Above all...

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

Prayers...

Received this on email today... Everyone lets chip in and pray that God will remove all evil powers and potentates in our home.

Out Of Court Settlement In SIB Case Fails
Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Hearing for the SIB case over the lawfulness of confiscation of their Christian publications containing the word "Allah" finally started at the Kuala Lumpur High Court Monday (9 June) under a new judge, Justice Datuk Abdul Kadir Musa, after futile attempts to settle the dispute out of court.

The hearing of the application by the Sidang Injil Borneo (Borneo Evangelical Church) Sabah for leave to sue the Internal Security Minister Syed Hamid Albar (previously Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and the Federal government over the dispute was heard in chambers but was adjourned to 7 Aug.

SIB claimed that on 15 August 2007, three boxes of its Christian educational publications from Indonesia to Sabah were unlawfully detained on transit at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Sepang. They also contend that this had infringed upon their constitutional rights and their rights to freedom of religion.
After unsuccessful attempts to get the books released, the SIB filed the application for leave to seek a judicial review by way of a Certiorari Order from the court that the minister and government was wrong in law in confiscating and detaining the publications containing the word "Allah". It also filed for a Mandamus Order for the release of the books which were meant for their children's religions education. The church is also seeking several declarations from the court on their constitutional rights to use the word "Allah" in their religious publications, among other things. In addition, SIB is applying for a stay order.

In Monday's hearing, SIB was represented by Datuk D.P. Naban and Lim Heng Seng while senior Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi represented the respondents. SIB Sabah president Pastor Jerry Dusing and church secretary Pastor Danny Limpakan were also present.

The books were returned to SIB on 25 Jan and it is understood that the application for Certiorari and Mandamus has been overtaken by events and the focus in on submission by SIB lawyers for the remaining declaratory reliefs and stay order. They are believed to have argued that the declarations are needed to protect their clients from continued harassment by the authorities regarding the use of the word "Allah" by the church.

The application was first heard before Justice Madam Lau Bee Lan on 27 Dec 2007. SIB lawyers tendered a certificate of urgency to case but senior Federal Counsel Azizah Nawawi asked for a postponement on grounds that there were moves by third parties to resolve the dispute out of court.

On 16 Jan 2008, when the case came up for hearing again before a new judge, Justice Datuk Wan Arfah. Azizah again asked for a postponement to 27 Jan. However, two days before that, SIB was given back their books and as a result both parties agreed to another adjournment on the understanding that following the general elections on 8 March, there would be renewed attempts to resolve the matter out of court but none was forthcoming till the hearing Monday. (By BOB TEOH/ MySinchew)

Here I am to worship...

It has been ages since I have committed a post to worship. Worship can come in many forms - praise & worship (singing), prayer as well as the things we do daily. In that vein, Lord, please accept my humble worship in the pictures I took of your wonderful creation...

Sunset @ Damai Laut Resort, Lumut, Malaysia

Light of the World
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes,
let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of life spent with You

The sun setting behind Thirasa from Imerovigli (on Santorini)

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me

Late afternoon sun @ the 12 Apostles at Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

King of all days,
oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above,
humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Evening sky upon St. Mark's Square, Venice with the roof of the Basilica di San Marco a Venezia on the left and the Campanile on the right.

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me

Dawn clouds over Genting Highlands from Awana Resort

I'll never know how much it cost,
to see my sin upon that cross. (Rpt x5)

Evening sun over a chapel on the cliffside @ Skaros, Santorini

Call upon the name of The Lord and be saved... (Rpt x8...)

Sunset over Middle Island on Stingray Bay (Southern Ocean), Warrnambool, Victoria

All I can say is that Lord, you are indeed the light of the world - and your beauty and the beauty you sculpted is beyond words and descriptions...

Of Trust... and Friendship

I have around 5 minutes to write (my own allotment - I need to sleep in 5 minutes to wake up around 4:40 am tomorrow (or rather later today)... but somehow I need to have a release from the fright I just had.

It was raining heavily and as I was proceeding back home - I ran into a partial accident - partial that nothing much was affected - accident that my car received a knock... It is all attributed to my tiredness *sigh*

I literally press the accelerator when I went over a bump - instead of the brake - dun know why I did it - but it was scary. I knocked some thingy over (thank God it is not a wall) and went over the bump in a crash... the rain was not helping... so basically I hit the undercarriage of the car, and swipe my bumper... no biggie - except that I am now worried about leaving early tomorrow to Singapore.

Thus, I am sleeping at home - not over at a friend's. Because I need my sleep and to calm my nerves. I just need to be trusted to turn up at the appointed time (5:45am) and proceed down to Sg. So... I go to bed with this prayer.

Lord,
Grant me peace and calm my nerves. Let me have a good sleep so that I may be refreshed on the morning.
Grant me strength and the ability to wake up early tomorrow... and grant me the will to fulfill my friend's trust in me.
Grant us journey mercies and safe passage... and protect us from all harm.
This I pray in the name of Christ Jesus.
Amen!

A friend once quoted to me - "Relationship is all about trust..." So is friendship...
So Lord, please please help me out!

New Life Memory Verse I...

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New International Version -

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things has passed away; behold, all things has become new"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New King James Version -

"若 有 人 在 基 督 里 ， 他 就 是 新 造 的 人 ， 旧 事 已 过 ， 都 变 成 新 的 了 "
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, Chinese Union Version (Simplified) -

Lord, I come to You in the name of Christ Jesus - our Lord and Saviour whom I adore... Lord, I thank You for this verse that reminds us of our new life - for it sets the tone for our life today. Lord, I thank You that in You, I am a new creation - an empty slate for You to work on, a canvas for You to paint in your image. I thank You for telling me the old me is gone - that You have taken my sins away at the cross. I thank You for giving me a new life...

Lord, I confess that I have been less than pristine in my new life - and that I have fallen well short of the mark You set before me. I confess that I have put good works before the understanding that Your grace is all I need - that my salvation is assured. I confess that I have put ministry above foundation and servanthood before sonship...

Lord, I thank you for this day - of all the wonderful things I have in life. I thank you for last wednesday - that I may once again sit beneath Your feet. I thank you for SIB, and for cell... for Fergus, for Hoong Fai - my fellow brothers walking with me in this path...

Lord, I pray that You will continue to shower Your blessings upon us - and that You will give me the strength and wisdom to continue to walk along this narrow path. I pray that you will constantly remind me that the life I have today is NEW and it belongs to YOU! That I am a new creation - that the OLD has GONE and the NEW has COME...

I am yours in Christ Jesus. Amen!