service. One of the church leaders, was someone whom I had met once, 20 years ago when I was ministering in the universities. At that time, this leader was a student, and came for one of the house services where I was preaching.
8. This was unusual as he is Chinese, and the service was in Malay-language with majority tribal peoples. He said I had prayed for him and gave a prophetic word. Since then, we had not met until late last year. He has become a successful businessman and one of the individuals that I had been discipling, happen to be working for him. So he recommended me to the church pastor and invited me to preach in the church.
9. Just before the service started, while talking to the pastor, something she mentioned reminded me of one my fellow student in seminary days. I then realized that the pastor was the sister in law of my fellow seminarian in Spore whom I had not met for 8-9 years. The past is catching up on me!
10. Then it was back to teaching in Bible college. During the second week, I preached in the chapel services encouraging about 70 trainee pastors to fulfill their roles as discerning priests unto the Lord. I am also encouraged that there are a number of mainland Chinese studying there to equip themselves further for the ministry. They have been in ministry for a number of years and are here in Klang Valley to upgrade themselves. They are very vibrant in their prayer life, probably due to the years of persecution in China.
11. During the weekend, I took the opportunity to teach different college students and challenged them to get deeper into the Word of God. I wish I can do more with the uni students as most of them desire to know the Word but not enough people to teach them. Pray for me as I may have to re-strategize myself.
12. On Sunday morning, I preached in an African church in Klang Valley. This was the same one that I preached a few months ago when they just opened. They are about 6 months old now and have started to reach out to the local Malaysians – a few of them have accepted the Lord. Indeed God uses whoever that avail themselves to Him.
13. After that African service, I was off to preach in a Malay-language service in the afternoon. It’s the church first youth celebration service, though a good number of old people came to the service as well. Seeing the tribal people always stir something in me. They need a lot of grounding and commitment in the Word, if they are going to energetically serve the Lord.
14. There are so many needs and so little time. Pray that I may receive wisdom and have an effective ministry among the various groups. Pray for the Lord’s anointing.
May Jesus reign in our hearts, our families, and our nations! May He alone be worthy to receive all praise and honor!
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