Dated this day is the Traditional Chinese Dumpling Festival (Zong Zi- Traditional Chinese food). Here are some photos on the dumplings that I took (...and ate) during this year's Dumpling Festival:
My family's Dumplings
Above: Foreground: Dumplings with meat, Background: Dumpling with groundnuts and red bean (Dao Sa)
Zong Zi is a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. It is meant to honor Qu Yuan (340-278 BC.), the pioneer poet of ancient China.
Below is an excerpt that I found through the net:
"Qu Yuan was a famous poet who was also concerned about the fate of his government.
Qu Yuan (Source: Wikipedia)
Unfortunately his stature aroused the jealousy of the king, who banished him to a remote area.
The poet despaired of the government and its policies. When the state's capital was captured by enemies, he committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (on May 5th according to the Chinese lunar calendar).
The Chinese people felt this loss deeply, as he was a much beloved poet. Local folk searched for him in the river, meanwhile dropping dumplings of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves into the river in order to keep the fishes from attacking Qu Yuan's body.
Since that time, it has been customary on this day to enjoy Zong Zi dumplings as a memorial to the patriotic poet."
Similarly, Jesus Christ was under constant criticisms from the Jewish community (The Pharisees) during His ministry. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in the old testament- by making the ultimate sacrifice for our sins on the cross. But it didn't end just that way, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day! His death and resurrection conquered over both sin and death. Through faith in Him, can we then have eternal life with Him in Heaven. He will come again one day where there will be no more tears and sadness, (Isaiah 25:8) 'He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.'
There was once a quote from a Christian wallpaper stating: "At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ where evil did its worst and met its match." -John Wenham.
Below is another article written by the evangelist Billy Graham:
"Over the years I have talked to thousands of people who have asked me how to find their way to God. Some have sat in church pews all their lives but never come to personally know God. Others have sought for ultimate meaning in all sorts of ways but never found the peace of mind for which they were searching. Some simply realize that there is something vital missing in their lives.
The Bible teaches that this sense of lostness is rooted in the fact that we live in a fallen world in which we are all handicapped by a sin nature: we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). And despite our best efforts we are unable to remove the haunting weight of guilt that separates us from our Creator.
God sent his Son to solve our dilemma. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Jesus Christ made the way to God for us by his death on the Cross. He purchased our salvation by the shedding of his blood. His death and resurrection made a new and everlasting covenant between God and humanity.
Jesus told his disciples, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). He did not merely point the way to God. He himself claimed to be the only way to the Father and the source of eternal truth and life.
The way to God is through personal faith in Jesus Christ. Intellectual acceptance of Christ is not enough. You must come to him determined to turn from what displeases him, with a total trust in Christ's saving power for you.
Christ promises those who turn to him: "Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed from death to life" (John 5:24).
Today you can come to him by surrendering your life and heart to Christ. The Bible says: "To all who received him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
Right where you are you can pray something like this: "Lord, I know that I have sinned and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me and rose from the dead. I invite you into my life to be my Lord and Savior."
If you sincerely put your faith in Christ, God promises not only to forgive you, but also to receive you into his family. It's the greatest discovery you will ever make!"
Till then, take care and God bless.
Jesus loves you! :)
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