Hello，篮球

好久没有像今天这样打球了。

以前刚刚开始打篮球时，那时候篮球场还没有雨盖，所以要早早五点半就起身，打到十点这样太阳公公就出来照耀大地了，我们才甘愿停下去吃早餐。

几年前篮球场装雨盖了，大家都变得很懒惰，从早上五点半拖到早上十点，最后下午三点多才会看见大伙儿聚集在篮球场。

然后到最后，课业渐渐繁重，考试接着而来，我也就很少到球场去了。

这两天很反常，我早上九点多就起身，为的就是到篮球场时还看见那些热血男孩，可以和他们打的痛快！今天一去到球场，看到大家已经开始在打球了，有一点后悔自己那么迟才到。没办法，只好坐在一旁等他们把这一场球打完，心想20分的球赛不会久到哪里去。

哪里知道这些人都是“疯子”，他们的一场球竟然是100分一场。要有其中一队得到100分，球赛才算是结束，间中没有休息。看到他们气喘呼呼地在篮球场上奔跑、带球、上篮、抢篮板，我知道我身体里的热血正在沸腾着。不知等了多久，终于分出了胜负。

趁着他们休息，我马上到球场去投了几粒球。哪里知道，他们休息的时间不多。接下来有个学弟建议再多打一场。但是由于有我的加入，所以大家都不知道如何分队。但是这个问题很快就解决。我的那一队有四个人，另一队则只有三个人。这一打就是要打100分，虽然打到50分时有一段休息时间，但真的是累到不行。我不知道我当时是怎么挨下来的，其实真的是累到不行了，但是还是逞强要打完这一场球赛。尽管射进了好多三分球，也上篮进了好多球，我的队友们也很努力抢篮板、上篮、投球，但是最后对方还是以101分对80多分，赢了我们。

现在的我已经回到家中，手臂是酸痛到不行。把时间、把精力花在篮球上，我没有怨言，因为那是我喜爱的运动。虽然现在还在埋怨身体的酸痛，但是我知道，这一切是值得的。只是，唉，我真的是太久没有运动了，才会这样酸痛到不行。接下来还有几天的假期，我一定还要天天打篮球！

今天的球赛，也让我看见一位学弟的球技进步神速，不禁感叹时间真的是趁我们不注意时就这样溜走了。六年前还是小学生的这位学弟，当时比我矮，三分也和我不相上下；现在的他中五毕业，竟然已经代表昔加末县参加柔佛州篮球队，十粒三分球里面，没有进9粒也有8粒，篮底则是命中率99.99%，速度、防守都不是盖的强。是我懒惰练球，还是基因输给了他？没关系吧，现在以他为荣就是了。

还有就是一些之前在中学都没有聊过天的朋友，甚至见到面也没有点头说嗨的那些朋友，就因为今天的篮球，我与他们结识，一起打球、一起奋斗、一起疯、一起笑~

篮球~多么美妙~

Two is better than one

Wow, i was so amazed by this verse to be found in the Bible.
Come, please turn to Ecclesiastes 4: 9-11 with me.

4:9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work;

4:10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the mann who falls down (the lonely man mentioned in verse 8) and had no one to help him up!

4:11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?


The Bible says that two is better than one because of some reason:

1. Good return - when you work in pair, (a) there are more ideas, and (b) more loads can be done in a shorter time. (c) One more thing is that your friend can cover your weaknesses by his or her good points and so the result of your work can be improved. No wonder bible says that there will be a good and better return.

2. Help - (a) If one fall down, your friend may help you up. But who will help you up when you fall down in your study or your bussiness and you are not strong enough to cope with an obstacle? You guys can help each other when you are working together.

3. Warm - Here, the bible says that if two lie down together, they will keep warm. Here I have a story to share, can you read the next paragraph before you continue reading the following sentences? Yea, do you want to be Mr. A or Mr. B? Besides this example, your friend will (b) comfort you when you are down, (c) encourage you when you are depressed, (d) rejoice with you when you are happy. If you are alone, who is gonna pull you up when you fall into the well of depression?

Small Story:

There are two people (mr. A and mr. B)walking in the snow. It is so cold that even their teeth are trembling. But they keep walking. Not far away, they see a young man lying on the snow, looks like going to die.

Mr. A: Hey, let's help him. Do you think we should take turn to carry him on back to the shelter?

Mr. B: No, we are so cold already, do you think you still have that energy to carry him? We can reach the shelter in 15 minutes if we do not carry him. But our journey may be prolonged if you are going to help him. And, I don't think we can live to stay in snow for any extra second. If you are going to do so, I do not agree and I am not going to wait for you. So, may I leave first?

So, Mr. B leaves Mr. A with the young man. However, Mr. A still insists to carry the young man. Of course Mr. A is slower than Mr. B.

Ten minutes later, Mr. A see a guy lying on the snow ground again. He is wondering how to carry two guys by himself. When he goes near and see, oh, he is Mr. B who lying down on the ground and he is found dead.

Mr. A simply pray for the dead Mr. B and continue his journey carrying the young guy.

In the end, both Mr. A and the young guy survive as they are warm when there is body contact when the young guy being carried by Mr. A.

This is what I think of when I read the verse. So, please return to the sentences where you skipped just now.

So, this is what I want to share. How do you find it? Or do you have any opinion toward the verses?

Financing based on Bible

1. Tithing

Malachi 3:10

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for.

It is very easy to tithe when we have much income. However, when our salary is few, we always take this as an excuse to refuse tithing. Tithing is a must, no matter how the circumstances we are undergoing, we have to give tithe. We always worry that if our money is not enough to survive ourselves. But, God has given us His word. He asks us to tithe, and test if He will bless us with abundant. If we honor God, God will also honor us. If you give more, you will accept more. If you are worrying if your money is not enough after tithing, why don’t you tithe and see whether your money is enough in the end of the month?

2. Offering

Mark 12:43 ~44

He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,
for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

All things that we possess now are granted from God, including clothes, property and money. God is our Lord, and we are His managers in this world. What we have to do is only taking care of the things that granted from God, but not claim those things as our possession. So, why don’t we offer whatever we have to help others who need our help?

3. Do not Greedy

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We have to avoid ourselves from being greedy. For instance, we have to prevent ourselves from gaining money by cheating, robbing, stealing as well as gambling. Instead, we should earn money in proper ways without breaking the law.


4. Contentedness

Philippians 4:10~11

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.

Only when we are content, we are able to thank God for His Grace. Only with contentedness, we can rejoice in Lord. A contented mind is a perpetual feast. Only when we are content, we can avoid ourselves from being greedy! We can still be happy although we are poor if we are content with our life, but we will never be happy although we are rich if we never content. Content is better than riches.

The testimony of a sinner

1 Timothy, 1: 12~14

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent men, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness and Thanksgiving

Paul was a person that always persecuted and humiliated Christian before he accepts Jesus. Why did he do so? He is loyal to God, and he didn't think that Jesus is Messiah. He thought Jesus is only a fake prophet. He was proud who thought that he really understands Father God. So, he didn't believe that Jesus comes from Father God. And he thought that the Christian have betrayed God. Therefore, he went to the high priest and asked him for letters so that he might take Christian as prisoners to Jerusalem. He did commit so much sin to persecute Christians.

But then, God still chose him as His apostle. God showed to him in his journey to Damascus in the form of light. At that moment, Paul knew that the light is from God. He just confused that why the God pointed to him and said, "Why do you persecute me?". (Because at that time, he did not know Jesus come from God. ) So, Paul asked, "Who are you?". He must be surprised when the God told him that He is Jesus.

It was irony. Paul thought he is so godly and so he persecuted those people whom he think they have betrayed God, but finally he found out that the one whom he used to persecute is actually his God! Paul must be regret. Perhaps his heart was bleeding when he knew the truth.

However, he was shown mercy. God have forgiven him and Paul does appreciate God's forgiveness very much. He thanks God very much. He used the rest of his life to evangelize. He did not stop even though he was taken as a prisoner. He dedicated himself to Jesus once he knows that Jesus comes from Father God. Why? This is because he really appreciates the awesome grace from God. All things that we possess come from God. Today, we are Christians, because God have chosen us to receive this invaluable gift...Ya, Knowing Jesus is the gift.

In conclusion, there are some questions for you.

1. Are you loyal to God?

2. Are you a sinner?

3. Do you thank God for everything you possess now? (your life, your time, your family, your job...so on)

4. Are you willing to change your bad habits, so that you might have a good testimony as well?

5. Did you ask for forgiveness when you realize that you have done a mistake?

6. What will you do after asking for forgiveness? Avoid yourself from committing the mistake again, or just do nothing and easily fall into Satan's trap again?