Sivin Kit's Adventures

Archive for December, 2004

From textweek

O God, Our Words Cannot Express
(Tune: ST. ANNE CM “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”)

O God, our words cannot express
The pain we feel this day.
Enraged, uncertain, we confess
Our need to bow and pray.

We grieve for all who lost their lives…
And for each injured one.
We pray for children, husbands, wives
Whose grief has just begun.

O Lord, we’re called to offer prayer
For all our leaders, too.
May they, amid such great despair,
Be wise in all they do.

We trust your mercy and your grace;
In you we will not fear!
May peace and justice now embrace!
Be with your people here!

Tune: Attr. William Croft, 1708. Tune is in public domain.
Text: Copyright © 2001 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

In the past, I might just be praying for what’s happening right now after the earthquake and tsunami in this region. But, besides genuine heartfelt intercession there’s also an authentic desire for action. Thanks Bob Jots for constant updates and providing the Tsunami Relief Links I hope to call up some one in World Vision Malaysia to get more info later.

I was reading Emergent as Society? with great interest. Then going to the original link my vision to get the background to the discussion and liked what I read. And now reading Brian McLaren on Emergent as a Movement provides some useful grids and lens to deepen the dialogue and some directions we could take. Ahh … the speed of information and interactions thanks to blogging More thoughts on this later.
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The last time I finished reading a book in less than three days was by A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren (I think I took longer for the sequel The Story We Find Ourselves In), It’s amazing how I related to much of the “fiction” in the books with my own faith journey.

I never heard of Patton Dodd before reaching for this book. He’s even got a blog with title My Blog So Far.

Patton does a wonderful job taking me through his world of charismatic Christianity and I could relate to even the example of the songs he mentioned and more than one “eye brow raising” ministry times he describes (This Fresh! Joy! episode is really hit home for me.) Even though many of his experiences are more rooted in American soil and a kind of “charismatic/pentecostal” subculture which is not that institutional in Malaysia compared to the USA (but very much present in “mutated” forms” or “whole sale copy cat” forms). But, it was strange how so many flashbacks of my own story occured while reading his story. The beauty is how he crafts the inner thoughts he had during his estatic as well as confusing moments which were in different words what I was thinking in those days. I just found honesty so comforting and liberating. Thus, I absolutely agree with what is said here in the back cover:

“Honesty is a rare commodity. Sometimes it’s rarest in the world of religion. Like the blues in music, there’s something oddly uplifting about it. Patton Dodd offers an honest and engaging reflection of his experience in the world of charismatic Christianity – poignant, even painful, yet somehow uplifting. Whatever your religious background, you’ll learn here, and perhaps be nudged toward greater honesty in your own spiritual search.” – – Brian McLaren, pastor, author (MPH 1 Utama

During our prayer meeting last night, a lot of “Why?” questions came up (even during the prayer time), there was also “how could this have happened?” kind of feeling through out. Then there’s a “What on earth can we do?” and of course “Where is God in all this?”.

Thanks Jason for sharing with us in his post “Where is God?”
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“People then asked, God why? and came up with many answers, judgement being a favourite one.
And as I think over what I would have prayed if 50% of people I knew in a christian country with a christian king, died, and as I watched 20,000 people swept away do death on the news in Asia, my prayer was ‘Why?’

Why can my faith be strong, as long as I am unaware of the death, suffering and pain of history and the now of this world as long as I am ok. But why does my faith rock when it get’s closer to me? Why should there be any difference between me and a christian in Asia swept out to sea?”
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And together with him , I too pray this prayer in someway ..
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“God when I see this I see how I live my life with faith built upon making me safe and well, and forgetting that everyday I have is a gift, and evey day could be my last, and everyday is not a right but a gift from you. Jesus you pray on our behlalf interceding, please pray for us, bring our ‘whys?’ before our Father, so we might experience your resurrection life in the aftermath of these experiences.”
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We felt nothing because we were deeper in the middle of Peninsula Malaysia. We had no TV. We were not internet accessible. It was supposed to be a post-Christmas break. Which we got our much needed rest.

The morning had SMSs coming in. A call for prayer initiated by one of our new BLC members.

We managed to get a copy of todays paper which was in Chinese at the nearby village town. The reports and photos were clear enough with what’s going on. In Malaysiat the most we’re troubled with are lanslides and floods, but this is much bigger than what we’re used to.

We confirmed later that some BLC members would be going to for prayer and from my point of view also a time of “solidarity” with what’s going on not just in Malaysia but more so in our neighboring countries.

More details here (which I got immediatelty once I could get online):
- Messy Christian gives us an update here 21,000 deaths …
- DB shares how generally we are all okay and offers a prayer.
- Daniel also mentions about the Tsunami and dedicates a prayer to the victims.
- A new friend Bob gives useful information here in Tremors & Tsunamis and Continuing Reverbrations
- BBC News Asia battles earthquake aftermath has more details

About 10 of us sat at the Grace Wing of the Living Room in the Father’s House. two toddlers and an older kid joined us in some way. It’s hard to pray. Not too sure how we could even sing. But, The Spirit took over. There were times of silence. Praying the Psalms. Lamenting. Weeping. Mourning. Most of our own friends or family are safe. But then, we know many others have been affected. what can we say? nothing. We just humbled ourselves and prayed. How would it make a difference? We don’t know exactly … apart from we want to get in touch with God and what really matters. That somehow, Light can shine in this darkness. This guides our hope and feeble human language as we pray.

May Chin, Gareth, Baby No.2 on the way and I wish all a merry and blessed Christmas to all our local and global friends and family.

We give because God has first given himself to us … for that we are so grateful – for so much, to so many, especially to the ONE.

Emmanuel – God with us – Jesus Christ – no words can fully grasp how He has made such a difference. We sing, We pray. We laugh. We cry. We shout. We’re silent. We rest. We move …. all are second movements after God’s 1st move. Grace!

Indeed, light of the world you stepped down into darkness.
And now, that light reaches out never ending.

May we be a shining light to the nations!

I was surprised and delighted when I got my copy of Newsweek(special double edition – The Who’s Next Issue) today. I just posted something related to our Malaysian Prime Minister yesterday. Obviously from the website I could see the front cover is more for “marketing” purposes or connecting with the targetted readers. Hmmm…

Why? Because I expected a more extended piece on our Primie Minister but was disappointed when it was a merely a little more than one page of write up Malaysia has got some attention in the International scene but not that much huh?

Nevertheless, as usual I love these in Newsweek. The cartoons plus the quotes can serve as conversation starters or at least spark some thoughtful reflection.
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I remember getting a Christmas card from the new Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi back in 2003. so I was wondering whether he’ll do it again. Well, yes he did. It’s a nice gesture. I wonder how other pastors and church leaders feel when they get this card.

I like what Tony Joneswrote for the Worship Leader Sidebar about what is Emergent?, I think we can be seen as part of “the friendships with church leaders around the world, all of whom are on a similar quest of rediscovering the gospel in their contexts.”
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Emergent is a fairly loose gathering of pastors, artists, missionaries, church planters, songwriters, bloggers and others who are engaged in a quiet revolution within the church. Disaffected with the reified structures and theologies of both the Protestant “Left” and “Right,” a dozen of us began meeting together in the late 1990’s, and as our work has become more public, many more have joined in. Currently, we are forging friendships with church leaders around the world, all of whom are on a similar quest of rediscovering the gospel in their contexts.

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About 18 of us met at my place on December 18th Saturday. Quite a number of new faces this round. Sadly, the pastors all couldn’t make it except me (due to a variety of understandable reasons). And Alwyn missed it the last minute. Joel and Elise Vestal were special surprise guests who gave us some input and personal sharing on their journey and ministry which was good to avoid this turning out to be just about us Malaysians!

Of course, we started late … but with food. There was quite a variety from chicken to duck, Pringles to fruits, curry to pasta, etc. Nice that everyone (most at least *smile*) brought food “offerings”.

We did have a simple ice breaker just to introduce ourselves and sang a couple of Christmas carols. It’s Christmas season! Why not? We mustn’t take ourselves too seriously until we can no longer sing, right?

The flow from the start was good .. people laughing, and saying “I’ve been reading your blog” can be disarming.
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“I believe with all of my heart that God’s people possess God’s provision to accomplish and fulfill God’s purposes in the world.” (from genereous giving quotations)— Joel Vestal, founder of ServLife International

I was just thinking “Not bad, he has a quote next to David Livingstone, cool!)… And, hey! I hung out with this guy during the weekend!!! There’s so much I need to learn from him when it comes to trusting God, taking risks, missions and global concerns – taking steps out of our “comfort zones”. Here’s an article/Interview What Does ‘Love Your Neighbor’ Mean in a Refugee Camp?
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