Daniel, Man of God: Being a Man of Character in a Babylon World (Audiobook, 2018) by Dwight L. Moody

 

Daniel, Man of God: Being a Man of Character in a Babylon World (retitled, revised, republished 2018) by Dwight L. Moody. Narrated by Mark Christensen

If you study and read biographies of heroes of faith outside Biblical characters, one of the names that will most probably appear is D. L. Moody (1837-1899). Men of God like Moody, R. A. Torrey, Andrew Murray, A. W. Tozer, John Bunyan, J. I. Packer, etc. are treasures to Christendom. While most Christian leaders (celebrities?) nowadays are light without heat and their books are average; these faithful men through their writings, especially, are used by God to expound and explained the Word of God with deep knowledge and mind on fire. Try reading contemporary Joyce Meyer's God Is Not Mad at You and the classic Jonathan Edward's Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, you'll see the vast difference of view of the sovereignty of God and the supremacy of Scripture.

Now, let's come back to this book... D. L. Moody wrote with clear and context, simple and Scriptural, powerfully and pleasurable to listen to through audiobook. It wasn't too technical and easy to understand if you're already familiar with the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. The character and example of Daniel's (and his friends') faith are ever relevant in the modern world. In fact, we need more Daniels in our homes, churches, workplaces and government today. What kind of man he was? Integrity before God and men, uncompromised amid temptation, favor by kings without corruption or duit kopi, God-fearing rather than men-fearing, faultless but not perfect, led by convictions rather than power, spiritual leadership, and more. I feel so small standing on the shoulder of Daniel. I knew my downfalls, inadequacies, and iniquities. This is good, right? As Mr. Moody says, “The voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.” Thank God for Christ, the Forgiver. Only by the grace of God, I can imitate - to some extend - Daniel.

To listen/watch this audiobook and more Christian classics, go to Aneko Press YouTube. CLICK HERE 👉 https://youtube.com/c/Anekopress 😊📖⚡ Enjoy!

P.s: I listened to lots of audiobooks and expository preaching. I choose to share a short review of this book so that you can also explore classic Christian books or audiobooks 🔥

#1Book1Week #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeader #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #DLMoody #BookOfDaniel #Audiobook #ClassicBook #ManOfGod

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Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflections and Case Studies for the Marketplace in Asia (2018) by Bishop Hwa Yung, Sort-of-Book Review

 

Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflections and Case Studies for the Marketplace in Asia (2018) by Bishop Hwa Yung

Hwa Yung was the bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia from 2004 to 2012 and was the Honorary President of the IFES when he wrote this book. I have met Hwa Yung a few times during camp and conferences. He is a very smart, articulate, quite humorous, and passionate man. It is no surprise that he wrote this book because he - consistently and compassionately - cares about the Christian witness in the world. About this book, he wrote: "This short book is one attempt to respond to the need to help Christians in Asia find a biblical response to the real pressures they face in the marketplace, which takes seriously both the Scripture and the context in which Asian Christians function."

I love this book because the context is in Asia (especially, Malaysia) and not some foreign Western countries. Although both the West/East guilty of the same sins of bribery and corruption, the complexity (or uniqueness) of our culture, socioeconomic, and even theology make a vast difference. The practice of giving 'duit kopi', for example, has been part of our culture. Is it a love gift or bribery? My friends who work in JKR and constructions often face this dilemma. As I read Hwa Yung's thesis, I can't help but to think that corruption has gone too deep in the Malaysian systems that I wonder is there any hope to reverse the order? Maybe not. Or at least, not fully.

The goal is not zero-corruption but calling the Christians to be "salt" and "light" in the marketplace. "God calls His people, not just to save individual souls, but also to bring Kingdom values to bear on the sociopolitical issues of the day," said the bishop. Instead of giving us step by step guidelines, which is impossible due to the complexity I have mention, he provides us with a Biblical framework, fundamental principles, and (what I call) self-awareness evaluations (Bishop might disagree). Three case studies at the end of this book are very interesting too 

#ServeToLead #1Book1Week #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #BishopHwaYung #BriberyAndCorruption

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Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians (2017, 2018, New and Expanded Edition) by Anas Alam Faizli, Book Review

Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians (2017, 2018, New and Expanded Edition) by Anas Alam Faizli

The title of this book says it all. “Malaysia’s socio-economic structure can be summed up in four words: ‘Rich Malaysia, Poor Malaysians.’ Malaysia is blessed with abundant natural resources, with petroleum being the most precious,” writes Anas in Chapter 9 Malaysia: High Income Nation, Low Income Rakyat. “Land, resources, a large youthful population - Malaysia has all the essential ingredients to flourish. How did this small countries of 30 million people manage to gain the unsolicited title of being among the region’s most unequal nations of rich and poor? What happened?” As of this writing, by the end of 2020, the population in Malaysia is expected to reach 33.1 million. Everything mention in this book is still happening - even worst. So, what happened?

Maybe I’m too pessimistic and over-simplistic. As I finished reading these 34 essays on “Malaysia’s problems,” the impression that I get can be boiled down in one word: Corruption. Corruption to the core. There are three key issues that Anas tackles in this book, namely - Energy (or Resources), Education and Economy - to borrow Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s 3E in the foreword of this book. The first part about Malaysia’s petroleum resources hit hard on me as Sarawakian, especially in Chapter 5 Higher Royalty Versus State Ownership of Petronas, which is an issue that we still fight until today. Yes, rich Sarawak, poor Sarawakians. In the second part, Anas highlights socio-economic issues such as education, health care, inequality, foreign workers, poverty, welfare, women’s empowerment, environment, Islam, etc. To me, his insight on education is very interesting and persuasive. While I do not totally agree with all of Anas’ analysis (as with some other subjects too), I wholeheartedly believe that “education is one of, if not the most, important solutions to all the problems that we are facing today.” In parts three and four, he expands on the previous subjects and added some other issues.

This book ends with a positive note. In fact, every chapter ends with some potential solutions and proposals for a betterment. There are “endless possibilities,” said Anas. “Nothing is impossible, no matter how hopeless the situation seems. Always remember that the sun only comes out after the darkest point of the night. The same goes for Malaysia.” To be honest, I’m almost giving up on Malaysia. But books like this, by caring fellow Malaysian, never fail to rekindle my fire and hope for Malaysia. Read it! Thank you Anas Alam Faizli. May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

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Book Review: The Message of Samuel (2004) by Mary J. Evans

The Message of Samuel: Personalities, Potential, Politics, and Power (2004)
by Mary J. Evans

This is how I study the Bible and how I use commentaries. Let say I want to study 1 Samuel 2:1-11 about Hannah's prayer, first I will: #1 If possible I read the whole 1 Samuel and/or just read chapter 1; then #2 I read chapter 2 slowly and highlight Hannah's feelings and thinking, and what she said about God, who God is to her; #3 I also will read various Bible translations to understand the text better; only then #4 I write my early outlines and draft lessons/points. In the meantime, #5 I listen to an audiobook and/or sermons (two of my favorites are David Pawson and Skip Heitzig) to help me to see and point out something that I might be missed. Only then, #6 I will use Bible commentary such as this one. Afterward, I review and finalize my lessons/points. Bible commentary, in my opinion, should be the last step in Bible Study (or, at least, it shouldn't be in the first). By the way, prayer and meditation are very important parts of the Bible Study process.

What is a Bible commentary? It is an explanation of the biblical text by someone (usually a scholar) who has immersed himself or herself in the language, context, and form of biblical texts. The Bible commentator delivers to us details that we simply don't have by the simple reading of Scripture, like archaeological discoveries, historical details, linguistic particularities, and details about geography and culture. For a serious student of the Bible, good commentaries are indispensable. I recommend wholeheartedly The Bible Speaks Today Series because it aims to expound the biblical text with accuracy, it relates to contemporary life, and very readable. The contributors to this series are convinced that "God still speaks through what he has spoken, and that nothing is more necessary for the life, health, and growth of Christians than that they should hear what the Spirit is saying to them through his ancient – yet ever modern – Word."

Okay, about this book… The Old Testament historical books of 1 and 2 Samuel (in the Hebrew Bible, 1 & 2 Samuel are actually one book, Book of Samuel) contain well-known stories about Hannah, Samuel, Saul, David, Absalom and many more, which have been fruitful sources for innumerable Sunday service sermons and Bible Studies. Here, Mary Evans engages with these books in the conviction that they are a vital part of God's Word, full of teaching that is dynamically relevant for all Christ believers. Exploring how we should interpret and respond to the stories today is both challenging and exciting. This accessible and stimulating study takes us into the narratives, creatively brings out their application and provides questions for further reflection.

Readers will come away "with an increased awareness of what the books of Samuel are ‘all about,' of their reality as the Word of God, and with a richer, more instructed love of them," writes Alec Motyer, OT editor for this series. Now I appreciate the Book of Samuel more. Wow!

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Simple Book Review: "Letters to Home: Young Malaysians Write Back!" (2016)

Letters to Home: Young Malaysians Write Back! (2016)
edited by Ooi Kok Hin, Aish Kumar & Nik Mohamed Rashid Nik Zurin

I seldom read books by local writers. I plead guilty. It turned out I’m very impressed by this book. 24 universities, 7 countries and 1 hope, hope for Malaysia. “The voices and issues discussed reflect the diversity you’d expect to encounter in any modern and plural society such as Malaysia,” writes Ooi Kok Hin, one of editors. “You will find stories and essays about nasi lemak and the brain drain, JPA scholarship and Malaysia Airlines, politics and economics, welfare and ideology, immigration and refugees, cynical Malaysian and idealist Malaysian, interracial marriage and financial literacy, and even heaven and hell.”

0) Introduction

1) Sakuras Are Beautiful, But Nasi Lemak Is Better (by Azalia Zaharuddin)

2) Separating Ketuanan Melayu and Affirmative Action (by Fikri Fisal)

3) Investing Without Returns (by Ng Jung Kian)

4) The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (by Aish Kumar)

5) Semantics and the Voters Psyche (by Zaryff Razali)

6) Pendatang (by Tan Heang Lee)

7) The Global Competition for Talent Between the United States and Malaysia (by Billy Hoo)

8) I’d Love to Get to Know You Better. Wanna Go Out and Have a Chat? (by Nurul Ismawi)

9) To All Malaysians, Welcome Home (by Ooi Kok Hin)

10) Do Not Ignore the National Language (by David Lim)

11) Are We Doing Enough to Protect Our Environment? (by Rexy Prakash)

12) Chasing Heaven, Finding Hell (by Tharmelinggem Pillai)

13) One Teh Tarik, One Nasi Lemak (by Abdul Rahman Shah)

14) The Change From Within: A Kelab UMNO with Non-Malays (by Shamil Norshidi)

15) Our Disabling Attitude Towards Malaysian with Disabilities (by Shahir Shukor)

16) To Intermarry Or Not to Intermarry? (by Benedict Weerasena)

17) Imperialist Linguistics: Why My Language is Better than Yours (by Nik Mohamed Rashid Nik Zurin)

18) Of Reading Books and Money (by Achmad Bakhtiar M Yuni)

19) Dear Typical Malaysian (by Justin Lim Jia Tian)

20) Us Rude Malaysians! (by Sarah Syahirah binti Abdullah)

21) Curbing the Mahasiswa, Creating the Pelajar (Fikri Fisal)

22) The Great White North: Things You Might Not Know About America’s 52nd State (by Nizhan Faraz Risal and Eddy Arief Zulkifly)

23) A Walk In Kelantan (by Asyraf Muiz Roslan)

24) I Work Hard but Still Get Less (by Hasbullah Faudzi)

25) I Can Only Hope (by Ian Chew)

26) A Letter to My Students (by Izzat Adha)

27) Leaving the Orphanage: An Adventure Upon the Coming of Age (by Puteri Eleni Megat Osman)

28) Nasi Goreng Kampung vs. Nasi Goreng USA (by Mohamad Syazwan Abdul Rahman)

29) It Takes All Kinds to Make a Nasi Kerabu: Celebrating Diversity in Harmony (by Mohd Izzuddin Ramli)

By favourites are chapters #1, #2, #5, #6, #8, #9 (most dear to Sarawakians, especially), #10, #11, #12, #16, #20 and #26. I recommend this book for students, staff worker, politicians, and for those who care about Malaysia – and what others think about it :) [P.s: Kamu boleh jumpa buku ini di Popular dan MPH Bookstores. Berharga RM20.00 je]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Promote Jesus, Not Politics

The religious leaders of the day attempted to trap Jesus by challenging him on his political stance. They asked him, “It is right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Scripture tells us that Jesus saw through their duplicity, telling them to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.

Historically the church has struggled with the paradigm of two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world. Trying to combine the two is like attempting to mix oil and water. Church history has been consistent on this matter. Every time Christianity has fallen into the trap of using politics to achieve its means, it has lost its power and effectiveness.

Relevant Christianity never loses sight of the reality that in the kingdom of God, everything is upside down when contrasted with the world’s pursuits. In God’s kingdom the greatest is the least; the first is the last; we are to love our enemies; and to be most effective, we are called to servanthood rather than to positions of political power and correctness.

John Wimber, founder of the Vineyard Church movement, once said that if people truly have a relationship with Jesus, they will always (want to) vote for the right things (“right” as in ethically and morally correct). He said that our job as followers of Christ was to promote Jesus, not political bias. Getting involved politically can potentially derail our effectiveness, causing us to lose focus on our true vision, thus weakening our cause.

As an involved participant in the Christian environmental movement, I have endeavoured to stay non-political. For me, the care of God’s creation is purely a biblical matter of obedient stewardship. The world has politically polarized an issue that should be of great concern to every human being. The global environmental condition is an issue that has become a primary cause of human suffering in developing nations.

Knowing that Christ has called his people to a ministry of compassion, mercy, and social justice, we cannot allow ourselves to be caught in the duplicity of religion and politics at such a crucial hour. Our effectiveness will come only through authentic biblical conviction and the faith to act on it.

By Tri Robinson

Pastor, Vineyard Boise, Idaho.

Quote from Unchristian by David Kinnaman and Fermi Project (Baker Books, 2007) pg. 175-176

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Mesej kepada Jemaah Gereja di Malaysia tentang Kristian dan Politik

Ada orang bertanya kepada saya, ‘Bro Richard, wajarkah gereja melibatkan diri dalam hal-hal politik?’ ‘Kenapa kamu bertanya begitu?’ saya menjawab. ‘Sebab pastor saya mengatakan bahawa kami tidak harus melibatkan diri dengan hal-hal politik kerana ianya ialah perkara duniawi dan orang Kristian harus menjauhinya dan tidak perlu mengambil peduli... yang penting ialah iman kita kepada Kristus’. Secara jujur saya tidak terkejut dengan respon dia, tetapi, saya sangat kecewa dengan penjelasan yang diberikannya. Adakah semua pemimpin gereja berpendapat seperti ini? Tidak, tidak semua. Jadi, mesej ini saya tujukan kepada pemimpin dan jemaah gereja yang mempunyai pendapat sebegitu.

Bagi kita orang Kristian, adalah sangat pelik jika kita bertanya bolehkah jemaah gereja melibatkan diri dengan hal-hal politik kerana di dalam Alkitab, Allah sendiri sangat perihatin dalam setiap aspek kehidupan manusia. Allah ialah Tuhan ke atas segala-galanya! Di dalam cerita Perjanjian Lama, kerajaan pada mulanya diasaskan oleh Allah sendiri dan kemudian diamanahkan kepada hakim-hakim dan selepas itu kepada raja-raja. Dalam mengasaskan kerajaan, Allah sangat perihatin tentang keadilan, kebenaran dan belas-kasihan. Dia mengambil berat agar semua itu ditaati dan setiap orang akan mendapat pelindungan dan berkat. Allah ialah Tuhan yang mencukupi dan – Dialah yang berkuasa.

“Karena aku para raja memerintah,

dan para pembesar menetapkan keadilan.

Karena aku para pembesar berkuasa

juga para bangsawan dan semua hakim di bumi”

(Amsal 8:15-16, TB)

Apabila Allah membenarkan orang Israel untuk mempunyai seorang raja (Pada mulanya, Allah ialah satu-satunya raja mereka. Tetapi, orang Israel berkeras mahukan seorang raja seperti negara-negara yang lain. Jadi, Saul dipilih sebagai raja pertama orang Israel), Dia memberikan amaran yang keras bahawa penyalahgunaan kuasa pasti akan berlaku. Walaupun begitu, Allah akan memilih sendiri siapakah raja yang layak memerintah dan juga memanggil nabi-nabi untuk terus mengingatkan raja yang memimpin tentang Hukum-hukum Taurat dan kehendak-Nya (lihat 1 Samuel bab 8 hingga 12).

Di dalam Perjanjian Baru pula, Tuhan Yesus mengajar agar kita “[mem]berikan apa yang dimiliki oleh Kaisar kepada Kaisar, lalu berikan apa yang dimiliki oleh Allah kepada Allah” (Markus 12:17, BM). Di sini jelas sekali bahawa kita mempunyai kewajiban terhadap kerajaan manusia yang memerintah dan terhadap kerajaan Alllah. Ramai orang berpendapat bahawa Firman Yesus ini bermaksud ada dua kerajaan yang berbeza dan oleh itu – ada dua alam dan dua set piawai yang berbeza. Bagi Martin Luther, pengasas refomasi, Yesus Kristus berkuasa ke atas kedua-dua kerajaan ini dan berkata bahawa tidak ada jurang perbezaan dari segi piawai moral. Bagi rasul Paulus dan rasul Petrus (baca khususnya surat Roma dan 1 Petrus dalam Perjanjian Baru), kita orang Kristian adalah di bawah subjek kerajaan pemerintah yang berkuasa dan mereka pula di bawah subjek dan bertanggungjawab ke atas kesaksian dan perbuatan mereka kepada Allah.

Jadi, soalan “Bro Richard, wajarkah gereja melibatkan diri dalam hal-hal politik?” sudah terjawab di sini. Persoalannya bukan lagi tentang wajar atau tidak wajar; persoalannya sekarang ialah: Bagaimana jemaah gereja atau orang Kristian boleh melibatkan diri dalam hal-hal politik di negara kita Malaysia?

Di dalam kerajaan Malaysia, perlembagaan mengisytiharkan bahawa Islam ialah agama rasmi negara sementara agama-agama lain termasuk agama Kristian (sepatutnya) mempunyai kebebasan beragama. Oleh itu, kebanyakkan undang-undang negara mempunyai unsur-unsur Islam dan kita harus menghormatinya. Walaupun begitu, kita sebagai orang Kristian tidak semesti hanya berpeluk tubuh dan tidak berbuat apa-apa. Tuhan Yesus berfirman agar setia umat-umat-Nya menjadi “garam dan cahaya kepada dunia” yang kita tinggal sekarang – dimana sahaja kita berada. Terima kasih kepada perlembagaan Malaysia terdahulu sampai sekarang, pengikut Kristus mempunyai peluang dan tanggungjawab yang terbuka luas seperti menjadi wakil parlimen negeri dan negara, guru di sekolah dan juga melalui media untuk memuliakan Kristus dan mengajar dan memperkenalkan prinsip-prinsip Kristian kepada dunia.

Kita tahu bahawa hanya lebih kurang 9% orang Kristian di seluruh Malaysia. Namun begitu, kita harus sedar bahawa kita (walaupun jumlah kita sedikit) memainkan peranan yang penting di dalam masyarakat untuk menjadi suara kepada orang yang tertindas, menjadi jambatan untuk menyatukan setiap bangsa dan untuk terus berbakti kepada negara melalui pelbagai cara – sesuai dengan ajaran Alkitab. Saya tidak bermaksud agar jemaah gereja atau orang Kristian (atau gereja secara keseluruhannya) untuk berkompromi dalam kebenaran atau mencari kekuasaan politik – tetapi – mengingini, berdoa, berharap agar jemaah gereja menjadi seperti nabi-nabi terdahulu; bernubuat kepada orang ramai, menjadi suara kepada orang yang tertindas, menentang ketidakadilan dan mengingatkan orang ramai tentang hukum-hukum Allah atau Firman Allah – tentang berkat apabila kita mentaat-Nya dan tentang kutukkan apabila kita tidak taat kepada-Nya.

Sebelum dan selepas pilihanraya umum 2013 (GE13) terutamanya, kita melihat dan membaca banyak perkara yang berlaku. Ada orang Kristian yang keliru dan ada yang mahu mengambil jalan tengah. Ada yang terlalu fanatik dan ada juga tidak ambil tahu langsung. Ada yang berapi-api dan ada juga yang suam. Jadi, apakah tindakkan jemaah gereja selepas ini? Pemimpin-pemimpin gereja, apakah reaksi dan respon kamu jika ada jemaah yang bertanya; ‘pastor, wajarkah gereja melibatkan diri dalam hal-hal politik’?  Saya berharap, (sebagai jemaah gereja sendiri) agar kita sebagai satu tubuh dalam Kristus dapat bersatu. Pemimpin khususnya dan kita orang Kristian amnya, harus menggalakkan umat gereja yang terpilih untuk menjadi pemimpin-pemimpin politik (tidak kiralah samada sebagai wakil kerajaan atau sebaliknya) dan dalam apa saja penglibatan dalam negara dengan menyokong dan berdoa untuk mereka. Salah satu caranya untuk kita menjadi “garam dan cahaya” (Matius 5:13-16) ialah dengan memastikan bahawa proses politik di negara kita dijalankan mengikut kehendak Allah iaitu supaya tindakkan yang jahat dapat diatasi dan yang mulia dan yang baik diteruskan. Amen.

Wahai pemimpin dan jemaah gereja, “jika kamu bertelinga,

dengarlah apa yang dikatakan oleh Roh Allah kepada jemaah!”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Let's Talk about Politics!

In my teenage, I used to listened to heavy metal rock bands (no k-pop please!) such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Dream Theather, System of a Down, Rage against the Machine etc. One song in particular that echoed in my mind these few days is by Korn, “Politics’ (Album: See You on the Other Side, 2005). The chorus goes like this:

“Don't want to talk about politics

Don't preach or talk about politics

Don't make me talk about politics

Don't give a sh*t about politics”

So far I’m okay when people are not really excited about what is happening in the world of politics (and politicians) today – there’s still hope. But it concerns me when people harden their hearts by not to bother at-all about it and says casually like Korn's Jonathan Davis, ‘Don’t want to talk about politics!’ Close door and leave – there’s almost no hope. This kind of people won’t even bother to vote, don’t really care about what politicians have to say and not so much respect for what they do.

Yet both kinds of people don’t realize that what happens in the political world today makes a fundamental difference to every aspect of our lives, especially in health, education, taxation, welfare and as in Sarawakians’ (East-Malaysia) context – it involves our land! Therefore, whether you care or not, we all are affected by the way our politicians govern our nation. David Cook writes, “How we are to bring critical, moral reflection on political and economic issues is not just a Christian concern but part and parcel of what it means to be a citizen of our own particular nation and also of the world.”

Thus, for Christians especially, I want to invites you to see this matter in a Christian perspective. Come…

First of all, we should understand that God is concerned with every aspect of human life. That includes – politics. In the Old Testament, initially there was no need for a king, God Himself is a King. His ultimate concern was that justice should be done and all people were protected and able to flourish, the marginalized people should be remembered and taking care of, etc. To cut the story short (read 2 Samuel 8-12 if you’re interested about the story of the beginning of Kingship in ancient Israel), God finally allowed the people of Israel to have a king with a warning that the human kings will be takers, not a giver like Him. He also warned them of the dangers of politic power abuse and over time He appointed prophets to remind kings of God’s laws and will. As long as the kings follow His guidance, they will prosper and the nation will be prospering too. In a sense, if they don’t, the nation will also pay the price of their king’s disobedience.

In the New Testament, some Pharisees tried to trick Jesus by asking ‘politic’ questions, ‘Now tell us – is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or shouldn’t we?’ Jesus answered them by asking them a counterfeit question, he was holding a Roman coin, ‘Whose picture and title are stamped on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. ‘Well, then,’ Jesus said, ‘give to Caesar what belong to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God’ (Mark 12:13-17NLT). With this, Jesus was (is) telling us that we all have obligations to the human government and to God. After all, God want us to ‘respect all human authority – whether the king as the head of state, or the officials he has appointed’ (1 Peter 2:13NLT). In short, we ought to respect and submit to governing authorities as long as (in my opinion) they didn’t impose laws or commands that are against God’s Word on us.

In both the Old and the New Testament and at all time, God is very much involves in politics of the nations. In the same way, we should be concern for those in authority. It is our responsibilities to be involve in national building because the politicians that we support (or vote for) will affect every aspect of our lives. We got to ensure even with our limited human power to elect men and women of good character to take the lead in our nation. Add to that; we should pray for them.

I’m fully aware and with all my heart – believe that God is Sovereign and in control, BUT it doesn’t mean that we ought to neglect our responsibilities as citizen of the earth. We cannot afford to be ignorance and say “I don’t want to talk about politic!”... It is like saying, ‘Whatever happen to the nation I don't care as long as I’m okay.’ That’s selfish! How can we still be comfortable to say that we’re a Christian but didn’t follow the command of Jesus to ‘give to Caesar what belong to Caesar’? As long as you live on this planet called EARTH – you ought to care about politic!

Let me close, David Cook explained it well on what it means to be salt and light to the world in the context of politics today, ‘is to ensure that the political processes do fulfill God’s intention of retraining evil and reinforcing what is good.’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.