Berita NECF Newletters

Thosai, Anyone? & Other Observations

Description: By Goh Poh Gaik

My favourite breakfast is a tall glass of fresh apple juice. Not from a carton, not diluted, not sweetened. Just juice straight from the juicer, a glassful of apple goodness. But on days when I veer from this pectin-packed healthy breakfast drink, my next favourite breakfast has to be the thosai served with dhall curry. When it comes to ordering the thosai, the selection would unnerve a novice. Here’s the variety.

Would you like a thosai special, a masala thosai, a special masala thosai or a paper thosai? Or perhaps you’d prefer a crown thosai or a rawa thosai? Or how about a thosai sardin or if you’re wanting some fruit thrown in, you might want a thosai banana?

My choice? Just the thosai biasa, please. The real stuff. Original and solid. That’s the way I like it.

Just the other day, I went into a couple of bookrooms in town on a mission to buy a Bible for my brother who does not yet know Jesus as his Saviour. The selection of Bibles available totally wipes out the challenge of the thosai varieties. Consider this list. You want to buy a Bible? Which one would you like?

The Life Application Bible?
The Fruit of the Spirit Bible?
The Life and Times Historical Reference Bible?
The Cornerstone Personal Reference Bible?
The Marriage Devotional Bible?
The Women of Destiny Bible?
The Knowing Jesus Bible?
The Serendipity Bible?
The Rainbow Study Bible?
The Light Up Bible?
The Spirit-Filled Life Bible?
The Reflecting God Study Bible?
The Men’s Bible?
The Women’s Study Bible?
The Open Bible?
The New Open Bible?
The Pastor’s Bible?
The NIV Worship Bible?
The Teen Bible?
The Extreme Teen Bible?
The Smallest Bible?

Whew! Talk about being spoilt for choice. Actually, I was so baffled I took down this list and left without making a purchase. A number of questions raced through my mind. What’s a Spirit-filled Bible anyway? And the fruit of the Spirit Bible? What we all need is a copy of the Word of God. The real stuff. A trustworthy translation. And as we read with open hearts, the Spirit of God will instruct us in the ways of the Lord. I’ll just go back in and purchase a copy of the Word of God.


"You blink an eye and the boy is gone." I recall this line from a Tom Sawyer film I watched years ago. And so it is. Before you know it, the boy tugging at your clothes, inviting you to catch ball with him is standing taller than you. He won’t need you to cross the road to accompany him to buy chewing gum, he won’t want to snuggle close while you read him the same story for the ninth time.

To all mothers and aunties, take time to enjoy the children while they are small. Bonding that takes place in the early years prepares the ground for happy and fulfilling friendships in the later years of young adulthood.

Take time during this holiday season for family fun and togetherness. Last Chinese New Year, while back home in Penang, I played boisterous games of Taboo and Outburst! with my young adult nephews, nieces-in-law and niece. We whooped and shouted; many times we collapsed in laughter. I remember the days when they were children and we played Ludo and Flying Hats and Catch the Mouse. Now they are all grown up and taking decisive strides as disciples of the Lord Jesus. Their friendship has enriched my life.

Have a blessed New Year. May it be a year of Jesus-directed decisions!



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