Archive for April 8th, 2009
JESUS IS “the resurrection and the life.” Is your perception of the future determined by the certainty of your death or by your faith in Jesus? Is your life determined by the ability to make life “happen” or by the power of Jesus’ presence within you to give you life? Find a quiet place and a quiet moment. Quiet your body and slowly breathe the life of Jesus’ presence in. Hold your breath and let your mind and heart say, “Jesus, my life!” Slowly breathe “death” out. Hold your breath and let your mind and heart say, “Jesus, my resurrection!” Repeat these phrases a few times. Let Jesus speak to you of resurrection and life.
- Meeting God in Scripture: Entering the New Testament
It’s good to spend this time to practice what is suggested here, Quiet place, quiet moment, quiet the body, and allow “Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!” to occupy this space.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully]
Death, destruction, damnation . . . and a whole lot of other dark forces are still unleashed in the air. One phone call, or make it two. A friend is in need, there are bullies at work. Calling people difficult people or trouble makers won’t do it justice. Years ago, I remember reading a book which called them “dragons”.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully . . . "Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
There are times when you do not choose your friends, but your friends choose you. There is a deep sense that trust is present, and that is a good feeling. It’s assuring, it’s affirming. But it’s also painful. Not because of the trust another person gives as a gift, but because of the bearing of pain one needs to enter as a result of that trust, and furthermore when one chooses to step in deeper into the mess.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully . . ."Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
Maybe one might ask, “Why should we get involved in this whole Jesus liberation movement business?”, “What’s the point?”, “Shouldn’t I be doing some thing better with my time?”
No one will fully understand. Okay, there would be some. But only those who’ve faced these forces of darkness within and without head on. Suddenly, the relevance of the whole compressed intensified holy week becomes alive in one’s consciousness.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully. . . "Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
I pray that things will be better for my friend and for those around her. But we are ready to slay some dragons if necessary. If they are still breathing the fire of destruction, then we cannot stand aside and do nothing. A cry for help has arisen.
At times, the circumstances chooses us to face a critical choice- to face or not to face the damning forces before us.
No one said this is going to be a smooth job. These stories in detail are best reserved for memoirs before one’s death, or close friends who won’t sell you for 30 pieces of silver.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully. . . "Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
For now, the breathing is slowed down. I heard thunder and it’s going to rain cats and dogs in no time. Almost every holy week in Malaysia is characterized by this kind of weather. Fits the mood.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully. . . "Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
Death does not have the final say. Resurrection life does. That is what draws me from the future to reengage the present. It’s a totally crazy way of living but it’s amazing.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully. . . "Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
Strange to get this phone call today. It’s Spy Wednesday. The mind spins off into intriguing tangents. As I breath deeper again, the words re-center me to a greater reality.
[pause . . . repeat phrases prayerfully. . . "Jesus, my life! Jesus, my resurrection!" ]
Sweet victory for Nizar in Bukit Gantang
But bitter pills to swallow for his opponents?
LIVE: Pakatan conquers Bukits, submerged in Batang Ai
Anil does it again, great coverage with pictures included! Some interesting comments below. God and the people get appreciated! Some good humor too!
[Comment From msian]
Praise the Lord[Comment From ruhysam]
alhamdulillah.[Comment From pamela]
Thank you voters for taking the courage to step forward to vote for justice[Comment From son of malaysia]
even my 10 and 12 years old daughter are celebrating with me on the rakyat win in the 2 hills. thanks anil for all the effort. god bless[Comment From tskumar]
Official result: Anil WON for best live reporting[Comment From rania]
I’m sad that Tun Mahathir didn’t go campaign in Batang Air. If he campaign in Batang Air, PR sure win.[Comment From AbeEnd]
TV1 masih lengahkan result ler!…Memang dah tau bila trend camni…[From Anil]
One thing I noticed here is that there is a strong spirit of camaderie between the Pas supporters and the Chinese and Indian voters who supported Nizar. The Pas folks were truly appreciative of their Chinese and Indian brothers and sisters who extended their support for Nizar, and many Pas supporters simply thanked anyone they saw for their support.
In turn, many of these non-Muslim Pakatan/Nizar supporters have begun to see the folks in Pas in a new light and value their simplicity, honesty and goodness.
If there is one other little miracle for tonight – I was told that even some of the FRU personnel at the Taiping Town Council could not help smiling.
A good result for Malaysia – The Malaysian Insider
I would be checking out how the papers will put on their front page tomorrow. Read an old copy of the Sunday NST when I was having dinner with Gareth tonight. Oh my Lord, the “propaganda” was so in your face. I wonder when the mainstream media would change to be more “world class” 
How does one see the way Malaysian Insider’s take?
Pakatan scores higher in 2 Bukits, BN keeps Batang Ai
Well the above is Malaysian Insider’s headline for now. Let’s see how the other papers do it tomorrow.
Tony Pua’s quick “not from a neutral standpoint” analysis (which is understandable, and ok) . . . what do you think?
- The results are a clear endorsements of the Pakatan Rakyat 10 month-old Perak government for its multi-racial and multi-cultural policies benefiting the rakyat from all segments of the community.
The Kuala Sepetang polling district where the Chinese community comprises 97% of the 2,311 electorate voted 84.3% for a PAS candidate. This is an earth-shaking result demonstrating that barriers to racial and communal politics are being torn down and are being replaced by the politics of good and quality governance.
This is an indisputably historic result of enormous significance on the continued relevance of Barisan Nasional race-based “model” of governance.
- The sizeable increase in victory margin for the Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin clearly sends the message to our newly installed Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak that the people wants the Perak State Assembly to be dissolved for fresh elections. The Prime Minister had on 6th March said that he wanted to “build a democracy responsive to the people’s needs” when he was commenting on the roles of the “new and old media”.
It is therefore high time, as a new Prime Minister, to do the right thing for democracy in Malaysia by ensuring that the people of Perak gets a Government they themselves elect via the dissolution of the current state assembly.
- Finally, despite the tremendous odds – the feel good factor from a newly installed Prime Minister, a “successfully” concluded UMNO General Assembly, the ‘pop star’ presence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, allocations amounting to millions to Chinese and Tamil schools which would not have resulted if not for the by-elections and the sudden release of some Hindraf ISA detainees, Malaysians in the Peninsula have voted for Pakatan Rakyat, a year-old coalition, which can only represent a dismal lack of confidence in our 6th and new prime minister.
The Tale of 2 Hills and a Stick
I’m not sure whether this guy is with a political party, I doubt it. But then no one is neutral anymore are we? He was kind enough to write a letter to the new PM.
1. Elections were held on a weekday, on a Tuesday some more; where it is difficult for people to take leave. If it is on Monday, people may take leave to go back and vote. But despite without the KL people (returning to the 2 Bukits) who would likely vote for Pakatan, BN still lost.
2. Elections were held AFTER UMNO election. So UMNO went into the 3 elections all fired up, and ready to fight, but they still lost.
3. We got a new PM, and normally the new PM is given a huge mandate by the people to give the new PM a chance. Mahathir got it in 1982. Pak Lah got it in 2004. But Najib started with 2 defeats. Despite all his effort to visit the people in PS boutique, Kerinchi and Brickfield; he still lost.
4. Millions were pumped in, yet BN lost.
5. 13 ISA detainees were released, and the 2 opposition papers were allowed to publish again, Najib’s way of showing he ‘cares’, but he still lost.
6. Despite their ‘trump card’ Mahathir campaigning for BN, they still lost. Actually Mahathir and for that matter Samy Vellu are massive liabilities for BN, but never mind lah. So long as these people are in BN, BN will not win.
We can analyze till the cow come home on why BN or more importantly, UMNO lost; but the fact is very simple – people just dont trust BN (Particularly UMNO) anymore.
Najib, hope you read my letter in my earlier posting.