Good Deeds Remembered

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

"Leave me alone," he growled. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!"

Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it." Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.

It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by he table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this. Is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" "I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it.

I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business, that, with the help of God, prospered."

She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." Shesmiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you"

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you? " he said."Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus. He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said."On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee."

If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing. If you have missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh.

But, if you have missed knowing my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, you have missed everything in the world. Have a Wonderful Day And May God Bless You Always.
Tags: Good Deeds, Christianity, Lord, Savior, Jesus Christ

Generation Y Defined

The Silent Generation, people born before 1945.

The Baby Boomers, people born between 1945 and 1961.

Generation X, people born between 1962 and 1976.

Generation Y, people born between 1977 and 1995.

Why do we call the last one generation Y?
I did not know, but a caricaturist explains it eloquently below ...
Tags: Generation Y, People, Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X

Ways to Ensure Your Car is Car Thief Proof

With high crime rate in Malaysia coupled with frequent cars being stolen, people have resorted to a higher degree of locking their cars.

So, besides having a steering lock, the car owner has put up with a padlock on the door. A thief may have to pick the lock in full view.













In this scenario, a saw (whether manual type or electrical type), it takes time to steal the car.

Car owners have to thank motorbike owners for inventing the way to lock the tyre to a pole.

This is quite easy to unlock. A car thief may just have a big cutter to cut the chain off.









hmmmm this van owner is not taking any chances at all.
















Waaaaaaah!!!!

Overdoing it. The time taken to lock the car must be a few minutes. What if it rains and you are forced to unlock the chains one by one. Not logical but considered a good car thief proof.

One look and it will turn a car thief away.
The mother of all locks!
Tags: Car Lock, Car Theft, Crime Prevention

Relaxing Sunday Afternoon

On a Sunday afternoon after church service, a few of us went over to Damai Perdana in Cheras for our lunch. Was helping a couple in planning for their wedding as an unofficial wedding planner. Including this wedding, I have planned for quite a number till I have lost count. Even if I was not planning for it, I would be roped in to assist here and there. Must start charging fees ..... hehe

The couple brought me to this cafe called Nyonya Kopitiam which serves basic nyonya dishes.

A comfortable restaurant located away from the chaotic city life. Prices are reasonable and the food taste is good.

Recommended indeed!



This is the Butter Fish Rice.
As usual, I need some chilli in my food so I ended up with the local famous delicacy, Nyonya Nasi Lemak.
Thereafter, we drove to Palace Beach & Spa Hotel (formerly known as the Mines Resort Hotel). Always liked this scenery.

Went around looking at the various spots to check on placement of various stuff for the coming wedding.
This is their 'fake' beach fronting the large lake further down the slope. Wonder where they got those beach sand from.
Surprised to see a large number of catfish at the lakeside. Must bring my fishing rod on the next trip here.
The view from the lake.
Tags: Kuala Lumpur, Damai Perdana, Cheras, Nyonya Kopitiam, Palace Beach & Spa, Mines Resort, Wedding, Wedding Planner, Catfish

Love N' Praise Concert

The Love N' Praise Concert was fantastic and it was real 'hot'. Got to take a picture with Juwita Suwito who came quite early for her sound test.
The concert kicked off with the Hallelujah Praise Dancers performing their dance with Nora Christopher leading the team.

Then the Opabolas siblings, the children of a Nigerian lecturer, performed two songs moving people's hearts.

You may be wondering where were the people pulling their ear lobes. Being punished by the pastor for their sins? LOL!

It was part of the dance exercise conducted by a group of dancers from Taiwan. One of them is even a granny and they led the concert attendees to a string of exercise that could improve our health system and at the same time moving at the rhythm of music.

People in the hall enjoyed this session very much.
Then the Nigerian brothers and sisters from the AID - Actualising Individual Destinies led the praise and worship session. Energetic as usual.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God's choir, with their Nigerian members performed their songs.

This group of singers from His Santuary of Glory ("HSG") was superb. We said that they were very professional with their performance and dressing. Even their English pronounciation was better than some Malaysians.

When HSG was belting out their songs, the crowd joined moving according to the music's rhythm. I let my hair down too. No need to put up a show to show how mature you are, just enjoy life.

The children from the Rainbow Home did participate too and one of their songs was very good in moral teaching. Even adults can learn from children provided they were opened.







Geoffrey Woo's songs did move our legs. Mine was tapping the floor following the tune.














His slow song was really comforting. If you play his songs during night time while relaxing, it will give you a soothing feeling.



These two singers belted their song while the remaining team members were involved in a mime drama.

They were from Kajang Assembly of God.
A meaningful pantomime accompanied by the meaningful song.

Juwita Suwito's performance was the last and some people came over to me to check on her schedule. They thought of leaving early after hearing her singing. Sorry, we kept her on the last performance of the night ................ hehehe

Nevertheless, it was worth the wait.
As people were leaving the hall at the conclusion, a combination between HSG and Kajang AG, sang the last song.

Thereafter, a group of us went over to Happy Garden for our dinner? or was it supper. It was about 10.45pm. By the time I reached home, was exhausted to blog about anything.

Related post - Love N' Praise Concert in PCC
Tags: Love N' Praise Concert, Concert, Praise City Church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Rainbow Home, His Santuary of Glory, Geoffrey Woo, Kajang Assembly of God, Juwita Suwito, Pantomime, Nigerian, AID, Actualising Individual Destinies

Car Jacking in Damansara Jaya

Received this frightening news from my friend's friend.
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Last Sunday morning (25 May 2008), my immediate neighbor's father in law was robbed of his car (Toyota Altis 1+ yr old) at 9.30am in broad daylight. We live in Damansara Jaya and this is suppose to be a decent neighborhood. We have our own security guards (DJROA) patrolling the neighborhood. Even so, such violent crime still happens.

I was in my home packing my golf gear as I have an afternoon golf game. I heard screaming coming from outside and it sounded like an old man's scream. I looked out my front window and saw a car outside of my house. Couldn't see very much as my gate was closed. My immediate thought was that there's been a accident and my neighbor is hurt. Then I heard my neighbor shouting and it sounded angry. I quickly got my autogate remote and went outside. I opened the autogate and saw a new silver Honda CRV outside my house with 2 guys in there. When I walked out towards the gate, on my left, I saw my neighbor trying to pull his dad away from his car. His dad was still screaming and holding on to the open passenger car door.

Then I saw blood dripping from his right wrist. There was blood on the road too. I saw a guy in the Toyota starting his dad's car. At that point one of the guy got down from the CRV with a pistol drawn walking towards my neighbor whose back was towards him. Only at this point I realized it was a robbery. I shouted at my neighbor to get back into the house. He was still trying to pull his dad away from the car. He was holding on to the door not letting go. Then his accomplice in the Toyota started driving the car away and the guy with the pistol retreated back to the CRV and they all sped away. Luckily that happened or else that guy may have used the gun on my neighbor had his accomplice not driven the car away. Everything was over in seconds from the time I opened the gate.

I saw the wound on my neighbor's wrist which was very deep. He was slashed by a parang when he went to help his dad. The robber hit his dad with the blunt side of the parang to get him to drop the keys as he was walking to his car which was parked outside the gate. He was visiting his daughter and they were getting ready to go out for breakfast. After quickly tying a towel around his arm and another towel to press on his wound to stop the blood, I rushed him to the nearest hospital, i.e. Damansara Specialist hospital. He was operated on the same day to join back the severed tendon of his thumb.

At the hospital, in the emergency ward next bed was another elderly man in his late 50's who had both his wrist bandaged up. He told me he too was a victim of car jacking a short while ago. The description he gave me of the robbers that attacked him and the get away car is the same as what I saw. He lives in SS2, which is just across the road from Damansara Jaya. That means the robbers were on a prowl of the neighborhood. They were not successful in robbing that guy of his car, a Mercedes Benz. So they continued cruising and probably spotted my neighbor's dad's car parked outside the house and when they saw an old man they thought it would be an easy target.

According to my neighbor's wife, it took the police 30mins before they showed up by which time the car could already be on the highway towards Thailand. Their lackadaisical attitude really disgust me.

I've also seen a snatch thief in my neighborhood right before my eyes in front of a popular clay pot chicken rice shop in the early evening. Everything happened in a split second and the guy on a motorbike was gone leaving the wife speech less and her husband dumbfounded.

My other neighbor just a month ago was also almost car jacked by two guys on a motorbike that tried to break her car window when she was waiting to pick up her mom who was at the bank in Damansara Jaya. She was smart enough to drive off with the robbers chasing after her car. She drove to the police station and they stopped following.

I'm really sad and disappointed at what this wonderful country is turning out into. I really have no trust in the capabilities of our police force and I can safely say I speak for many Malaysians. Our safety have been truly compromised. I am living in fear. Now that the robbers have seen my two cars, will they come back for it next??!

It is not that the police and the government are not aware of the very high violent crime rate in this country. They are and the rate seems to be increasing to the layman. Looks like it will come a time when we Malaysians have no choice but to live in gated communities. When will our government take heed that safety of its citizen, its tourist visiting this country, and visitors living/working in this wonderful country are paramount and a responsibility that they should take seriously.

Here's some advice to everyone:-
(1) Be extremely conscious of your surroundings esp when you are getting into your car or driving in/out of your home. If there are any suspicious cars or people, then drive away and make another round just to be sure. Same precaution before you open your autogate. Lock your car doors the moment you get in your car.

(2) If you are confronted by robbers, give them the car or your handbag. Do not fight them. You life is worth much more. You don't want to injured, maimed or worst still killed for something that is replaceable.

(3) Robbers tend to attack older people and females. So be much more alert if you are in that category. Go out in pairs or group. Stay away from walking along road sides, walk on the inside pavement.

(4) Don't save the few ringgits by parking your car by the road side for free if there is inside parking available, esp female drivers. There could be somebody waiting for you when you return to your car.

(5) If you are in the car and still able to drive away if confronted by robbers, drive away to the nearest police station or patrol station where there's a lot of people. If you can't drive away, then I suggest you get down and run away from your car, leave everything and run. They will want your car more than they want you.

Go to the following websites and read up on what you can do to protect yourself. The Malaysian police certainly is not your answer, neither is our government whose struggling for their own survival. They've got no time for us:-

* Travel Safety Tips For Women Travelers (http://www.kevincoffee.com)
* Precautions for Women Travelling Alone (http://www.itis.com.my/itis/safety-tips-1.jsp)

Remember, my wife, family and friends rather I be an alive chicken than a dead hero. Take care and be cautious always.
Tags: Car Jacking, Damansara Jaya, DJROA, Safety Tips, Toyota Altis, Honda CRV, Mercedes Benz, Travelling Alone, Snatch Thief

Love N' Praise Concert in PCC

A concert is being organised by a group of Nigerian brothers and sisters in my church. It will be held tomorrow at 6pm with my church, Praise City Church, hosting it. It's the Love N' Praise Concert!

The Nigerian brothers and sisters are part of the AID - Actualising Individual Destinies from UCSI. They did mention that we will 'baptised' with an experience so powerful that their music will move us out of our seats to dance to the beat of their rhythm, sights and sound that is like no other.

They even managed to get Geoffrey Woo, Juwita Suwito and the Praise Dancers (from my own church) to perform tomorrow. You get to hear Juwita's voice for free. She's being sought at restaurants or clubs and you need to pay to hear her voice.

Few other churches will be sending their choir over to render their best songs. Not forgetting the musicians and singers from Nigeria ....... ever heard of their music? No? You got to listen to it then.

Guess what, I'm also one of the emcees ...... it seems that I have been talking too much and I was roped in.


To find your way there, you can refer to the church map or call the church office. See you there!
Tags: Love N' Praise Concert, PCC, Praise City Church, Nigeria, Nigerian, Geoffrey Woo, Juwita Suwito, UCSI, Concert, Music, Musicians, Singers