My Diary

Diary January - June 2011

Please note new mail address, above. More convenient for me, and can be used by ex-inmates who temporarily don't have own address

Thursday, June 30, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong where the wet season has begun....lots of lovely rain lately.
Public holiday tomorrow to mark return of HK to China July 1, 1997

On this 30th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Shanghai and Tianjin

Also prayers please for some very special people:
- Mrs Kwok, mid-50's, in hospital, lung cancer, family called by doctors last Sunday ("get ready"), Dr Jesus being asked for healing.
I have been visiting her each night
- Mrs S, cancer, hospital in Australia, Dr Jesus being asked for healing
- May, cancer, HK, Dr Jesus being asked for healing
- Gigi, mother of 2, took her life in river/harbor April 18, rather than face another time in detention center for drugs
- man, mid-30's, murdered yesterday morning about 2am in ground floor shop opposite my Jordan Center
- 5 Nepal men who have died of drugs during the past month in HK (most of them lived in Jordan/Yau Ma Tei area)

No new photos this past week

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
Next meeting to pray for healing will be on Sunday July 10. HK people (of any faith) battling any sort of sickness are welcome
to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

July 03 - Sunday 2.30pm English Mass at Lo Wu Prison

Mondays/Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau or other Detention Center (July 6: Sha Tsui & Tong Fuk)
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
June 23: Peter (HK)

Smiles
01: Man on arson charge, hoping, because of special circumstances, to receive a lighter sentence (true story)
02: Why is a building where people sit to watch an outdoor sports event called a stand?
03: UK used to have Geoffrey How(e); China has President Who (Hu) and Premier When (Wen). Anywhere have a What or Where?

Recent items of interest

China
- Wen calls for greater freedom in China

USA
- December 17, 2008 - what one man did in Salt Lake City

North Korea
- children begging; army hungry - exclusive video

Africa
- letter from Sudan....the edge of genocide
(let's at least read this...then pray about it....then..?)

Australia
- Chinese Australian's owed apology for discrimination against forebears
- The lawful presence of 'illegal arrivals' on 'illegal boats'

Health
- the health benefits of GINGER!
.....which is why I have a cup or three of this each day

Church
- Cardinal sees 'no theological obstacle' to women priests
(see comments, comparing him with Bishop Bill Morris)

Sport
- Carson Yeung charged with money laundering
From diary of 2009-10-28:
For many years I've been floating the idea of China buying a football team in the English Premier League....as a way for China's players to gain experience against the best players in the world....as a way of finally making it to the World Cup. So....when I heard about a HK business man recently buying Birmingham Football Club I thought it was a great idea, until I read this article (as you get to end of the article, the question arises: how could they allow it?!)

A serving of God's Word to give us wisdom and courage - Exodus 32 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 32 Listen to Chapter 32

Moses stayed on the mountain about 40 days.

During this time the people told Aaron
to make them a god out of gold.

Aaron made a golden calf and the people worshipped it.

On the mountain, God said to Moses
"Go down now, because the people have been unfaithful to me.
I will punish them, but of you I will make a great nation."

Moses pleaded with God not to punish the people.

When Moses, carrying the two tablets, came down the mountain
he saw the people partying before the golden calf.

He threw down the tablets and broke them.
He smashed the golden calf.

The men of the tribe of Levi were then commissioned
to go through the camp and kill many men.
About 3,000 men were killed.

第 32 章

梅瑟在山上停留约四十天。

在这段时间，百姓告诉亚郎，为他们造金神像。

亚郎铸了一只金牛犊和百姓朝拜牠。

山上，神对梅瑟说： “现在下去，因为百姓已对我不忠。
我会惩罚他们，但我将使你成为一个大民族。”

梅瑟恳求神不要惩罚百姓。

当梅瑟，带着两块约版，下山去，
他看到百姓在金牛犊前面歌舞。

他扔下石版，并摔破它们。他打碎了金牛犊。

之后肋未族的男人被委任从营中往来和杀死许多男人。
约三千人被杀死。

Dear God,
please don't let us ever worship anyone or anything except you

亲爱的神，
请永远不要让我们崇拜任何人或任何东西，除了你

God bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Please note new mail address, above. More convenient for me, and can be used by ex-inmates who temporarily don't have own address

Thursday, June 23, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong where Typhoon Signal No. 3 is still up as Typhoon Haima moves away from HK

On this 23rd of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Guangxi

Smile (thank you Peter)
There was a Scottish painter named Smokey Macgregor who was very interested in making a penny where he could,
so he often thinned down his paint to make it go a wee bit further.
As it happened, he got away with this for some time, but only until the local church decided to do a big restoration job
on the outside of one of their biggest buildings.
Smokey put in a bid, and, because his price was so low, he got the job.
So he set about erecting the scaffolding and setting up the planks, and buying the paint and, yes, I am sorry to say,
thinning it down with turpentine..
Well, Smokey was up on the scaffolding, painting away, the job nearly completed,
when suddenly there was a horrendous clap of thunder, the sky opened,
and the rain poured down washing the thinned paint from all over the church
and knocking Smokey clear off the scaffold to land on the lawn among the gravestones,
surrounded by telltale puddles of the thinned and useless paint.
Smokey was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he got down on his knees and cried:
"Oh, God, Oh God, forgive me; what should I do?"
And from the thunder, a mighty voice spoke..
"Repaint! Repaint!
And thin no more!" ((repent, repent, and sin so more))

Ai Weiwei released last night I see this as a victory for Premier Wen Jaibo.
He has been calling for people like Ai to be allowed to speak out.
And....The Premier is due to go to Hungary, Britain and Germany next week (....Germany & UK the biggest critics of Ai's detention....)....maybe Premier was able to use this visit and say to other Politburo leaders "I don't want any more shoes thrown at me....c'mon...you've got to let Ai out...or else people will use my visit for more embarrassing Ai protests"

Recent photos

2011-06-19 Meal at YMT Caritas Center - thank you Deacon Edwin Ng & helpers & special guests for lovely evening

2011-06-22 Second printing (slightly revised) of the little booklet "Doctor Jesus" - DG!

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Mondays/Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau or other Detention Center
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
June 18: Doris Kempnich (Brisbane)

Smile Local radio news yesterday spoke about people from North Korea who go to South Korea as refugees.
A new program is beginning to help train them for jobs....a career program ("career" = "korea")!

Africa
- The First Grader - "must see" new movie

Japan
- New earthquake - no tsunami, no damage
from last week's diary, below:
Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand a few days ago.....maybe Japan should be on high alert?
....NZ and Japan on same tectonic plate....and the tragic quake in NZ a few months ago
was followed by even more tragic quake in Japan. Plate is moving...?

China
- Unrest signals time to improve welfare of migrant workers
(amazingly frank and honest article - excellent)

Church
- Bill Morris in exile (beautiful "lest we forget" article)
- Bishop Bill Morris replies to article in West Australian "Record"

A serving of God's Word to give us courage and strength - Exodus 31 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 31 Listen to Chapter 31

God said to Moses:

"The Israelites must make the sabbath a holy day each week,
because the sabbath is a sign between you and me.

Do not do any ordinary work on the sabbath.

Work for six days, then rest on the sabbath.

Consecrate the sabbath to me."

God's words were inscribed on two stone tablets.

第 31 章

神对梅瑟说：

“每周以色列人必须守安息日为圣日，
因安息日是你和我之间的一个记号。

在安息日不要做日常工作。

工作六天，然后在安息日休息。

奉献安息日给我。”

神的话刻在两块石版上。

Dear God, please help us to make Sunday a holy day

亲爱的神，请帮助我们守星期日为圣日

God bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, June 16, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong where lovely Summer rain is falling

On this 16th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Qinghai

Good news item: Last week's diary (below) had happy item about a certain consulate general.
Well, a similar thing happened in the last two days. This time the good consulate general was this one!

Recent photo

2011-06-12 Pentecost Sunday today. A Pentecost prayer for China

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
Next meeting to pray for healing will be on Sunday June 19. HK people (of any faith) battling any sort of sickness are welcome
to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

June 19 - Sunday 11am English Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Chi Fu (Hong Kong Island)

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
June 15: Michael (HK)

Recent items of interest

Africa
- world's largest refugee camp at crisis point

USA
- beautiful article about Rabbi Abraham Heschel
Article has this piece:
"Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion -- its message becomes meaningless. Religion is an answer to humanity’s ultimate questions. [We need] to rediscover the questions to which religion is an answer." Background

Australia
- Asylum seekers go from nothing to zero under cruel policy (by former prime minister, Malcolm Fraser)
- from asylum seeker to new Catholic bishop
- rescue us from this madness
- asylum sorrow (must say I'd never heard of this camp in North Qld)

Sri Lanka
- graphic images of massacres (+ interview with Dominican priest)
(background: - silence re Sri Lanka massacres - c.f. May 29 photo)

Climate change
- warning: extreme weather ahead

Church
- Bishop Morris case and infallibility re women's ordination
- USA theologians' meeting (a beautiful, positive article)
- Kung urges peaceful revolution against Roman absolutism
- Matthew Fox report (includes these words: "Be faithful to Matthew 25’s vision of compassion and remain true to the collegiality of Vatican II rather than to an institution that Jesus never heard of")

Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand a few days ago.....maybe Japan should be on high alert?....NZ and Japan on same tectonic plate....and the tragic quake in NZ a few months ago was followed by even more tragic quake in Japan. Plate is moving...?

Reflection: In a family or in any group, the unfair exercise of authority causes unhappiness and disunity

As the world goes through so many crises, let's take refuge in, and strengthen ourselves by,
a serving of God's Word to help us keep on caring about our troubled world - Exodus 30 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 30 Listen to Chapter 30

God said to Moses:

"Every morning offer one lamb as a sacrifice for the people.

Every evening offer another lamb as a sacrifice for the people.

I will meet the people of Israel
in the place consecrated to my glory.

I will remain with the people of Israel and be their God.
They will know that it is I who brought them out of Egypt ."

第 30 章

神对梅瑟说：

“每天早晨奉献一只羊作为百姓献祭。

每天黄昏奉献另一只羊作为百姓献祭。

我将会见以色列百姓 在献给我荣耀之地。

我将留下与以色列百姓一起并做他们的神。
他们将知道，就是我领他们出埃及。”

Dear God, you created us, we are your people

亲爱的神，你创造我们，我们是你的百姓

The little booklet "Doctor Jesus" ...is back at the printer for a second edition (first edition all gone) ...especially for prisoners...dozens of new drug addict inmates each week...they really appreciate the booklet. Printing bill = HK$6,200 for 4,000 copies. Anyone like to help sponsor this work please?

God bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, June 9, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong a few days before Pentecost Sunday.
A good prayer these days: "Holy Spirit, please fall afresh on our world"

On this 9th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Henan

Good news item: Last Monday morning I phoned a certain Consulate-General about an inmate from their country. Two good things happened.
First, someone answered the phone and put me through to a consul from that country. Second, that consul, that afternoon, visited the inmate.
This sort of thing doesn't usually happen. Many CG's don't even answer phone.
Which CG answered and visited? This one!

Recent photo

2011-06-06 Dragon Boat Festival meal with Teddy (no more hospital DG!)
and his aunt from Guangzhou, Rose

2011-06-07 A beautiful drink - complete with fish symbol (= Jesus)
and lovely quote from Bible about honey!

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
Next meeting to pray for healing will be on Sunday June 12. HK people (of any faith) battling any sort of sickness are welcome
to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 2pm. Please phone (67095674) or email (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.
June 19 - Sunday 11am English Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Chi Fu (Hong Kong Island)

Mondays/Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau or other Detention Center (June 15: Tong Fuk)
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
June 7: Anon (HK)

Recent items of interest

China
- helping poor schools in China - TSF

Sri Lanka
- silence re Sri Lanka massacres - c.f. May 29 photo (third from left)

Middle East
- Israeli troops kill 20 protesters, wound more than 300 others VOA report
(why so little coverage of this in mainstream media? Did it really happen or not?)

Global food prices & role of speculators

Church
- The church is at her best at a funeral - beautiful article from USA
- Anglicans now Catholics....an explosive device of Vatican (excellent article - by former editor of Tablet)
- resisting restorationism (excellent article)
- don't fence me in (Pentecost reflection)
- the sacked bishop (ABC Compass interview with Bishop Bill Morris - "must read")

Smile Eat one live toad first thing in the morning. Nothing worse can happen all day

World food prices rising, more people hungry. I have increased my monthly donation to Oxfam from HK$200 to HK$500

Observations about church of someone recently returned from USA
- bishops rarely speak "off the cuff", even in informal gathering of priests. Must read every talk. Also must dress formally at even informal gathering of priests....full black suit, even at height of Summer (= instructions from Vatican?)
- people who want to "turn back the clock" are getting control of parish music ministry (and then having nearly all Latin songs) and control of Communion ministry (then not having Communion from the chalice)

As the world goes through so many crises, let's take refuge in, and strengthen ourselves by,
a serving of God's Word to help us keep on caring about our troubled world - Exodus 28, 29 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapters 28, 29

God said to Moses:

"Your brother Aaron and his sons will be priests in my service.

Make sacred vestments for them:
breastpiece, ephod, robe, tunic, turban and sash.

You must anoint Aaron and his sons
and consecrate them to serve me as priests.

第 28、29 章

神对梅瑟说：

“你的哥哥亚郎和他的儿子将作司祭为我服务。

为他们做圣衣：
胸牌、法衣、无袖长袍、内袍、礼冠和腰带。

你要给亚郎和他的儿子涂油
和祝圣他们成为司祭服务我。”

Dear God, please bless and protect all sacred ministers

亲爱的神，请祝福和保护所有神圣的教士

The little booklet "Doctor Jesus" ...now needs reprinting ...especially for prisoners...about 50 new drug addict inmates each week...they really appreciate the booklet. Cost will be about same as last time: HK$4,500 for 3,000 copies. Anyone like to help sponsor this work please?

Chinese version of Simple Bible: New Testament needs more translators
....to translate from English to Chinese:

Matthew's Gospel - Kary
Mark's Gospel - Sarah
Luke's Gospel - Regina
John's Gospel - no one yet
Acts of the Apostles - no one yet

Please contact me if you can help: jdwomi@gmail.com

May the Holy Spirit, in this Pentecost week, bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, June 2, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong at the start of a new month

On this 2nd of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Fujian

Smile: Down to earth English of prisoners: "Big officer coming" (= twice daily inspection by superintendent); "Food here very no good"

Today is 10th Anniversary of death of the famous British doctor born in China, Kenneth McAll, author of "Healing the Family Tree"
which has brought help to many many people (scroll down llink to see reviews)

Congratulations Amnesty on 50th Anniversary

Recent photo

2011-05-29 Sunday: Tuen Mun trees; TST recycling; TST Sri Lankans; Pizza at Ricci

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
June 5 - Sunday 11am English Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Chi Fu (Hong Kong Island); 2.30 Mass at Lo Wu Prison.
Next meeting to pray for healing will be on Sunday June 12. HK people (of any faith) battling any sort of sickness are welcome
to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 2pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donations to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
May 31: Catherine (HK)
June 1: Tom Vujnovac (HK)

Looking for job: lady in late 30s, former inmate, lives Tuen Mun area.
If anyone can help her find full or part-time work, please contact me - jdwomi@gmail.com Ph 6709 5674

Usual reminder re what actually happened June 4, 1989

Smile How much does a bottle of beer cost in Afghanistan?
Recently I met a prison inmate who said he was "detained" for three months by the Taliban some years ago. He was blindfolded, and had one leg chained. He was freed only when his relatives in HK paid a fee of HK$30,000. His offence? He had been caught drinking a bottle of beer!

Recent items of interest

China
- Wen Jiabo on the basketball court Video
(Children's Day....he always makes a point of visiting a school on this day....a genuine leader)
- food prices soar as drought continues
- China buying land for food production in Argentina & other places
- Brotherly display of China, Korea masks mistrust

Australia
- soon more Chinese than British tourists

Church
- Morale falters in Australian Church ("must read" - really important article)
- whatever happened to Bill Morris?
- Pope John 23 - harmless old man? (and see my comment)

USA
- prisons: cruel and inhuman treatment
- Fr John Dear s.j. treated like Bishop Bill Morris

Bible
- the Book that changed the world - the King James Version of the Bible - 400th Anniversary
- a really well-researched article

Smile One more country to add to list of 5 letter nations - Samoa (see last week's diary, below, for the list)

As the world comes crashing down upon us, like a USA tornado, let's take refuge in, and strengthen ourselves by,
a serving of God's Word to help us keep on caring about our troubled world - Exodus 26, 27 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapters 26, 27

God said to Moses:
"Make a cover for the sacred tent.
Make the cover's support frames of acacia wood.

Make a veil of purple, violet and red
behind which to put the sacred chest.

Make an altar out of acacia wood.
Make altar vessels out of bronze.

Make a sacred courtyard to go around the tent.

Place a sacred flame outside the veil
and keep the flame burning from night till morning."

第 26、27 章

神对梅瑟说：
“为圣幕造一个帐棚。
帐棚的支撑框架用皂荚木造。

做一蓝紫红帘把圣柜盖在后面。

以皂荚木造祭坛。以铜做祭坛用具。

围绕着会幕做一个神圣的庭院。

帘外面放一个圣火
并保持圣火从晚上到早晨点燃。”

Dear God,
thank you for churches and other special places for prayer

亲爱的神，感谢教堂和其它特别地方作为祈祷

Chinese version of Simple Bible: New Testament needs a few more translators
....to translate from English to Chinese. Any kind friends able to help please?

And ....the little booklet "Doctor Jesus" ...now needs reprinting ...especially for prisoners...about 50 new drug addict inmates each week...they really appreciate the booklet. Cost will be about same as last time: HK$4,500 for 3,000 copies. Anyone like to help sponsor this work please?

Thank you for a prayer. Feast of the Ascension this Sunday, June 5

May the Risen Jesus bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, May 26, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong at the end of another May

On this 26th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Xinjiang

Smile: Not-very-nice teacher:     the whale could not have swallowed Jonah.    A whale's throat is too small to swallow a person.
Little girl to not-very-nice teacher:    when I get to Heaven, I will ask Jonah what really happened.
Teacher:     how do you know Jonah is in Heaven?
Girl:   If he's not, you ask him

Recent photo

2011-05-22 Sunday night gathering for special guests - at canteen in Yau Ma Tei

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Smile Where is the USA?
It's in Australia, Burkina Faso, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, Turkmenistan...and South America!

Calendar
May 29 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday May 29. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 2pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Mondays/Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau or other Detention Center (June 1: Shek Pik Prison)
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
May 21: Ronnie & Ling (HK)

Looking for job: lady in late 30s, former inmate, lives Tuen Mun area.
If anyone can help her find full or part-time work, please contact me - jdwomi@gmail.com Ph 6709 5674

Usual reminder re what actually happened June 4, 1989

Smile from Australia: A man was mowing the lawn in his garden and accidentally cut off the tail of his cat that was hiding in the grass.
He rushed his cat, along with the tail, over to Coles! Why Coles?? Coles is the largest re-tailer in Australia

Recent items of interest

Australia
- education debate: non-government schools better than government schools?
- inertia on climate change

Tibet
May 23 the 60th anniversary of the peaceful (?) liberation of Tibet (only half a million deaths?)

UK/Ireland
-Good news: Queen's visit to Ireland - Irish eyes smiling - Astonishing visit

Church
- Matthew Fox on JP2 & B16 (too strong? but much truth?)
- Vatican out to tighten control over Caritas: report 1 report 2
- heard on grapevine: a petition is being prepared in Australia re sacking of Bishop Bill Morris
(see items in this diary the past two weeks, and today's report, below) to be sent to the Vatican
to express people's unhappiness at an act of great injustice. More details next week if available
- Europe letter of support for Bishop Morris

Also heard on vine: Ai Weiwei to be nominated for Nobel Peace Prize? (not forgotten in HK)

Smile Did you know that nearly half the people in the world live in five letters?
Chile, China, Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Libya, Malta, Nepal, Niger, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Wales, Yemen (any more?)

Computer - how to stop getting message "Install Explorer 8 - now or later":
(Well, it works for a week, then the message comes back. Anyone have a permanent solution?)
Run GPEDIT.MSC
Find "Administrative Templates", drill to "Windows

Components", "Internet Explorer"
Double click on Internet Explorer to get a long list and locate "Prevent Performance of First Run Customize Settings"
Right click, select properties, and set to "Disable"
Click on Apply, OK, and exit Group Policy Editor

Chapter 25

God said to Moses:

"Build me a sacred tent so that I may live among the people.

Let everyone follow the promptings of their heart
in making contributions for the building of the temple.

Make a sacred chest (ark) to hold
the stone tablets on which are the Ten Commandments,
Aaron's rod and some manna.

Also make a table for the bread of offering,
and a golden lamp-stand."

第 25 章

神对梅瑟说：

建造一个圣幕，这样我可住在百姓中间。

让每个人都按照他们的心意
为建造圣所作出捐献。

造一个圣柜摆放十诫石版、
亚郎的棍杖和一些玛纳。

也造一张供桌以摆放供饼，
和一座金灯台。”

Dear God, thank you for churches
and other special places for prayer

亲爱的神，感谢教堂和其它特别地方作为祈祷

Chinese version of Simple Bible: New Testament needs a few more translators
....to translate from English to Chinese. Any kind friends able to help please?

23/5/11    A Bishop that had to go ?    (from Vincentian website)

On May 18, the online version of The Record, a publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth in Western Australia, posted to its website the item Editorial : a Bishop that had to go. Unlike a recent letter from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference,   the Editorial saw fit to present what could be regarded as a very biased and inaccurate view of Bishop Bill Morris and the process that recently brought about his removal as Bishop of Toowomba Qld. This piece of writing, appearing as it did in the Catholic Media of an Archdiocese,   initially stirred me to write some scorching comments concerning the bias and inaccuracies contained in it.. However, with further consideration, it seemed to me that if I responded in a tone similar to that of the Editorial, then I would be no better than the author of this Editorial who appears to find meaning in delivering trenchant criticism of Bill Morris.

The Scripture Readings from the Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year A) offer some more positive thinking, and this is surely what our Church needs at the moment. The first reading (Acts 6:1-7) speaks of the difficulties confronting the early Church in regard to neglect of the Hellenist (Greek speaking) widows. The problem was resolved through initiative, adaptation to the real world, and concern for pastoral care. The Gospel (John 14:1-12) , among other ideas, speaks of Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And so it is clear that a focus on Jesus Christ is essential in our Church.

In much of the negative discussion concerning Bishop Morris (including the Editorial referred to above), the idea of the Church adapting to the real needs of the times, and a focus on Jesus Christ as the centre of the Church, have been put aside. Instead, authority, discipline, and orthodoxy have been dominant.

So, we might well ask, while we reflect on the Scripture Readings of the Fifth Sunday of Easter : How important do we consider a focus on Jesus Christ and the needs of the times - as compared with a focus on authority, discipline and orthodoxy ?

Tim Williams CM

Note that the comments above are not made on behalf of the Vincentian Priests and Brothers, but are the opinion of the webmaster of this site writing as an individual.    .

25/5/11    Is Christopher Pearson right about Bishop Morris ?

SYDNEY: Recently, Journalist Christopher Pearson launched an attack on Bishop Bill Morris in The Weekend Australian (May 23-24 2011). He raised some serious matters that deserve closer attention. On May 23rd, Michael Whelan SM of the Aquinas Academy offered a further reflection on the Bill Morris Case. He questions the accuracy of some of the remarks made by Christopher Pearson, and comments on the Vatican's view of the the vision of the Church presented in the Second Vatican Council. [Read More]

Vale Bob Davis - a town's farewell to the man who was Geelong

Thank you for a prayer

May the Risen Jesus bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, May 19, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong

On this 19th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Shanxi

Smile: A TV interviewer asked a famous Jewish writer "Why do you Jews often answer questions by asking another question?"
The writer replied "Why not?"

Recent photos

2011-05-14 Wedding at St Teresa's Kowloon of Vivian Lau Jing Yin and Ken Fung Kin Lung

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Last Tuesday I attended a meeting of people involved in ministry to prisoners and ex-prisoners, at center of Kun Sun Association in Sham Shui Po. Met people from a number of organizations including Christian Fellowship of Pastoral Care for Youth, Christian New Life Association and Alpha (who are arranging a Family Life Conference, in Chinese & English, on Saturday July 2 in HK)

Calendar
May 22 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday May 22. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 2pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Mondays/Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau Detention Center
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
May 14: Anita (HK)

Looking for job: lady in late 30s, former inmate, lives Tuen Mun area. If anyone can help her find full or part-time work, please contact me
jdwomi@gmail.com Ph 6709 5674

This Saturday, May 21, is 150th Anniversary of the death of Saint Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Smile (to go with not so happy issue of sacking of Bishop Morris, below)
Lady invited bishop for midday meal at her home. As the day drew nearer, lady became nervous and regretted making the invitation.
On day of the meal, bishop was seated with lady, husband and daughter. Lady asked daughter to say prayer before meal. Daughter became shy and didn't speak. Mother said "just pray the way I did this morning at breakfast".
So, daughter prayed "O God, why did I invite the bishop?"

Recent items of interest

Hong Kong
- 2010 traffic deaths lowest for 56 years (well done, HK!)

Taiwain
- girls aborted , some hospitals new babies 90% boys (shame, Taiwan!)

Mongolia
- 25% of population living in one shanty town

China
- exploding watermelons
- food packets should list all additives (what a good idea; let's hope it's put into practice; let's hope list on label = items in 'packets')
- call for transparency and rule of law (on Chinese govt website! - see comments, including one from "John Wu")
- energy crisis

UK/Ireland
- Queen's historic visit - good news. Her reconciliation words truly beautiful

Australia
- excellent article re immigration
- maybe coming to Hong Kong in November

Prayer can heal sick people

Bishop Bill Morris sacked by Pope - latest articles (& see previous articles in last week's diary, below)

- comment on statement from Australian Bishops' Conference
- Australian bishops support Pope's decision to sack Bishop Morris
- Bishops' statement
- Australia's religious orders express distress at bishop's ouster
- trust at stake in Toowoomba (I wonder if author intends "at stake" to have double meaning...as in "burnt at stake"?)
(& see my comment - "comments" - May 16)
- bishops sad not mad over Morris sacking
- removal of Bishop Morris a long time coming (has info - re 1988 "Statement of Conclusions")
- bishop Morris and the Eucharist
- an open letter of support to Bishop Morris from Judith Lynch

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world - Exodus 24 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 24

God invited Moses, Aaron, Nadab and 70 other men
to see him face to face.

They saw God face to face and ate and drank in his presence.

Under God's feet the ground was like a pure blue jewel.

God then invited Moses to go up the mountain.

A cloud covered the mountain
and for 6 days the glory of the Lord settled on the mountain.

On the seventh day God spoke with Moses inside the cloud.

Moses stayed on the mountain for about 40 days.

第 24 章

神邀请梅瑟、亚郎、纳逹布和其他七十个男人面对面见他。

他们面对面见神并在他面前吃和饮。

在神的脚下,地就像一块纯蓝宝石。

之后神邀请梅瑟上山。

云覆盖山区, 神的荣耀停在山上六天。

第七天神从云中跟梅瑟说话。

梅瑟停留在山上约四十天。

Dear God, thank you for times of prayer

亲爱的神，感谢你的祈祷时间

Thank you for a prayer

May the Risen Jesus bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

24 years ago today

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, May 12, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from a hot and humid Hong Kong which at long last, from May 1, has a minimum wage of HK$28 per hour

Today is 3rd anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake. China.org.cn has article praising Oxfam for its work after the quake

On this 12th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Jiangsu

Smile
Fr O'Malley, an Irish priest was transferred to Texas rose from his bed one morning. It was a
fine spring day in his new Texas mission parish. He walked to the window of his bedroom to get a deep breath of
the beautiful day outside. He then noticed there was a jackass lying dead in the middle of his front lawn.
He promptly called the local police station.
The conversation went like this:
''Good morning. This is Sergeant Jones. How might I help you?''
''And the best of the day te yerself.. This is Father O'Malley at St. Ann 's Catholic Church.
There's a jackass lying dead in me front lawn "
Sergeant Jones, considering himself to be quite a wit, replied with a smirk,
''Well now Father, it was always my impression that you people took care of the last rites!''
There was dead silence on the line for a moment.
Father O'Malley then replied:
'Aye, 'tis certainly true; but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin.''

Vale Fr John Maher o.m.i. (died April 28 in Melbourne)

Recent photos

2011-04-30 Thank you Lord! - Simple Bible: Old Testament (English) received from printer today

2011-05-08 Sunday night Pizza at Ricci Center, with special guests who are looking for a job
+ 05-11 celebration for finding jobs

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

More English teachers urgently needed for September in China by AITECE

Osama Bin Laden reflection: Nothing can justify the evil act of destroying the twin towers in New York. But the world's media (mostly owned by pro-Israel people like Rupert Murdoch) has forgotten the reason why Bin Laden attacked New York's towers in 2001, after first unsuccessfully attacking them in 1993

Just as Hitler's evil was born of great injustice to Germany at the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, so Bin Laden's evil was born of great injustice to Lebanon and Palestine by the US-suported Israel invasion of 1982 which caused the deaths of 17,000 civilians with 30,000 others injured...and wrecked the country's infra-structure. This Israel injustice to Palestine is continuing....and will continue to breed evil terrorists...until the injustice stops. Bin Laden's own words:
“Allah knows it did not cross our minds to attack the towers but after the situation became unbearable and we witnessed the injustice and tyranny of the American-Israeli alliance against our people in Palestine and Lebanon, I thought about it. And the events that affected me directly were that of 1982 and the events that followed – when America allowed the Israelis to invade Lebanon, helped by the U.S. Sixth Fleet As I watched the destroyed towers in Lebanon, it occurred to me punish the unjust the same way (and) to destroy towers in America so it could taste some of what we are tasting and to stop killing our children and women.” Osama bin Laden, 2004 - (put "bin laden lebanon towers" into www.google.com )
(repeat: not justifying what he did....just trying to stop the cause of what he did...otherwise, sadly, there will be more terrorism)

Calendar
May 15 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun; 3.30 OMI Mass at St Alfred's, Shatin
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday May 29. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donations to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
April 29: Jenny (HK) and Mr Lai (HK)
April 30: Mrs Fong and Mrs Hui (Notre Dame Parish)
May 4: Anon (HK)
May 7: Doris Kempnich (Australia)

May 8: Happy 100th Birthday, Dear Mum up in Heaven

Mum is one reason why I'm following the sacking of Bishop Bill Morris with great interest. Bill was Mum's parish priest on the Gold Coast for many years. He was really kind to her and all the older people....as well as to everyone else. I used to help him with Masses when I was on holidays. Had known him before that in Brisbane when he was vocation director and secretary to Archbishop Rush. Last time I saw him was at 2004 Villanova re-union (he was some years ahead of me). Not forgetting Mum was from Toowoomba.
To my mind, a great injustice has been done to Bishop Bill. He had the courage to speak out about things that should be discussed.
My hope is that he will be re-instated....if enough people have the courage to speak up and support him
So many articles have been published about his sacking. I hope you have time to read at least some of them:

- "You've got to stand in your truth" (and see links at bottom of this article)
- Frank Brennan
- Catholica
- No room for someone like Bishop Morris? (and see comments, including one by myself)
- church's worst enemy is the Vatican
- heavily censored/sanitized report in Brisbane Catholic Leader
-even more heavily sanitized report in Sydney Catholic Weekly ("thou shalt not mention the real issues"...just like reporting of news stories in China)
- creping infallibility
- the removal of Bishop Morris (see my comments, May 9)
- temple police get their man (this article has more details than any other re the Bishop Morris case)
- forced retirement is message (= warning) to bishops
- he did what? he destroyed the files?

"The above situations will continue in our Church as long as the people who make up that Church are willing to accept it. As a Bishop, Bill Morris has spoken out - and paid the price. It is now up to Lay People, Clergy and other Bishops to indicate their support for him, and their dissatisfaction at the inappropriate and unjust way he and the Diocese of Toowoomba have been treated".
- Fr Tim Williams, Vincentian (full text - May 4)

New Mass translation ecumenically harmful (how happy Satan must be that church is more concerned about internal power and control than it is about the external burning issues of our day like world poverty, climate change, evangelization in a world that is rapidly becoming more secular, ecumenism etc)

Beautiful review of the movie "Of Gods and Men"

Prayer can heal sick people

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world - Exodus 23 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 23

Moses told the people:

"Don't be unfair to anyone, friend or foe.

Work for six days, then rest on the seventh day.

Work your land for six years,
then let the land rest and recover in the seventh year.

Three times a year you must celebrate special feasts:
the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the Feast of Harvest,
the Feast of Ingathering.

On these three feasts
all men must present themselves before the Lord."

God's promise:

"I will send an angel before you to protect you
and bring you to the land I have prepared for you.

Eventually you will possess this special land
and take it over from the peoples who live there now."

第 23 章

梅瑟告诉百姓：
“不要对任何人、朋友或敌人不公平。

工作六天，然后第七天休息。

耕种你的土地六年，然后第七年让土地歇息、复原。

每年三次，你必须举行特别庆节：
无酵节，
收成节，
收藏节。

在这三个节日 所有男丁必须朝见主。”

神的诺言：

"我将差遣一个天使在你前面保护你
并带你到我为你准备的土地上。

最终你将拥有这块特别的土地
并从居住在哪里的人取得统治。”

Dear God, please help everyone
love you

亲爱的神，请帮助每个人爱你

Thank you for a prayer

May the Risen Jesus bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

No diary update May 5. Next diary update DV - Thursday May 12 (reason: annual OMI retreat May 1 - 6)

Thursday, April 28, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from a hot and humid Hong Kong. Once again I wish everyone all the blessings of the Easter Season

On this 28th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Beijing

Smile for Easter:
Last Thursday night, I said the Mass of the Last Supper in a dormitory at Lai Chi Kok Detention Center. A beautiful experience.
Most of the men attending were not Christians, so I tried to explain everything very carefully as we went along. But I didn't anticipate this question after the washing of feet: "Father, will we drink the water?"

Recent photos

2011-04-23 Very special guests at Matteo Ricci Center

2011-04-24 Easter Sunday: meal with homeless, MTR English, Bank of China

2011-04-25 Easter Pizza party at Caritas Center in Yau Ma Tei

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
May 1 & May 8 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday May 29. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donations to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
Deacon Edward Ng & Legion of Mary (HK, April 25)
JJJ Association (HK, April 28)

Thanks also to friends who have helped me supply 20 Chinese copies of Chasing the Dragon to each of the following five detention center libraries: Lai Chi Kok, Hei Ling Chau 18A, Hei Ling Cha Lai Sun center, Hei Ling Chau 18B, Hei Ling Chau 18C

Recent items of interest

Rising oil and food prices a scam? This is a huge topic, even without the scam claim, that is not getting much coverage in media, but is daily causing great suffering to poor people throughout the world ....and same people will take only so much....as events in Egypt showed

Australia - irrelevance of God/Easter in AFL sport

China
- former premier Zhu Rongji urges everyone to speak the truth
(c.f. last week: Premier Wen Jiabo's call for everyone to speak the truth
Zhu's statement = support for Wen Jiabo....)

China/Australia
- US$97 billion liquid natural gas deal

Greg Mortenson - Three Cups of Tea or Three Cups of Deceit?

Prayer can heal sick people

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world - Exodus 22 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 22

Laws announced by Moses:

"If a man seduces a virgin, he must marry her.

A sorceress must be put to death.

Anyone who has intercourse with an animal must die.

Do not discriminate against foreigners,
for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt .

Do not be harsh to widows and orphans.

Do not demand interest if you make a loan to a poor person.

Always remember you are a people consecrated to me."

第 22 章

梅瑟宣布法律：

“如果男人奸淫一位处女，他必须娶她。

女巫必须被处死。

任何人与动物交合必须死。

不歧视外国人，

因为你们在埃及也作过寄居者。

不可苛待寡妇和孤儿。

不可要求利息如果你贷款给穷人。

永远记住你已奉献给我。”

Dear God, please help us not to hurt other people

亲爱的神，请帮助我们不要伤害其他人

Good Friday - at Lai Chi Kok Detention Center, I had services of varying lengths with 12 groups, mostly conducted in rooms with several tvs going, a large group talking noisily, occasional p.a. announcements ....and....loud cheering noise from a day-long tug-of-war competition on the basketball courts. I spent a bit of time watching the competition finals in late afternoon....couldn't help but think how Jesus and Satan are in tug of war over our souls (very evident in case of all the unfortunate people in the drug scene)
Smile: above competition was won by a team from the kitchen....where, it was (tongue-in-cheek) claimed, that men have more food to eat, therefore are bigger and stronger!?

Smile: There are lies, damned lies, statistics, Mainland statistics, and ....Old Testament statistics

Q 01: What place closed down some time after 3pm on Good Friday? A: "the bosom of Abraham" = the place where all the good people who died before Jesus' death ...were waiting for the gates of heaven to open = the place where Abraham, Moses, Elijah, St Joseph, John the Baptist, etc were counting down the days before they moved house to heaven.
c.f. Cat 01 & Cat 02 (both of which unfortunately use words "descended into hell"; better to use "descended to the dead")
c.f. Cat 03 & Cat 04
c.f. Did John the Baptist go straight to heaven when he died? (scroll down to comment by Kev123)

Q 02: When did the gates of heaven open....after Jesus' death or after his resurrection?
A: I'm not sure. Put "gates of heaven opened by Jesus" into Google and you'll see some people saying the gates were opened by his death, others saying they were opened by his resurrection. Notice how Cat 01, Cat 02, Cat 03, Cat 04 are not clear about this.
Cat 03 seems to say his death. Cat 04 says his resurrection. It's as if the church is having an ''each-way bet"

Best understanding: what matters is not the timing of the opening gates, but the fact that they re-opened. Using the human concept of time to talk about heavenly realities has many limitations....a bit like asking a tiny child to use Windows 2011. So we humbly pray
"Lord Jesus, by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world"

Links to many articles in Chinese about my work in China from this Chinese search engine

Thank you for a prayer. Happy Easter Season!

May the Risen Jesus bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, April 21, 2011 Dear Friends

Happy Easter from Hong Kong! May the Risen Lord give our world hope in little things and big things

On this 21st of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Yunan

Smile
A little girl asked her mother,
"How did the human race start?" The mother answered,
"God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so all mankind was made."
Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father answered,
"Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved." The confused girl returned to her mother and said,
"Mum, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"
The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple.
I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

Easter:
-Beautiful: Crucifixion in sand The Last Supper in sand Poor children Last Supper
- Easter chocolates and child slave labor
- an Easter miracle: children who know their Bible stories

Also beautiful: Four tenors singing Amazing Grace at Coliseum in Rome

Photos No new photos this week Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
April 24 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday May 29. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
Anon (HK, April 20)

Buttons and buckles A former English student of mine in China, is now working not far from Guangzhou at a factory that makes metal buttons etc. The student's name is Fly and her job is to find new customers. If you know anyone who needs metal buttons etc, please use the contact box at the company's website, and say you'd like to contact Fly

Recent items of interest
China
- another strong statement from Premier Wen Jiabo re need for truth and goodness (...a voice in the wilderness?...)

USA/Church
- the hidden exodus: Catholics becoming Protestant (most of them before they are 24 years old)

Prayer can heal sick people

Easter servings of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 22 - from www.simplebible.info

Luke chapter 23 (39 - 43)

One of the criminals on a cross mockingly said to Jesus
"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us as well"

But the other criminal rebuked the first one and said "We are paying the penalty for our crimes. But this man has done nothing wrong"

"Jesus", he said, "remember me when you come into your kingdom"

Jesus replied "I promise you, this day you will be with me in Paradise"

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom

Luke chapter 24 (1 - 11)

On Sunday morning, at daybreak, the women went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the large stone which had been put at the tomb's entrance had been rolled away

They entered the tomb and found that the body of Jesus was not there. Suddenly two men in brilliant clothes appeared at their side

The men said to them "Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here. He has risen, just as he said he would"

The women told all this to the eleven apostles. But the apostles did not believe them

Jesus, please increase my faith in your resurrection

Reflection Most politicians and most political parties in most countries are voices for the rich. Maybe a new political party needs to be formed "Voice for the Poor Party" - VP. c.f. USA - voice for the poor + try "voice for the poor" in www.google.com

Thank you for a prayer. Happy Easter!

May the Risen Jesus bless everyone and give everyone hope,
especially the many special friends who are battling cancer - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, April 14, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong on the first anniversary of the earthquake in Yushu in Qinghai Province

On this 14th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Jilin

Seen last week .... when visiting someone at St Paul's Hospital on HK Island. In the new hospital block,
every bed has an overhead movable screen/monitor, on which patient can access TV/internet/Hi Fi etc

Smile - see photos below, 2011-04-10!

Recent photos

2011-04-09 At Notre Dame in Kowloon with parishioner Margie So and her daughter Sylvia

2011-04-10 Outside Indian shop at Chung King Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui

2011-04-10 Sunday night Pizza gathering at Ricci Center

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

April 17 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday April 17. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
- Anon (HK, April 09)

Recent items of interest

USA Number One problem: the debt bomb (the US is adding about $125 billion of debt each month)

John Dear on US budget cuts

Cardinal Burke an object of ridicule (self-inflicted....and he is one of the most important people running the church in Rome. Would that he cared about climate change and world poverty etc as much as he does about his clothing)

Prayer can heal sick people

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 21 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 21

Laws announced by Moses:

"When you buy an Israelite slave, you may keep him
for only six years. In the seventh year he is free to leave or stay.

Put to death anyone who kills someone in cold blood,
anyone who curses or strikes his father or mother.

If someone injures another person,
the compensation will be according to the formula
eye for eye, tooth for tooth, burn for burn, injury for injury."

第 21 章

梅瑟宣布法律：

“当你购买一个以色列奴隶时，你只可以拥有他六年。
在第七年，他是自由离开或留下。

处死冷血杀人者、咒骂或打他的父亲或母亲者。

如果有人伤害另一个人，
索偿将根据公式
以眼还眼、以牙还牙、以烙还烙、以伤还伤。”

Dear God, please help people not to seek revenge

亲爱的神，请帮助人们不要寻求报复

For Lent: The Jesus Stabat Mater and The Iona Passion Play Stations of the Cross (recorded by Fr Tim Long omi)

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Thursday, April 7, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong which had a public holiday yesterday for the annual Ching Ming Festival (to remember the dead)

On this 7th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Hebei

Smile - seen from metro when it stopped at Mong Kong station on Tuesday afternoon: young couple embracing....girl hanging around boy's waist....boy at higher level around and above her neck, using Ipad behind (literally) her back.....which girl was aware of, and stopped the embrace to give boy and Ipad an unfriendly stare before walking away a short distance

Recent photos

2011-04-06 Signs of life in Hong Kong

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

April 10 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday April 17. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
- Jenny (HK, April 6)
- Anon (HK, April 6)

Recent items of interest

China's No. 4 man visiting Australia

Don't take farmers' land, says Premier Wen Jiabo ...but.... this is how it's taken
Would that the China which the Premier speaks about was China in reality

When the floods came - a split screen video of floods in Australia and Pakistan

Natural disasters?

Libya
- John Dear's reflection ("To be hopeful, do hopeful things")
- West's slippery moral outrage in Middle East

A Christian blogging site for young people (from USA)

Prayer can heal sick people

Question: Are there any atheist service organizations that help the poor and homeless?

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 20 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 20

The Ten Commandments given by God to Moses:

1: I am the Lord your God. Do not worship anyone or anything else.

2: Use my name with respect. Do not insult my name.

3: Make the Sabbath Day a holy day each week.

4: Honor your father and your mother.

5: Do not kill.

6: Do not commit adultery.

7: Do not steal.

8: Do not tell lies.

9: Do not lust after someone else's wife.

10: Do not desire what belongs to someone else.

第20章

神给梅瑟十诫：

1: 我是主你的神。不要敬奉任何人或任何东西。

2: 尊敬我的名字。不要耻辱我的名字。

3: 每周守安息日为圣日。

4: 孝敬你的父亲和你的母亲。

5: 不可杀害。

6: 不可奸淫。

7: 不可偷窃。

8: 不可说谎。

9: 不可贪恋别人的妻子。

10: 不可渴望属于别人的东西。

Dear God, please help us
to put these commandments into practice

亲爱的神，请帮助我们付诸实践这十诫

Smile - last Monday at Lai Chi Kok Detention Center I asked a new man from Pakistan "what's your name?".
He replied "Imran Khan" (his real name....same as famous cricketer!)

Last Thursday night when for the very first time I visited Amazing Grace Bookstore (corner of Natahan and Waterloo Roads)
...and saw maybe the largest collection of Bibles/commentaries and other religious books in HK....my basic feeling was one of shame, that I had read so few of those many great books. c.f. New century resolution

April 11, 1941....start of Battle of Tobruk....this year the 70th Anniversary

For Lent: The Jesus Stabat Mater and The Iona Passion Play Stations of the Cross (recorded by Fr Tim Long omi)

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

AFL website in Australia: no match previews + no live radio +- compulsory looking at nonsense chat room + website no longer simple and easy to use + live scores a big trial for compulsive gamblers as betting odds are updated every few minutes = one less user (..I/me...in future I'll use other media sites)

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, March 31, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong where Winter is hanging on ....people still wearing heavy clothing. But maybe for not much longer

On this 31st of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Tianjin (where about 250,000 people died in an earthquake in 1976)

Japan earthquake/tsunami
HK people have been genuinely moved by the Japan tragedy and are generously helping Japan (...despite all the bitterness of history...):
e.g. last Sunday, at the church where I said Mass, the Chinese parishioners had organized a fund-raising breakfast for Japan. And a few hours later in Tsim Sha Tsui I saw a group of Evangelical young people singing on the footpath of Nathan Road....to raise money for Japan

Tectonic plates - I have just learnt that
- the earth has 15 tectonic plates
- HK is on the Eurasian plate
- the Pacific plate touches Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand.....and the East coast of USA ....which is why some people in California are praying for the healing of the San Adreas fault. We too can pray for healing of the earth's faults!

Also recently learnt - all past Gmail messages can be saved to a hard drive using Download gmail-backup-0.107.exe - explained here

Smile A game to play on the HK metro for people over 60: try to find someone older than yourself! (I am usually the oldest passenger!)

Recent photos

2011-03-24   Visit to Matteo Ricci Center by Fr Harry, Leon and Anna

2011-03-27    In walkway near Austin metro station ....a church advertizing

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

April 3 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday April 17. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
- L & M (HK, March 26)
- Doris Kempnich (Brisbane, March 26)

Recently discovered - a gold mine of Bibles and religious books, Chinese and English: Amazing Grace Books, corner of Natahan and Waterloo Roads

Recent items of interest

China
- ANZ opens branch in Chongqing (one of the largest cities in the world)
- Australian/Chinese writer abducted in Guangzhou by secret police? and see China doesn't know where he is

USA
- a very balanced article re present union crisis in Wisconsin (...unions in other countries can learn from this...)

Australia
- a conviction politician

Prayer can heal sick people

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 19 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 19

The Israelites kept traveling
and came to Mount Sinai ( Mount Horeb ).

Through Moses, God told the people to prepare themselves
for a special revelation from Heaven.

Three days later a thick cloud covered the mountain
accompanied by lightning and thunder
and a trumpet blast which grew louder and louder.

God then called Moses to the top of the mountain
and gave him "The Ten Commandments"

第19章

以色列人继续行走并来到西乃山（曷勒布）。

借着摩西，神告诉百姓作好准备
为从天上来的特别启示。

三天后，一片厚云覆盖山区
伴随着闪电和雷声
和小号角声增大又增大。

之后神召摩西到山顶，并给他“十诫”。

Dear God, please make us willing to hear your voice

亲爱的神，请让我们愿意听取你的声音

For Lent: The Jesus Stabat Mater and The Iona Passion Play Stations of the Cross (recorded by Fr Tim Long omi)

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, March 24, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong where panic buying of salt seems to have lost its flavor. See
Panic buying of salt in China - "to protect from radioactivity" and also in USA and hoax in Philippines

Salt story: last Saturday night I had only two items on my shopping list: a new battery for one of the speakers I use in English classes, and some salt (to put on porridge each morning). Salt and battery....assault and battery (and local supermarket was out of salt!)

May the Good Lord bless the people of Japan: those who died, those who are injured, those who are grieving, those who are helping.
A couple of days ago I sent a donation to Oxfam Japan which has a team in Fukushima helping people in need

On this 24th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Inner Mongolia

Smile 01 Last Sunday at Tuen Mun I was talking (in Cantonese) to some people on the light rail. I thought I detected a Mainland accent ...so I said to one lady (in Cantonese) "Are you from the Mainland?". And she replied in English "No. I was burn in Hong Kong"

Recent photos

2011-03-17 3,000 copies of the little booklet "Doctor Jesus" delivered to Matteo Ricci Center

2011-03-20 Sunday night Pizza gathering at Matteo Ricce Center in Jordan

2011-03-21 Funeral service of Mr Jau Pui Wing who died November 3, 2010

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

March 27 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be on Sunday April 17. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location.

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
- Julie Kwok (HK, March 19)
- Mr Wong (Notre Dame, March 23)
- John Roche (Ireland, March 23). Thank you, John, for picking up bill for printing of Simple Bible: Old Testament (now in final stages of preparation for printer)

Smile 02 (thank you Mark)

An atheist was walking through the woods. 'What majestic trees!' 'What powerful rivers!' 'What beautiful animals!' He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground.
He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant moment, the Atheist cried out: 'Oh my God!'

Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent.As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.
'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, and said: 'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?' 'Very well', said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:
'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from Thy bounty. Amen.'

Three special moments last Monday afternoon
1. On the metro to Lai Chi Kok Detention Center...I was standing next to a Muslim man from India (about my own vintage) in full Muslim dress. A seat became available. I gestured to him to sit....he (a Muslim) insisted that I ( a Western priest) have the seat. So I sat down. Then at the next stop, the seat next to me was free, and he sat down...and we had a lovely chat

2. At the Detention Center, in one of the rooms where I was visiting and getting names for Friday's prayer service, a Jewish inmate said to me "my HK (Chinese) friend is out of the room at the moment....in the welfare office....but he wants to attend the prayer service. Please put his name down". Very moving ...

3. Also at the Detention Center....in the main dining hall...where some 200 men were seated waiting for the evening (= 4pm) meal (..a good time to see them all). As soon as I entered the hall, a young Pakistan man jumped up, ran over to me, and joyfully announced in a loud voice "Pakistan is in the semi-final!" (...having beaten Australia at cricket the day before....groan...)

Recent items of interest

China
- Hu visits Japanese embassy to convey condolences (..a good sign!)

Japan
- Japanese man dies after saving 20 Chinese students from tsunami
- amateur video of tsunami.....cars being swept away as in Toowoomba storm (Australia/January) - multiplied by a hundred
- Fukushima crisis should not mean the end of nuclear power

Church
- Fr Michael Ryan says he will accept new missal
(but notice sentence at end - "and if it doesn’t, we will do our best to make the best of it” ?)
- latest from Australia re new missal

Smile 03
Q What brand of computer did Adam and Eve use? A (it starts with "a" and is a type of fruit)

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 18 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 18

Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, heard about all
that God had done for Moses and the Israelites,
so he visited Moses in the desert.

Jethro saw that Moses was struggling
to do so much administration by himself.

Jethro suggested that Moses appoint men to help him:
leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Moses accepted this advice
and appointed judges as Jethro suggested.

These judges handled all small issues
and referred only difficult cases to Moses

第18章

梅瑟的岳父，耶特洛听到
神为梅瑟和以色列人所做的一切，
于是，他到旷野探访梅瑟。

耶特洛看到梅瑟努力独自一人处理很多管理工作。

耶特洛建议梅瑟任命人帮助他：
千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长、十夫长。

梅瑟接受了这个建议，
并如耶特洛的建议任命民长。

这些法官处理所有小问题
只向梅瑟提交难断的案件。

Dear God, please make us willing
to share responsibilities with other people

亲爱的神，请让我们愿意与他人分担责任

For Lent: The Jesus Stabat Mater and The Iona Passion Play Stations of the Cross (recorded by Fr Tim Long omi)

Tomorrow, March 25 (9 months before Christmas...) is the Feast of the Annunciation ("Lady Day" in UK)

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

This weekend, AFL starts in Australia ...go Lions & Suns!

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, March 17, 2011 Dear Friends

Good afternoon on St Patrick's Day from Hong Kong..... which is only 60 km from one of China's 13 nuclear plants, a plant that is safer than the troubled one in Japan?

May the Good Lord bless the people of Japan: those who died, those who are injured, those who are missing, those who are grieving, those who are helping - especially the heroic 50 men risking their lives to save millions. The mind boggles at a Chernobyl disaster affecting Japan, Korea and China. Could de-stabilized China? Hope this guy is right about Fukushima not being another Chernobyl

On this 17th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Shaanxi

Japan earthquake & nuclear plant crisis

Earthquakes are caused by faults in tectonic plates shifted due to forces from side plates and from below and above these plates. Simple physics suggests if we add to these fluctuations by removing glaciers and increasing mass and temperature of water in the oceans, there would be a REACTION ! Unfortunately, further escalation of disaster through tsunami and radio-active leak just reveal how ignorant we are, considering the potentials we have to foresee these consequences !? (from this article - comment March 14, 9.42am)

-warning ignored about Japan nuclear plant on earthquake fault line

-China has 6 nuclear power plants in operation (13 - 6 = 7?)

- Filipino bishops say their anti-nuclear stance vindicated

Smiles? Not today. Not appropriate at time of Japan crisis

Recent photos

2011-03-13 Sunday night Pizza at Ricci Center - with Deacon Edwin Ng, Legion of Mary members, and special guests

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

March 20 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be at 3pm on Sunday March 20. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location. And see Can we eat to starve cancer?

Mondays Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau Detention Center
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
- Notre Dame College (March 12)

Recent items of interest

Climate change
- climate change is real, humans cause it, and we must act

Church
- rolling back Vatican 2
- liturgical translation at crossroads (an excellent article...)
- memo to divided church: meet the Focolare

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 17 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 17

In one place where there was no water
the people grumbled against Moses:
"Give us water to drink or else we will die".

Moses asked God for help
and God told Moses to strike a large rock with his staff.

When Moses did this, water flowed from the rock.

In another place the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites.

Moses prayed while Joshua led the people in battle.

As long as Moses kept his arms raised up in prayer,
the Israelites were winning.

But when Moses let his arms down,
the Amalekites started winning.

So Aaron and Hur got Moses to sit on a rock
and they supported his hands until sunset.

Joshua and the people then won the battle

第17章

在一个没有水的地方,百姓埋怨梅瑟：
“给我们水饮，否则我们将死。”

梅瑟请求神帮忙，神告诉梅瑟用他的棍杖击打一个大岩石。

当梅瑟这样做，水从岩石中流出。

在另一个地方以色列人遭到阿玛肋克人的袭击。

梅瑟祷告而若苏厄带领百姓作战。

只要梅瑟在祷告时举高手，以色列人得胜利。

但当梅瑟让他的手垂下，阿玛肋克人得胜。

因此，亚郎与胡尔让梅瑟坐在大石上
和他们托起他的手，直到日落。

若苏厄和百姓后来赢取了战争。

Dear God, please help us understand the power of prayer

亲爱的神，请帮助我们了解祷告的力量

One piece of good news: the little booklet, "Doctor Jesus", is due to be collected from printer today. More about this next week DV

For Lent: The Jesus Stabat Mater and The Iona Passion Play Stations of the Cross (recorded by Fr Tim Long omi)

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, March 10, 2011 Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Hong Kong... where the government is still facing protests about its latest budget. Many people feel that last week's one-off cash donation of HK$6,000 to every permanent identity card holder is not the long-term answer to poor people's struggle with medical costs (including dental bills), housing costs, low wages etc

On this 10th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Hubei

Smile (for the season of Lent which began yesterday):
After a three year old girl received the ashes, she said to her mother "Priest very naughty. He put dirt on my head"

Lent Statement by the President on Ash Wednesday:
Michelle and I join with millions of Christians here and across the world to mark Ash Wednesday. As we observe the season of Lent, we receive with thanksgiving this opportunity for grace and repentance, recommit ourselves to our faith, and remember our obligations to one another

Recent photos

2011-03-05 Visit to Ricci Center, A-Ming's home and Yau Ma Tei
by Fran & Melanie from the International Ladies Club of Macau

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

March 13 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun;
Next meeting of cancer support group will be at 3pm on Sunday March 20. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesdays - Hei Ling Chau Detention Center
Thursdays, Saturdays - English classes
Sundays - visitors most welcome to join special guests for Pizza at Matteo Ricci Center, Jordan, at 6.00pm

Many thanks for donations to help my work for the poor in HK and for the poor in China
- Anon (HK, March 3)
- Fran & Melanie (Macau, March 5)
- Oblate Primary School & St Eugene's Primary School (March 5)
- Gregory (HK, March 6)

Q: How many visitors came to HK last year from the Mainland? A: 23,000,000 (maybe some of them more than once)!
...what an opportunity to make friends with people from the Mainland....

True story: One of the special guests for Pizza last Sunday night was a man released from prison about a month ago.....not a drug addict....has tried many welfare/government/NGO agencies, but unable to find work. Not able to claim social service help for another month.
Coming to his wits end financially....possibly tempted to do a bit of stealing to survive.
At end of meal, I asked him and other guests to give me five minutes while I went downstairs to a nearby restaurant to ask for a few weeks' temporary work for him. Lady in charge was standing at table below sign saying "Dishwasher wanted"...but she said the job had just been taken. No vacancy.
Table where we were talking was one of about 30 tables belonging to the restaurant, all filled with people.
Man at table, that one table, looked up and said "Hello Fr John". We had met when famous UK ex-gangster John Pridmore came to town last year. Man's name was Gregory. He was having a meal with his son.
I asked Gregory if he could help find temporary job for the ex-inmate. He said he couldn't.....but then he took out his wallet and gave me two five hundred dollar notes, to help the man buy meals and pay for transport as he kept looking for work.
I said a few special thank you prayers as I headed back upstairs...then got the ex-inmate to use my phone to call Gregory and say hello and thank you. DG!

Recent items of interest

China
- people will be tracked by their mobiles
- big commercial opportunities for other countries to help "green" China

USA/Australia
- Gillard gives Obama a football lesson! & the two of them go back to school!

Australia
- Rupert Murdoch at 80 (..not a nice man..)
- Australian Catholic church facing disaster?
- bishop's urgent letter to pope - no reply

Seen for the first time - when I was a passenger in a van on way from Lo Wu prison to Kowloon last Sunday afternoon: the rear vision mirror was a wide-image live color camera of traffic behind the van

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Internet - how to protect your address book (thank you Graham!)

This trick won't keep the virus from getting into your computer, but it will stop it from using your address book
to spread further, and it will alert you to the fact that the worm has gotten into your system. Here's what you do:
First, open your address book and click on 'new contact,'   just as you would do if you were adding   a new friend to your list of email addresses.    In the window where you would type your friend's first name, type in 'A'.
For the screen name or email address,   type AAAAAAA@AAA.AAA
Now, here's what you've done and why it works:
The 'name 'A' will be placed at the top of your address book   as entry #1. This will be where the worm will start   in an effort to send itself to all your friends. When it tries to send itself to AAAAAAA@AAA.AAA,   it will be undeliverable   because of the phony email address you entered.   If the first attempt fails   (which it will because of the phony address),   the worm goes no further   and your friends will not be infected. Here's the second great advantage of this method:   If an email cannot be delivered,   you will be notified of this in your In Box almost immediately.   Hence,   if you ever get an email telling you that an email addressed to AAAAAAA@AAA.AAA could not be delivered,   you know right away that you have the worm virus   in your system.   You can then take steps to get rid of it!

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 16 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 16

As the Israelites traveled through the desert
they began to complain about not having enough food.

So God rained down bread, manna, from heaven
in the form of a coating of dew
which appeared on the ground each morning,
as well as flocks of quails which came every evening.

For forty years the Israelites ate manna and quails,
bread and birds

第16章

当以色列人走过旷野,
他们开始抱怨没有足够的食物。

所以神从天降下饼、玛纳，形状是一颗露珠
每天早上出现在地面上，
以及每天黄昏飞来成群的鹌鹑。

四十年里以色列人吃玛纳和鹌鹑、
饼和鸟。

Dear God, thank you for the food we have each day

亲爱的神，为我们每天的食物而感谢你

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas.

John W omi

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, March 3, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong... where the government yesterday announced a cash grant of HK$6,000 to every permanent ID holder ...a desperate effort to placate the peasants ....not unlike Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya.
Is any government in the world popular these days? Why have most leaders, in so many walks of life, lost the respect of the people?
The bottom line: governments/leaders must do more for the people, especially the poor......or else follow their colleagues in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya....because ...the internet/mobile plebs have a sniff of Bastille about them?

On this 3rd of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Gansu

Smile 01 (thank you Peter B for this and smiles below!)

Three old guys are out walking.
First one says, 'Windy, isn't it?'
Second one says, 'No, it's Thursday!'
Third one says, 'So am I. Let's go get a beer..'

Calendar

March 6 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun; 2pm Mass at Lo Wo prison
Next meeting of cancer support group will be at 3pm on Sunday March 20. HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

Smile 02 An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%.
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Your hearing is perfect.. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.'
The gentleman replied, 'Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!'

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor
- Peter & Ling (HK, March 1)

No new photos (camera not exactly welcome in prisons...)

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Smile 03 A man was telling his neighbor, 'I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art.. It's perfect.'
'Really,' answered the neighbor . 'What kind is it?' The man answered 'Twelve thirty..'

Recent items of interest

China
- Wang Xiaofang exposes world of Chinese bureaucracy

New Zealand earthquake
- dead include 25 Chinese, most of them students
- China helps NZ ("China's efforts")

Palestine
- the struggle for justice

Internet
- robot wars

Cricket
- Ireland beat England!

Smile 04
An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.
The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, 'Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great... I would recommend it very highly.'
The other man said, 'What is the name of the restaurant?'
The first man thought and thought and finally said, 'What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love?
You know... The one that's red and has thorns.'
'Do you mean a rose?'
'Yes, that's the one,' replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, 'Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?'

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Smile 05

Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital.
After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.
'I don't know,' he said. 'She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.'

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 15 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 15

The Israelites used this prayer to thank and praise God:

"The Lord has covered himself in glory,
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my song,
he is my salvation.

This is my God, I praise him
The Lord is his name.

Lord, when you blew over the waters,
they piled high on two sides.

Lord, only you are God,
there is no other.

Lord, you are our king for ever"

第15章

以色列人用这个祈祷感谢和赞美神：

“主覆盖自己在荣耀中，
他把马和骑士扔进大海。

主是我的力量和我的歌，
他是我的救赎。

这是我的神，我赞美他，
主是他的名字。

主，当你在水上刮风，
水在两边堆高。

主，只有你是神，
那里没有其他。

主，你永远是我们的君王。”

Dear God, you are my strength and my salvation

亲爱的神，你是我的力量和我的救赎

Smile 06
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: 'So I hear you're getting married?'
'Yep!' 'Do I know her?' 'Nope!' 'This woman, is she good looking?' 'Not really.' 'Is she a good cook?'
'Naw, she can't cook too well.' 'Does she have lots of money?' 'Nope! Poor as a church mouse.'
'Well, then, is she good in bed?' 'I don't know.' 'Why in the world do you want to marry her then?'
'Because she can still drive!'

May Libya soon have peace....as I remember how my dear Dad was a Rat of Tobruk

Christchurch - 2 big earthquakes....and it's below sea level. May it be protected from Tsunamis.

- Asian tsunami was the day after Christmas
- Haiti earthquake was on the 12th day of Christmas
- NZ earthquakes in a city name Christchurch
No. 1 creature who doesn't like Christ/Christmas is....Satan.
Why does God allow earthquakes to kill so many people?
Two interesting articles: Does God send earthquakes? and God and earthquakes

Next Wednesday = Ash Wednesday ("no meat")

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas.
Lord, please give eternal life to those who died in the earthquake in Christchurch, and bless all those injured and those helping

John W omi

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, February 24, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong

On this 24th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Inner Mongolia

Smile (true story from USA)
New young female teacher ...at her first school....was given name list of students in her class. When she saw the numbers beside the names ...130, 145, 120, 129 etc....she was overjoyed to have a class with such high IQs. She worked the class hard and at the end of the first semester the principal praised her for getting such good results. She said it wasn't difficult, considering the IQ level of the class. The principal asked "what do you mean?". She showed him the name list with numbers. He said "They're not IQ numbers. They're locker numbers!"

Calendar

Feb 27 - Sunday 10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun
Feb 27 - HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

Many thanks for donation to help my work for the poor
- Lo Tak (HK, Feb 20)

No new photos

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Recently I finished a book about William Wilberforce (as in the movie "Amazing Grace").
I never realized he was a founder of the RSPCA, the Bible Society and many other groups

Recent items of interest

China
- Netizens start photo campaign to rescue child beggars   (scroll down this story...moving photos)
- leaders concerned about Egypt?
- spot the difference: this report has no mention why the crowds gathered   (don't mention the "E" word, "Egypt")
(oh oh...when I just checked after uploading....this link has been   rEmoved and   rEplaced with a harmless link!)
c.f.r. Guardian report

Egypt Reflections:
A: one good thing about Mubarak & Ramos - they didn't order troops to fire on people (unlike Gaddafi).
B: no internet, mobile phones etc = less chance of protests succeeding. Media not just spectators, but players!
C: an educated population with internet, mobile phones etc - makes corruption harder to hide/tolerate
D: China's leaders must be scared of Egypt....and can go two ways: ease up and peacefully give more freedom + more sharing of wealth..... or.....crack down even harder - until the kettle boils over.
E: if the kettle boils over, HK will need to have plenty of refugee camps prepared
- John Dear's analysis

Australia
- weather bureau chief says Cardinal Pell wrong about climate change

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 14 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 14

Not long after the Israelites left Egypt
Pharaoh again changed his mind.

He decided to catch the Israelites
and make them return to Egypt .

The Israelites were near the edge of the Red Sea
when they saw the Egyptians approaching.

The Israelites cried out in fear
but Moses said to them "Do not be afraid.
God will do the fighting for you".

God then told Moses to stretch out his staff over the sea.
After he did so, a strong wind blew all night
and caused the waters to part.

Then the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground,
with walls of water on both sides.

The Egyptians gave chase and also went into the sea.

When the Israelites had crossed to the other side
Moses again stretched out his staff over the sea
and this time the sea returned to its normal flow,
drowning all the Egyptians.

The people offered thanksgiving and praise to God.

第14章

以色列人离开埃及后不久，
法郎再次改变主意。

他决定捉以色列人，并使其返回埃及。

以色列人靠近红海边缘，
当他们见到埃及人走近。

以色列人恐惧大声呼喊，但梅瑟对他们说：
“不要害怕。 神会为你作战。”

然后神告诉梅瑟向海伸棍杖。
他这样做后，一阵强风吹了整夜，并使海水分开。

然后以色列人在海中干地上走过，
两边筑有水墙。

埃及人追截，也走进了大海。

当以色列人横越到另一边，梅瑟再向海伸杖，
而这次海回复正常流动，淹没所有埃及人。

百姓献上感谢和赞美给神。

Dear God, please rescue people in trouble,
just as you rescued the Israelites when they were in trouble

亲爱的神，请拯救陷于困境的人，
就像你救出以色列人，当他们遇到麻烦

Thank you for a prayer

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, February 17, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from Hong Kong on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year (the final day of NY celebrations...a full moon tonight!)

On this 17th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Shaanxi

And..... it was on this day in 1826, that a young priest named Eugene De Mazenod got the ok from the Pope for his little band in France to become an international group, to be know from that day as The Oblates of Mary Immaculate ("O.M.I.")

Smile (thank you Pam & Bruce) 01: IRISH LOVE STORY

An elderly man lay dying in his bed.
While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favourite scones wafting up the stairs.

He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning on the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs.

With laboured breath, he leaned against the door-frame, gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favourite scones.

Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his devoted Irish wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in rumpled posture. His aged and withered hand trembled towards a scone at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked by his wife with a wooden spoon ...........................

'Get away', ' she said, 'they're for the funeral

Calendar

Feb 20 - Sunday English Masses at St Jerome's, Tin Shui Wai (8am) and St Matthew's, Tuen Mun (10.30am)
Feb 27 - HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm. Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

Monday, Tuesday and Friday - Lai Chi Kok Detention Center
Wednesday - Hei Ling Chau Detention Center
Thursday, Saturday - English classes

Many thanks
- HK Diocese (Feb 11) for budget to help my work for prisoners

One new photo

2011-02-13 Sunday night Pizza gathering at Ricci Center - KK, Tony, Mr Wong & Andy (..Andy looking for a job after recently graduating from a special place. I recommend him very highly...he's a very special graduate)

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Smile 02 (Thank you Pam & Bruce)
There was a knock on the door this morning, I opened it and there was a young bloke standing there who said:
"I'm a Jehovah's Witness".
I said "Come in and sit down, what do you want to talk about"?
He said, " Blowed if I know, I've never got this far before"

Recent items of interest

Egypt
Mubarak wealthier than Bill Gates? (A Middle East Marcos...)

Mubarak - Barak Obama - the name barak = blessed = the same meaning as "Benedict"...which is why Arabic Christians pray for Pope Barak!

China
- soaring food prices bring no help to farmers
- China's eye on Egypt (...remember that in China, 0.4% of the population has 70% of the wealth...)
- China's rice contaminated with metal (...ramifications?!...)

UK
- climate change doubled likelihood of 2000 floods

Pakistan flood crisis like an African famine "I haven't seen malnutrition this bad since the worst of the famine in Ethiopia"

The world needs an estimated 4.2 million more health workers

A serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Chs 12, 13 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapters 12,13

God said to Moses and Aaron
"From now on, this month is to be first month of your year.

On the evening of the 14th day of this month
each family must kill and eat a one year old male sheep or goat.
Some of its blood must be put on your front door.

You must eat it in a hurry,
with a belt round your waist, sandals on your feet
and a staff in your hand.

This night I will go through the land of Egypt
and strike every first-born of human and animal.

But when I see the blood on your doors
I shall PASS OVER your homes
and you shall be unharmed.

Each year you must remember this night.
Each year you must observe this feast of the Passover.
You also must consecrate all first-born to me".

That night God indeed struck dead the first-born
of all the Egyptians,
from the son of Pharaoh
to animals in the field.

There was great mourning in Egypt
and Pharaoh finally agreed to let the Israelites go.

The Israelites now numbered about 600,000 men,
having been in Egypt exactly 430 years.

As the people travelled, God went before them
in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day
and a pillar of fire at night

第12、13章

神对梅瑟和亚郎说：
“从现在起，这个月是你们每年的首月。

在本月十四日的黄昏
每个家庭必须杀和吃一只一岁公绵羊或山羊。
它的血必须涂在你的前门。

你必须勿勿吃下，
腰束皮带、脚穿鞋, 和手中拿棍杖。

这夜我走遍埃及之地
并击杀人类和动物的第一胎。

但当我看到你门上的血
就越过你们的家, 你应安然无恙。

每年你必须记住这夜。
每年你必须遵守这一节日逾越节。
你还必须奉献所有第一胎给我。”

那夜神确实击杀所有埃及人的第一胎，
从法郎的儿子, 到野外动物。

在埃及有很大的悼念
和法郎终于同意让以色列人离去。

以色列人此時大约有六十万人，
刚好在埃及四百三十年。

当百姓行走，神日间成云柱、夜间成火柱走在他们之前。

Dear God, please help me understand
the full meaning of the Passover story

亲爱的神，请帮助我了解
逾越节故事的详细意义

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Thursday, February 10, 2011 Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Hong Kong where I arrived back last night.....five days earlier than planned, to avoid threat of cyclone delays.
Thank you Lord for a safe trip....and please bless everyone I met over the past four weeks....especially the five day old baby next to me on plane from Brisbane to Cairns - mother was one of many patients transferred to Brisbane from Cairns because of cyclone Yasi

What a happy place HK is at this time of the Lunar New Year.....some schools still on holidays.... 2,870,000 visitors (mainly from Mainland)....atmosphere something like that of thousands of football fans happy leaving a stadium after their team has won!

On this 10th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Hubei

Smile
Boris was listing to a radio program which asked people to phone in and talk on a given subject for one minute. One person got the topic "Talk for one minute about the last book you read". Another got "the last movie you saw". Another "the last holiday you had". Boris thought to himself "this is easy", so he phoned in. But he lasted only ten seconds when he got his topic "life inside a ping pong ball"

Recent photos

2011-02-09 On way from Port Moresby to HK ....can someone please explain the little rainbows......caused by the plane?

2011-02-05 Gold Coast, Australia - happy reunion with former Zhaoqing CAS teachers Pam and Bruce

2011-01-09 Light rail at HK Tuen Mun + signs of life

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

Feb 11 - prison visits due to resume
Feb 19 - English classes due to resume
Feb 20 - Sunday English Masses at St Jerome's, Tin Shui Wai (8am) and St Matthew's, Tuen Mun (10.30am)

Many thanks
- Anon (HK, Feb 7) for donation to help my work for the poor

Pakistan flood crisis like an African famine "I haven't seen malnutrition this bad since the worst of the famine in Ethiopia"

The world needs an estimated 4.2 million more health workers

A daily serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 11 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 11

One last time God sent Moses to Pharaoh, with this message:

"Tonight at midnight, God's angel will pass through Egypt .
All the first-born in the land of Egypt will die,
all the first-born of humans and animals,
except the first-born of the Israelites".

第11章

最后一次神派梅瑟带讯息给法郎：

“在今晚午夜，神的天使将走遍埃及。
所有在埃及土地出生的长子会死，
所有人类和动物的第一胎，
除了以色列人的第一胎。”

Dear God, please bless everyone in Egypt !

亲爱的神，请祝福在埃及的每一个人！

Comments re Exodus:
1. Yes, let's pray each day for Egypt, that it may change peacefully - c.f. cutting ties with religion of empire.
2. The ten plagues remind me of the recent disasters in Australia: drought, floods, cyclones, fires etc. Just as the first 9 plagues couldn't persuade Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go free, so, sadly, the disasters in Australia have not yet persuaded the vast majority of Australians that the increase in frequency and ferocity of these disasters is linked to climate change. Most people think that this article coincidence or climate change? and this one you ain't seen nothing yet are a load of rubbish - e.g. this article (+ comments)

No connection?? - China having its worst drought in 60 years

Yasi - a cyclone/typhoon/hurricane the size of Katrina - images (and check the maps of Europe/Asia/America when Yasi superimposed!)

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas.
HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm on Sunday Feb 27.
Please phone (67095674) or email me (jdwomi@gmail.com) for location

God bless you right through the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit!

John W omi

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Update Tuesday Feb 8: Because of uncertain weather conditions in North Queensland - cyclones/storms etc - I have changed my air ticket and am due to fly from Brisbane to Cairns tonight.....then tomorrow morning fly from Cairns to Port Moresby....then tomorrow afternoon fly from PM to HK - DV! Will try to update diary late Thursday afternoon

Thursday, February 3, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from the Gold Coast. Happy Lunar New Year today....the Year of the Rabbit!

On this 3rd of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Gansu

Smile - for Year of the Rabbit

Q: What airline do rabbits use? A: British Hare-ways!

Q: What do rabbits put in their computers? A: Hoppy disks!

Q: What do you get when you cross an insect and a rabbit? A: Bugs Bunny!

Q: What is white and has long ears, whiskers, and sixteen wheels? A: Two rabbits on Rollerblades!

Q: What do you call a rich rabbit? A: a millionhare!

Good news (= DG!) that cyclone Yasi has not been as destructive as was at first feared and see coincidence or climate change?

Recent photos

2011-01-27 Visitors from Beijing and Marseilles at Iona College, Wynnum, Brisbane, Australia

2011-01-31   Southport, Queensland, Australia - Wal & Liam Anderson with Pat & John
---------------------------------     ---------------------------     -------------------------
2011-01-23   Brisbane, Australia - happy re-unions at Iona College and at home of Kempnich family

2011-01-24 Brisbane, Australia - Iona College Mr Tim Wong, from the Solomons

2011-01-25 Nudgee Cemetery, Brisbane, Australia - many dear friends!

2011-01-25 Nudgee, Brisbane, Australia - Mercy Sisters Margaret, Clare & Monica (Martina)

Previous Australia & HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
Feb 13 - due to fly from Brisbane to Cairns
Feb 14 - due to fly from Cairns to Port Moresby
Feb 14 - due to fly from Port Moresby to HK

Feb 16 - prison visits due to resume
Feb 19 - English classes due to resume
Feb 20 - Sunday English Masses at St Jerome's, Tin Shui Wai (8am) and St Matthew's, Tuen Mun (10.30am)

Many thanks to the dear friends (in HK & the Mainland) who are translating the Simple Bible after request in diary over recent weeks.
All books of Old Testament now have a translator. DG!

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

A daily serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 10 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 10

Pharaoh's advisers urged him to let the Israelites go.
They said to him "How much longer is this affair going to go on?
Let the Israelites go before Egypt is ruined".

Pharaoh agreed to let the men go, but not the rest of the people.

So God sent two more plagues on the Egyptians:
locusts which devoured all the plants and trees
and then three days of total darkness,
except in the land where the Israelites lived.

But even after the above nine plagues,
Pharaoh still wouldn't let the people go

第10章

法郎的臣仆敦促他让以色列人去。
他们对他说：“这件事还要继续多久？
在埃及被毁灭之前，让以色列人去。”

法郎同意让男人去，但其他人不可以去。

如此神多送埃及人二个瘟疫：
这些蝗虫吞食所有植物和树
然后三天完全黑暗的，
除了以色列人居住的土地。

但即使以上九种瘟疫以后，
法郎仍然不会让百姓去。

Dear God, stubbornness can sometimes be a good thing,
but please don't let me be stubborn if that will hurt other people

亲爱的神，倔强有时可以是一件好事，
但请不要让我倔强如果那将伤害其他人

The third paragraph of this article about Egypt ("yet all the time, pressure for reform was rising"...) caused me to think....China?

Thank you for a prayer

God bless you right through the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit!

John W omi

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

I'm due to be in Australia until Feb 13. DV due back HK Feb 14 (see below). Will try to check email each day.
Australia mobile at top of this page. Next diary update - Feb 3 DV

Thursday, January 27, 2011 Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Brisbane in Australia where I'm enjoying the kind hospitality of the Oblates at Iona College, Wynnum.
Happy Lunar New Year to everyone (Feb 3)....the Year of the Rabbit!

On this 27th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Tibet

Smile - for Year of the Rabbit
Catholic priest, Jewish Rabbi and Anglican bishop in car going along highway.
Hit a large rabbit which was crossing the road. Rabbit was thrown to side of road.
Three holy men decided to stop and minister to dead rabbit.
Rabbi prayed....nothing happened.
Bishop prayed...nothing happened.
Priest took out bottle and sprinkled rabbit.
Rabbit came back to life....stood up...waved.....went about 10 metres...waved again....another 10 metres...waved again.
Rabbi & bishop to priest: what did you do?
Priest: I just used some hair restorer......with a permanent wave (hare = rabbit)

New photos - camera has had a busy week!

2011-01-23 Brisbane, Australia - happy re-unions at Iona College and at home of Kempnich family

2011-01-24 Brisbane, Australia - Iona College Mr Tim Wong, from the Solomons

2011-01-25 Nudgee Cemetery, Brisbane, Australia - many dear friends!

2011-01-25 Nudgee, Brisbane, Australia - Mercy Sisters Margaret, Clare & Monica (Martina)

Previous HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
Feb 13 - due to fly from Brisbane to Cairns
Feb 14 - due to fly from Cairns to Port Moresby
Feb 14 - due to fly from Port Moresby to HK

Many thanks - to the following kind friends for donations to help my work for the poor:
Jan 23: Wynnum friends Doris, Gail & Tony, Jan & Denis

Thanks also to the dear friends (in HK & the Mainland) who are translating the Simple Bible after request in diary over recent weeks.
All books of Old Testament now have a translator. DG!

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

A daily serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 9 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 9

Through Moses, God kept saying to Pharaoh
"Let my people go to offer me worship".
But Pharaoh kept refusing to let the people go.

So God sent three more plagues:
all the Egyptians' animals died,
then all the Egyptians were covered with boils,
then the land was hit by a fierce hailstorm.

During the hailstorm, Pharaoh said the people could go.
But as soon as the storm stopped, he changed his mind again

第9章

借着梅瑟，上帝继续对法郎说：
“让我的百姓去给我祭献。”
但法郎继续拒绝让百姓去。

如此神发出三个瘟疫：
所有埃及人的牲畜死亡，
然后所有埃及人长脓疮，
然后土地遭到了雹暴击。

在雹暴期间，法郎说百姓可以去。
但当风暴停止，他再改变主意。

Dear God, please help us not to ignore your voice

亲爱的神，请帮助我们不要忽视你的声音

All of my annual health check-ups have been completed. "All clear" for another year. DG!

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

I'm due to be in Australia until Feb 13. DV due back HK Feb 14 (see below). Will try to check email each day.
Australia mobile at top of this page. Next diary update - Jan 27 DV

Thursday, January 20, 2011 Dear Friends

Good morning from the Gold Coast in Australia where I'm enjoying the kind hospitality of my brother Peter and his wife Yvonne

On this 20th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Sichuan

Smiles - from the floods (many parts of Australia still being affected by flooding):
- a shark was seen swimming down the main street of Goodna during the flood
- the mayor of Ipswich said that he would like to see flood looters turned into flood markers

New photos

2011-01-08 Happy visit to Matteo Ricci Center by Parish Council members of St Paul's Parish, Yau Ma Tei

2011-01-11 Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea + Cairns in Australia

2011-01-13 and 2011-01-15 with dear cousins at Ingham and Townsville in North Queensland, Australia

2001-01-14 Townsville (church signs...) and 2011-01-16 Brisbane (after flood...)

Previous HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar

Sun Jan 23 - I'm due to take part in 7.30am Mass at Iona College, Wynnum, Brisbane.
After Mass a good chance to meet up if you have time.
I hope to stay at Iona for about a week before returning to my brother's home on the Gold Coast.
Feb 13 - due to fly from Brisbane to Cairns
Feb 14 - due to fly from Cairns to Port Moresby
Feb 14 - due to fly from Port Moresby to HK

Many thanks - to the following kind friends for donations to help my work for the poor:
Yau Ma Tei parishioners, Jan 8

Recent items of interest

500 dead in Brazil floods/mudslides

Qld floods: 13 year old sacrificed his life to save his 10 year old brother

La Nina affecting Philippines and Australia

Climate chaos across the world - Philippines, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia

If you read nothing else, please read this: (it applies to all parts of the world) - Drowning in a hothouse

Commeth the hour, cometh the woman

Captain Bligh steers ship in adversity - excellent article..and see excellent comments

It's time to talk of climate change
(sadly, most people in Australia don't believe that climate change has anything to do with the weather)
-------
Sudan referendum - let's keep informed

How Chinese lawyer was tortured (sure hope President Obama can influence President Hu on this issue)

Japan's bishops trying to stop Neo-Cats

Smiles: after England recently thrashed Australia at cricket, jokes like these have been circulating:
What do you call an Australian with a bottle of champagne? A waiter.
What do you call an Australian with 100 runs to his name? A bowler.
What do you call an Australian who can hold a catch? A fisherman

A daily serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Exodus Ch 8 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 8

After seven days, God told Moses and Aaron
to go to Pharaoh again,
this time causing a plague of frogs to cover the land
when Pharaoh again refused to let the people go.

Then God got Aaron to strike the ground
and the dust turned into mosquitoes
which attacked people and animals throughout Egypt .

But still Pharaoh would not let the people go.

Next there was a plague of flies which afflicted every place
except the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived.

Pharaoh then said the people could go
and he asked Moses to pray for the flies to stop.

But once the flies stopped
Pharaoh changed his mind and would not let the people go

第8章

七天后，神告诉梅瑟和亚郎再见法郎，
这次引起瘟疫，青蛙滋生全境
当法郎再次拒绝了让百姓去。

然后神使亚郎击地
和尘土变成蚊子
它们攻击人和动物遍及埃及。

但法郎仍然不会让百姓去。

下一个是苍蝇瘟疫，困扰每一个地方
除了歌笙之地，以色列人住在那里。

之后法郎说百姓可以去，
和他要求梅瑟为停止苍蝇瘟疫而祈祷。

但是，一旦苍蝇瘟疫停止
法郎改变主意，并不会让百姓去。

Dear God, please help all world leaders to listen to your voice

亲爱的神，请帮助所有世界领导者听你的声音

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

I'm due to go to Australia Jan 10. DV due back HK Feb 14 (see below). Will try to check email each day. Australia mobile at top of this page.
Next diary update - Jan 20

Thursday, January 6, 2011 Dear Friends

Good afternoon from Hong Kong on "The Twelfth Day of Christmas". I hope you have had a happy start to the (Solar) New Year.
I wish you every blessing right through 2011

Over the past two weeks I've been surprised how many people - in schools, churches and prisons - don't know that this year is 2011
because 2011 years ago (by common reckoning) Jesus was born ( 2011 A.D. "anno Domini", "in the year of Our Lord")

On this 6th of the month, Dear Lord, please bless the people of Hainan

Smile Many little old ladies in Jordan area collect used cardboard and sell it at a recycling center. Ladies are very clever. As they pack up their bundle of cardboard, they sprinkle each piece with water. Why? To make it heavier....to get more money!

New photos

2011-01-02 The very first photo of 2011: Sunday night Pizza at Jordan Center with Maria & Joseph from Shatin + special guests

2011-01-06 Yum Cha with A-Ming & most loyal parishioners of St Paul's Yau Ma Tei + visit to Ricci Center

Previous HK photos Previous Zhaoqing photos

Calendar
Fri Jan 7:    7.50am Chinese Mass at St Paul's Church, Yau Ma Tei
Sat Jan 8:   7.20am & 7.30pm Chinese Masses at St Paul's Church, Yau Ma Tei
Sun Jan 9:   10.30am English Mass at St Matthew's, Tuen Mun

Sunday, January 9: Referendum in Sudan - Dear God, please let the South become independent, peacefully

Australia Jan/Feb 2011 DV:
Jan 10 - fly from HK to Port Moresby (on Air Niugini)
Jan 11 - fly from Port Moresby to Cairns (..then bus to Ingham)
Jan 11 - Jan 14:   Visit to Ingham (..then bus to Townsville)
Jan 14 - Jan 16: Townsville
Jan 16 - fly from Townsville to Brisbane
Sun Jan 23 - I'm due to take part in 7.30am Mass at Iona College, Brisbane.
After Mass a good chance to meet up if you have time
Feb 13 - fly from Brisbane to Cairns
Feb 14 - fly from Cairns to Port Moresby
Feb 14 - fly from Port Moresby to HK

Many thanks - to the following kind friends for donations to help my work for the poor:
- Yau Ma Tei family, Jan 1
- Anon, HK, Jan 4
- Yau Ma Tei parishioners, Jan 6

Help needed A number of kind people to translate Simple Bible sections from English into very simple Chinese.
Please contact me if you can help - jdwomi@gmail.com Would love to have this job done before Lunar New Year if possible.
Many thanks to friends who have offered to do 25 - 29. Still need volunteers for 31, 32, 33, 35 - 40 please

25 ok now	26 ok now	27 ok now	28 ok now	29 ok now	30 ok now	31 Lamentations	32 Baruch
33 Ezekiel	34 ok now	35 Hosea	36 Joel	37 Amos	38 Jonah	39 Micah	40 Others

One billion people starving - what can I do? Why I'm in HK and not in Zhaoqing

Recent items of interest

China - Premier, as usual, spending holiday time visiting a special group of people

USA - US Senate is a joke (and what to do about it)

Floods
- Queensland (affecting 200,000 people) Colombia (affecting 2,000,000 people) Pakistan (affecting 20,000,000 people)

Church
“When was the last time you entered a Catholic church and actually were welcomed?” he asked. “Our churches and our liturgies are boring. That, I think, more than theology, is what is driving our people away from our church.
“What you need is good music, good preaching, programs for kids and a welcoming community,” he said. “If you have that, you will have a full church.” He called the Catholic church today “a lazy monopoly” around which evangelical churches “are running circles.”
- from excellent article "Bishops are scared"

- Golden Anniversary reflections (this article was censored/removed from CathNews website)

A daily serving of God's Word to help us care more about our troubled world: Matthew Chapter 2 - from www.simplebible.info

Chapter 2 (1 - 12)

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem,
during the reign of King Herod

Some months after Jesus' birth,
several wise men from the East came to Jerusalem

They said "Where is the infant king of the Jews?
We saw his star as it rose and we have come to offer him honor"

King Herod felt threatened by this news.
He knew from the Bible that the promised Messiah King would be born in Bethlehem

So Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem,
pretending that he too would like to offer honor to the child

The wise men headed for Bethlehem, guided by the star.
The sight of the star filled them with joy.
The star stopped over the place where the child was

The wise men fell to their knees and honored the child.
They offered him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh

Then they returned to their own country by a different way,
having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod

"O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord"

I go to Hei Ling Chau & Lai Chi Kok detention centers each week, and I give copies of Simple Bible & other items to some of the 2,000+ prisoners .....especially to the 400 from Mainland China. If anyone would like to support this work, I'd sure be grateful

Thank you for a prayer

God bless everyone, especially the many special friends on my cancer list - in HK, the Mainland & overseas.
I have just bought an inspiring little book - for someone special in Australia. Can lend it to friends in HK -
Healed of Cancer, by Jodie Osteen (see the reviews...)
Also: HK Friends battling cancer are welcome to join me for a simple sharing and prayer at 3pm on Sunday Feb 27.
Please email me for location: jdwomi@gmail.com

May the peace of Christmas give everyone hope and strength right through 2011!

John W omi

Congratulations England on thrashing Australia at cricket ! (groan...)

If you email me and don't receive a reply within 2 days, please send email again to john@china8.org or jdwomi@gmail.com
Maybe your message or my reply did not arrive

Diary 2010