One of the most underestimated attributes of God is His capacity to forgive.
"The Forgiveness of God", Pastor Jeff
How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only son, to make a wretch his treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turned his face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one, bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon his shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; his death and resurrection
Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: his wounds have paid my ransom
Written by Stuart Townend
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
CCLI #1596342
Album: I Could Sing of Your Love Forever 2
"I am an old man," [Winston] Churchill said several times during the conversation [with Billy Graham], "without any hope for the world. What hope do you have, young man?" Churchill pointed to the newspapers lying on the table and remarked that they were filled with reports of things that he said rarely happened when he was young: murders, rapes, and other major crimes. [...]
Graham, evangelist to the core, could not pass up an opportunity to share the gospel with the Western world's most famous leader. "Are you without hope for your own soul's salvation?" Graham asked, perhaps surprising himself with his boldness.
"Frankly, I think about that a great deal," replied Churchill.
"Mr. Prime Minister, I am filled with hope," Graham said exuberantly.
Producing his pocket New Testament, Graham then went through various verses pointing to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Churchill listened attentively. Then, exactly forty minutes after the meeting was scheduled to end, Churchill indicated that it was time to bring things to a close. Getting up, he shuffled toward the door, concluding his own melancholy reflections with the pronouncement, "I do not see much hope for the future unless it is the hope you are talking about, young man. We must have a return to God."
"Billy Graham: His Life and Influence", pg. 92-93
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love
Take my lips and let them speak
Of Thy gospel of everlasting peace
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
"The world has yet to see what God can do with and through and in a man who is fully consecrated to Him."
Henry Varley
"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
tk God
i attended an old friend's wedding in the morning
then went off for NURTURE programme - a comcare programme working with kids
then helped a bro with some website tt we're setting up for a missions team in south america
then went for CG where we had a sumptous pasta dinner followed by planning for our Christmas outreach
John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
"One question, therefore, is: How do we balance between being culturally relevant but being doctrinally pure? Blending in with our culture, but not bending our values?
How do we make an impact in this society and our generation for Christ?"
This week I read a book by a Japanese wartime hero Mamuro Shinozaki.
He was working in Singapore before the Japanese occupation. The ruling British police suspected him to be a spy for the Japanese and put him into jail without trial. He was in prison for a few years before the Japanese arrived.
When the Japanese occupied Singapore, he was released and given a role in the welfare department in the government. The Japanese see the Chinese and Eurasion people as threat to their rule and treat them as enemies so much so there were much brutality and mistreatment of them during the occupation. Shinozaki didn’t approve of such treatment of people. In his time in the government, he freely gave out good citizen passes to everyone who ask of him. These passes ensures its holder protection by and from the Japanese Military Government. It didn’t matter to him who asked for these passes as he gave freely because of his greater value of mercy. He gave out thousands of such passes and saved the lives of that number of people. The act didn’t really go well with his Japanese comrades.
He set up organisations to try and get prominent Chinese and Eurasian leaders to sit in their offices. The idea is that if these organisations are official setups of the Japanese government, they becomes a safe haven for its members. During that time, a lot of these prominent leaders were caught, jailed and put on trial for very severe sentences. He successfully set up the infamous ‘Overseas Chinese Assocation’ and save many lives eg. Dr. Lim Boon Keng and many others. This was a risky move that didn’t put him in good books of others.
At the end of the war, when the Japanese surrendered and the British returned, many top officials in the japanese regime was put into prison and charged with war crimes. Shinozaki was one of them. However it wasn’t long until people came to testify for him and recognised all his good work during the war. He was set free and even given honor and work with the government. It didn’t matter that people said he was a traitor and a spineless man, he did the right thing. He honored lives of people and stood by grace and mercy more than his job and duty. He returned to Japan and recently came back to visit Singapore a great hero.
Shinozaki showed us what ‘mercy’ and ‘grace’ look like in times of adversity. Even at the cost of popularity and his own neck, he helped those who are helpless and show us an example of someone who gives mercy easily.
His life made a difference to thousands. What about ours?
"Benny Hinn? Wow! That's nice... you know, I received Christ at one of his rallies back in secondary school."We went on to other topics, and had a great time of sharing.
"Actually, I don't think I may go for his session... because I've heard that he's currently under investigation..."
"Huh? Oh man... Is that true?"
We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
That shall turn their hearts to the right,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
A story of peace and light.
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
And the dawning to noonday bright;
And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
The kingdom of love and light.
We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
Who the path of sorrow has trod,
That all of the world’s great peoples
Might come to the truth of God,
Might come to the truth of God.
"Only one life, and soon it will pass;
only what's done for Christ will last."
"The SOLD Project is a grassroots organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals to stop child prostitution before it begins."
A couple of months ago, a representative from Rotary International approached us with an invitation to participate in their UN Youth Day, held in New York City at the United Nations building. This annual event was created to inspire high school students to make positive changes in the world by connecting them with proactive organizations (like SOLD) that they can partner with and support.
I flew to New York earlier on this month and made a presentation about SOLD's education scholarship program on November 8th to an audience of 700 people. After I spoke, I was approached by many young people in the metropolitan area, all of whom were interested in joining The SOLD Project.
Overall, the trip was a huge success. Being invited to talk about ANYTHING at the United Nations when your non profit has only been around for a year is pretty incredible.
On a more personal note, the trip was significant for me because my #1 life goal, my loftiest dream, the most unreachable and unlikely honor I could think of, was to speak at the UN. It encapsulates everything that I stand for in terms of foreign diplomacy and effectively making changes. I still can not believe that SOLD made it possible.
So don't EVER tell yourself that the #1 thing on your "things to do before you die" list is unattainable . I crossed mine off on the evening of September 8th and I'm only 22.
The problem is not that we think our dreams are too big for God.
The problem is that we think our God is too small for our dreams.
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The significance of epistolary greetings goes beyond identifying author and audience; it is more than saying hello. The author's salutation, however conventional and formal, specifies the nature of the relationship between author and audience and even draws lines around the conversation being carried on by the letter in hand. Meanings are more readily and rightly determined in terms of this "rhetorical relationship" formulated by the letter's opening words. Thus, Philemon and the others mentioned in verse 2 hear the following request for Onesimus's restoration in terms of Paul, whose importance (and therefore the legitimacy of his appeal) is made clear by his opening self-introduction: the author is a prisoner of Christ Jesus. It is a claim so important to Paul's purpose that he repeats it thrice in the body of this very short letter (vv. 9, 13, 23).
Paul's first audience is also made clear by his greeting. His address establishes an intimacy, even solidarity, with his readers--they are "dear brothers and sisters" and "coworkers and soldiers"--that can only increase the impact of his request and enhance the prospect of its compliance. And while it is true that Paul's salutation, found in verse 3, is rather conventional, it does present his essential understanding of what it means to belong to the church. He writes for the true Israel of God--an inclusive community called out of the world by the preaching of the gospel in order to bear witness to God's salvation within the world order (see commentary on Col 1:2). That is, the readers of Paul's letter must finally understand his subsequent request for Onesimus's restoration to reflect what it means to be the church and to do as the church ought.The Author (1:1)
Paul's introduction of himself is both similar and dissimilar to his Colossians greeting (Col 1:1-2). As before, he refers to Timothy as his cowriter (in some sense) and calls him brother (see commentary on Col 1:1). Unlike Colossians, where Paul cites his apostolic credentials to give his subsequent polemic greater legitimacy, he refers to himself here as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, thus introducing immediately an important motif for the rest of his letter (see introduction). Certainly, Paul intends to convey more than his historical situation (contra O'Brien 1983:271); in fact, he is not first of all a prisoner of Rome but a prisoner of Christ Jesus. His appellation interprets his literal imprisonment as a worshipful act--an act of devotion to Christ, of obedience to his calling. Paul does not appeal to his apostolic office (see vv. 8-10), not because it might offend his readership, close friends all (contra Melick 1991:348), but because the personal costs exacted by his imprisonment "allow him to speak to the community with greater authority" (Lohse 1971:189).
The use of prisoner without the article is unusual and may suggest that Paul uses it as part of his proper name, which regularly is given without an article (Harris 1991:244). Since added names suggest the nature of a person's calling (Jesus is "Savior," Peter is "Rock"), Paul may well identify himself as Christ's prisoner to indicate the very substance of his missionary task and its costs. Further, he may be implying that the costliness of Christian ministry is the result of the revolutionary content of his message, thereby preparing Philemon for the revolutionary character of Paul's request of him. Paul's message bears witness to a new social order, and for that reason he finds himself in jail. This prepares us, then, for a radical word concerning the relations between a Roman slave and his owner.
While Paul's imprisonment represents his missionary identity, it is Jesus for whom Paul is imprisoned. The response Paul strongly desires from Philemon springs from his orientation toward discipleship: because of Christ Jesus, Philemon should respond favorably toward Onesimus, even though it may be costly and at odds with the surrounding social order.The Audience (1: 1-2)
As the first person mentioned, Philemon is Paul's principal addressee. J. Knox contended that Paul's principal addressee is rather Archippus; his opinion, however, has not been accepted by scholars (see introduction; also see O'Brien 1983:266). Perhaps Philemon is named first because he is the patron of the household church that meets in his home and not because Paul's request will be directed primarily to him. Yet Paul's affectionate greeting of him as dear friend and fellow worker suggests a more significant intent. Actually, "dear friend" translates a single word, agapetos, "beloved one." Elsewhere in his writings Paul uses this as a term of affection for believers (Rom 1:7) and congregations (Phil 2:12). Paul further refers to Philemon as a fellow worker, which identifies him as one among others (see v. 24) who worked with Paul in the Gentile mission.
In his epistolary greetings, Paul's view of his addressees largely determines what is said to them and how they are treated. Paul views Philemon as a trusted and dear colleague and treats him as a peer and friend. Precisely this same attitude undergirds Paul's request that Philemon view the slave Onesimus as a brother and partner in faith.
Certainly, however, Philemon is not Paul's only addressee. Two other names are mentioned, Apphia our sister and Archippus, along with the church that meets in [Philemon's] home. The exact identities of Apphia and Archippus are unknown. Most scholars speculate that Apphia is Philemon's wife; her name is Phrygian, she is a Christian sister, known to Paul, and Paul places her name alongside Philemon's in the address (Lightfoot 1876:306-8). Probably this Archippus is the one mentioned in Colossians 4:17, where Paul's cryptic exhortation suggests that he has fallen prey to the Colossian "philosophy" (see commentary on Col 4:17). The reference to him here as a fellow soldier tells a different story. According to O'Brien, the term Paul uses to address Archippus designates him as one who has "played an important part in assisting Paul in his missionary labors, and has faithfully stood at his side through persecution and trial--perhaps even imprisonment" (O'Brien 1983:273).
Paul's reference to the household church is important for two reasons. In the rhetorical pattern of this letter, Paul's opening address establishes an important contrast between a secular household, where slaves are an underclass and often exploited, and the Christian household or church, where slaves are loved and treated as equal partners in the faith. Also, Paul's reference to a household church reminds the contemporary reader that believers first met in private homes rather than in buildings in the public square. We should not suppose that living rooms are somehow better places to worship God than downtown sanctuaries. I am reminded of John's great vision of the New Jerusalem, in which he noted that he saw no temple during his tour of the city because "God and the Lamb are its temple" (Rev 21:22). Worship is not determined by places or buildings but by the spiritual vitality of the relationships between a people, God and the Lamb. In fact, Paul's reference to Philemon's house church may well indicate that Christianity was still an unofficial, underground religious movement in Colosse, or that it was such a new work that a social structure had not yet been fashioned. Nevertheless, Paul addresses his readers as the church, composed of people whom God has called out of the world for salvation.The Greeting (1:3)
Paul's conventional greeting finally comes in verse 3, and as usual contains both the traditional Greek salutation, grace (charis), and the traditional Jewish salutation, peace (eirene shalom). The theological point Paul's greeting makes is that for him the church of God includes every believer, whether Jew or Greek (see commentary on Col 1:2). In Philemon Paul adds the phrase and the Lord Jesus Christ (which many ancient manuscripts add to Colossians 1:2 as well) to indicate that the congregation receives its salvation-creating grace and its experience of "peace with God" from God through Christ (see Rom 5:1-11).
Peter Truong’s session with Hopekids Core Team
Date: 16 Nov 2008
Time: 2pm
Venue: Asia Room, Nexus
Word for Yeu Ann:
From Peter Truong:
- God will use you as a man after God’s heart
- You are a man who desires to please God
- Continue to serve Him – you will have big impact
- Avail yourself
- God has more in store for you as you are faithful in the small things
- Do not despise the small beginnings
- God will train and equip you. Keep close to God
From Hong Teck:
- Continue to look to him.
- God has a great purpose for you.
- Do not look at your shortfalls, your handicaps – look for God’s purpose
- Your story will be an encouragement to many
- What you have is good – continue to persevere and hold on to it.
- You will be like a small seed which grows into a big tree
- Don’t depend on yourself
- Take one step forward each day
This movie, with its locked camera style, is basically the reproduction of a dream one of us had early one morning in 2006. It has been said that "Life is a stage." In this story, a railway platform becomes the stage for every significant event in a man's life. However, the purpose of being on the railway platform is lost to the main character...
"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." - Paul
I’ve yet to hear anyone come up to me and say that unbridled enthusiasm and unabashed passion failed to make an impact in their ministry. I’ve yet to hear that people don’t feel the difference when they see genuine and sincere effort. I’ve yet to hear anyone tell me that God didn’t deliver when His people went all out for His cause.
Until and unless I’ve been proven wrong in this, you can call me boring, obstinate or even stuck in the past. But I’m going to be a seed-sowing fool, because I know that God isn’t half as pleased at the cleverness of my plans, as compared to the works of my hands.
Almost the next moment a wonderful thing happened. She heard a soft little rushing flight through the air—and it was the bird with the red breast flying to them, and he actually alighted on the big clod of earth quite near to the gardener's foot.
"Here he is," chuckled the old man, and then he spoke to the bird as if he were speaking to a child.
"Where has tha' been, tha' cheeky little beggar?" he said. "I've not seen thee before to-day. Has tha' begun tha' courtin' this early in th' season? Tha'rt too forrad."
The bird put his tiny head on one side and looked up at him with his soft bright eye which was like a black dewdrop. He seemed quite familiar and not the least afraid. He hopped about and pecked the earth briskly, looking for seeds and insects. It actually gave Mary a queer feeling in her heart, because he was so pretty and cheerful and seemed so like a person. He had a tiny plump body and a delicate beak, and slender delicate legs.
"Will he always come when you call him?" she asked almost in a whisper.
"Aye, that he will. I've knowed him ever since he was a fledgling. He come out of th' nest in th' other garden an' when first he flew over th'[Pg 49] wall he was too weak to fly back for a few days an' we got friendly. When he went over th' wall again th' rest of th' brood was gone an' he was lonely an' he come back to me."
"What kind of a bird is he?" Mary asked.
"Doesn't tha' know? He's a robin redbreast an' they're th' friendliest, curiousest birds alive. They're almost as friendly as dogs—if you know how to get on with 'em. Watch him peckin' about there an' lookin' round at us now an' again. He knows we're talkin' about him."
It was the queerest thing in the world to see the old fellow. He looked at the plump little scarlet-waistcoated bird as if he were both proud and fond of him.
"He's a conceited one," he chuckled. "He likes to hear folk talk about him. An' curious—bless me, there never was his like for curiosity an' meddlin'. He's always comin' to see what I'm plantin'. He knows all th' things Mester Craven never troubles hissel' to find out. He's th' head gardener, he is."
The robin hopped about busily pecking the soil and now and then stopped and looked at them a little. Mary thought his black dewdrop eyes gazed at her with great curiosity. It really seemed as if he were finding out all about her. The queer feeling in her heart increased.[Pg 50]
"Where did the rest of the brood fly to?" she asked.
"There's no knowin'. The old ones turn 'em out o' their nest an' make 'em fly an' they're scattered before you know it. This one was a knowin' one an' he knew he was lonely."
Mistress Mary went a step nearer to the robin and looked at him very hard.
"I'm lonely," she said.
She had not known before that this was one of the things which made her feel sour and cross. She seemed to find it out when the robin looked at her and she looked at the robin.
The old gardener pushed his cap back on his bald head and stared at her a minute.
"Art tha' th' little wench from India?" he asked.
Mary nodded.
"Then no wonder tha'rt lonely. Tha'lt be lonelier before tha's done," he said.
He began to dig again, driving his spade deep into the rich black garden soil while the robin hopped about very busily employed.
"What is your name?" Mary inquired.
He stood up to answer her.
"Ben Weatherstaff," he answered, and then he added with a surly chuckle, "I'm lonely mysel'[Pg 51] except when he's with me," and he jerked his thumb toward the robin. "He's th' only friend I've got."
"I have no friends at all," said Mary. "I never had. My Ayah didn't like me and I never played with any one."
It is a Yorkshire habit to say what you think with blunt frankness, and old Ben Weatherstaff was a Yorkshire moor man.
"Tha' an' me are a good bit alike," he said. "We was wove out of th' same cloth. We're neither of us good lookin' an' we're both of us as sour as we look. We've got the same nasty tempers, both of us, I'll warrant."
This was plain speaking, and Mary Lennox had never heard the truth about herself in her life. Native servants always salaamed and submitted to you, whatever you did. She had never thought much about her looks, but she wondered if she was as unattractive as Ben Weatherstaff and she also wondered if she looked as sour as he had looked before the robin came. She actually began to wonder also if she was "nasty tempered." She felt uncomfortable.
Suddenly a clear rippling little sound broke out near her and she turned round. She was standing a few feet from a young apple-tree and the robin [Pg 52]had flown on to one of its branches and had burst out into a scrap of a song. Ben Weatherstaff laughed outright.
"What did he do that for?" asked Mary.
"He's made up his mind to make friends with thee," replied Ben. "Dang me if he hasn't took a fancy to thee."
"To me?" said Mary, and she moved toward the little tree softly and looked up.
"Would you make friends with me?" she said to the robin just as if she was speaking to a person. "Would you?" And she did not say it either in her hard little voice or in her imperious Indian voice, but in a tone so soft and eager and coaxing that Ben Weatherstaff was as surprised as she had been when she heard him whistle.
"Why," he cried out, "tha' said that as nice an' human as if tha' was a real child instead of a sharp old woman. Tha' said it almost like Dickon talks to his wild things on th' moor."
Youths have the hearts to change the world.
Adults have the hands to change the world.
Youths have the will to change the world.
Adults have the power to change the world.
The good thing is that no one is incapable.
The sad thing is most faith-filled youths evolve into “realistic” adults.
The tricky thing is figuring out how to have child-like adults.
"Amazing: Well, you really amazes me, after all your disappointments and difficulties of various kinds, you juz keep going. Really hats off. This is one area i see God really working strongly in your life. HE makes you amazing.":) Yah, thank God truly. Not I, but Christ, who lives in me! :)
Hey juz 2 let u know i did sleep better last nite, not sure if it's due 2 e session.. Will monitor e situation :)So I asked him how long he managed to sleep. He said that the previous few days he had been sleeping 3 hours, but yesterday he managed to sleep 5 hours. Amazing. Must be the power of God at work.
When I was youngOld songs are so sweet. Timeless. =) My mum sometimes sing this song, and I sit to listen to her sing a generation ago.
I'd listen to the radio
Waitin' for my favorite songs
When they played I'd sing along
It made me smile.
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well.
Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-o-wo-o
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're startin' to sing's
So fine.
"Consider Obama. His childhood... how he was so ordinary, and how he grew up in this place and that, went through many challenges to where he is now. Who'd have imagined that he'd become the President of the United States one day?"And he smiled and said, "You may be stronger than you think you are."
- She walks in beauty, like the night
- Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
- And all that's best of dark and bright
- Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
- Thus mellowed to that tender light
- Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
- One shade the more, one ray the less,
- Had half impaired the nameless grace
- Which waves in every raven tress,
- Or softly lightens o'er her face;
- Where thoughts serenely sweet express
- How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
- And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
- So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
- The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
- But tell of days in goodness spent,
- A mind at peace with all below,
- A heart whose love is innocent!
George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788 – 1824)
He gave to a tired and discouraged nation, words of hope to lift them up to face the challenges ahead. No, the situation hasn't changed. 2 ongoing wars. The worst financial crisis in a century. But what has changed is the people's heart, hearts that rally together, desiring change and a better life for themselves, their children and the world.
OBAMA: This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing:
Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
AUDIENCE: Yes we can.
OBAMA: When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
AUDIENCE: Yes we can.
OBAMA: She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.
AUDIENCE: Yes we can.
OBAMA: A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.
And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
AUDIENCE: Yes we can.
OBAMA: America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
(From "Text of Democrat Barack Obama's speech in Chicago after winning the presidential election", The Straits Times 5 Nov 2008.)
