Archive for May, 2008
GIVE ME THE GRACE
to make your Word my home,
that I know you more clearly
and serve you more faithfully
ever more.
Amen.
- Norman Shawchuck and Rueben P. Job
A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God
It’s time to remind myself tonight, Grace first, the rest second … enough said for now.
Good to see more responses on The Micah Mandate. Feel free to go there and offer a comment or two 
25. yapsir (05/31/2008 01:06:10)
Awake my soul!If we don’t do it now,
we may not able to anything later.
The chances are here for us to give a chance for our children to be just "Malaysian".
Walls have tobe put down,if it require our hands(that might hert and bleed).by the end the day,I can boldly tell my child,I have done Justice for your future.24. potts (05/28/2008 20:27:25)
Transforming SocietyNot sure if your subtitle meant to talk about a society that transforms or a church that transforms society. But reading your article, I get the impression that it is a lot of words to skirt around the observation that the churches of today, like any other organizations, exist to serve their clientele: their members, rather than their God. We are afraid to criticize the "christian-on-the-street", and are quick to praise their small, earnest efforts to do something that is other-serving. Better than nothing, right? Pastors craft their sermons carefully, like speaking to little children, lest their flock get discouraged or critical. The fact remains that largely, it will be difficult to find true Christian heroes like Bonhoeffer or Paul today to be our models, because the Church cares more about how people feel, rather than how God feels. And consequently there is little backbone to the Christianity we practise today.
3 total posts | view profile
23. Sivin Kit (05/28/2008 20:22:40)
Beyond Challenges …what concrete Action Plans do we have to implement these noble aspirations?
I think Tan Sri Ramon has focused the question rightly. We have been challenged again and again. But what is needed now, is providing bridges for those who want to be involved to start. And I see this ranging from Marketplace ministries to support for those engaged in civil society organizations like NGOs.
This may also mean that church leaders or pastors reorganize our time so that we can be present and even participate in wider common issues of concern with others outside the church.
And I think, this surely means we as a church from the leaders to the lay re-imagine what is the role and priority of the church in Malaysian society, and free our resources towards that end. If self-preservation is not the goal of our institutions, and partnering with others for the transformation of society, then we can no longer do what we do in the same way we have done so for all these years.
"What’s next?" is the right question. What’s the next action we can take is the next step for all of us. And let’s just do it…3 total posts | view profile
23. Sivin Kit (05/26/2008 23:05:46)
We were once Aliens too!Thank you Peter for surfacing to our attention passages from the Bible which confronts our ignorance or hidden prejudices.
I was driving past my "home town" (or "kampung") and in a conversation with the passenger in my car was reminded of my great grandmother who came as a migrant worker. And when we all sit down and think about it, is that not part of our history. Now, with that focus, we can re-look at the "Alien" situation in our country with new eyes. It doesn’t solve all the problems immediately, but it’s a better start than just to label people who are humans as illegal!2 total posts | view profile
22. Allen Tan (05/22/2008 05:53:53)
You were commissioned by GodDear Elder Goh K P, I really thank God for your choice to be vocal. I am proud that you have worked very hard to visit Anwar Ibrahim and subsequently God had transformed and promoted him.
I myself also write a lot speaking against the hegemony of any politicians.4 total posts | view profile
21. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:53:57)
Thumbs up to you Andrew for yr. comments. We have a ghetto mentality and its time we break away from that.We need to learn to engage with people from all persuations which is the only way i think we will be the salt and light of the earth
4 total posts | view profile
20. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:40:54)
Exactly. For too long we christains have been sitting in our comfortable armchairs and letting injustice go by. It is time we stand up and makeour voices heard. be involved and be acquainted with issues so when the time comes to act we do so
4 total posts | view profile
19. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:32:50)
i guess certain communities feel threatened by a Malaysian Malaysia. it was indeed a sad day when we decided to revert the whole education system from teaching in English to teaching in bahasa Malaysia.Nothing wrong with that if islamisation was left out.
4 total posts | view profile
18. bebas2lawat (05/19/2008 02:27:19)
While I agree with the idea of racial integration,the whole idea of national Service bears relooking into. If Im not mistaken not enough research was put in to see what model was appropriate. The board of visitors need to take a more active part in supervising the camps under their purview.
2 total posts | view profile
17. Allen Tan (05/17/2008 02:34:55)
Lucrative NSNo termination of NS. No other reason, since it is the most lucrative means of pocketing money. Each year it cost the treasury 500 to 600 over million ringgits.
1 total posts | view profile
16. Tang Hock Men (05/16/2008 23:23:37)
Speaking upI think it was God who directed me to this website. Thru human agencies but no less a work of the ONE who is sovereign. I have some opinions that some people find unacceptable. They are not very original because I stood on the shoulders of others who thought alot more and deeper than me. So I am able to see a little further I hope.
1 total posts | view profile
15. splim (05/16/2008 09:23:12)
Civil DisobedienceThey can send me to jail but I’m not going to compromise the safety of my children. If NS is not going to be abolished just boycott it.
1 total posts | view profile
14. knotts (05/15/2008 22:55:55)
ParticipationWhat is good about this website is that it allows for the public to participate. This way we can have a gauge of what people "out there" think. While the quality of thought is important, what is more important at this point is the integrity of these points of view. I hope that more people will write and comment, rather than keep their thoughts to themselves and share them in the coffee shops.
1 total posts | view profile
13. Alwyn (05/15/2008 09:23:18)
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the piece. I’m one of those who was born six years after the tragedy.
I think voices like yours, which’ve resounded through those days, are most helpful. On the other hand, I find myself seriously asking if the following statement serves a good purpose: "There still exist in our midst racists screaming blue murder to the adulation of their blood thirsty mobs…only the ungodly would endanger such lives by their continued racist outbursts."
In my view, I think we have more than enough reminders of the ethno-preferential treatment meted out in our country, of the (as u said) racist tensions…what I suspect we DON’T have nearly enough of is the sort of ‘transformative kindness’ demonstrated TOWARDS people who say such things.1 total posts | view profile
12. mengyee (05/14/2008 23:37:53)
Say NO to PLKNWe must create more momentum in calling for the abolishment of this ill planned program which have claimed the lifes of 20 of our young!.
We must pressure our MPs to bring this cause to Parliament!1 total posts | view profile
11. echo41 (05/14/2008 06:42:52)
SCThese are OUR MALAYSIAN CHILDREN, somebody’s child, somebody’s brother, sister or best friend. These are the 9 trainees that died while serving Khidmat Negara (National Service). These are lives wasted and parents are crying negligence and murder! Please write about it, and let there be more OUTCRY!
I really had fun watching this … I’m sure Alwyn Lau (who seriously introduced me to Greg’s writing and theology) is truly inspired!
More from World Health Organization here.
I agree … and it’s also one of the hardest things to grasp.
Many of us might not feel we are great listeners. Very often, we use words, and noise to crowd out the silent space where we can actually listen. This is true even of prayer. Worse is when we are programmed to only thinking of prayer as talking to God, more than with him. Because when we are talking with God, there is the listening dimension.
The various spiritual practices that has helped me along this path of listening is (1) Silence (2) Lectio Divina – slow reflective spiritual reading (3) Contemplative retreats (where it’s not noisy and packed) (3) Spiritual Journaling …. (4) Spiritual companionship with trusted friends.
I know we don’t get very hyped up about spiritual practices like this as compared to leadership seminars, or the latest concert, or trend or whatever. But me, these practices keep me sane, because they remind me to listen… not just to myself, my surroundings but most importantly .. God. Once we hear from God, then we are secure.
* * *
It’s been a while since I have such a tasty piece of Chicken pie. I don’t really have a lot of demands when it comes to food. Potatoes, Chinese Dumplings, Chicken Pie, Fish and Chips, Hokkian Noodles – Meehoon Mee, etc will satisfy me In many ways, I have never been in a situation where I have to worry about the next meal on the table. In fact, like most people in my circle we are spoilt for choice aren’t we?
In a recent funeral service for their late 80plus year old mother, the eldest son shared about in his eulogy on how he was in charge of cutting the loaf of bread for 10 people in the family. This was during the 50s-60s in pre-merdeka Malaysia. Listening to his story, my mind wondered off and recollected bits and pieces I overheard when I was young on how poor my Dad’s family was and they were eating porridge with salt or soya sauce.
It’s hard for many of us to really comprehend this these days. Maybe some of us can, and we know what it means depend on others or God for the next meal. Especially when our lives are defined more by our "wants" than our "needs". Even so, the beauty about being someone created in God’s image, is that we can step back, and even step out of our comfort zones to reexamine ourselves, and to re-orientate how values (especially when it’s off track). We can even learn to be in solidarity and identify with those who are struggling to put food on the table for their daily needs. And when we begin to make those changes within us, we begin to create space to acknowledge the supreme one who breaths life into us and keeps us alive, and provides for us often without us even realizing it.
The next time you have some food on your table. Pause for a genuine moment of "grace" and thank the Father in heaven for providing the meal, the taste buds to enjoy the meal, the internal organs that process the meal, the hands that prepared the food, the whole environment allowed the original produce to grow and so on. Of course, we know in our world there are many who don’t have enough bread or rice to go around, natural disasters affect their wellbeing, agricultural abuse and crisis affects their produce, and the list goes on. Then in addition to the pause for thanks, we also pause to intercede for those in need .. in dire need. And perhaps, we might hear a voice calling us to set aside some funds or time to intervene so we can have more people praying with us and worshiping the one who gives us our daily bread.
* * *
I deeply resonate and echo the call to .. "compare our assumptions with other perspectives are we able to see the need for re-examination and re-formation if we are to fulfill the design of God." We are able to do that with other Christians especially when our confidence in Christ is not trapped in any false security in our own opinions (or lack of). With a lively and living confidence in Christ at the center, and now combined with the appreciation of how other Christ-followers bring their uniqueness to the table of our spiritual growth, ongoing maturity in thinking, and on the ground ministry and service, together we find ourselves enriched by each other, and redirected to a more fulfilling approach to witnessing to God’s ultimate design invading us from the future.
* * *
These harmonics vibrated from May 26 – May 28, 2008
Sleep is important …
I love carrying Ewan, and I love looking at him. He’s got this really cool look and meaty body!
It’s always great to share "moments" and experiences with Gareth and Elysia. The wonder in their eyes, the curiosity in their questions and the fun we have talking with people, … the total package is priceless.
Today, the special moment was at the Car wash!
* * *
The Ribena was good … the journey back home was also good. It’s these little gifts which balance out any "lows" for the day.
It’s been a full day. And yet, somewhere in between I go the needed "power nap" which I needed. But the days ahead are still very unpredictable. I’m looking forward for some long needed solitude.
How does one keep their sanity especially when they have opened up themselves to others? How do we move on firmly in our vulnerability?
Making it thus far has been quite a miracle … and many thanks to the reserves and also extra reinforcements when needed.
Some conversations made me think about what it means for us to be who we are, and what we do, and what we aspire, and what is expected, and … etc.
It’s a little too late in the night to be over-reflective. These are random thoughts, so I’ll just think randomly. It’s always been helpful (even for some who choose to read this blog).
Unload for a while, another ribena?
Time to send the ISA to the ash-heap of history
Thanks Anil Netto for the kick in the right place!
… by 2001, following the arrests of 10 reformasi activists, a new movement was born: the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI), made up of over 80 civil society groups, calling also for the closure of the Kamunting Detention Camp.
And now, we have five state governments calling for the release of ISA detainees! Many of those who had previously campaigned against the ISA are now in these state governments or in Parliament. For instance, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, the man who sensationally defeated Samy Vellu, never fails to wear the “Abolish ISA” badge wherever he goes and is now in Parliament.
During the talk at St Anne’s, we ran through the list of over 80 groups in the GMI to find out how many Christian groups were part of the movement. We came up with only one name: the Society for Christian Reflection, and that’s hardly a mainstream Christian group. Where are the other Christian groups? Why are all the various church organisations not in the forefront — or even in the back-seat — of this campaign? I don’t think it’s because we are too busy praying for the release of the detainees!
Josh Hong’s pen heating up here …
Hence, I would rather Pakatan take over the country sooner.
No doubt, all the talks about mass crossovers by Sabah MPs beg the question as to whether such lobbying is ethical.
My position is simple, and pragmatic. In a fully-fledged democracy blessed with a free press, clean and fair elections, proper checks and balances in Parliament, equitable laws and a strong civil society, one would have ample time for an academic debate on politics and morality. But sadly, Malaysia is devoid of such luxury.
We may congratulate ourselves on the extraordinary performance of the opposition parties in the March 8 election, but it is pretty much what it really is: extraordinary, and not indicative of greater democratization in the country.
Post-election, all the evil pieces of legislation to muzzle the people and the press remain intact, while the BN still has the gigantic state machinery at its disposal.
Many court cases against a number of opposition MPs and state assemblypersons are pending, with new lawsuits being studied to weaken Pakatan. No doubt, most zealous are those who see their future in government at stake.For all my disagreements with Umno, I am perfectly fine with Abdullah staying as prime minister. Perhaps he can use his remaining tenure to introduce serious reforms in the judiciary, education and public administration before he retires.
Even when the curtain falls on Abdullah’s long career as Umno leader, he may still want to put up a good fight. No one wants to be remembered as a prime minister who handed five states to the opposition. Provided, of course, Abdullah genuinely cares about his legacy.
Travelling through Myanmar hit by Cyclone Nargis
Myanmar through the eyes of a Malaysian.
Is Islam, Judaism and Christianity still relevant today?
Interesting twist and re-framing exercise …
I was asked recently to write an article about homosexuality in Islam.
At first I started by trying to look up verses from the Quran, Bible and even those from the Torah on the subject. Why include the Bible and Torah you may ask? The reason primarily being that Islam regards Christians and Jews as “People of the Book” that is that god had given them the Bible and the Torah before the Quran and that there are all from the words of the one god.
In the process of doing so, I found a common thread from the holy books of all three faiths – the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. God had basically turned the city upside down because they engaged in anal sex.
But as I continued to ponder on how I should tackle this subject, I found myself not asking about how homosexuality is regarded in Islam, Christianity and Judaism but rather whether the three religions were still relevant today.
Let’s end with some insights from royalty
Is Pak Lah still the right man to lead Umno?
For the moment. He cannot resign now. Give him some time to reorganise the party and then step down. He cannot be wholly faulted for the poor showing in the election, but as the leader he must take responsibility.
He has to go before the next general election but not now. And this time, he has to serve the full term. It was bad timing this time around with so much unfinished business … the Khairy factor et cetera. He still had one year for damage control and I think he should have taken advantage of this.
Somehow his image as a leader has taken a beating and he will never recover from it.