Mel is Getting Married!

My ex-flatmate, Mel whom I truly enjoy her friendship and fun times together (including accident in Coromandel) and Sean has announced in church that they are getting married this year! Its quite scary, considering that she's just a year older than me. She is going to be my first friend that is going to break the blessing of singleness.

Wishing her all the best for her future undertakings :)

Bermacam Ragam Pilihanraya

Kuala Terengganu 24 Feb. - Seorang nenek 89 tahun bertanding atas tiket calon bebas di Parlimen Kuala Terengganu sekali gus menyaksikan pertandingan tiga penjuru dengan calon BN dan Pas.

Maimun Yusuf akan bertanding menentang Datuk Razali Ismail (BN) dan Mohamad Sabu (Pas).

Attention Brethrens

Without appearing dogmatic, I feel that christian JPA scholars should not break their bond with the Public Service Department aka the Government aka the People.

It is because honourable people honour their agreements.

As Christians, we reflect Godly values, of which our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a God of faithfulness who never breaks His covenant with His people. The basis of the Christian faith is a relationship between men and God, based on trust in what He has promised through Jesus Christ.

Our agreement with the nation thus should be regarded as a sacred agreement between us and the people, and should be honoured at all costs. Failure to do so especially due to selfish reasons is a shameful act that does not reflect godliness.

While honouring the agreement means that we may have to forgo career or educational prospects overseas, it is a reasonable price to pay for what we have chosen at the first place. Jesus said that one should count the cost before committing to anything. Jesus also said that we should let our yes be yes and no be no (Matt 5:37).

Committing ourselves in a public funded scholarship-bond (regardless of whether we can afford to repay) is more than just a financial assistance or prestige thingy.

It is a commitment to honour the aspiration of the scholarship giver, the whole nation, and the recipients should not only be accountable to the funder, but ultimately the Supreme Giver.

Quoting our beloved JPA officers, "Kalau tak balik Malaysia dan bayar balik, tak berkat hidup meskipun sekaya mana sekalipun"

Malaysians Lack Empathy

"At heart I think I’m a moderate Malaysian politician. My views are not urban, they’re not liberal, they’re modern and perhaps progressive. They are borne of somebody who lives in urban areas, but after nine years in politics, it’s been tempered by what I’ve seen in the countryside and rural areas, it’s been tempered by certain realities of politics on the ground. And while the idealism remains, I’ve had to look beyond the three square miles that is Bangsar and Coffee Bean. For a lot of armchair writers and critics, that is their world. That isn’t my world. My world is from Padang Besar, straight down to Pontian all the way to Kota Belut in Sabah.

We need greater empathy. Just as much as Umno needs to empathise more with non-Muslims who feel threatened today by what they perceive as encroaching Islamism and all that, at the same time, the Chinese community has to empathise also with the Malay community who still has a hang-up about economic achievement, who still needs assistance, who still cherishes the NEP (New Economic Policy).

After all this, I hope to sit down and write something about empathy and that is the greatest value or virtue that Malaysians need going forward." -- Khairy Jamaluddin

Adakah Yesus Politikus?

“Adakah Yesus Politikal? Satu Perspektif Perjanjian Baru" oleh Dr Lim Kar Yong, Pensyarah Pengajian Perjanjian Baru, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia

Mukaddimah Bahagian 2 Bahagian 3 Bahagian 4 Kesimpulan

Mukaddimah

Saya teringat membaca kenyataan seorang paderi injili yang berpengaruh bahawa gereja tidak sepatutnya melibatkan diri dalam politik. Menurut paderi ini, misi, tenaga dan pelaburan gereja bukanlah untuk membersihkan korupsi masyarakat, tetapi untuk menginjili masyarakat. Malang sekali, pendapat ini juga mencerminkan banyak di kalangan kita. Adalah malang sekali apabila pengajian tentang Yesus diadakan di bawah pengaruh ajaran gereja, ianya diadakan melalui rangka teologi gereja tersebut. “Pemahaman rasmi” tentang Yesus adalah baginda adalah Anak Tuhan yang telah mati di kayu salib untuk penyelamatan manusia.

Pemahaman ini juga menganggap bahawa Injil dan kitab-kitab lain adalah bersifat keagamaan dan harfiah semata-mata. Meskipun pendekatan teologi ini adalah selaras dengan pengakuan iman ortodoks, pendekatan ini hanyalah mencerminkan perspektif yang kurang tepat tentang Yesus – perspektif yang saya tertarik untuk sifatkan sebagai proses pelembutan “Yesus spiritual”. Inilah Yesus yang dikatakan oleh Scot McKnight, “disifatkan hanya sebagai guru spiritual, seorang yang hanya berminat tentang kehidupan keagamaan dalaman dan disiplin keagamaan individu”

Pagi ini saya berharap untuk memikirkan semula pemahaman kita tentang Yesus. Merujuk hasil kajian tentang Yesus dalam Sejarah (Historical Jesus) dan perkembangan kaedah social-scientific dalam pengkajian Perjanjian Baru, kami berharap dapat berefleksi tentang persoalan “Adakah Yesus itu Politikal?”. Atau dalam kata lain, wujudkah ruang dalam iman kita untuk Yesus sebagai politikus, di samping Yesus sebagai guru agamawi.

Sebelum kita bermula, mungkin adalah baik untuk saya mendefinisikan maksud “politik”. Dalam kajian sejarah silam, menurut Aristotle, politik difahami dengan ertikata yang luas di mana objektifnya adalah untuk merealisasikan idea kehidupan ideal dalam sesebuah masyarakat di satu-satu bandar. Di samping itu, politik juga boleh difahami dengan maksud yang sempit sebagai seni memperoleh dan mengekalkan kuasa. Saya lebih suka berefleksi tentang Yesus Politik dalam ertikata yang luas.

Politik bagi saya bermaksud, hal-ehwal umum, kerajaan dan sivil. Dengan definisi “politikal”, saya tidak memaksudkan bahawa Yesus menubuhkan parti politik atau melancarkan pemberontakan terhadap Rom ataupun Kota Yerusalem. Dengan definisi “politikal”, saya mencadangkan untuk menerokai Yesus dalam sejarah sebagai seorang yang mempunyai misi kepada negeri Israel untuk memanggilnya untuk bertaubat, dengan amaran hukuman Tuhan yang mendatang.

Jadi two persoalan yang ingin saya terokai adalah:

1) Betapa banyakkah kesedaran yang ditunjukkan oleh Yesus dalam misi-Nya kepada Israel, sebagi misi politik?

2) Apakah persepsi orang ramai terhadap Yesus sebagai politikus melalui ajaran-Nya dan perjuangan-Nya?

Kerana kesuntukan masa, saya mencadangkan untuk menerokai 3 aspek dalam kehidupan dan pelayanan Yesus, dan mengakhirinya dengan implikasi kepada Gereja pada hari ini.

1. Kesedaran diri Yesus terhadap misi-Nya
2. Mesej dan Ajaran Yesus
3. Aktiviti dan Perjuangan Yesus

..............

Pendahuluan Bahagian 2 Bahagian 3 Bahagian 4 Kesimpulan

The Analects of Confucius

"...To be patient even when others do not understand -- is this not the mark of the gentlemen?" (1:1)

"The Master said ' Both keeping past teachings alive and understand the present -- someone able to do this is worthy of being a teacher'" (2:11)

"Being a filial son and good brother, one is already taking part in government. What need is there, then to speak of 'participating in government'"? (2:19)

"Do not be concerned that you lack an official position, but rather concern yourself with the means by which you might become established. Do not be concerned that no one has heard of you but rather strive to become a person worthy of being known." (4:14)

"The gentlemen understands rightness whereas the petty person understands profit" (4:16)

"People in ancient times were not eager to speak, because they would be ashamed if their actions did not measure up to their words" (4:22)

"One who knows it is not the equal of one who loves it, and one who loves it is not the equal of one who takes joy in it." (6:20)

"The wise take joy in rivers, while the Good take joy in mountains. The wise are active, while the good are still. The wise are joyful while the Good are long-lived" (6:23)

"If I were granted many more years, and could devote fifty of them to learning, surely I would be able to be free of major faults" (7:17)

"I am not someone who was born with knowledge. I simply love antiquity and diligently look there for knowledge" (7:20)

"The gentlemen is self-possessed and relaxed, while the petty man is perpetually full of worry." (7:37)

"I have yet to meet a man who loves virtue as much as he loves sex" (9:18)

"Only after Winter comes do we know that the pine and cypress are the last to fade" (9:28)

"The wise are not confused, the Good do not worry and the courageous do not fear" (9:29)

An Open Letter to Single Christian Men

"From a completely personal perspective, when I look at you as marriage potential, I'm a bit cautious. If you leave church when it's uncomfortable and tough, what's to say you won't do the same in a marriage once it gets uncomfortable and tough (as it inevitably will). Where's the proof of obedience and commitment in your life? I'm not asking you to be a spiritual giant; I'm just asking you to show up. And hopefully to live like you mean it when you say you're a Christian—at least as well as any of us fallen human beings can.

I also worry for you. It's not easy being Christ-like in our materialistic, narcissistic, sex-saturated society. And we weren't designed to go it alone. We need community, accountability, mutual encouragement. I'd be happy to spur you on in love and good works, to together figure out how to live in this world but not of it. I know God told us not to give up the practice of meeting together (Hebrews 10:25) not as a legalistic ruler but as a loving Father. He knew it wouldn't be easy, that we'd need one another. I need you. You need me. That's the point of the church." -- Camerin Courtney

ABIM on Interfaith Dialogue

Kertas kerja Dr. Mohd Farid Mohd Shahran, Timbalan Presiden ABIM yang telah dibentangkan di Muzakarah Pendisiplinan Dialog Antara Agama dan Peradaban di IKIM pada 22 Januari, 2008 yang amat relevan sekali dalam persoalan ini.

Kertaskerja ini memberi perspektif Islam untuk manafaat penganut-penganut semua agama. [Link]

Battlefield of Ideas

"This is not my farewell to you. My only wish is to fight as a soldier in the battle of ideas. I shall continue to write under the heading of 'Reflections by comrade Fidel'." -- Fidel Castro



Even in Malaysia, a battlefield of ideas is happening right now, and it is the one that can infiltrate society which would give lasting change and impact.

Few interesting stuff for your reading (and concern too)

a) Islamic NGO Elections Press Statement

b) Vote Wisely Campaign by the Christian Council of Malaysia

c) Malaysia Votes, an independent election blog commentary by Jacqueline Ann Surin and gang.

d) Vandalised Kelana Jaya Loh Seng Kok's mega-billboard,

e) Zaid Ibrahim and Loh Seng Kok is dropped off from the list, apparently for being outspoken

f) Fiery lady, Batu Gajah MP not contesting anymore

g) Mandarin-proficiency is a MUST for Penang CM, says Penang Chinese Town Hall

Santa Clauses are coming to town!

If Paul Winsdor has a reason to get excited, so do I.

Chris Wright will be talking about his latest book, "The Mission of God" at Greenlane Christian Centre, 7pm on March 17th.

A noted OT scholar, Chris is the director of Langham Partnership International with his heart firmly planted in the Majority World. According to the website he is a pastor, seminary lecturer, author and activist. Have to go hear him speak at least once in my lifetime, if not rugi-lah.

Another person that is going to come to this end of the world is Don Carson, speaking at the Hamilton Reformed Church Convention on March 21 and 22.

A prominent and vocal evangelical NT scholar, currently Research Professorof New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Don is speaking from the book of Nehemiah.

Winsdor described him, "his intellect is unmatched; his scholarship unrivalled and in his writing he knows how to go for the jugular in defending the truth." besides noting his gentleness, passion for mission, his prayers and love for Jesus.

Last but not least, is our dear budding NT scholar from Malaysia, Karyong Lim who will be presenting his paper in the 2008 Society of Biblical Literature on the Ephesian family code from a Malaysian Chinese diaspora perspective. This will be from the 6-11th July 2008 at the University of Auckland.

A vocal faculty member of Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, who read NT at Wales and Gordon-Conwell, Karyong is passionate on sociopolitical issues, biblical studies and christian education, calling Christians to be faithful to the scriptures and engaging their world through them.

Had opportunity to met him for teh tarik once and help do some book photocopying for his coming research paper (without regards to copyright), I also haven't heard him preach (apparently with fire and brimstone), though some of his stuff on the Political Jesus is rather impressive.

A New Year Prayer

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

By Frances R. Havergal (1874). Thanks Lilis for the reminder

Tongariro Crossing

Whāia te iti kahurangi Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei

Pursue excellence – should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain

May our pursuit to outdo ourselves at the Tongariro Crossing brings humility, recognising the weakness of men and praising the glory of God through the lofty mountains.

Majulah Singapura

Quotes on Consumerism

I belong to the Cult of the Next Thing. It's dangerously easy to get enlisted. It happens by default—not by choosing the cult, but by failing to resist it. The Cult of the Next Thing is consumerism cast in religious terms. It has its own litany of sacred words: more, you deserve it, new, faster, cleaner, brighter. It has its own deep-rooted liturgy: charge it, instant credit, no down-payment, deferred payment, no interest for three months. It has its own preachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles: ad men, pitchmen, celebrity sponsors. It has, of course, its own shrines, chapels, temples, meccas: malls, superstores, club warehouses. It has its own sacraments: credit and debit cards. It has its own ecstatic experiences: the spending spree.

The Cult of the Next Thing's central message proclaims, "Crave and spend, for the Kingdom of Stuff is here." Sanctification is measured by never saving enough: for the cult teaches that our lives are measured by the abundance of our possessions. Those caught up in the Cult of the Next Thing live endlessly, relentlessly for, well, the Next Thing—the next weekend, the next vacation, the next purchase, the next experience. For us, the impulse to seek the Next Thing is an instinct bred into us so young it seems genetic. It's our paradigm, our way of seeing. It's our unifying Myth. How could the world be otherwise?

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. … So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs (Matt. 6:24, 31–32, NLT).

I looked again at 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "No matter what happens, always be thankful." And then at Ephesians 5:20: "Always give thanks for everything to God." And it came to me that the deepest theological concept is not the doctrine of the Incarnation, or the theories of Atonement, or the arguments for theodicy. Not views on premillennialism or supralapsarianism, nor ideas about tribulationism or dispensationalism. No, the deepest theological concept is thankfulness. Because to know God is to thank God. To worship God is to thank God. And to thank God in all things and for all things is to acknowledge that God is good, perfectly good, and perfectly just, and perfectly powerful—and that all things do work together for good for those who love God and have been called according to God's purposes.

Thankfulness is an act of subversion against the Cult of the Next Thing.

We live in a culture of excess. A culture of more. A culture where we need to accumulate endlessly just to keep the loincloth. And the only way to break it is deliberately to lay hold of another way of seeing and living: we need an attitude of enough. G. K. Chesterton said, "There are two ways to get enough. One is to accumulate more and more. The other is to need less." The attitude of enough—actually, it's a spiritual orientation— is marked by trust, contentment, and thankfulness. It is the decision, with- out rationalization, to say, "This is enough. My home is big enough. My car is new enough. My possessions are plenty enough. I've eaten enough. I've taken enough. Enough is enough."

--Mark Buchanan, "Cult of the Next Thing"

Malaysia Adalah Hak Bersama

Oleh Wan Saiful Wan Jan dan Tricia Yeoh. Artikel Bahasa Inggeris di sini

Kedua-dua orang penulis artikel ini datang dari latarbelakang kaum dan agama yang berbeza. Mereka juga tinggal di dua negara yang jaraknya ribuan batu. Tetapi, mereka berkongsi pengalaman hidup sebagai sebahagian daripada golongan etnik minoriti.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan merupakan seorang rakyat Malaysia berketurunan Melayu Islam yang telah berhijrah ke United Kingdom pada awal 1990-an. Walaupun telah sekian lama tinggal di luar negara sebagai seorang etnik minoriti, rasa cintakan negara masih tebal dihatinya. Tricia Yeoh pula dilahirkan dan dibesarkan di Malaysia. Bagi Tricia, Malaysia ialah satu-satunya negara dan tanah air yang beliau sayangi. Seorang Kristian berbangsa Cina, Tricia juga seorang etnik minoriti.

Umat Islam yang merupakan golongan minoriti di United Kingdom telah lama menyatakan bahawa segala bentuk diskriminasi, baik yang tersurat mahupun yang tersirat, mestilah dihapuskan. Ini tidak jauh bezanya dengan golongan minoriti di Malaysia. Golongan minoriti di Malaysia turut menuntut agar segala bentuk diskriminasi dihapuskan.

Reaksi terhadap tuntutan-tuntutan ini sebenarnya hampir sama. Di United Kingdom, terdapat segelintir golongan majoriti yang berkata "Jangan cabar hak ketuanan kami!". Di Malaysia juga terdapat segelintir golongan majoriti yang berkata "Jangan cabar hak ketuanan kami!"

Baik Melayu di United Kingdom atau bukan Melayu di Malaysia, tidak mudah hidup sebagai seorang minoriti!

Professor Tariq Ramadan dalam satu ucapan beliau di London pada 15 November 2007 menyeru umat Islam Britain untuk memainkan peranan mereka sebagai rakyat negara tersebut. Menurut Professor Ramadan, walaupun ibu bapa mereka mungkin datang daripada negara asing, United Kingdom kini adalah rumah mereka. Mereka mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk memperbaiki negara tersebut kerana itulah negara mereka. Penyertaan dalam usaha membina negara bukan satu pilihan. Melibatkan diri dalam usaha bina negara adalah satu kewajipan ke atas semua rakyat, termasuklah golongan minoriti.

Hujah tersebut pastinya boleh turut digunapakai dalam berbicara mengenai golongan minoriti di Malaysia.

Apa yang perlu kita lakukan sekarang ialah menerima hakikat bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia, Melayu atau bukan Melayu, adalah juzuk-juzuk penting dalam negara kita Malaysia. Maka kita harus berhenti mensensasikan perkara-perkara emosional seperti isu kaum dan agama, dan menghapuskan segala prasangka.

Kenapa setiap kali kita bercakap mengenai Islam, maka kita sengaja menimbulkan isu murtad? Kenapa setiap kali kita bercakap mengenai penganut agama Hindu ianya seolah-olah mereka mahu menimbulkan kacau bilau? Kenapa setiap kali kita bercakap mengenai kaum Tionghua ianya seolah-olah mereka merompak kekayaan negara? Kenapa setiap kali kita bercakap mengenai penganut agama Kristian, ianya seolah-olah semua umat Islam mesti sangsi terhadap mereka?

Kedua-dua kami adalah daripada bangsa dan agama yang berbeza. Tetapi kami bangga untuk menyatakan bahawa Malaysia adalah negara kami yang kami cintai. Kami tidak mahu berdebat mengenai mana yang lebih betul, Islam atau agama Kristian. Tetapi, kami yakin bahawa adalah lebih baik sekiranya nilai-nilai mulia yang boleh dicerna daripada kedua-dua agama ini diolah untuk sama-sama memperkukuh kedudukan Malaysia di mata dunia. Nilai-nilai mulia seperti keadilan dan integriti sememangnya dikongsi bersama, dan inilah yang sepatutnya diberi tumpuan.

Sebagai seorang Muslim dan seorang Kristian, terdapat pelbagai perkara yang kami sama-sama persetujui dalam rangka menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara yang maju dan berdaya saing menjelang tahun 2020. Contohnya, dalam menterjemahkan prinsip keadilan kepada polisi negara, kita perlu berusaha memastikan setiap rakyat negara ini mendapat kesaksamaan peluang. Usaha membasmi kemiskinan mestilah dijalankan secara sama rata dan merangkumi semua kaum dan agama.

Setelah lima puluh tahun merdeka, sudah sampai masanya kita menjadi lebih matang. Malangnya, politik perkauman dan politik keagamaan nampaknya masih lagi menghantui kita, baik dalam sembang-sembang kedai kopi mahupun dalam diskusi intelektual. Kita masih lagi dibelenggu sejarah lama. Belenggu ini perlu dihapuskan jika kita benar-benar mahu melangkah kehadapan.

Kita perlu menerima hakikat bahawa setelah lima puluh tahun merdeka, Malaysia bukan negara untuk satu kelompok tertentu sahaja. Malaysia bukan milik mana-mana individu atau kumpulan. Rakyat Malaysia terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum dan agama. Malaysia adalah hak kita bersama. Tidak ada sesiapa yang boleh menafikan hak seorang rakyat dalam negara yang kita miliki bersama semata-mata kerana perbezaan agama atau bangsa.

Sebagai rakyat Malaysia, golongan minoriti perlu sama-sama memainkan peranan untuk membentuk Malaysia menjadi sebuah negara maju menjelang tahun 2020. Golongan minoriti dan majoriti perlu berkongsi tenaga dan buah fikiran. Semua pihak perlu memberi cadangan dan perlu mengkritik. Cadangan dan kritikan yang diutarakan mestilah dilihat sebagai tanda bahawa kita semua sama-sama berusaha memperbaiki negara ini.

Muslim dan bukan-Muslim, Melayu dan bukan Melayu, kita semua adalah rakyat Malaysia dan kita semua mempunyai hak ke atas Malaysia. Sudah tiba masanya kita merungkai belenggu perdebatan yang berlandaskan kaum dan agama. Setiap seorang rakyat Malaysia mempunyai hak yang sama, tidak kira sama ada mereka dari golongan majoriti mahupun minoriti.

Golongan minoriti Islam di United Kingdom, dan di seluruh dunia, sedang berusaha menuntut keadilan, kebebasan dan kesaksamaan. Inilah juga yang dituntut oleh golongan minoriti bukan Islam di Malaysia. Jika di United Kingdom mereka menyuarakan pandangan dan kritikan kerana mereka sayangkan negara mereka, perasaan sayangkan negara jugalah yang menjadi asas kepada tuntutan golongan minoriti di Malaysia.

Umat Islam di Malaysia perlu menunjukkan contoh yang boleh diteladani oleh masyarakat dunia. Demi membuktikan bahawa Islam adalah satu agama yang adil dan saksama, umat Islam di Malaysia perlu mengiktiraf secara mutlak bahawa golongan minoriti juga mempunyai hak yang sama seperti golongan majoriti.

Awang Goneng : Growing Up in Terengganu

"You can take the boy out of Terengganu but you can't take Terengganu out of the man", says Dina Zaman.

Awang Goneng is probably one of the famous diaspora of Terengganu-ans out there. In his book, Growing Up in Terengganu which became a hit in major bookstores, he recaptured his early childhood memories and interaction with his beautiful land, Terengganu, starting from a blog into a book (blook).

Certainly, memories of the Terengganu stays a significant part of his life, and in my own life as well. Even though I may not share some of his kampung childhood memories due to my urban upbringing, many of the experiences I guess could be shared and evoke a sense of nostalgia. It affirms my identity, my culture, my family, my upbringing, my people and my land to where I will lay to rest.

RTM made a series of documentary on Awang Goneng and his recent visit to Terengganu last Christmas. Its a shame that I totally forgot to buy a copy of his book from the Alam Akademik bookshop near Pasar Payang, I could have gotten his autograph and meet him in person.

It is also a shame that the younger generation do not share in appreciation for local history, of experiences and stories of the past.

Quoting Awang Goneng, "The sad thing is, the latter generation do not appreciate literature, the past.”

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

True Story of Reconciliation

In the 1830's there is a Maori girl, Tarore who lived in Waikato, daughter of a rangatira (chief) called Ngakuku. During that time, there was civil war between Maori tribes with guns bought from the European settlers. Strife was rampant with killing and revenge.

Some missionaries like Rev. Alfred and Mrs Brown came with the Bible, God's Word. They wanted to teach people how to read it and learn about God's love. Tarore heard of them and wanted to learn from them, and her father agreed.

Tarore learned about Jesus, who has great mana (honour). Jesus loved people, he did't fight back his enemies even when the wanted to kill him. Jesus taught people to love one another and God. Jesus was the Son of God, died on the cross and rose again. He defeats the dark powers of the world and bring people to reconcile with God.

Tarore was given a copy of Te Rongopai A Ruka (Gospel of Luke), the first parts of the Maori Bible. She read it to her people, including her father. The message about love and peace was new, instead of constant hate and pain of war.

When Tarore grew older, it was dangerous to remain in Matamata. Thus, Ngakuku brought a group of people to the Kaimai Range and camped at Wairere Falls for the night. Before sleeping, Tarore read to the group a portion of the scripture.

As they sleep, some Te Arawa warriors who were enemies of Ngakuku came and tried to kill them silently. Before long, Tarore was dead and the rest of the people wanted revenge.

However, Ngakuku remembering the scriptures that Tarore read, said no to more killing.

The Te Arawas stoled the scripture and gave it to their chief, Uita. But none of their tribesmen could read it, except a slave, Ripahau who was taught how to read by the missionaries in the Bay of Islands.

As Uita heard the words, he asked "Loved my enemies? But I killed the girl who had this book... I want the peace that Jesus brings."

So he sent a message for forgiveness from Ngakuku. Peace not through force but from the power of God's Word.

Ripahau went back to his home village Otaki and met his chief Te Rauparaha and their family, teaching them how to read from Tarore's book. However, Te Rauparaha was a man of war (picture left).

One day his son Tamihana said to his father, "I want to follow the way of peace" and invited missionary Octavius Hadfield from the Bay of Islands to live with them. After many years Te Rauparaha begin to change his ways.

Taminaha upon his own initiative, went to the South Island where people there lived in fear of war and revenge. He went on his canoe to his father's enemies, and told them of the things he learned from Tarore's scripture - how Jesus taught the way of peace, better than hatred and war.

No missionaries had ever step foot in the South Island. But after a few years when Bishop Selwyn visited South Island, he was surprised to find people living in peace and following Jesus. Many of them learned to read and write through Tamihana. The only books they had were Tarore's Gospel of Luke and the Maori Prayer Book.

Alfred Brown, when he visited Ngakuku and Uita (the warring chiefs mentioned earlier), recorded in 1842, that both worshipped and prayed to God together in the most friendly temrs. He remarked, "who but Christians love their enemies?"

-- Adapted from Reconciliation - Whakahoanga, Bible Society of NZ

Steps to Malaysianise the Malaysian Church

Acknowledging the special position of the Pribumi and their special relationship with the land, besides acknowledging the special position of Pribumi culture and thought in society and church life. It includes a greater appreciation towards the soul of the Pribumi expressed through lifestyle practices, arts, music and literature. It includes understanding Pribumi values and philosophy, experiences, stories, history and life outlook, embracing Biblical ones as part of a shared Malaysian christian identity

Acknowledging the diversity of cultures in the Malaysian church, and a commitment towards multiculturalism in the church. With that it includes, acknowledging cultural differences between various groups, that are often in interaction in daily life. Culture is not only about outward appearance and ethnic practices, but subtle aspects like choices, priorities, values, ethics etc. By recognising the differences within the church, differences can be celebrated rather than trying mould everything into a single dominant cultural backdrop.

Acknowledging the importance of indigenous ministry, and intentionally raise indigenous leadership within the church. It includes identifying, training, equipping and supporting Pribumi leadership at all levels of church life and ministry. Genuine partnership should be fostered rather than meritocratic (based on a monocultural assumption), while making sure that suitably gifted people are directed to their respective ministries.

Acknowledging the position of the national language, Bahasa Malaysia as the language of the Pribumi, besides its role as the language of a shared identity, unity and a bridge intercultural interactions. It is through a shared common language that the Scriptures can be more meaningfully shared and appreciated. The church can make Bahasa Malaysia an integral part of the liturgy, songs and prayer and church life, if not in the ministry of the Word.

Afghanistan

Dear God,

We pray for the nation Afghanistan,
That you protect it from harm and from evil,

From the evil of the corruption of men,
and from harm of the corruption of men.

That the people may not put their hopes on human political struggles that are doomed to fail,

of King Zahir, President Daoud, Communist Mohd Taraki, Nationalist Hafizullah Amin, Soviets of Moscow, Muhajideen Freedom Fighters, the ruthless Wahhabi Talibans, and the new American hegemony.

From the extremes of Wahhabism,
From totalitarian regimes,
From naive socialist utopias,
and the from the failures of Western liberal humanism,

We pray that you grant the country,
peace, security and stability,
tolerance and progress,
love and justice,
life and light,

We pray that You would rebuilt the country,
and Your people would be actively involved in nation-building,
and Your name be glorified among its people,

The zeal of the Lord will complete this.

Amen.

Surprises for the New Year

Malaysian sociopolitical scene is always colourful and exciting. In the midst of CNY, celebrating an inclusive multicultural and multireligious society, we are exposed to some abuses of authority like the recent English bible confiscations.

While the fast action by the Deputy Minister is commended, it should not have happened if the ministry are given clear guidelines and the society in general are aware of the freedom of minority religious groups to use, distribute, interprete and translate their own scriptures.

Dr. Hermen Shashtri, the General Secretary of CCM said in a press statement, "The Council of Churches is flabbergasted that such acts are happening in our country with such frequency and impunity. We want to state categorically that the Bible is Holy Scripture for Christians. No authority on earth should deny Christians the right to possess, read and travel with their Bibles."

It is upon God's authority that we use and read scriptures, thus any human authority that tries to interfere with the divine call is doomed to fail. Besides, it is by God's authority that gives the King and politicians of the day to rule the government, and it is to God that we are ultimately answerable to.

As Chinese New Year is celebrated joyously, it is important that we heed the call of our Prime Minister also the Minister of Internal Security, to safeguard our multiracial and multireligious identity, based on justice and tolerance.

He said that the nation “belongs to all of us together as the citizens of Malaysia.” and urged the people "to cultivate and adopt the values of consultation, tolerance, unity and mutual appreciation as these are the keys to the country's continuous peace and harmony.”

Maybe its time for the whole country to heed his call.

Farish Noor recently commented on this in his article "Fear of Holy Books"- "this has become the norm, where religious communities the world over have grown more introverted, inward-looking and consequently selfish in their motives and concerns."

Amir Muhammad

Amir Muhammad seems impressive, yet not so politically correct. Yet to read and watch more of his stuff.

http://www.criticine.com/interview_article.php?id=18

http://amirmu.blogspot.com/

Year of the Rat

Chinese New Year of the Rat is coming soon. But it is rather unfortunate that won't be able to be at home with family and friends, wandering in some foreign land where people have weird practices like eating Marmite on toast and don't need to pay highway tolls.

Omens for the coming year seems exciting with the latest news of a Zoo in Johor having three new Siberian tiger cubs prior to the coming of the Rat year. I am not that superstitious, but I wonder what conclusion would Feng Shui masters would boil up? Would I be able to get married and have a triplet children in 2008? Or probably three cubs might mean, three curses of which I have to pay RM1000 each for some curse-breaking ceremonies in Thailand? Or three lucky strikes in Toto or Magnum? (I would love that).

And this Feng Shui practitioner predicted a rather pessimistic outlook for Tigers in 2008, what a good way to start a new year!

OVERALL YEARLY FORTUNE
Setbacks are forecast for people born in the year of the Tiger. Their luck cycle is unstable and they are face with disturbances and disruptions in business. 2008 can be termed as a year of endurance for people born under this zodiac. They have to keep their tempers in check and try not to be rash.

WEALTH LUCK
Tigers could be plagued with loss of wealth, malefactors, gossips, injuries and illnesses which would affect wealth luck. There is financial instability in the year of the Rat. Tiger people should manage their wealth prudently. They must practise caution when it comes to money matters or making investments. However, wealth luck picks up after the eighth lunar month.

(aww... I was hoping my meagre student allowance would increase. La, now I have to eat porridge everyday liao, to save for rainy days ahead. And oh yeah, I must buy Toto at the 8th month. Hahaha.)

ROMANCE LUCK
This is also not a good year for romance. Good relationship is hindered and even marriages of Tiger people have setbacks. They might have a tendency to quarrel and be affected by malefactors (xiao ren). There is some romance luck in the fifth and tenth lunar month.

(you mean... I can get girlfriends only in June and November, and I can only pick up ugly girls? Where got fair like that??!$#@ I hate being a tiger!)

HEALTH LUCK
Health luck is not that good either. Sleep is affected and this might result in illness and also be extra careful when it comes to food hygiene. They should also be carful when driving as there are indications of bloodshed.

(I need to buy more sleeping pills this year. No more energy drinks for me and no more Marmite. Cannot drive, cannot take the bus, cannot fly, cannot walk too... who knows a bird might defecate on me and cause me heart attack.

Hey that means I don't need to go to class anymore, yay!)

Tien Fock on Ecclesiastes

"This explains why “God so works that man should fear Him” (3:14). And why life does not really make sense until and unless we live according to this purpose. In our exposition we have already discussed how the fear of God contributes in different ways to the meaning of life. What needs to be added here is that the fear of God provides a transcendent purpose for living under the sun. A transcendent purpose is certainly more worthwhile and meaningful than one which is not. And human beings do express the need for such a purpose.

As sociologist Peter Berger puts it, “The religious impulse, the quest for meaning that transcends the restricted space of empirical existence in this world, has been a perennial feature of humanity. (This is not a theological statement but an anthropological one—an agnostic or even an atheist philosopher may well agree with it.) It would require something close to a mutation of the species to extinguish this impulse for good”

Theologian McGrath confirms that even prominent atheists like Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx do not deny the fact that human beings do seek for transcendent meaning; they simply sought to explain away this human desire as “nothing more than a coping mechanism thrown up by the human mind to shield us from the unbearable pain of knowing [from their atheist point of view] that life is pointless”. Even if it is indeed purely a “coping mechanism,” being able to cope with reality is still better than bearing the “unbearable pain” of meaninglessness. And what if Qoheleth is correct, that this “coping mechanism” is not just an invention of the human mind but also an intention of the divine will?"

-- Tien Fock, Our Reason for Being

A Christian View of the Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty is a sacred covenant between the Maori peoples/iwi and the British peoples (Pakeha).

For many hundreds of years Maori had been the spiritual guardians and stewards of Aotearoa. As Christians we believe this was no accident. We believe that God, who is Creator and Sovereign, orders the times and seasons of the nations – He ordained that Maori found Aotearoa New Zealand and became its stewards.

The Treaty acknowledges and honours this stewardship. Through the Treaty the Maori peoples invited the British peoples into the land. It gave the British peoples their turangawaewae in New Zealand – their ‘place to stand’.

Through the Treaty the Maori also invited the Christian laws and government of the British. And the British Queen extended to Maori the protection of her government and guaranteed to them their lands and possessions

As Christians we acknowledge that the Queen’s government did not always honour the Treaty. These wrongs must be righted. We also acknowledge that Christian missionaries were involved in the Treaty. We believe they supported it as a good thing for Maori. We believe they honourably translated it. They also faithfully argued in support of Maori when the Treaty was under attack from the government and settlers.

As Christians we would plead with Maori not to see the missionaries and the Church as the same thing as the government. We would especially plead for Maori to understand that the God of the missionaries would never approve the dishonoring of the Treaty. And He would never approve the taking of land without just cause.

We acknowledge these things and make these pleas because we want healing and reconciliation to be fostered among Maori and Pakeha. Even more so we want to see reconciliation come between Maori and Io - the Supreme God, and his son Ihu Karaiti –Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1:3)

-- Samuel Carpenter, Karuwha Trust