Tuesday, August 30, 2005

The Sun of Winter Solstice...

This article was written for antiphony in Melbourne and it kinda reflect what is swimming in my head right now...

Here goes...

The Sun of Winter’s Solstice

The sunlight was very bright, but the land remained cold, the wind biting. It was the sun of winter’s solstice, and while it bathes the world with a glorious light, there is no warmth, no life…

As we look upon this world, we see many wonderful things. Things that make us congratulate ourselves about the greatness of humanity. How great is Malaysia to build the world’s tallest buildings, how remarkable are we to send people into space, and how wonderful is medical science today… that and many more achievements and progress made by us humans, masters of this world.

This is not limited to a sense of satisfaction for our collective achievement but our own achievements as well. I remember the feeling I felt when I got my A-level results four years ago, the deep sense of satisfaction – pride I would say. I remember moments in my life I would term as ‘victories’ and ‘successes’ with pride and satisfaction. I was positively glowing like the sun on high noon, and the rays just get brighter and brighter with each passing accolade – until I lost myself in the blinding light and forgot where I came from…

It is easy to count on one’s temporal satisfactions and achievements but at the very end, it may as well be hollow. I grew up in not a Christian family but a pseudo-Buddhist, semi-Atheist environment where achievements and results are paramount. Devotions are not given to the ‘gods’ in worship but in expectation that favours will be granted. It was easy to loose myself in my achievements, my intelligence and my pride – that nothing is impossible to achieve, the world beneath my feet, king of my world. My world? What a curious statement. It all but took one day to take it all away. One day for God to show me how hollow my world was… taking away my academic achievements, the love of one particularly important friend and domestic peace, I was nothing and I saw that I live for nothing but an empty cause. And that was the most terrifying day of my life.

But things change. A day later I was filled with warmth and happiness – being full of life! What is the change? God! Accepting Him on 9th December 2000 (almost 3 years ago), someone to call saviour and love of my life changed everything. I was filled with love and warmth and a fuzzy feeling inside. Everything seemed to have changed! But did it really? Did things really change? Yes… but, but Why? God is that simple answer but the truth lies even deeper than you would realise… it is not only God but the acceptance of God and His cause that changed everything…

And what is His cause? Is it to build a bigger church? Is it to make you better friends to one another? For you to love one another – better? Is it that simple? Or is it to build humanity to achieve world peace? Eliminate poverty? Is it that complex? The answer is even simpler that you ever realize – more basic than anything in this world…

What is the bible? Many would answer it is the word… the guide to life, the one book to rule us, and in brightness bind us… or something along those lines – but is it really just that? Let me ask you a simple question – why do novelists want to get published? Why do reporters want the latest scoop? Why do people want to write blogs online? Why? Think about it – to make themselves known… so the Bible? To make Himself known!

The bible is the platform for God to work in this world. Without it to chronicle His holy work for 4,000 years, we would not stand here today and call ourselves Christians! This is mass media in its finest – the most published book in history! And we have but one important task to do… to continue publishing it – and spreading it. Think of the church as the biggest publishing house in the world and we are its biggest distributor. Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo; I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen![1] Sounds familiar? The Great Commission, the greatest task we have today. His greatest cause! I am saying that we must neglect cleansing and setting ourselves right with God – but one thing we cannot is to become islands of light in a sea of darkness. We cannot be like the sun of winter solstice, bright and shining but providing no warmth to the world around us.

Once there were churches teaching that we need to keep ourselves clean and pure we must associate more with Christians and only Christians! What does the clean have to do with the unclean? I have heard many quoting bits and pieces from the bible about that, but what about the Great Commission? I was truly blessed to have friends that were willing to walk amongst the ‘unclean’, so that I was given the choice to come back to God – so that I now can walk amongst the shadows in this world, bearing the torch of Christ.

The Great Commission is not only restricted to missionaries but to everyone that calls himself a Christian. Needless to say, we all need to be ‘Pauls’ and ‘Peters’ of this generation. The world is fast approaching 10 billion souls – of that more than 65% remains lost. Of the world’s 13,000 languages, 60% remains without a translation of the word. Surprisingly, 60% of Christians is now from non-Western countries, and Christianity is in retreat in most of the Western world. This trend needs to be reversed. Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uppermost part of the earth[2]. This was spoken to the twelve in Jerusalem, of which they reside. The message was clear – send not only people to reclaim lost peoples in jungles at the ends of the world but also people into their own land, their own city. And that we need to do today…

I am Malaysian, and proudly so… some of the people most responsible for bringing me to God were from Malaysia, from Singapore… from Australia. We, my friends, are placed in a unique situation, one of many nations, many countries but with a singular cause. Thus, I urge you to bring back His cause to your nations when you return home. Preach and spread His word to your home, your street, your city… your country. Pray for protection and deliverance of your nation’s leadership. Pray for wisdom and strength to stand up for Christ. Pray for His Grace and for Him to work wonders in your life – When men works, man works; when men pray, God Works[3]. And fear not… for He has promised us victory. Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I will make nations your inheritance, and ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel[4]

Enough said, so what can be done? Remember the words from the song ‘To the ends of the world’ from Hillsongs? And I would give the world to tell Your story, Cause I know that You’ve called me… I’ve lost myself for good within Your promise, I won’t hide it… I won’t hide it…[5] So number one, Don’t hide it! Mobilise for witness! Pray for Him to work in this world. And so much more – below are something we can all pitch in to do[6]:-

1. Maintaining a clear witness to the uniqueness of Christ
2. Sustaining the centrality of the Scriptures
3. Pray for effective local congregations (like our church)
4. Pray for leadership – of the church and the nations of the world.
5. Maintain Victorious Optimism and a missionary vision.
6. Pray for individual revival, corporate restructuring, social revolution and kingdom restoration.

Thus, we need to act now so that we can build up our generation for God. Act now so we can be true suns, shining with warmth into the world – truly bearing the torch that Christ have left behind for us to hold. So that we will no longer be hollow people that look shining and bright – but have no warmth and heat within.

[1] King James Version, Matthew 28:18-20
[2] King James Version, Acts 1:8
[3] Hans von Staden, instigator of Operation World
[4] New International Version, Psalm 2:8
[5] To the ends of the Earth, Hillsongs Australia.
[6] Some extracts from Operation World, Patrick Johnson & Jason Mandyk.

This article was submitted but never edited nor published as it was the end of a cycle of Antiphony. However, these thoughts continued to flow in my head - so much so that I actually dug through 3 old hard disks to look for it...

Monday, August 29, 2005

...dreaming of new cars and hearing of returned cars

Hmmm...

Let me see - I have not managed to get myself a car yet - so at the moment I am currently driving a venerable mercedes benz that belongs to my family... no complaints - hehe - as it is still a damn good car :)

However, I have been dreaming of getting a new car - hopefully by early next year - the choice of the car has yet materialised - tossing between a BMW 3-series, a 2nd hand BMW 5-series or maybe a Mazda RX8 - hmmm :P

The virtues of all the cars are their performance and need I say - attractiveness :) However, some of my friends say I ought to consider my apparent portliness (not in any denial day - it is thoroughly apparent) - says I need 2 get a Harrier or a Tuoreg....

Now talking abour Tuoregs - thats a VW car mind you...
I can't help but noticing VW in the newpapers these couple of months - a company that may potentially enter our nation's industry...

News of a certain former leader's actions and disagreements...
One thought - with all due respect (and I do respect him so), the future beckons, and we walk forward not backwards...
What is past is in the past, and there is no use for the media or the people to dwell on the past and its legacies...

Cars may be returned (as someone has done) and that may enter the front pages... History cannot be returned or rewritten (as I sometimes want to do) - so stop this childishness and move on... it is time for the current and future leaders of this country to lead... powerful hands they may be.

We are not Singapore - there is no senior minister, no minister-mentor and no future minister-ancestor-god-deity...

We are Malaysia and we are 2 days away from our 48th birthday...
It is time to grow up and move from the shadows of our 'bapas' and grow up and move towards our vision - which is still Wawasan 2020...

They did, after all say...
The future is defined by what we do in the present,
The present is defined by what we did in the past...
But let not the past define the present...
for then there shall be no future

Saturday, August 27, 2005

For the land of Israel...

Well,

At this moment I am sick...
Running a hugh fever, coughing and other wat nots - and its 6am in the morning and I cannot get back to sleep...

Now - Israel - I am sure that you guys are aware of the recent painful withdrawals in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank...

The news is that Israel is abandoning Judea and Samaria or at least various part of their proclaimed 'God given Land' and by Sharon nontheless... and I was shocked when I read the following statement by the Palestinians today...

"These settlements and peace are two parallels that won't meet," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. "I hope their choice will be peace, not settlements."
and this

In Gaz City, Hamas held a large rally to celebrate the Israeli pullout. About 5,000 people, including men carrying anti-tank rockets, rifles and submachine guns.

The militant group repeated its calls to avenge an Israeli arrest raid that killed five Palestinians in the West Bank this week.

"The retaliation is coming and the blood of our beloved people will not go in vain. We will be happy to hear the news when our fighters succeed and get revenge for their blood," said Nizar Rayan, a Hamas leader in the Jebalya refugee camp.

Is there any thanksgiving?
Is there any peace?

Ungrateful - unrepentant - and ridiculous - the real aggressors of this war is not Ireal but the Palestinians... and the world is fooled by their 'plight'

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

...through the valley of the shadow of death


The past couple of days have been bleak in my eyes...

But nevertheless I remembered one verse that had carried me through all the problems I had had prior to this...

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever

I would not say I am a strong Christian, especially in this homeland of mine... I sometimes put down myself as a 'practical' christian that accepts things he cannot change... A christian willing to accomodate differing opinions, ideals & even religions in a quest to reach out to them... One of the things I realised over the past weekend is that I carry a #!^*load of baggage on my back as well as my heart - and that to truly live as a Christian I must start to lose them.

Another thing I realised is that I have a tendency to put my hopes into something secular and tangible - and not so much in faith and loyalty to the Lord. It is extremely telling when your faith was severely tested.

Mine was.
And the Lord shall prevail...

I personally feel that Malaysia is currently walking in the valley of the shadow of death - but I shall not despair.

I personally feel that our people are living beneath that shadow - but I shall not fear

I wanted a change in Malaysia. I wanted a better world. I wanted a just society. I wanted the easy way out (any more I shall add that I want world peace :P) - but I shall not want

For the LORD is my sheperd.
For He restoreth my soul.
For the LORD shall lead me to the paths of righteousness.
For He is with me.
For His rod and staff comforts me...

FOR THE PREPARES THE TABLE IN FRONT OF MINE ENEMIES...
for the annoints my head with oil...

With His amazing grace, and His faithfulness to his word - SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE...

and I shall unwaveringly dwell in the House of the Lord - forever...

and I shall await the fulfilment of His word - over me, over this land, over this people, over His enemies...
and mark my word - mark His words for their days are numbered - because the cry of Malaysia is great - as was the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah... because the sin of Malaysia is great - as was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah...

But unlike Sodom and Gomorrah - I can verily say that there are righteous men in this land that shall take up the reins - The Lord shall rain upon Malaysia and upon His Enemies brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven - and the land shall go up in smoke - but His amazing grace shall spare this land and its people barring His enemies - and His kingdom shall come...

Now and forever...

Monday, August 22, 2005

Dreams & Nightmares


It is amazing how a short period of time can cause such a shift on opinion and feeling. What previously was a symbol of hope and the future now has become a symbol of mockery and of contempt.

A series of events that has happened over the weekend may have irreversably cause a negative change in my heart and my feelings towards an idea that I have held out in hope over the past three years - a Malaysia that is free from corruption, a Malaysia that is changing for the better, a Malaysia of a political class that is subservient to the people it represents...

Recent changes in Malaysia has given me what I thought is a irrepressable hope for the future of the nation I am proud to belong. A nation of which I was certain that the wings of change are coming - a nation where the people will be restored, and wrongs righted...

But it was not to be...
There was no change...
There will be no future...

To anyone out there that actually read this, these are the words of a person whose hopes were invariably crushed. A dark heart remains deep within Malaysia's great achievements, a great pretender still stands amongst the people of this nation...

The flag still sways to the wind... but it is no longer instilling hope for the future - but rather with the mockery of democracy, the mockery of the past

Friday, August 19, 2005

Malaysia & Singapore…

I have always been portrayed by my peers as an avid Malaysia lover and a vehement Singapore hater… but that is simply not true. I consider all Singaporeans as lost children of Malaysia that shall return the their motherland’s warm and expansive bosom – one day :P

I have many Singaporean friends – so much so that if you start counting friends they would be about 30% of my friends – considering I never studied there or was in Singapore in any long length of time – it is pretty amazing…

Below is a little tale that spontaneously appeared…

A Tale of Two Countries: Malaysia and former Malaysia (Singapore)

What is the difference between Malaysia & Singapore? A common question that we usually hear overseas – I will try and explain this…

Lets see…
This is a map of Malaysia and Singapore (courtesy of Google Earth)...





Now if u can see – the area coloured red is Malaysia…
The red dot is Singapore… The one under the word Singapore… (the other one is Ho Chi Minh City). Please note the dot is bigger than Singapore itself on this map…

The other major country in the region is Indonesia to the south, Thailand to the north & china to the far north. (China is important – we shall see why later)

This is a close-up of Singapore in relation to Malaysia





However, in the eyes of our people… things look a bit different…
Most Malaysians look at Singapore this way…

Small small kacang only…
To be fair – most Singaporeans think this way…


But then… Malaysians could have a lot more quality beach resorts if it was this way…

Can u imagine how big Johor port would be? Whah…. And also all the beaches in a sheltered bay? Amazing….
This may seem bad but then look at this…
Note the border of china near Malaysia?
Waaah – they claimed the entire South China Sea…
(A Chinese foreign ministry official once commented that it belongs to China because it is the South CHINA Sea…)
Does that mean that Bukit CINA (malay spelling), all the Kampung Baru CINA, ‘China’ press all belong to China too?
Hehe - vely vely sound lohgic…
So there… I hereby rename the sea… I can almost hear our foreign minister now... "We have laid claim to all the islands in the North Malaysia Sea... In addition we close all shipping in the Straits of Malacca (by virtue of it being having Malacca in it). This is due to recent developments with India laying claim to the entire Indian Ocean and Japan the entire Sea of Japan."

Our Flags… now our flags here are sacred… and besides we are not suppose to do anything or say anything bad about them… however, I don’t remember that we cannot interpret it :P
The Malaysian Flag


Hmmm... looks like the American flag but more…
Important Points
1) The world’s most unique star… Yeap – NO ONE (hahahaha) no one else in the world have a 14 pointed star… 13 for every state, 1 for all the federal territories (formerly for Singapore).
The only problem is that it is the most annoying star to draw… go ahead try and do it – the angles will confound you. And we had 2 draw it when we were children in primary school (I remember wishing we have Indonesia’s flag)
2) We have… *drum roll* 14 lines to our flag – haha – America has 13 line… We have 1 more than you!!! Beat that!

Looking at it closely, we can see that the Malaysian flag is one helluva kiasu flag… which kinda fits in our national psych of creating the biggest dam- Bakun dam (not built), longest bridge – from Melaka to Dumai in Sumatra (not built), the tallest TWIN towers (built – remember Taipei – u may have 1 tallest building in the world rite now but we had 2!!!), the world’s longest undersea electricity cable to connect East and West Malaysia (not built – no need – no Bakun dam), world’s largest flag atop the world’s tallest flagpole (yeap that’s us!)
And now – can u believe it – we may have the world’s most crooked bridge…
and we are sharing that record with Singapore…

Now for Singapore (hehehe)



Looking at this flag – I also see the kiasuness of the country :)

1) 5 stars (4 more than Malaysia)
a. 5x5 = 25 points (11 more than Malaysia’s star)
2) Red & White represents the Indonesian maid population
3) Moon shows that we were once part of Malaysia…

Last but not least 5 stars lar oui! Not many countries have 5 stars! Other countries that have more stars are…
The world’s biggest superpower


The world’s driest country

1.4billion people live here….


Come to think of it… Singapore have 5 stars too – like China… hmmm – could we be meaning – Chinese lives here too :P


Another thing that is different from Malaysians and Singaporeans – it is the understanding of our national anthems :P…

Put it frankly – All Malaysians understands our National Anthem… legacy of a government imposed Malay language education – but a lot of Singaporeans don’t understand their National Anthem – due to an English based education (the national anthem is in… *drum rolls* Malay!)

Now… there is more *I can hear the groaning in the background*

The truth is… Malaysia & Singapore are like brothers and sisters. One is not better off without the other. Singapore rely on Malaysia as a food supplier, water supplier & industry/workers while Malaysia rely on Singapore for investment, expertise. Besides we are one and another’s biggest trading partner.

The very essence of our differences is that we went our own way from one common beginning. In retrospect, it was a good move to divide Malaysia from Singapore and Singapore from Malaysia. It enabled both countries to grow at their own pace with their own priorities. If Singapore never left Malaysia, I don’t foresee Kuala Lumpur being so advanced (a country is always centred on its biggest city – which would have been Singapore) and there would have been this internal tension between the northern and southern parts of the country.

In conclusion, there is no difference between a Malaysian and a Singaporean. Deep down, we share the same fears (of being inundated by refugees from an unstable neighbour), we breath the same haze filled air (depending on the wind direction & the aforementioned neighbour), we share the same goals – prosperity, peace and progress…

In the end, in the month of August, of which we have both our Independence Days – I would say ‘Majulah Singapura’ and ‘Malaysia Boleh!’

May God bless all of us and may His kingdom come…

...Malaysia

I would not presume to be the most patriotic of men but I do have a deep sense of feeling towards my country... Malaysia


This is my current view from my room in the office - we put up the flags in celebration of Merdeka day later this month.

Looking at it puts me in a reflective mood of the place I grew up in - not a bad place actually. Contrary to popular belief - Malaysia is a free country - or else I would not have become this highly critical nut I am today.

But what is patriotism? is it Malaysia Bolehism? or Nationalism? or any other nation associated ~isms? If we look deep down I think we will see that patriotism is just a deep love for the people, the places and the very idea of Malaysia - multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, multitypesoffood, multipoliticalparties, multiwawasan and multipatrioticsongs...

*cue on song - Inilah barisan kita......*

Keranamu Malaysia....

Thursday, August 18, 2005

of funny names...

Was walking around the factory when I came across this interesting bag at a forgotten corner of the building...
Hmmmmmm
A brand call FAG...

Well, FAG??? I can think of 2 uses for the word - and neither one of them is good...
Fag - as in 'Have a fag' - a common term for smoke, ciggie etc. i.e. smoking
Fag - as in 'You are a fag' - common term to denote a male homosexual in a demeaning way. Short for 'Faggot'

Now we have FAG the brand...
I rest my case

Our BIASED media

As much as I was bored yesterday, I am just plain irritated today… and the media in particular a ‘Chinese community’ owned fueled my irritation.

I quote from an article ‘Candidates in last dash campaign before polls’ in that unnamed paper… ‘The former Health Minister complained that he had great difficulties getting to the grassroots members as many delegates feared meeting him, adding that deputy president candidate Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh also faced similar difficulties.’ I would note that this sentence was situated in the 2nd last paragraph almost in fine print.

Most would have wondered why I mentioned this.

Now lets see, the article focused for most part on another leader, refuting that his age is a problem in the elections. Wow, big issue. Then they went on to list the oldest candidate (not the above leader) and repeated a name list of candidates (for the umpteenth time – d’oh). This is followed by some comments the challenger had obviously mentioned in his press conference – side tracking on his complaints.Now compare this…

The following is taken from another national daily. I apologise to NST prior to putting the entire article here (due to copyright blah… blah.. blah…)

Chua: Delegates avoiding me
KUALA LUMPUR, Wed
Datuk Chua Jui Meng today lashed out at what he called an "undemocratic" MCA election process, claiming that the infamous cai dan or "set menu" culture was alive and well in the party. The MCA vice-president, who is running against incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting for the party presidency on Saturday, also alleged there were still phantom members in the party.Delegates had also been given "a message" not to meet him, he said, making it hard for him to campaign.Chua likened the loud applauding for certain candidates during the nominations day on Monday as a "mass movement" of sorts, reminding him of "Mao Tse Tung and Stalin" era."I encountered great difficulties in getting to the grassroots and central delegates when I announced my candidacy," he said at a Press conference today at the Corus Hotel."I know who gave instructions, because suddenly the delegates said they could not meet me."He said he was forced to hold a Press conference as he had no other avenue to get through to delegates and explain his stand.Chua, who was calm and smiling, also poked fun at Ong and Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy’s joint statement distributed on Monday, saying he was "highly flattered" that it had listed many of the points of his own manifesto, issued last month."Suddenly, they have a three-page joint statement and suddenly, they have vision."Chua’s 20-page manifesto, entitled New Politics, New Vision, New MCA, proposes a master plan with four pillars: politics, economics, education and culture.

Now see what I am getting at? The statements by Chua during the press conference is much much more than complaints about inaccesability to the delegates. He is alleging that unfair and undemocratic practices exist in the party. A one-liner is just the way a biased media is doing ‘selective’ reporting. Is this how Malaysians wished to be ‘informed’?

In Melbourne it would have been front page news in ALL newspapers – irrespective of the owners of the papers. Hell, it would also be streaming news from all websites and tv!

Can we trust a media that does that?
I think not.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

I am bored...

I am bored...

I am very very bored... so guess what - I decided 2 finally start up a blog... again...

Now the difference is that previously my blogs were either stuffy or just plain boring... Now that I am bored - this promises to be more exciting as I go out of my way to express my boringness (my feeling of boredom is a better phrase)...

*insane laughter*
Thus I present... The ramblings of a Mad Cow