Tuesday, December 28, 2010

28-12-10 (Tuesday) “For readers above 18 yrs old only”

… But who are we kidding? The more restrictions there are, the more you’re inclined to cross it, right? So even if you’re NOT 18 years old, you’re still gonna read ahead. I think this probably will be of some concern to you nowadays since we all do a lot of stuff illegally, before we hit the legal age.

This is all about SEX.

It would’ve caught your attention even without me putting in capitals, right?

I’m just gonna be saying what many people have said before me. If you haven’t heard it before, I hope you ponder over it and decide its truth for yourself. If you have heard it, I hope this serves as a reminder to you.

I believe sex was made BY God. Therefore, sex was made to be good.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it… ~ Genesis 1:28

God made it for the main purpose of reproduction. Sex was for the making of babies, of families. The problem now is that the purpose of sex has been warped. Sex has become a form of… recreation, (forgive me if this offends you but this is what it is now in my opinion.) a favourite pastime for some, if you will.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. ~ Genesis 2:24

I believe that God made that statement regarding ALL aspects. In becoming “one flesh”, these two individuals are united physically through sex, their emotional bond is strengthened and their mental and spiritual beings are merged through marriage over time. This is where 2 Cor 6:14 comes into play but that’s for another whole entry. I think that the good feeling from sex was made by God so that two individuals would have something that strengthens their emotional bond in marriage. They would share intimacy between them. That is why a physical affair outside of marriage hurts so much. Its like your best friend shares a secret with you (that ONLY YOU get to know) and you go on  to tell another person about. (That is quite an understatement but its the closest I can think of.)

It saddens me to see how sex is portrayed by the media nowadays:

Myth 1: Sex is just part and parcel of dating/seeing someone. (“seeing someone” at more than the common level then, eh?)

Myth 2: Getting laid becomes a measuring stick of one’s popularity/hotness/desirability/attractiveness/bla bla bla…

Myth 3: Having sex regularly OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE is ONLY healthy and good for one’s being.

The sanctity of sex is jeopardized. Sex is defiled as it is brought outside of marriage, just like how fresh meat rots away as it is brought out of the freezer. IT STINKS!!!

The thing is… This defilement comes in many forms as well.

Pornography degrades sex into becoming an audio/visual entertainment for people. The joy of sex that was meant to be shared between a man and a woman is reduced to one person’s self-absorbed stimulation without the responsibilities that come with it. It is because of our selfishness that we want to get that thrill, to satisfy our own desires without involving a second party. This selfishness extends to masturbation as well. More often than not, these 2 come hand-in-hand. The worst part of these is that it infiltrates our minds and tarnishes it just like graffiti on a white wall.

Vulgarities/Obscenities with references to sex/genitals. I dunno if you noticed but most, if not all, the vulgarities involve sex and/or genitals. The interesting thing is that we all know its not something nice to say those things. That’s why its called “FOUL language”, right? So what exactly are we doing? We’re making sex and our own genitals out to be something dirty/foul/bad. But its not! God made them, remember? So how can we say that its bad? Its only because of our sin that its corrupted!

So what CAN we do about this?

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:18

FLEE, the Bible says! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! If we take on sexual temptation face-to-face, we usually end up the loser! (I dare say at least 90% of the time) Knowing people from the past and wise people living in the present happen to give the same advice from their own experience… I don’t doubt its truth!

I wish for you that you do not have to endure these disgusting things especially in this world controlled by the media. But if you do/have encounter(ed) it, remember that God is still ready to forgive you as long as you repent and there is still a way out of it! Look for someone you can trust to keep you accountable in this area as well! You CANNOT deal with it alone!!

Friday, December 24, 2010

24-12-10 (Friday) “Just The Way You Are”

Seeing that Christmas comes tomorrow, I thought I’d share something on Christmas together with my thoughts on this song that has been playing over and over in my head recently. Pretty sure it has been ‘bugging’ some of you as well…

Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are

Some ladies would LOVE to have a guy sing this song to them and mean it. I believe some guys would like the same idea being said about them. The cool thing is that there IS One who would sing such words to us if we would listen! God has already shown His unconditional and impartial love to us despite us taking it for granted! I’ll try to back up my points with some verses below.

Oh, her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

God … also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth… And God saw that it was good.

~ Genesis 1:16-18

Then God … created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

~ Genesis 1:26-31

What are the stars compared to what He had made in us? Even though we marvel at their beauty in the skies, its pretty crazy to think that God thinks they were just “good” while we were “VERY good”.

Yeah, I know, I know, when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so, sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look ok, I say

… “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Isn’t it quite true that many of us can’t really TRULY accept the compliments that people tell us? We doubt the authenticity of their remarks. EVEN MORE when its coming from God and He gives us far greater compliments, expecting us to do so many things, to face so many situations that we do not consider ourselves capable of. And that we don’t see what God sees in us… I don’t think that even needs any explanation.

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while
Because girl you're amazing, just the way you are

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

~ Psalm 139:13-14

God made us just the way we are. He did not forget to extend your foot by an extra cm. He did not lose His balance and end up spilling some ink over your body. He did not get drowsy and accidentally knock you on the head, making your growth stunted. He made no mistakes. He wouldn’t even consider reversing any bit of that creation.

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she’d let me
Her laugh, her laugh, she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

I can’t really find anything for this bit but…

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

~ Proverbs 17:22

So… Laugh more. Open-mouthed smile

Oh, you know, you know, you know, I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So, don't even bother asking if you look ok
You know I'll say

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:21

There’s not much we CAN do to become perfect, cos’ we’re already tainted with sin. But God sent Jesus to die on behalf of our sins so that we become righteous THROUGH Him! We’re still called to do good but its only because of Jesus that we’re made perfect! Nothing else!...

… And that’s the whole purpose of Christmas! To celebrate the birth of Jesus that allowed us to go back to God!!!

So the next time you hear this song, remember that it is being sung over you as well! I hope you enjoyed. :) Merry Christmas to you!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

23-12-10 (Thursday) “Forget Not”

Devotion this morning challenged me. I’m gonna address Christian readers first before the non-Christians. Read up Deuteronomy 8.

When the days go well, when our finance is stable, our results come out better than expected, our relationship with others are smooth-sailing, we just got our promotion… “We become proud and convinced that our goods and great success came about by our ‘own strength and energy.’(vv 14, 17). Its a subtle change that happens as we leave humility(caused by humble circumstances) and embrace arrogance and self-reliance(prompted by prosperity).”1IMG_8627If things don’t go our way, “thank God for this ‘wilderness’ that can cause you to seek and depend on Him. Although we sometimes forget His face, He never forgets ours.” All circumstances are useful to draw us closer to God, if we choose to do so. God deserves our thanks every single day. Its the least we can do.IMG_8773If you DON’T believe in God, at least remember the people that have been behind your getting to where you are now. Thank your parents, your siblings, your friends, extended family members, teachers and mentors. If you’re not used to verbalizing it, thank them silently in your heart first. Do it over and over, maybe write a card to them and then decide to say it out someday. In the bad times, remember the ones who have been through your bad times together and stayed on despite all odds.IMG_8767

“But remember the LORD your God,

for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth,

and so confirms his covenant,

which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”

~ Deuteronomy 8:18

 1 “forgetting faces” – Tom Felten, Thursday December 23, Our Daily Journey

Saturday, December 11, 2010

11-12-10 (Saturday) “Gratitude: Journey Mercy”

The media constantly has some breaking news of some train’s head-on collision or derailing, plane engines bursting, multi-vehicle carnage on some highway or a sinking of a certain ship splat across its front/main page. Finding such news is as easy as calculating the probability of it raining in a span of 24 hours here at this time of the year(100%).

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I’ve been looking back on all the trips I’ve made over the past decade. There have been many. Way beyond what I would’ve imagined at the start of the decade. I used to take all these trips for granted. Now, I actually imagine the worst case scenario for most of the trips that I make as I embark on it. Coming out of it unscathed at the end of the journey makes me grateful for just that – that I came out unscathed. I’ve been through several incidents where I was SO close to becoming the next day’s headline.

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This applies ESPECIALLY for the short, 2-minute trips to somewhere closeby. These trips are the ones that lead to saddest accidents.

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Don’t take your safe trips for granted.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

09-12-10 (Thursday) “Boundaries”

So I just got back from a trip including a mission trip and visits to my grandparents’ place. I’ve learnt and thought about a lot throughout this trip.

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I realize how the people in Rumah Tatom are quite… Pristine, if I may use the word. Reminds me a bit of the movie “Avatar”. They are not bothered by keeping up with the latest iPhone, they need not have a laptop with the latest Intel processor technology, they need not eat like kings as much as possible(although the wild boar must be quite a treat. I wish I could testify but it wasn’t a festive season so they had no reason to slaughter boars. “Praise God!”, say the animal activists and vegetarians. Open-mouthed smile )

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I also think about how they’re kinda missing out on the comforts offered by air-conditioners, flushing toilets, freezers(ICE!!!), automatic toothbrushes, automatic can openers, automatic dishwashers, automatic butt-wipers and whatever else that we have managed to automate so far.IMG_8141I believe this is where they collect rainwater. For use in brushing their teeth and drinking.

Frankly, I don’t know whether to feel sorry for them that they’re missing out on so much goodies that can make their lives so much more comfortable… Or for us that we’re all so tied down to this world with so many things that make our lives comfortable that we don’t wanna let go of this pursuit for more nor let go of what we have. Without the distractions of having to provide every means of “home-improvement” for their families, the people have an AMAZING sense of community. I’m pretty sure THEY got it right when the focus is more on the PEOPLE rather than the SATISFACTION of people.

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I think that the only gift we DO bear to people in missions like this is the Gospel. Everything else is THEIR gift to us. The gift of hospitality, the lessons on generosity, the warmth of community, the purity of seclusion from the snares of the world.

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“Boundaries don’t keep people out. They fence you in.”

Sunday, November 28, 2010

28-11-10 (Sunday) “It All Gets Smaller”

Do you remember when everything used to be so small? When a loaf of bread looked like it would last a whole year; When the car seemed to be this monster that you had to climb into; When mom and dad seemed like giants with immeasurable strength and would pick you up like a toy…

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As the years went by, everything seemed to shrink when in actual fact, it was us growing. A loaf of bread barely lasts half a week; the car is subject to our control with the steering wheel; we grow to the same height as mom and dad(and maybe even taller/bigger)…IMG_6971

At the same time, the world just seems to get smaller and smaller. Just thinking a few days back, I traversed across 4 difference cities in less than 48 hours, crossing 4 state borders, stepping foot on 3 separate pieces of land mass. The world just seems to have shrunk with technology. On the one hand, I think its pretty cool but on the other hand I think its pretty scary as well. Are there anymore places where man has not invaded? Are there still pristine forests as we saw in ‘Avatar’? I’m pretty sure its as limited as the number of outsiders who love durian, most probably even less than that.

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Also, with the advent of Facebook and the Internet, I think everybody on the Earth is not separated by six degrees of separation. Its more likely to be four or something lesser now. At the same time… We might be keeping in touch more often but our closeness would probably be distanced by the barrier of the cyber world, suppressing our ability to express ourselves.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

16-11-10 (Tuesday) “Ultimate Healing”

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited…

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot destroy peace.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot suppress memories.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot steal eternal life.

It cannot conquer the spirit.

- Author unknownIMG_5697There are many things that can take the place of “cancer” above. We make it out to be far greater than it is. There are still many things that exist in spite of these trials. Its just a matter of choosing our approach. Of course, that being said, its a totally different story when one is directly affected by these.IMG_5119I remember a preacher once saying, “many people make their weaknesses to be greater than God’s strength.” Guilty as charged. Sad smileIMG_5061


“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

~ 2 Corinthians 4:7

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

04-10-10 (Thursday) "Between Here and Then"

As the time for home draws closer, I'm slowly becoming more nostalgic instead. I'm starting to think of the things that I will be missing here in Canberra. There's quite a lot to be missed after having spent practically two full years here.

Don't get me wrong. I do look forward to going home. I'm just also thinking of the things that I will be missing here. From the homely B & G, to the different facades of the university campus throughout the year, to the people here who are dear to me.

I'm torn between the two "worlds" right now.

At the same time, I'm torn between the world we live in and the future of eternity. There's so much in this mortal life that I have yet to experience, yet there's so much pain and suffering that is all gonna be gone AFTER this life. Its not easy trying to sort these emotions out sometimes.

Living in the present with eyes set on eternity!

There are times when one just needs people around

and there are also times when one just needs to be alone.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

31-10-10 (Sunday) “Sometimes, I Wish…”

That I could reason like Barney Stinson Sheldon Cooper.

That I could speak like Martin Luther King, Jr.

That I could play the piano like Artur Schnabel, the guitar like Sungha Jung, the drums like the drummer from ZZ Top (youtube this!!) any string instrument like the ladies from Bond.

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That I could handle a basketball like Jason Williams, a football like Lionel Messi or a shuttlecock like Taufik Hidayat.

That I could jump like Jonathan Edwards or Carl Lewis or Stefan Holm, run like Usain Bolt, swim like Michael Phelps.IMG_6014

There are many things I would imagine how it’d feel to be able to do different stuff every now and then. I would imagine most of you would have similar thoughts at certain points of life.

I’m actually glad I don’t get to do those things above. I thank God for making me the way I am. Normal. Even being normal, my pride is so inflated. Imagine how things would be if I could do some of those crazy stuff.

And in any case… If I COULD do any of those things… I would probably be wishing I could do some OTHER thing. They would never satisfy, I’m pretty sure. There is always more to go for if I can’t even be contented with the things I HAVE been blessed with now.

There are better things to work on that are within reach, in my opinion.

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I could learn to love and care for the needy like Mother Theresa.

I could learn to be a real friend, especially in their hard times, especially when it costs me.

I could learn to live less for my own desires, to stop buying unnecessary stuff, to give what doesn’t belong to me in the first place anyway.

I could learn the ways of Jesus in the way He lived, the way He treated people, the way He conducted Himself.

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We’re constrained by the time we have.

Therefore, I think its wiser to build bridges for people sometimes.

We can try to love as many as possible but it is not an individual’s ability to take on EVERYONE.

Hence, bridge one person to other people that one would get along well with, I say. :)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

26-10-10 (Tuesday) “Home”

As the time approaches for us to be heading back home, I start to day dream of home and look forward to it. And I think of how great it is to have a home to go back to. I imagine how people who have no home to go back and how it feels. I thank God even for the room I have that I can return to every day after class. The feeling of walking into Central Block, to smell the kitchen and have it permeate my clothes and stay on them doesn’t diminish its loveliness. I remember the days when I leave Canberra and head for home, the very smell of the kitchen invokes some nostalgia. The same when I just come back.

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And now I think of the smell of the grass on our lawn; the smell of dirt from all the potted plants lining the driveway at home; the mankyness of the house after being shut off for a long time; the rays of sunlight streaming through the clefts between the curtains, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air. I recall the noise of the neighbour singing(I’m sure that IS what they’re trying to do) karaoke over their home speaker system. The occasional release of the pressure in the brakes of the bus as they pass by our house. The shouts of the other neighbour’s kids on school holidays, playing with their siblings. The barking of pet dogs around the neighbourhood.

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Home is close. Home beckons. Home is where the heart is. The eternal home is worth looking to even more…

 

I think you probably heard of it already. There’s always this “ooOOooOOooo…!!” when it comes to a new relationship, both to those involved and those observing around. I think we gotta be careful cos’ infatuation brings one out-of-this-world but once it lets go of you, you do come crashing back to earth with a whole lot of potential going to waste! I just ask for support from you. We can’t do this alone.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

21-10-10 (Thursday) “Who Knows…?”

“For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?…”

~ 1 Corinthians 2:11a

It scares me. It scares me a lot how much we don’t know about others. How much is hidden beneath layers and layers of veils.

Behind the smile lies the hurtful words said before…

Behind the heavy eyebags lie many sleepless nights, involuntarily reliving the moments passed, imagining how things could have been done differently…

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Behind the wave “hello” lies the intangible but impassable barrier formed between us that we try to climb over, to burrow under, to walk around…

Behind the blank stare lies the many discouragements that compress one to become unable to find a way to love oneself…

Behind the brief introduction lies the many stories that have hurt and cut one so deep the scars BECOME the veins and arteries the heart pumps through…

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Behind the many triumphs lie the insatiable need to prove oneself worth something.

Behind the many questions lie the dire need for attention, to remind the self that others MIGHT notice one’s (in)existence…

Behind every laugh at a joke lies a “if only you knew…”

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Behind the commonplace, taken-for-granted cheerfulness lies the torment of trying to appear strong, the desire to put others’ needs before one’s own.

Behind the workload accumulated lies the use of distractions to steer one away from crazy, senseless thoughts that otherwise cloud the mind.

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Who dares say they have come to grasped  what people go through. I myself get lost in all these sometimes, trying to pry my way out as I walk towards my bed, hoping my dreams reveal the “EXIT” sign. There is so much that can be done. But there is only so much I can do. If sth HAS helped, I really dare not take credit for it. My abilities are limited, to say the least. Thank God that He decided to use me in any way that He did. If I make things worse… I am as human as you are. Please do not expect any more of me than you would anyone else. “Me” is not as dependable as is “God”.

 

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.”

~ Philippians 3:12,13a

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

13-10-10 (Wednesday) “Chile Mine rescue”

I write this while watching the 4th man, Bolivian Carlos Mamani, being brought up into the Chilean fresh air.

 

Just imagine, the suspense building up inside them as they watch their colleagues being reeled out, the anticipation of meeting their family members waiting for them outside, all the “what if…”s going on in their heads as they are elevated at about 1 meter per second, the euphoria these people experience to see light at the top.

 

I see how emotional the whole scene gets and I think of how I complain when the sun goes behind some clouds some days. I think of how grateful the miners are to see the dark night and I think of how ignorant I am of how blessed I am, to live each day as normal as it can be.

 

Mamani is out. He looks well. :)

 

69 days… I think the number of people and their unity played a major role in their survival. Any less people and the chances would’ve been way slimmer. Imagine being apart from all your loved one for that long. Hmmm…

 

I’m not rejoicing in the disaster but in the triumph over the doom and gloom over the past 2 months and more. Its nice to see the world stop and just watch together, holding onto hope that it turns out for the best. :)

 

19 years old, the next rescuee…

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

12-10-10 (Tuesday) “For The People”

All too easily we start getting used to the people around.

This post I dedicate to the people in my life once again. IMG_3176For the company you have provided. Be it through face-to-face contact, emails, SMSes, MSN or over the phone.

For the wise counsels you have shared.

For the laughter we’ve brought to each other. IMG_2033For the sad moments that you’ve been there for me.

For the activities we’ve done together.

For the motivation and encouragement you’ve showered.

For the silly and candid moments you’ve let me catch on digital film. :PIMG_0981

For the pain that you’ve alleviated through the medicine of empathy. IMG_3147For forgiving me in my worst times.

I think I’ve included every single person in at least 1 category above. I’m sure you’ve done at least 1 of the above. Lemme knw if you really need me to jog your memory. =P

And the people in the photos are not the only people I refer to. There’re just too many people to be squeezed into a frame that no lens is ever wide enough. :)

“I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.”

- Dorothy Day

Sunday, September 26, 2010

26-09-10 (Sunday) “Sama-sama”

(Malay)

Arif: Hei, semalam kamu datang hantar hadiah untuk saya, terima kasih banyak-banyak, ya?

Aqmal: Sama-sama. *Senyum*

(English)
Arif: Hey, last night you delivered a gift just for me, thanks a lot, yeah?

Aqmal: You’re welcome. *Smiles*IMG_1023 I like the Malay version of “You’re welcome”. Literally translated, it means ‘same same’ or ‘same to you’.IMG_1412 It portrays how the opportunity to help someone/make someone’s day itself is something worth being thankful for. Over the years, I have come to realize that it IS really a privilege when you can help someone and that we actually ought to THANK the person who gives us a chance to help them. Thus, “Sama-sama”.IMG_1504On the other side of the helping, I think the Asian upbringing teaches to be less dependent on others, in order to lessen the burden we are imposing on others. I think in terms of manners, that is quite practical but not when we bring to an extreme that we starve others of any opportunity to assist as at all, we put around ourselves a wall of self-sufficiency, telling others that we don’t need them. The process of helping/being helped also opens up a period of connection and communication between two parties, I believe. That’s how people get to know each other at a deeper level, when they help each other out. I think we should offer our needs to others wisely.

Terima kasih kerana membaca sampai habis, ya? ~ Translated: Thanks for reading all the way to the end, yeah?. :)

Thursday, September 16, 2010

17-09-10 (Friday) “To My Fellow Malaysians”

This comes a bit late but I thought its still in the Malaysia Day period anyway.tugunegaramalaysia Racism and discrimination has been a major issue in Malaysia all the while, if not more recently. The Malays insist their privileges should not be questioned at all, the minorities complain there is no equality at all. Some claim that Malaysia is the only country that discriminates openly. The government hunts down people who become a threat to them… It is has almost become daily news now.Jalur Gemilang dari tempurung  Reading “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” by Philip Yancey, I can’t help but think of how much ungrace there is in Malaysia. We all demand for our rights to be preserved. We claim that we have been treated unjustly. We insist the government isn’t doing its job, to improve the welfare of the citizens.

They insist that they earned their privileges as “Sons of the Earth”. They claim that they are already being very tolerant, letting us stay on in the country. They also lambast the government for unnecessary actions. IMG_9846

I think both sides have their valid points in the argument and there can never be a conclusion to an argument as such. The problem, therefore, lies not in the validity of each sides’ arguments but on whomever is willing to yield first. Martin Luther King, Jr sparked a big change in America through peaceful strategies. Nelson Mandela used no hurtful words to achieve unity in South Africa. I hope Malaysia can go through a similar change in the sentiments of its people. I dream of the day when we stop complaining, talking each other down, pointing fingers, backstabbing, putting on fronts and cursing each other. I dream of the day we CHOOSE to love one another, to see each other as fellow countrymen, not as people of different races, to embrace our differences as the very reason we’re the same, that we’re Malaysian.

Do you think its possible? Don’t use the “I’ll do it if THEY do it first” line… Its like using a vote to decide who wins when you only have 2 different parties with separate opinions voting! Are YOU willing to do it first? Will you choose NOT to complain about the government, to stop talking down Malaysia as the worst country around whenever someone asks you how your country is like? Will you stop talking negatively about other races but tell of how beautifully diverse our country is culturally? … And if I may, DARE you sound like you are proud to be Malaysian?map_of_malaysia Its not about IGNORING the “evils” of our country. I’m just saying that if its so bad already, there’s no point making it worse, right?

I hope I did not offend anybody. I have no intention at all to do as such. If you are offended, you have my sincere apologies.

I will try to walk that talk I just did earlier. But you have to help me here. I have strong hope in my country and my fellow countrymen.malaysiaflag

Happy 47th Malaysia Day, Malaysia + our former countrymate, Singapore.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

15-09-10 (Wednesday) “You know you’re in love when…”

… When uh… You’ll know. Or you already do. You don’t even need me to tell you that. That was just to catch your attention. :)

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I like the comparison of ourselves to seeds. Seeds only produce when they’re buried underground, when their own significance is covered under a pile of dirt. Then, they die to themselves in order to produce sprouts, which eventually turn into the trees that cover the earth. If a seed just stays as it is, no changes to its circumstance whatsoever, that’s all its gonna be – a seed. It could’ve turned into a massive fruit tree that produces fruit for the animals around, shelter for the birds of the air and even resource for mankind. It would produce a hundredfold in its return through all the seeds it produces! Its potential is endless! But only if it dies to its “seedyness'”

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When WE start letting our SELFISHNESS die away and consider others better than ourselves(Phil 2:3). We unleash a whole chain of happenings. We make others feel loved, significant, appreciated… They start realising that they themselves aren’t too bad after all and so they move away from having gratify their self-esteem and they in turn start to encourage OTHERS… Its a lovely cycle. But it HAS to start somewhere. The starting point’s usually the hardest point to find in a cycle. The points AFTER that starting point may not necessarily work in favour of the cycle but I’d like to think that they usually do. :)

 

I can see why wisdom is one of the spiritual gifts. It is not easily obtained and it is priceless.

Friday, September 10, 2010

11-09-10 (Saturday) “The Eucharist”

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. ~ 1 Cor 11:26

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ~ 1 Cor 11:28

During the Bible Study today, I think of how The Lord’s Supper is done back home. Only those who’re baptized and are above 12 years old can partake of this sacred communion. I think of the year I turned 12, of the first time I took the Holy Communion in church. All the time I was thinking: Oh yeah… I’m finally old enough to do this. Take that, you little primary school kids! Too bad you’re not old enough yet. You only get to get some ‘words of blessing’ from the pastor. It sure sucks to be you.IMG_8555 I think it IS a good thing to have an age limit to the whole thing just so that people don’t make little of the whole sacrament but I think its not justified in that the whole point is not explained to those who do not know. I think it kinda backfired for me all the time instead, taking the Holy Communion as a ‘rite of passage’, if you will, a CHRISTIAN ‘rite of passage’ instead. I am quite ashamed of my attitude all those years. IMG_8827 I think it just too easy to get used to the whole gift of salvation. I don’t realize how much was sacrificed for my petty, little life. How a man who lived perfectly, without sin, had to suffer pain, persevere through embarassment, endure separation from One loved as the Self, for no logical reason but love.IMG_8532Even more than that, the whole idea of God coming down to the humble that He CREATED, to walk on the dirt-paved paths, to breathe in the musky air, to come into contact with germs… The very God who created everything!! All for me! All for you!!

It IS good to remind myself of the extent of this love every time I partake of the Holy Communion, even every single day that I wake up to!