HONEY CURES

It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. A famous magazine named Weekly World News published in Canada dated 17 January 1995, had given a list of diseases than can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists. Honey can be used without any side effects for all kinds of diseases. Scientists of today also accept honey as Ram Ban (very effective) medicines for all kinds of diseases. Today’s science says that, even though honey is sweet, if taken at the right dosage as a medicine, it will not harm diabetic patients.

Arthritis

In a recent research done in Copenhagen University, the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of 1 tablespoon honey with half a teaspoon of Cinnamon powder before breakfast. They found that out of 200 people treated, 73 patients were totally relieved of pain within a month. Most of these patients could not walk or move around freely, but after the therapy, they started walking with less pain.

Make a paste of 1 part honey & 2 parts luke warm water and a small teaspoon Cinnamon powder. Massage itching part of body slowly.(Pain should recede within 15 minutes!)

Drink 1 cup of hot water mixed with 2 spoon of honey + 1 small teaspoon of Cinnamon powder everyday. (Can cure chronic arthritis!)<

Bad Breath

1st thing in morning gargle with 1 teaspoon honey + Cinnamon powder mixed in hot water. (Breath stays fresh throughout the day!)

Bladder Infections

Drink 1 teaspoon honey + 2 tablespoons Cinnamon powder in a glass of luke warm water. (It destroys germs of bladder!)<

Cancer
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully.

Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should take 1 tablespoon honey + 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder 3 times a day for 1 month. Continue with Oncologist’s treatment. (No Harm Lost!)

Cholesterol

As per information received in a Medical Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

2 tablespoons of honey + 3 teaspoons of Cinnamon powder in 16 ounces of tea. (Can reduce cholesterol level in blood by 10% within 2 hours! As for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, it lowers the cholesterol level.)

Colds

1 tablespoon honey in luke warm water mixed with ¼ teaspoon of Cinnamon powder for 3 days. (Can cure chronic cough, cold & clear sinuses!)Fatigue

Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful than detrimental to one’s body strength. Senior citizens who take honey and Cinnamon in equal parts are more alert and flexible.

Take daily before brushing ½ tablespoon honey in a glass of water sprinkled with Cinnamon powder. Drink another glass in afternoon around 3 pm. (Can increase vitality within a week!)

Hair Loss (even suffers from baldness)

Apply before bath a paste of hot olive oil + 1 tablespoon honey + 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder. Keep for @ 15 minutes. Then wash Hair.

Heart Diseases (improve blood flow)

In America and Canada, various nursing homes had treated their patients successfully with honey and Cinnamon, improving blood flow.

Make paste of honey & Cinnamon powder. Apply on bread. Eat regularly for breakfast. (Relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat.)

Immune System

Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

Daily use of honey and Cinnamon power strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.

Indigestion

Sprinkle Cinnamon powder on 2 tablespoon honey. Take before food.

Infertility

A couple in Maryland (USA) had no children for 14 years and left hope of having a child of their own. Both husband and wife started taking honey as stated below. The wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term !

For impotent men: before sleeping, take 2 tablespoons honey.

For women who do not conceive: take a pinch of Cinnamon powder in ½ teaspoon honey. Apply on the gums frequently throughout the day (slowly mixed with saliva enter the body)

Influenza

A scientist in Spain has proved that honey that contains a natural ingredient which kills influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

Longevity

4 spoons honey & 1 spoon Cinnamon powder in 3 cups water. Boil to make tea. Drink ¼ cup; 3 – 4 times a day. (Can keep skin fresh & soft. Also arrest old age!)Loss of Hearing

Take honey & Cinnamon in equal parts daily (Restore hearing)

Pimples

Make paste of 3 tablespoons honey & 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder. Apply on pimples before sleeping. Wash with warm water next morning for 2 weeks. (Can remove pimples from the root !)

Skin Infections

Apply honey & Cinnamon powder in equal parts on affected parts can cure Eczema, ringworms & all types of skin infections.

Stomach Upset

Honey taken with Cinnamon powder releases gas & pain in stomach, curing stomach aches & clear stomach ulcers from the root.

Toothache

Make paste of 5 teaspoons honey + 1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder. Apply to aching tooth 3 times a day till aching stops.

Weight Loss

Drink honey & Cinnamon powder, boiled in 1 cup water, every morning, in an empty stomach. Drink again ½ hour before sleeping.

Something to share….

Many of us in Jambi Regional Office have started taking pure honey taken from the pokok sialang quite close to our BPE kebun. The purchase was arranged through estate management of PT BBIP at Rp 30,000.00 per 1 liter bottle and its pureness has been guaranteed. I and Pak Leong KH were cheated once of buying honey mixed with brown sugar and egg white. We can buy a bottle of 35g Cinnamon (Kayu Manis) powder @ Rp 5,000.00 in any supermarkets or malls in town.

Honey is good for us. As it was written in Proverbs 24:13a & 25:16, God said,” My child, eat honey; it is good.” However, he warned,” Never eat more honey than you need; too much may make you vomit.” This has been explained by Dr Elizabeth Subrata, an Indoneisan Christian doctor, in her book “Rahasia Umur Panjang” (Secret of Long Life) that honey contains substance than will prohibit the intake of honey more than required to avoid the increase of glucose level in the blood.

She further talked about the benefits of honey:

• Honey contains several types of enzyme, minerals, 18 amino acids and vitamins which help in digestion, absorption and assimilation.

• Honey possesses more nutrients than other sugar products.

• Honey is able to destroy bacteria & other microorganism.

• Honey contains several natural antibiotics which have effective function of healing the infested open wounds.

Always replace white sugar with honey for health’s sake. No more soft drinks or syrup drinks. (Accordingly, a can of soft drink contains 6 teaspoons of sugar. This is harmful to the body especially for those people having high sugar content in their blood.)

29 Healthiest Foods On The Planet

The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet
The following is a "healthy food hot list" consisting of the 29 food that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for you caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet.

01. Apricots
The Power: Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage
and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin
A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin.
One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them
dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften,
they lose nutrients.

02. Avocados
The Power: Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall
cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One
slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few
slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.

03. Raspberries
The Power: Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These
berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which
helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60
calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat
yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food)with fresh berries.

04. Mango
The Power: A medium mango packs 57mg of vitamin C, almost your
whole recommended daily dose. This antioxidant helps prevent
arthritis and boosts wound healing and your immune system.
Mangoes also boast more than 8,000 IU of vitamin A (as
beta-carotene). One mango has 135 calories, 1 gram of fat
and 4 grams of fiber. Cut on up and serve it over leafy greens.
Bonus: Your salad will taste like dessert!

05. Cantaloupe
The Power: Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the
recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful
antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage.
Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium - almost twice as
much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a
melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber.
Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.

06. Cranberry Juice
The Power: Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful
bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat
and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrates and uses it to
spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.



07. Tomato
The Power: Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as
an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk
of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily.
A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle
fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed
when eaten with a little fat.

08. Raisins
The Power: These little gems are a great source of iron, which
helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short
on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber.
Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal- women,
consider this especially during your period.

09. Figs
The Power: A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain
vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting
serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention.
The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control,
make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48
calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers - fig bars
have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per
cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork
tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.

10. Lemons/Limes
The Power: Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which
help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber.
Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and
vegetables for fat free flavor.

VEGETABLES

11. Onions
The Power: Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids
(natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect
against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and
3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phytonutrient boost,
or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and
serve with rice or other vegetables.

12. Artichokes
The Power: These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an
antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help
control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and
7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes.
Squeeze lemon juice on top, and then pluck the leaves off with your
fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When
you get to the heart, you have found the best part!



13. Ginger
The Power: Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other
compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by
blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of
fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber.
Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.

14. Broccoli
The Power: Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect
against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and
beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3
grams of fiber. Don't overcook broccoli - instead, microwave or
steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on
top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients and some vitamin C.

15. Spinach
The Power: Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off
macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people.
Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse
some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of
fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or sauté with a little olive oil
and garlic.

16. Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage)
The Power: Brassinin, which some research suggests may help
prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which
lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled
weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg
of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement)
to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories,
0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer's produce
section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white
stalks, then sauté like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just
before serving.

17. Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn)
The Power: Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and
beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer.
One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of
fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave
until soft, then dust with cinnamon.

18. Watercress and Arugula
The Power: Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with betacarotene
and vitamins C and E may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has
around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these
leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a
pungent, peppery taste to salad.



19. Garlic
The Power: The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor
can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and
even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has
4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Bake a whole head for 15-20 minutes,
until soft and sweet and spread on bread instead of butter.

GRAINS/BEANS/NUTS

20. Quinoa
The Power: A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein,
more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin and magnesium.
A half-cup has 318 calories, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber.
Add to soup for a protein boost. Rinse first, or it will taste
bitter.

21. Wheat Germ
The Power: A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily
magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good
source of vitamin E. One tablespoon has 27 calories, 1 gram of
fat & 1gm of fiber. Sprinkle some over yogurt, fruit or cereal.

22. Lentils
The Power: Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast
cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of
protein per half cup. A half-cup (cooked) has 115 calories, 0 fat
and 8 grams of fiber. Isoflavones hold up through processing, so
buy lentils canned, dried or already in soup. Take them to work
and you will have a protein packed lunch.

23. Peanuts
The Power: Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain
mostly unsaturated "good" fat) can lower your heart-disease risk
by over 20%. One ounce has 166 calories, 14 grams of fat & 2
grams of fiber. Keep a packet in your briefcase, gym bag or purse
for a protein-packed post-workout nosh or an afternoon pick me up
that will satisfy you until supper, or chop a few into a stir-fry for
a Thai accent.




24. Pinto Beans
The Power: A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily
requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease
and reduces the risk of birth defects. A half-cup (canned) has
103 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Drain a can,
rinse and toss into a pot of vegetarian chili.

25. Low fat Yogurt
The Power: Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast
infections; calcium strengthens bones. A cup has 155 calories, 4
grams of fat, 0 grams of fiber. Get the plain kind and mix in
your own fruit to keep calories and sugar down. If you are
lactose intolerant, never fear - yogurt should not bother your tummy.

26. Skim Milk
The Power: Riboflavin (a.k.a. vitamin B2) is important for good vision
and along with vitamin A might help improve eczema and allergies.
Plus, you get calcium and vitamin D, too. One cup has 86 calories,
0 fat and 0 fiber. If you are used to high fat milk, don't go cold
turkey; instead, mix the two together at first. Trust this fact:
In a week or two you won't miss it!

SEAFOOD

27. Shellfish (Clams, Mussels)
The Power: Vitamin B12 to support nerve and brain function, plus
iron and hard to-get minerals like magnesium and potassium. Three
ounces has 126 to 146 calories, 2 to 4 grams of fat and 0 fiber.
Try a bowl of tomato-based (and low fat) Manhattan clam chowder.

28. Salmon
The Power: Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are the
best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of
cardiac disease. A 3-ounce portion (cooked) has 127 calories,
4 grams of fat, 0 fiber. Brush fillets with ginger-soy marinade and
grill or broil until fish flakes easily with a fork.

29. Crab
The Power: A great source of vitamin B12 and immunity-boosting
zinc. A 3-ounce portion has 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 fiber.
The "crab" in sushi is usually made from fish; buy it canned
instead and make your own crab cakes.

Something to share….

God is great. When God created human beings, He said,” I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat, but for all the wild animals and for all the birds I have provided grass and leafy plants for food.” (Genesis 1:29-30)

For a healthy living, we need to eat smart in balance, moderation and variety. I remember a Chinese saying on healthy eating, “Eat till 70% full”. In other words, do not overeat.

We must have a better choice of food on grains & cereals, beans and nuts, vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins & minerals. However, we are advised to eat right amount (neither too much nor too little) Complex Carbohydrate food at each meal. Try to avoid food of high fat & high cholesterol. Limit egg yolk to 3 – 4 per week but egg whites are allowed. Kampong chicken eggs are preferred. No salty food. No salted snacks food such as prawn crackers, potato crips, salted peanuts & groundnuts. Restrict to a cup of coffee & tea a day but not more than 2 cups. Instead, drink more water & Chinese tea (preferably green tea). For those who believe red wine is good for health, limit to one small grass (@125ml) a day.

Nevertheless, we need not be a vegetarian. I have come across guidelines for consumption of meat & seafood which are good protein source for a healthy eating:

Read lean meat (beef, mutton, pork): once a week
Seafood : once in 2 weeks
Chicken (remove skin & fat) : 2 – 3 times a week
Fish (high in omega-3 fatty acids) : > 3 times a week

Remember, we “EAT TO LIVE” and not “LIVE TO EAT”!

Fruit Juices Good For You

Something to share….

Besides acquiring the correct way of eating fresh fruits, I have also enjoyed drinking fresh fruit juices. All we need to do is to buy a citrus juice press, a blender and a juicer. We can mix all types of fruit to suit our taste and our health purpose as illustrated. In fact, with such a huge variety of fruits available, there are hundreds and even thousands of combinations possible!

I use a citrus juice press to squeeze citrus fruit such as a glass of fresh orange, or lemon, or grapefruit juice for my breakfast. Of course we can also mix oranges lemon or lime with red grapefruit for our breakfast and this mixture of citrus juice helps to supply energy quickly in the mornings.

With a blender, I have been enjoying drinking freshly blended papaya juice mixed with low fat milk, juice of avocado + honey, and mango juice.

To get the taste of fresh apple juice, pineapple juice, watermelon juice, carrot juice, or a mixed fruit juice (my favourite is a mix of green apple, green pepper, English gourd, bitter gourd and celery), a centrifuge juicer is normally used. It takes me only about 10 minutes to clean up after juicing.

With one fruit drink a day, we are actually eating about 3 to 5 fruits to fulfill our daily nutritious requirement. It is, therefore, advisable to acquire the good habit of drinking fresh fruit juice instead of taking soft drinks and sweetened drinks.

Apple Juice & Removal Of Gallstones

Something to share…..
Dr Lai Chiu Nan’s 6 Days apple juice treatment works wonderfully to remove gallstones in a natural way. I came to know this more than 10 years ago and many of my friends have benefited from this treatment without going for operation.

Ah Thien of Sabah almost had his gallbladder operated in the hospital in 1996. When we met up in Sandakan just few days before his operation appointment, he gave it a try when I told him about this apple juice treatment. To convince him, I called Loke YF (exIOI manager) in JB to tell him personally over the phone the beneficial experience of this apple juice treatment. The doctor was surprised of the disappearance of gallstones when Ah Thien went to the hospital for re-examination. He passed on this good news to his friends and relatives so much so that whenever a person wanted to buy Epsom salt from the pharmacy, straight away they knew that it’s for removal of gallstones treatment.

Lee MK (JCC manager) also drank the apple juice and passed out the gallstones. One day Alan Yap of Lahad Datu called me and asked for the apple juice treatment for his Indonesian mandore who refused to go for operation. According to Alan, his worker suffered great pain and could hardly walk. One week later, Alan called again saying that his worker still suffered the pain. I told Allan to bring his worker to see Lee MK who could witness to him so that he would repeat the 6 Days treatment one more time. Later I received good news from Allan that his worker was able to walk without pain after passing out the gallstones. No operation was required. Lee also told me that the worker thanked him many times whenever they met each other in Lahad Datu town for the encouragement and confidence given to him.

On 4/10/2005 when I and my family visited David Vun, my old friend, in Sydney, Australia I told him and his wife about this apple juice treatment. After my return to Malaysia, he asked me to email him the write up of the treatment. Later he told me that it worked and he had passed on to his friends and relatives.

To be more effective, drink green apple juice. You can buy 100% pure apple juice from supermarket in 2 liters packing. The treatment needs 6 liters only (4 x 250ml = 1 liter per day). Nevertheless, do include apple juice as one of your daily drinks. It’s good for you.

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

Gallstones may not be everyone's concern but may lead to cancer. We all have them (big or small, many or few). "Cancer is never the 1st illness. There are a lot of other problems leading to cancer. I came across some materials stating that people with cancer usually had stones,” said Dr Lee of China.

One symptom of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal as if you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area." Dr Lee offers the apple juice treatment which is good for those with a weak liver. Liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

1) Drink 1 glass (250ml) 100% apple juice 4 times a day for 5 days. 1 glass at breakfast, 1 glass at unch, 1 glass at dinner & 1 glass before going to bed. It softens the gallstones. Eat normally.

2) On the 6th day, skip dinner. At 6pm, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water. At 8 PM, repeat the same for purging purpose. It helps to flush out all solid stuff. It also opens the gallbladder ducts. At 10 PM, drink half a glass of olive oil mixed with half a glass of lemon juice. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage. Lemon juice helps to extract the stones out from gallbladder ducts.

Soon you will purge again. This time you can find greenish stuff floating in your toilet bowl, if you have gallstones. "You may want to count them. I have had people who passed out 40, 50 or up to 100 stones.” as told by Br Lee. "Even if you don’t have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up every now and then.”

Aging Beautifully & Gracefully

Talking of aging beautifully and gracefully, I would like to share an article (written by Lydia K Kristanto) which was emailed to me by Albert Teh, a true brother in Christ. The message is clear, “old age without God can produce bitterness, loneliness, and hopelessness.” God provides us joy, strength, hope, and comfort.

In Psalms 92: 12a, 13a & 14, it was written,” The righteous will flourish like palm trees. They are like trees planted in the house of the LORD, that still bear fruit in old age, and are always green and strong.” In Proverbs 16:31, it was written,” Long life is the reward of the righteous; grey hair is a glorious crown.”

How true it is that “aging is a basis for hope (not a reason for despair), a gradual maturing (not a slow decaying), and a chance to be embraced (not a fate to be undergone).”

AGING BEAUTIFULLY: A Homemaker’s Reflection

These days I keep on wondering whether my body parts are breaking down. When I walk, I could hear my knee joints creaking. My right hand loses the strength to carry a pail of water. The fingers do not seem to obey instructions anymore. They get locked at their pleasure, any time and any place. It throws me into panic especially while I am driving. Suddenly I can’t move the steering wheel without much pain. But the most frightening part is losing the power to remember. It translates to leaving the front door unlocked the whole night, forgetting to switch off the gas stove, the table fan, and taking medicines on time. Names and words come to mind as trickles of water during rationing. Recently I can’t even remember my own cell phone number. Slowly but steadily, I have to admit that aging at last has set in. That brings to mind the slogan which is used to comfort the middle-aged: The best is yet to come. What a mockery!

The Reality of Aging

The process of aging begins when one is born. But different terms are used to describe the manners of growth. A baby is developing into a child, a child is growing into a teenager, and a teenager is maturing into an adult. But when one hits mid-life, the evolution is called aging.

The Preacher painted a chilling picture in Ecclesiastes 12 of what it means to grow old.

The light of the sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too. And when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white-haired, and withered, dragging along without any sexual desire. You will be standing at death’s door. (NLT)

Then I stumbled into a more frightening picture as I read Henri J.M. Nouwen and Walter J. Gaffney’s book on ‘Aging: The Fulfilment of Life’. I was struck at their usage of Isaiah 53. 2-4 to describe the plight of marginalised aged people.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Now and then, our newspapers display the pictures of centenarians celebrating their birthdays accompanied by institutional care givers. Most often, they are females. I must admit that the scenes do not give me an incentive to live so long. Staring at my eyes are faces of loneliness, life-weary gazes and end results of rejection. I commented to my husband, “If I have to be that old, I want to be mobile and look as good as I am today.” I realise it is everybody’s impossible dream.

Behind the toothless smile, the deep-set eyes framed by the hollowed cheeks speak volumes of sad events. The faraway haunting look mourns the loss of loved ones, the loss of one’s faculties, and the loss of dreams and everything familiar. At the same time, the dim eyes see the impending perils and uncertainties which will descend on the present generation. But they would not hear of it.

Age-defying Culture

Two years ago, I went for a photo-shot with my eighteen-year old daughter. “Seventeen,” a magazine for teenagers wanted our picture together besides the short word of appreciation which my daughter wrote for Mother’s Day. After the photo session was over, the young lady in-charge asked me some data about myself. When I told her that I was 61, she almost fell off her chair. As she looked at me in disbelief, I offered to show my IC. That incident made my day.

Why did I feel so good? Was it the fact that for one moment in time I won the age-defying game? The quest for eternal youth has been as old as human civilisation. The pursuit of physical perfection is relentless. Almost daily, we are bombarded with new health and beauty products which feed our vanity. The surgeon’s scalpels will be able to give us our dream face and body. Pharmaceutical companies compete to deliver better and safer Viagra-type of products for both men and women.

On September 21, 2005, the Malay Mail printed an article on “The Ugly Side of Beauty” by Paul Bracchi. He mentioned the usage of skin from executed Chinese criminal being used in ‘lip and anti-wrinkle’ products. If you covet thick and luxuriant hair, it is available in fashionable London for RM4, 000.00 This ‘Virgin Russian hair’ is obtained from children in Siberia for RM9.50, as they need money for food. Women who seek abortion and are willing to wait until the foetus is five-month old will receive payment. The nutrient-rich umbilical cords and placentas of aborted foetuses become vital ingredients to promote regeneration and repair.

How far does our present age-defying culture go? The latest mention in the news is the vocal cords-lift. What’s the use of having the looks of a person half your age, when your voice is croaking and quavering?

Aging with Enthusiasm

At present Malaysia has about 1.1 million people aged 60 years and above. The reality of aging can be very painful when one’s resources are very limited. Only a fraction can afford the luxury of age-defying offerings. But the Bible provides the best remedies to age beautifully.

The Preacher in Ecclesiastes has a word for caution for younger people. “Do not let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honour him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living.” (12.1) His words contain the truth that old age without God can produce bitterness, loneliness, and hopelessness.

Simeon was an old man who lived in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. It means God was his joy, his strength, his hope and his comfort. As his body weakened, his spirit grew stronger. He believed he would not die until his eyes saw the Saviour of the world. God had made that promise to him. With enthusiasm, he looked forward to the day when God’s words became a reality. Faithfully he lived year by year honouring and worshipping God. On the very day when Mary and Joseph presented baby Jesus in the Temple, Simeon was there. He took the baby in his arms and sang his song of thanksgiving and praise.

Going through old age with zest is hard unless God helps us. One of the fears in my life is to be cynical in old age. It will lead to suspicions and withdrawal from the community. Let the world sink if need be, I could not care less. But then God calls his children, young and old, to be his salt and light. I have no option to be anything less. If the Lord is my everlasting light, I have to radiate his light with my life. Each new day becomes like a gift parcel. With eager fingers I unwrap it and wonder, “What is inside?”

Aging with Grace

On the day when baby Jesus was presented in the Temple, Anna, a prophetess was also there to witness the wonderful grace of God. She was eighty-four years old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer. When she saw the baby, she began to praise God. After that, she spoke about Jesus to all who had been waiting for the arrival of the promised King.

Anna is a picture of a person receiving and giving grace. At a relatively young age, she became a widow. Living without the head of the family is a harsh reality. The Old Testament records that God has special care for widows. He makes special provision for them in the Book of the Law. No one is to oppress them or take advantage of their helplessness. He is their defender and protector.

Being a recipient of God’s grace, Anna dispensed grace to those who came to the Temple. We could almost imagine her, moving among the worshippers comforting and strengthening them with God’s word and her gentle touch.

Instead of being sad and bitter, Anna becomes God’s tool of blessing. Our younger generation needs to value the older people in their community. They are the bridge linking the past and the future. Their rich experiences and wisdom will be forever lost if there is no willing listeners.

Aging with Dignity

The last chapter of Deuteronomy recorded that “Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” For the past two weeks before that, he was addressing the second generation of Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This was the group of people who had never seen the display of God’s glory in Mt. Sinai nor heard his voice. To make it easier to remember the laws and regulations on how to live as God’s people among idolatrous nations, Moses compressed them into a song.

What makes Moses alert to the end? Being a shepherd for forty years? A forty-year walk in the wilderness? Listening to God for instructions? Teaching and minding the wayward and stubborn people?

It’s all of them. The physical hardship shaped his strength and stamina. The time spent with God strengthened and enabled Him to lead His difficult people. Moses began his ministry by asking the Lord to send someone else to do the job. He ended as the prophet whom the Lord knew face to face.

With God’s help, I echo the belief of the authors of ‘Aging: The Fulfillment of Life’ that “aging is not a reason for despair but a basis for hope, not a slow decaying but a gradual maturing, not a fate to be undergone but a chance to be embraced.”

Is the best yet to come? Yes!

About the author (Lydia K Kristato):

She is savouring her golden years pottering around the house she shares with her husband and daughter. It includes cooking up tales on her computer screen and preparing messages.

Worry About Aging?

If you already have these 5 foods in your daily diets, that’s fine. If not, do hurry to include them in your routine diets. As we are getting older in age, we do not wish to age fast. So we need to get proper advice on the right type of foods to partake to slow down aging. I believe all of us want to age beautifully and gracefully.

Recently I used to share a Chinese saying with my friends. It says,” Health is wealth. No illness is happiness.” How true it is! Eat the right foods to strengthen our immune system so that we will seldom get sick. Stay healthy and look good. That’s our wealth!