You Are Not Alone: Teens Talk about Life After the Loss of a Parent (2005) by Lynne B. Hughes, Book Review

 You Are Not Alone: Teens Talk about Life After the Loss of a Parent (2005) by Lynne B. Hughes

This book is raw. At an early age, Lynne lost both of her parents. In 1998, she established Comfort Zone Camp to provide a pleasant and safe environment for grieving teens. She and her campers extend empathy and practical help to teenagers and those who look after them with understanding and compassion. So this book is based on real stories, real people, and real experiences. Parental loss is sometimes referred to as "the loss that is forever," and young people who have experienced it often feel very different from others around them. I'm in the student ministry, so I meet lots of students who lost their parent(s) early in their childhood. When I read this book, I was very moved by their testimonies and also encouraged to know that they are not alone. You are not alone (This is not a Christian book. As a Christ-follower, I can say with confidence that you, by faith, are not alone because Christ is your friend, God is your Father, and the Holy Spirit is within you. Theologically and in reality, you are not alone).

The hardest thing about losing someone you love is that it will never go away. It's hard but you're not alone. "Some of the most reassuring words of all are from other kids like you who are LIVING with the loss of a parent," writes Lynne to one of the teens. Then, she shows some examples. This is a cliche but true: Life goes on, and you need to move on. 'Moving on' means traveling away from the loss, which also means traveling farther away from the experiences with your loved one and filling the space with new experiences and new people. It's not a betrayal or disloyalty. It's you choosing to be a SURVIVOR, not a victim. Like one of the teens, Melissa wrote: "At one point I wanted to give up too. I wanted to leave this world. Then I realized that I couldn't do that because then I would turn out to be just like my mom. You need to know you can get through it. Although it will be hard, you will have your entire life to live." And Abbey also wrote: "Initially it stinks, but you will be able to pick yourself back up and start living again. It is really hard at first, but eventually (at least in my case), you realize they would want you to have a happy life." Wow! Choose to survive!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #YouAreNotAlone #TheLossOfAParent #Survivor #Hope #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

 To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Which Wolf Will You Feed TODAY? #LeadersAreReaders November 2022

A familiar story but let me put a twist on it. An old man is teaching his grandson about reading good books. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy, "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One holds ignorance, sameness, comfort, passivity, laziness, distraction, and impatient. The other loves knowledge, new ideas, creativity, imagination, empathy, and good thinking."

"One is trying its best to make excuses not to read books. The other knows the magical potential of reading good books. One says, 'Someday'. The other says, 'Today.' The same fight is going on inside you and every other person too," says the old wise man. The grandson asks, "Which wolf will win?" Pointing his finger to his heart and then to his white-grey hair head, "It's the one you feed."

Which wolf will you feed TODAY? Mark Twain said this: “The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the fellow who can't read them.” I think it's okay if you don't read books, there are other ways of learning and improving yourself. But you might miss out on a lot of things. The world is moving forward so fast, so hectic, and so rushing. I believe the way to smartness and peace is by slowing down, stepping back a little, and pausing time by reading good books. Have you ever wondered why God gives us The Book a.k.a. The Bible instead of graphic manga, smartphone, YouTube videos, and audio recordings? The main means of His communication is the BOOK. Woff! Woff!

#ServeToLead #ReadersAreReaders #FeedTheRightWolf #TheBook #SlowingDown #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read other articles on reading and book reviews, CLICK HERE
All things media: https://linktr.ee/LEGASI.tv  

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The Disappearing Act: The Impossible Case of MH370 (Mudlark, 2021) by Florence de Changy, Book Review

I checked the internet, how much can I quote from a book without permission? The answer is various from which sources and publications. On average, less than 300 words is safe, I estimate. Let me take the risk, assume ignorance, and quote this book at length without giving the gist and juice of the book that we - reasonable Malaysians and perhaps the majority of informed people in the world - don't already know: "The key to a successful disappearance is diversion: grab the audience's attention and make them look elsewhere while you execute your sleight of hand. If MH370's 'disappearance' is indeed a sleight of hand on a massive scale, there has been a fantastic simultaneous effort of diversion, and seemingly more than one.

"The world's media has been complicit in the affair, mostly passively, by not questioning enough, and occasionally actively, by spreading unchecked, erroneous, or false information. Public opinion is not and is not supposed to be, that gullible. Everyone knows the MH370 story does not add up. Everyone knows a Boeing 777, possibly the safest plane in the history of civil aviation does not disappear without a trace in one of the most politically sensitive regions of the planet. So rather than being incredible, the official narrative is simply not credible. Yet the idea that we are being blatantly cheated by the governments we are supposed to trust is so uncomfortable and so problematic that, for the sake of our mental comfort, we choose to look elsewhere and welcome any alternative explanation, including one that makes no sense and falsely accuses a decent man of being a mass murderer" (Taken from Epilogue: The Disappearing Act, page 345-346)

To quote Ms. Changy again and as she always said in all of her interviews [check YouTube] sometimes casually, sometimes frustrate, "To me, claiming that Flight MH370 could have disappeared sounded like an insult to human intelligence." I agree wholeheartedly by underlining this phrase in the book with a 1.5mm black ink pen! Reading this book near Malaysia's 15th General Election is adding to my already lack of truth in the government. By the way, I enjoy reading Ms. Changy's 400+ pages of investigative journalism and gripping account of one of the most profound mysteries of the 21st century (although the word 'mystery' is unnecessary because there are people who knew!). I like that she provided as many facts as possible (of course, sometimes I questioned her sources), outline the incident well, explain some alternative scenarios, when into the testimonies of the families of missing passengers, interviewed interesting people, and quite a vast knowledge on current political situations, military arrangements and some aviation technical lingo (which I have to admit my limited comprehension in this area).

As any journalist would do, as much as she wanted to be objective, she is not without personal biases and interpretations. Read this book not with an open mind but with a critical mind. Focus on the obvious and always ask good and right questions. This is one of the lessons I learned from Ms. Changy. Because only with good and right questions we can get answers. Although, with MH370, it may take some time. As my favorite childhood TV series, The X-Files tagline says, "The truth is out there." Buy this book!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #TheDisappearingAct #MH370 #FlorenceDeChangy #CurrentAffair #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read other articles on reading and book reviews, CLICK HERE
All things media: https://linktr.ee/LEGASI.tv 

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business - and What To Do About It (2020) by Jason Dorsey and Denise Villa, PhD, Book Review

"All of our interactions with Gen Z," writes the authors, "have led to a key conclusion: the ways in which leaders typically recruited, managed, and marketed to older generations will NOT work with Gen Z." Many companies, organizations, and businesses know they need to adapt to Gen Z (a.k.a. iGen, approximately born between 1996 to 2012) but they feel paralyzed. They don't know how or what to change or where to even start. Plus, Gen Z's expectations are so different because THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT from other generations. We need help and this book is helpful.

Although I realized that Zconomy is more relevant to those who own businesses, are active in sales, marketing, and product strategy, and work in the marketplace leadership positions, I find that it is helpful too for me as a Christian worker to be more informed about Gen Z's behaviors, preferences, and motivations. Part 1: The Making of Gen Z is profound and clear; Part 2: Meet the World's Most Influential Customers gives me lots of engagement ideas and info on their consumer psychology; and Part 3: How Gen Z Is Changing the World of Work shed light on the employment world from the Gen Z's perspectives. They are the fastest-growing generation of employees (churches and NGOs take note too) and so it is crucial for leaders to change - or die.

I agree (but not all the time, of course) with the authors when they point out that this generation has so much to learn from other generations, and at the same time, there is so much too we can learn from them. They have great potential! "Gen Z offers a huge opportunity for leaders and organizations to grow, strengthen, innovate, and outperform - if leaders like you are willing to adapt to the generation" 

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #Zconomy #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read other articles on reading and book reviews, CLICK HERE
All things media: https://linktr.ee/LEGASI.tv 

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Education, Free & Compulsory (1999) by Murray N. Rothbard, Book Review

 Education, Free & Compulsory (1999) by Murray N. Rothbard, audiobook

Murray N. Rothbard, an influential American historian, natural law theorist, and economist of the Austrian School who helped define modern libertarianism*, in this short book (66 pages only and audiobook 2 hours 35 minutes), explores the history of compulsory schooling in Europe and especially in the United States. I find that the main ideas and concerns in this book are interesting although I have to keep in mind that my context is Asia or Malaysia in particular not Western countries. But it seems that, in terms of education, we almost always facing the same problem: our educational system, if not seriously reformed, is doomed to fail. For the past few weeks, I’ve been listening to an excellent podcast series by BFM radio called Malaysia’s Education Challenges with a focus on Malaysia’s Education Blueprint (MEB). As I reflect on what has been discussed in this series and Rothbard’s thoughts in this book, I cannot help but agree that we should seriously rethink public schooling. More than ever I observe that our educational system, instead of for the betterment of individuals and communities, has become very burdensome for the students, parents, and teachers and continues to be used to impose political, racial, and religious agendas or ideologies. Through the misuse of formal education, dictatorship can be disguised as democracy. Beware!

There are three (3) short but powerful chapters in this book, namely, 1) The Individual’s Education; 2) Compulsory Education in Europe; 3) Compulsory Education in the United States. There are half-a-dozen ideas that are worth considering such as the importance of individual or homeschooling, the function of the parents and the state (government) in child education, the history and philosophy of compulsory education, the shadow of ‘citizen control’, the influence of religious (particularly by Calvinism in Europe) reformation, the demons of Fascism, Nazism, and Communism. There are things that I don’t agree with, don’t understand, and don’t care much about. The most essential read, in my opinion, is the first half of Chapter 1: The Individual’s Education because regardless of our context and background, race and nationality, it deals with our universal human need and uniqueness. Rothbard writes:

“[The] entire process of growing up, of developing all the facets of a man’s personality, is his education. It is obvious that a person acquires his education in all activities of his childhood; all his waking hours are spent in learning in one form or another. It is clearly absurd to limit the term ‘education’ to a person’s formal schooling. He is learning all the time. He learns and forms ideas about other people, their desires, and actions to achieve them, the world and the natural laws that govern it; and his own ends, and how to achieve them. He formulates ideas on the nature of man, and what his own and others’ ends should be in light of this nature. This is a continual process, and it is obvious that formal schooling constitutes only an item in this process. In a fundamental sense, as a matter of fact, everyone is ‘self-educated.’ A person’s environment, physical or social, does not ‘determine’ the ideas and knowledge with which he will emerge as an adult. It is a fundamental fact of human nature that a person’s ideas are formed for himself; others may influence them, but none can determine absolutely the ideas and values which the individual will adopt or maintain through life.”

If you’re interested to dive further into this subject, you can get this ebook and audiobook for FREE at https://mises.org/library/education-free-and-compulsory-1 #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

*Libertarianism: a political philosophy that advocates only minimal state intervention in the free market and the private lives of citizens.

To read my other #1Book1Week book reviews, CLICK HERE

FB Page: https://facebook.com/LEGASI.tv/                                     
Podcast: http://bit.ly/LegasiSpotify                      
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LEGASItv/                  

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Angelus' Quote: How To Kill A Dragon?

Most of our problems/troubles/failures (what I called 'dragons' of life) that happened to us can be avoided or prevented much earlier. Your boyfriend abused you but because early in the relationship you were blinded by your affection for him, you now actually 'stuck' in this unhealthy relationship. You failed your exams because instead of focusing on your studies, you're busying yourself with ministries, thinking, "I'm doing God's works... God wouldn't fail me." You're lazy coming to Bible Study once a week, instead, you waste your time lepaking with your friends and the end of the day you regret that you lack Bible knowledge and never grow into maturity in Christ... Forever a baby Christian.

What if you walk away from that relationship much early on? You'll be happier today! What if you see your studies as God's calling in your life at that period of time? You'll be successful and more useful in the marketplace ministry! What if you choose to come to Bible Study weekly? You'll create a godly habit, discipline, and will be mature in your thinking and walking with the Lord. But what most of us do on the daily basis? We won't take action. We delayed. We think short-term. This is dangerous. This is nurturing 'dragons' in your life.

So, how to kill the dragon? You don't fight it when it fully grew, you'll be defeated. The dragon will be larger than your life, you'll surely lose. It's too late. If you don't take action now or making the hard decision now or think long-term now - you'll burn in the fire! You must destroy it (face it) while it's still young. Or better, break the egg before it hatching, which means, you have to make decisions and resolutions - having principles of life - before the event began. In short: baby dragon [in all cuteness and innocent as it seems], if left unattended, will become large [fury, dangerous] dragon! Now, it's up to you if you want to take heed of my suggestion...

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

4 Basic Biblical Responses: Thinking About Homosexuality

Yesterday I had a Bible Study with UCSI Sarawak Christian Fellowship (CF). This week we continue to the second part of the unChristian series on Thinking about Homosexuality. The purpose of this series is to challenge youths to think about real hard issues around us. Today was good and lively. I shared my stories encountered with this issue, they asked questions, we respond to one another and agree on the Scriptures. Here are Four (4) Basic Biblical Responses based on Mark 2:13-17 that I shared with them:

#1 With the Exception of Jesus, We Are All Sinners (Romans 3:23). One struggle with homosexuality, one with pornography. One with gossips, one with murderous-hatred. One with hypocrisy, one with doubt. Levi, the tax collector, money swindler; the Pharisees, prideful religious. Don't judge (with self-righteous attitude) someone just because they sin differently than you do. Knowing that we - Christ followers - are redeemed sinners, humble us.

#2 We Must Treat One Another with Compassion and Love. Every human being has dignity and made in the image of God. Jesus, in the Bible, has compassion for the people because they are like sheep without a shepherd. And what He did? He reached down to them, be with the people and love them unconditionally. Remember, Jesus eats with the sinners. If you cast away, avoid or reject those who are 'different' in sexuality from you, then how they can experience the love of Christ? Who will witness Christ's love to them? There is no discrimination in friendship. No boundaries, no walls. Talk and listen, really listen to understand. Be a friend and be a real friend.

#3 Stand Firm in the Faith: Accept Homosexuals Doesn't Mean We Approve Their Lifestyles. The Bible is clear on homosexual, and it is clear also that we don't have to be a jerk! Draw the line, you don't have to be confused or denying the truth. Hold on to the biblical standard. Be a principle Christian. I said this to my homosexual friend, "I'm straight and I deny homosexual lifestyles, but I'm still your friend. I want to be your friend." Jesus eats with the sinners. He was with sinners the most part of His earthly life. He was called “friend of sinners.” But do you think Jesus approved of their lifestyle? No! Jesus was able to stand firm in His Word and at the same time draw sinners to Himself. He remained holy, set apart. We MUST, and we CAN do the same. Only let the Holy Spirit lead you. Be firm and be kind are not opposed to one another.

#4 Finally, Change Is Possible! Homosexuality is not a simple issue - it is complex. We must know and acknowledge that. It's hard and very challenging for them. But again, nothing is impossible for God. I was blind, now I see. I was lame, now I walk. I was dumb, now I can talk. Change can be slow, gradual and hard. But it is possible. When Levi first met Jesus, he was a tax collector (leader of the sinners); then he follows Jesus, he became a disciple, then his life changed, and we called him now as Matthew, the gospel writer.

So, humble yourself, #1 Know that we are all sinners (or redeemed sinners); #2 Treat one another, regardless of their sexuality or lifestyle, with compassion and love; #3 Stand firm in your faith, don't deny the truth; and #4 Pray and trust that change is possible! God can do it.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Gender Revolution:The Shifting Landscape of Gender by National Geographic, Jan 18 (Review)

Gender Revolution: The Shifting Landscape of Gender
by National Geographic: January 2017

Malaysia's news headline this month: "Malaysia gov't slammed over removal of LGBT portraits" (New Straits Times Online, 9 Aug 2018); "Negri Sembilan state government denounces LGBT" (New Straits Times Online, 12 Aug 2018); "No compromise on LGBT, says Pahang mufti" (Free Malaysia Today, 13 Aug 2018); "Fuziah: Don't drive LGBT group away from Islam" (Free Malaysia Today, 14 Aug 2018); "Putrajaya denies doctor in LGBT controversy transferred" (Free Malaysia Today, 15 Aug 2018); "Transgenders report death threat, hate comments to police" (Free Malaysia, 17 Aug 2018). Pahang mufti Abdul Rahman Osman reported saying: "This group is cursed by God and those who support the wrongdoings are equally sinning… why we want to accept and be with them?" Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Fuziah Salleh, on the other hand, responded this way, "In our religion [Islam], what is haram is haram and there is no compromise about that… [But] if we alienate the group, which has been done before, how are they supposed to live in dignity?" Actually, how do we should response about LGBT in Malaysia?

One sentence, first response: Seek First to Understand. Pahang mufti also reported saying, "We have to oppose them… not endeavor to understand them instead." He and other religious extremists (both in Islam, Christianity, and other religions) are going too far by being devoured-ignorers. They break Stephen R. Covey's 5th habit, "Seek first to understand then be understood." I like how Fuziah Salleh respond. She firmly said, I requote: "In our religion [Islam], what is haram is haram and there is no compromise about that…" But then she added the 5th habit of highly effective people's response: "[but don't] alienate the group as this would only drive them further away from Islam." That's the way we should response! As Christ followers we should hold to Biblical standards – God's Word – no compromise! But at the same time display Christ's love for all humanity by seeking first to understand. Love seeks to understand. Araso?

So, in order for me to understand the LGBT issues, and to better response when ask, and to even withhold my judgment, I need to do my own research. You may ask, "What is LGBT?" LGBT or LGBTQ is an acronym used to refer to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and/or questioning individuals and communities. Simply put, a lesbian is a homosexual woman; a gay (in this context) is a homosexual man; a bisexual is someone who is sexually attracted to both men and women; a transgender is "a person whose gender identity does not match the biological sex they were assigned at birth"; and a queer is "someone whose gender identity is neither man nor woman, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders." To add more to your confusion, National Geographic introduces a few other terms such as agender, androgynous, cisgender, gender binary, gender dysphoria, genderfluid, nonbinary, etc.

National Geographic is one of my favorite magazines (first in line is BBC Earth) and in this special issue, they explore the shifting landscape of gender in science, in social systems, and in civilizations throughout history. Normally I would only read sections that I'm interested in, but for this issue, I read from cover to cover. No doubt there are few things that I don't agree with and I wish Nat Geo's columnists can be a little bit more unbiased and it would be good if they also allow anti-LGBTQ writer-supporters to have they say in the magazine. Maybe a page would be fine (well, that probably a far-fetched wish! Like asking TV3 to broadcast church worship service live every Sunday morning). Nevertheless, Nat Geo covered this issue quite well and it has great sub-topics such as:

- A Portrait of Gender Today (with an LGBTQ-full group photograph)

- Helping Families Talk about Gender

- Girls, Boys, and Gendered Toys

- Colour Code

- One Part He, One Part She

- I Am Nine Years Old: Children Across the World Tell Us How Gender Affects their Lives

- Rethinking Gender

- Identity, Sex, and Expression

- Making a Man: How Does a 21st-Century Boy Reach Manhood?

- Many Paths to Manhood

- Parental Leave on Dad's Terms

- American Girl: How Do You Grow Up In an Era of Body Shaming and Anonymous Bullying

 - It's Hard to Be Female: the Statistics

- The Dangerous Lives of Girls

- Painful Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

- Our Evolving Sense of Self

- and many more.                                                      

This is just the beginning of my deeper study on LGBTQ. I've watched videos and documentaries, listened to sermons/talks, and subscribed to LGBT podcasts and Christian (and religious) debates. I don't know where this quest will lead me to… but for sure, before you respond to any issues today – be wise. Seek first to understand dan jangan cepat melatah.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Book Review: The Malay Dilemma Revisited by Bakri Musa

The Malay Dilemma Revisited: Race Dynamics in Modern Malaysia
(1999, Updated and Revised 2017) by M. Bakri Musa

I went to the library and asked the librarian on where to find Malaysia's politics section. To my surprise, state library doesn't have any special section focus on Malaysia! If any, the books are poorly organized and some you can find in other unrelated sections. Obviously, our concern and awareness of issues in Malaysia are still in low level and judged by my frequent visits to local bookstores, most Sarawakians don't read books – and thus, seeing anyone reading books on local and Malaysia's issues is very rare scene indeed. When I borrowed this book, the librarian asked me, "Are you a student? Do you have an exam coming soon?" "No," I said. "I'm just interested in the subject." "Oh, I see," he said. And with a gentle smile, he asked again, "Are you a Malay?" "Oh no," I replied promptly. "I'm just curious on what are the Malay's dilemmas in Malaysia." Though he didn't say anything in regard to the subject discussed (proceed with my check-out), I can see from his face-expression that he still puzzled as if thinking in the back of his mind, "What's Malay dilemma?"

Bakri Musa, a surgeon in California and an active blogger, writes very freely and openly on Malaysian socio-political affairs. Like a surgeon with his sharp knife, he pores deep into the issues and brutally revealed the truths about Malaysia and the way we Malaysians think (with extra emphasis on how the Malay think: in the past, present and how they should be in the future). Although he left Malaysia in 1963, he keeps close track of social and political developments here. Sometime if we want to see an elephant entirely, we can't stare at it up-close. We need to steps backward – a considerable distance – and then we can see the entire elephant. Bakri Musa's observations and analyses are admirable and pointed simply because he ‘sees' Malaysia from afar but closely examine its implications and realities as if he's near.

Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad in 1970 has published his book The Malay Dilemma, where he examines the make-up of the Malays and the problem of racial harmony in Malaysia. Here Bakri Musa revisits Mahathir's book and "examine the extent to which modern Malaysia has been shaped by his convictions and assumptions as expressed in that book and to analyze the effectiveness of his policies and strategies in solving the country's social and economic problems" and more. If you wish to be stimulate in your thinking about what's happening today in Malaysia, if you are willing to see the reality and ugliness of what Malaysia has become, if you want to make a different (small as it seem) in this country  but you don't know where to start – read this book. Though the title is The Malay Dilemma Revisited, don't be close-minded! This book is also about the Non-Malay dilemmas. What happens to the Malays will affect us as well either we want to acknowledge that or not – we are Malaysians.

This book is divided into 3 parts, 24 chapters, and about 500 pages (don't let the volume discouraged you. It is simple and easy to read):

Part One: Malaysia Then and Now

Chapter 1: The Malay Dilemma – The Book

Chapter 2: One Malay Village

Chapter 3: It's Not All in Our Genes

Chapter 4: Ugliness of Urbanization

Chapter 5: Islamization of Malaysia

Chapter 6: The Sultan Syndrome

Chapter 7: MARA – The Great March Backward

Part Two: Modernizing Malaysia

Chapter 8: Enhancing Bumiputra Competitiveness

Chapter 9: Competitiveness Through Education

Chapter 10: Seventy Million Malaysians?

Chapter 11: The Subsidy Mentality

Chapter 12: We Are Special

Chapter 13: Affirmative Action in America

Chapter 14: The Non-Malay Dilemma

Part Three: Malaysia in the New Millennium

Chapter 15: That Pesky Neighbour

Chapter 16: The Sea of Corruption

Chapter 17: Vision 2020 – Not Quite Perfect

Chapter 18: Look West Is Best

Chapter 19: Twin Towers, Twin Crises

Chapter 20: Which Way Forward?

Chapter 21: What A Way to End The Millennium!

Chapter 22: What A Way to Begin The New Century!

Chapter 23: Najib's Twin Legacies

Chapter 24: The Malay Dilemma in the New Century

[P.s: You can get this book at local bookstores especially Popular and MPH about RM45-50]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ and My Fellow Malaysians, Let Us Pray for Pastor Raymond (Missing for A Week Now)

One of the saddest crimes is kidnapping or human stealing. Every day whether you turn on the news or go on the web, you always see kidnapping crimes going on worldwide. This is probably the most severe form of stealing. In the Old Testament this was punishable by death. Exodus 21:16, for example, says, “Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.” This was what was happening back in the slavery days. It is not applicable today, but still, this law shows how serious this crime is (I checked: A Malaysia’s 1961 law states that kidnapping carries a life sentence or a death sentence, preceded by a whipping).

According to police, Pastor Raymond Koh Keng Joo, 62-year-old, of DUCM (Damansara Utama Methodist Church) is believed to have been abducted by a group of masked men after he was seen driving along Jalan Bahagia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, in his car between 10.30am and 10.45am on Monday, 13^th February 2017. It has been exactly a week since his disappearance. “My children and I are very anxious for Raymond,” writes Susanna Liew Sow Yoke, Raymond’s wife on her message thru WhatsApp, “How can this blatantly happen in broad daylight in the peaceful place of our home land.”

Susannah continues, “I believe that the people who took my husband from me are no ordinary abductors because of the following reasons:

§  They were masked

§  The abduction was professionally and deftly executed, taking less than 60 seconds

§  The abductors had money, or were backed by money, or by an organisation with money as the cars they used were expensive SUVs, at least one of which was a black Toyota Alphard

§  The abduction was planned, timed and executed at an opportune moment, which suggests that they were waiting for my husband who drives an old Silver Honda Accord bearing number plate ST 5515 D.

Someone in the group calmly filmed the entire abduction while other masked members of the group re-directed the traffic. According to witnesses, at least five masked men were involved. According to CCTV footage, at least three black SUVs stopped in the middle of the road.”

Koh and his wife has been involved in many church charity and community work with a group called Harapan Komuniti, which he founded more than 10 years ago. Harapan Komuniti holds free tuition classes for children and English lessons for adults. Koh is well-known for the controversy in 2011 where the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) accused him and his NGO for proselytising Muslims following a disrespectful raid on a thanksgiving and fund-raising dinner at the DUMC. (Actually, Jais raided without search warrants). Demi Membela Al-Islam wordpress on their 14^th October 2011 entry accused Koh and Susannah of converting people – especially Muslims – to Christianity (and putting Koh, Susannah, and Daniel Ho’s pictures as wanted figures). These liars accused them of gaining lots of money, around RM30,000 – Rm40,000 for every convert from the Christian Organization from Australia. This is a lie from the pit of hell! If it were true, I shall quit my job and focus on converting Muslims in Malaysia and beyond. The Worldwide Christian conspiracies (which is fuelled by hundreds of rubbish ‘literatures’ sale in Malaysia’s bookstores under the “Agama” section) is created by small-minded, spiritual-freak, die-hard religious people!

But I won’t deny pastor Koh’s involvement in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, to the Malays. He is an evangelist, he evangelized people no matter who they are, provided that his audiences are willing to hear the News. No manipulations. No force. Not for worldly reasons. I believes he evangelize to the Chinese, the Indians, the foreigners, the marginalized and disables, the rich and the poor, children and adults. The Good News is for all people, no other race is lower or higher than the other. That’s what pastors – and Christians – supposed to do! I’m proud of Pastor Raymond.  

If you’re not keen of the fact that he is a Christian pastor (you refuse to be move by his faith), then you should be compassionate for him as a person, as a law abiding citizen who has done nothing more than help the underprivileged regardless of race, religion or nationality. As Malaysians, we should stand together asking for mercy and justice. Dear polices, please update us of your investigations? Dear government officials, why nobody say anything? Dear government-based media (national TVs) why there is not a single news report of this kidnapping? It’s been a week for God sake!

Let us continue our prayer for Pastor Raymond Koh and his family. Susannah writes, “Let us persevere in prayer for the prayers of the righteous avails much. Let us continue to love God and do good to our neighbours. Raymond would be very happy today if he knows not only Malaysia is praying for him but also the whole world. Raymond always stood for justice, righteousness and truth. He always reached out to the poor, needy and marginalized. He even loved his enemies. Jesus was his example.” Amen.

[P.s: The family of pastor Raymond Koh Keng Joo is offering a reward of up to RM10,000 for any information on his whereabouts. Please WhatsApp Jonathan at 011-3973 2670]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus on Divorce: Glued Together, No One can Separate It (Mark 10:1-9)

“Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ ‘What did Moses command you?’ he replied. They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’ ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,’ Jesus replied. ‘But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate’”
(Mark 10:1-9, NIV).

The subject of divorce was a hot issue in Jesus’ day as it is today. According to the Old Testament, a man could divorce his wife if she “displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her” (Deuteronomy 24:1). But by the time Jesus came there were two conflicting views about divorce among the Jews, all because of two ways to interpret the word “indecent” in Deuteronomy 24:1. Mostly the Pharisees said that indecency referred only to sexual unfaithfulness, meaning, a man could divorce his wife only if she became sexually involved with another man. A second view interpreted it as anything that displeased the husband. For example, a man could divorce his wife if she displeased her husband by burning his toast!

The Pharisees, wanted to find some reason to accuse Jesus and get rid of Him, asked Him what was His interpretation of divorce. They were probably hoping that Jesus held the more ‘open’ view of divorce; that way they could discredit Him among the religious community for His liberal interpretation of Scripture. But Jesus doesn’t sided with any one of the two views, Jesus said that in God’s view of marriage, divorce is not mention. When Jesus quoted Genesis 2:24, he implied that in God’s original blueprint for marriage in the Garden of Eden, husband and wife were to be glued (“become one flesh”) into one, inseparable unit. That’s it! Divorce wasn’t even in the vocabulary. “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”

So, why did God allow Moses to include a divorce certificate in the Old Testament law? Jesus answered: “It was because your hearts were hard.” When sin entered the human race as described in Genesis 3, men became basically selfish, unloving and reluctant to forgive in all of relationships – including marriage. The life of “one flesh” God intended husband and wife to enjoy often end up with two self-centred individuals. Instead of caring for each other selflessly, individuals care for themselves first. So for the man who was too hard-hearted to forgive his wife, for example, for being unfaithful, God allowed divorce. Because once sin entered the picture, nothing will be the same. But we must remember that God’s number one plan for marriage is that they commit themselves to each other with selfless love and forgiveness.

Now, I’m not married yet. Soon. But as I read this text in Mark 10 long time ago, I have to consider and equip myself for marriage. This is what I learned: The only kind of glue (to be “one flesh” means to literally glue two objects into one) that holds a marriage together is the glue of commitment. Commitment means that you give yourself to your partner in marriage as a permanent gift; and the two of you give yourselves to God as one. This kind of glue bonds people together so that they can endure all the pressing, pulling and stretching that life can inflict on them. Commitment to one another is above the romantic feelings; it is a committed-choice to stick with one another no matter what happen. If I may respectfully paraphrase Jesus’ words this way: “What God has glued together, man won’t want to separate by divorce.” Amen.

If you try to separate two objects that are glued together,

It’s hard to do, and it ‘hurt’ because each will never be the same again.
That’s the effect of divorce

(P.s: I know it’s hurt, my parents divorced few years ago)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

P.s. Freedom of Religion?

Students had been asking me questions about Islam. I know some general teachings and beliefs about Islam but I don’t know how to answer students if they ask in-depth questions about Islamic theology. I don’t think most Muslims know either (same goes with majority Christians on Biblical theology). I once heard how a Muslim scholar twisted Christian teachings, and how a Christian talked out of his ignorance about Islam. I find telling myself that, I don’t want to do that damage to other religions like that. I don’t want to twist and misinterpret Islam teachings. If I don’t know, I don’t know. If I know, I should give some evidences and study the subject first before giving my response.

So I read some books on Islam by notable scholars and teachers. Local and international. One of the books that I like is Islam Explained by Shaik Kadir (Marshall Cavendish Ltd: Singapore, 2006) – simple and concise. Most popular question students asked me is about the Freedom of Religion, especially in Malaysia. Honestly, in general, Islam teachings about this subject in Malaysia is very confusing (Whenever political-agenda-religious-minded leaders speaks, don’t listen to them). One attitude and ideology stating that Islam is a religion of sword, while majority modest believers says it is a religion of peace. Which one is true? I personally think it’s how people interpret their fundamental beliefs in their religion. What the Al-Quran and Hadith says?

Shaik Kadir, what is your respond? He writes:

“Since the Prophet [Muhammad]’s time, people were and are attracted to Islam because of its uniqueness, beauty, rationality, universality and dynamism.

Another notable characteristics of Islam that makes it attractive to people is the freedom to belief, and this is mentioned in the Quran. God says: “There is no compulsion in the faith,” because “The right way is clearly distinct from error” (2:256). The Quran adds: “If it had been your Lord’s Will, they would have believed – all who are on earth!” (10:99). But God did not make every human being a believer without choice. God made man special, endowing him with superior intelligence.

As man can think and make choices, the Prophet was not allowed by God to compel people to become Muslims (10:99). Instead, God commanded the Prophet to call people to Islam with wisdom and kindness. God says: “(O Muhammad!) Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and reason with them in ways that are best and most gracious” (16:125).

As Islam is a religion established by the Prophet himself (and not one formulated ages after the founder’s death), the Prophet sent letters to rulers of his neighbouring countries inviting them to Islam, but no one was forced to it as he had closed followed the instructions of the Quran not to compel people into it. Therefore, in the course of his 23 years of Apostolic mission, the Prophet did not compel anyone to accept Islam against his own free will, not even his own uncle and guardian, Abu Talib, who was never formally converted to Islam.

God advised the Prophet to tell those with other religions, thus: “You have your faith and I have my faith” (109:6). However, as a comprehensive and completed Religion of God for mankind, Muslims are requested to pass the Message of Islam to others, believers and non-believers, so that they will not hold Islam in contempt. The Islamic method of Islam-sharing is: “Invite (people) to the way of your Lord with wisdom” (16:125). This is an invitation taught by God Himself. It is a gracious and intellectual way of inviting people to understand Islam – by wisdom” (page 144-145).

Freedom of religion in Islam – What do you think?

Or freedom of religion in Malaysia – What is your respond?

Have this in mind: I want to understand, not argument. Thanks.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Reasons Why We Mad at Muhammad Firdaus Dullah’s Mother

On last Saturday (20^th June 2014), Malaysia Immigration Department officers, by God’s grace, on a scheduled operation to crackdown against illegal immigrants at the flats block in Taman Semarak, Nilai, Seremban, were taken by surprised to found Muhammad Firdaus Dullah (see picture) “who is physically and mentally challenged, living in extremely unhygienic conditions in a room at the unit,” writes The Sun Daily newspaper last Sunday.

The boy was her mother’s second son from her first husband. Her current husband, she said, was not living with them. This 15 year old boy was found neglected and malnourished – literally, skin and bones – at the flat because the mother, a food catering company staff, said that she was so busy working and have no time to take care of Firdaus. At this writing she was remanded by the police under Section 31 of the Child Act. And Firdaus, thankfully, is being treated at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban. He is responding well to the treatment and is expected to recover soon. God have mercy!

Because of this abuse, this insanity, people all over Malaysia that heard the news – whatever religious, races and background they are from (as long as they are called human beings) – are mad like hell! On mother’s day, we read something like this “Mother’s love is the most pure of all” but now we read all over social medias that Firdaus’s mother is somewhat “the most evil of all!” Why are we so mad? What does it tells about us? What make us mad?

I’m not trying to insult Firdaus and his mother, but I’m trying to make us think of why we’re so mad whenever we read or heard news like this. I think there are 3 main reasons why (and what does it tell about us):

1) We are Mad because of the Injustice and Lack of Mercy

Handicapped, deformed limbs, weak and small Firdaus is basically dependence on others in order to survive. There are many Firdauses around us today. We can see people like him almost everywhere if we care to look. There are also many people like his mother if we care to know. We are mad because somehow we ourselves are the victims of the injustice. Government supposed to take care of the citizen not exploiting people. Universities supposed to educate students not manipulate them. Religious officers supposed to free people not imprisoned society. Parents should take care of their children. Mother should love her son. Endless injustice. We are mad because there is no mercy.

2) We are Mad because we have the Sense of Right and Wrong

The moment we read the news, we’re mad. As we heard the story repeated over and over again, we’re mad. The last time we saw Firdaus’ picture, we’re mad even until now. Why? Because within us there is a sense of right and wrong which we can know immediately that the act of abuse against Firdaus is a – sin. We are made in the “image of God”, therefore, we know deep in our souls that God hate sins and we are aware of it even when we try to deny it. But like our forefather, we are mad because of other’s sins – always someone else except ourselves – and in this case, Firdaus’s mother’s sin makes us mad.

3) We are mad because We Think that God is Not Fair!

How can a good God let this happened? Why God doesn’t do anything about this? Is God dead? This kind of questions is normally come from those who are mad. Naturally, we are rebellious against God. We mad at God – expressively or secretly – because of every bad thing happened to us and around us. So we say, “God must be fair. Firdaus have the right to live like every other kid.” But never come across our minds that if God is fair then the statement also have to be fair: “God must be fair, we should be handicapped like Firdaus.” We don’t like that kind of fair, we like our own version of fairness. (We are not fair ourselves, then why we expect God to be fair?) In reality we are mad because we can’t figure it out, we can’t figure God out. We are mad because we don’t have the solution to this universal problem. We are mad because we think that God must be fair to His creations… even to Firdaus.

In conclusion, we are mad people. There is Firdaus in every one of us. Though not necessary physical, we are for sure spiritually handicapped, weak and dependence beings. We depend on God. There is also Firdaus’s mother in us. We are selfish, sometime heartless and for sure sinful like her. We are unable to have relationship with the holy God because we are not pure and utterly sinful. There is no such thing as God is fair. The God of the Bible, the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, God in Christ, is not a fair God but – a righteous God. This is how righteous God deals with us: Because He is holy, we are His enemies; because God is just, we should be punish for our sins; because of His mercy, He provide the way for us to be save from His wrath. The Scripture point out the way: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, see also Acts 16:31).

Only through Jesus we can be right with God, only through Jesus we know the Father and only in Him we can be saved by grace through faith. Why we dwell in mad-ness when Jesus can turn it into gladness? I tell you, there is more pitiful for those who are “neglected” by God and “malnourished” from the Word of God than Firdaus. There is much more to just being mad about the news. The news is just a parable to point out to our humanity greatest need – we need Jesus. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

I Love Rock Music!

In his book Art and the Bible, Francis Schaeffer (I found it in our office library today) describes four categories of art: bad art with a true message, good art with a true message, bad art with a bad message, and good art with a good message. These four categories of arts reminds me of the modern rock music which I hear almost every day of my life. I love rock music!

Rock music is very exciting and yet very dangerous at the same time. Upbeat rock can increase our mood, make our mind alert and give the sense of freedom to our souls (especially when we sing along). Rock also has the invincible power to unite rock lovers from very part of the world. Just come to the live concerts and you will see how easily strangers can become friends.

The dangerous part is when good music combined with a false message, we can get confused. I don’t believe that Satan creates music. He has no power to create. God is the One who create music for His own glory and for us to enjoy. But Satan (as he always does) can misuse and manipulate music as an instrument of sins. Catchy music and clever lyrics give false messages a credibility they would not ordinarily have (This reminds me of how our generations today draw their many foreign ideas about God and world views from their favourite artists instead of the Scripture). By naturally responding to the song’s quality, we may suspend judgment and accept its false message, too. More over rock music primarily fall short in the areas of materialism, sex (‘love’ usually mean sex) and hedonism (pursuing pleasure and the ‘good life’). This is dangerous!

But why I still listen to rock music? Because the problem is not the music, it is our ability to discern good and acceptable songs from bad and manipulative songs. In reality we can’t get away from listening to rock music and the likes. Television, internet, radio and technology gadgets are full of many kind of music – good and bad and somewhere in between – that bombarded our ears with many confusing messages. To try to get away from this is not just unrealistic but also unchristian. The Scriptures says we are not “of the world” but (yet) “in the world.” Therefore, I still listen to rock but with cautious and discernment. This applies to any songs I hear every day. Just because there are words like “Jesus” and “God” in the lyrics, it doesn’t mean that the message is biblical. Thus, be careful!

But a word of warning: if we want the freedom to listen (or not to listen) to certain songs, then we must reserve judgment and allow others to make their own choices, too. We shouldn’t impose on others to “listen to this” and “don’t listen to that.” Let others have the freedom to choose. I think, rather than condemning rock, God’s people should be in the position of encouraging whatever is good, worthy and true to popular music. And rather than blacklisting, condemning or otherwise writing off rock bands and even Christian rock bands that don’t fit our stereotypes of what Christian musicians should be (unless it is obviously contain false messages), we must encourage them to higher achievement. The Christian community and the world at large desperately need the creativity, enthusiasm, courage and vision Christian artists can bring. Peace!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

An Essay on "Abortion... Silent Holocaust in Malaysia"

I wrote this essay on September 2012 as a respond to abortion cases in Malaysia – especially to my Christian readers, so that they may know that abortion is not God’s will and it is against His command to do so. And yet – there’s a room for repentance and forgiveness. [P.s: Someone had checked my English – thanks to my editor for making this writing readable].

Abortion: the Silent Holocaust in Malaysia

Abortion on demand is not available in Malaysia. But abortion is legal if it is performed for medical reasons that involve risk to the life of the woman, to preserve physical health and to preserve mental health as provided in Section 312 of the Penal Code and it has to be certified by at least two doctors [1]. Even though Abortion Policy had been established since 1989, underground illegal abortions are on the rise slowly but constantly. The Star newspaper published on May 26, 2009 [2] reported that the rate of illegal abortions is 0.1% or 500 per 500,000 live births yearly; 38 out of every 1,000 women aged between 15 and 49 years old had gone for an abortion. A random survey by several private clinics stunningly revealed that there is 1 abortion for every 5 pregnancies in this country. These are unofficial statistics, but surely it reveals an underground, dark shadow of mass murder of the unborn in Malaysia. This is the silent holocaust.

What is Abortion?

Concise Medical Dictionary defines abortion as ‘the expulsion or removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus at a stage of pregnancy when it is incapable of independent survival (i.e. at any time between conception and the 24^thweek of pregnancy)’ [3]. From the 2^nd to 8^th week of gestation, the developing organism is called an embryo, as is any animal at this early stage of primitive tissue and organ development. From then until birth, it is called a fetus, which simply means ‘young unborn’. There are two types of abortion in the medical terminology [4] – first, spontaneous abortion; abortion can occur spontaneously because for some reason the embryo was non-viable. This accidental occurrence is also known as ‘miscarriage’. Second, medically induced termination of pregnancy; abortion that involves a normal viable embryo or fetus.

In this short essay, I shall limit my discussion to the second type of abortion involving a normal viable embryo or fetus, which if left to the natural process would be delivered as a full-term baby. In other words, I’m referring to cases where the mother intentionally seeks help to remove a growing embryo or fetus in her womb [5].

When Does Life Begin?

Many people including Christians wonder about the ethics of abortion. The command, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13) is sometimes literally translated by many as any form of killing in general is prohibited by God. Thus, it is intolerable, unquestionable that abortion is a wickedly evil act against God in the view of some radical pro-life groups. The Roman Catholic Church especially views abortion as a grave moral wrong. The Church says that human life begins when the woman’s egg is fertilized by a male sperm. A fetus is a person, a human being at the moment of its conception. From that moment a unique life begins, independent of the life of the mother and father. The features that distinguish us from our parents –the color of our eyes, the shape of our face – are all laid down in the genetic code that comes into existence then. The Church argues that each new life that begins at this point is not a potential human being but a human being with potential [6]. From conception, all human life is sacred because they are made in God’s image right from the start (Genesis 9:6).

Lewis B. Smedes in his book Mere Morality gives four ways to answer the question of when a person comes into existence – 1) A fetus is a person at the moment of conception, 2) The fetus becomes a person after it receives the one property essential to personhood (namely, the human soul), 3) The fetus becomes a person when it is born, or, 4) The fetus develops into a person gradually, with no fixed turning point [7]. Lewis, if I understood him clearly chooses the 4^th view, but for me, I choose the 1^st view. I believe that indeed life begins in the womb, that the fetus (‘young unborn’ or ‘little one’ in Latin) is a human being subjected to God’s law concerning humanity.

Abortion and the Scripture

I believe that ‘a fetus is a person at the moment of conception’. The Bible establishes that God recognizes a person even before he or she is born. “Before I was born the Lord called me” (Isaiah 49:1). Exodus 21:22-23 describes a situation in which two men are fighting, and the struggle injures and/or hits a pregnant woman (who perhaps intervenes in an attempt to stop the dispute) and causes her to give birth prematurely. If there is “no serious injury”, the man is required to pay a fine (compensation), but if there is “serious injury”, either to the mother or the young unborn, then the man is guilty of murder and subjected to the penalty of death, “take life for a life”. This command, in itself, places the young unborn on a level equal to that of the adult male who caused the miscarriage.

In referring to Exodus 21, Wayne Jackson, writer and editor for the Christian Courier website, writes,

“What, then, is the passage teaching? Simply this: If two fighting men injure a pregnant woman, causing her to give premature birth, yet no harm follows – to either mother or child – a fine will be levied as a penalty for such carelessness. However, if any harm followed, to mother or babe, justice was to be meted out commensurate with degree of damage. Both the mother and unborn child had equal protection under the law [8].”

Alan Cole comments on Exodus 21,

“It has sometimes been claimed by those in favor of abortion that the unborn child is not really considered as an individual here: but that is not the point of this passage . . .The destruction of the unborn child was regarded by the Hebrews as an instance of the most barbarous cruelty, calling down God’s judgment (2 Kings 15:16) [9]”

Elsewhere, Professor John Hannah also observes:

“. . . the unborn fetus is viewed in this passage as just as much a human being as its mother; the abortion of a fetus was considered murder [10]"

Scripture support abounds for the humanity of the young unborn. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well… your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-14, 16). John Stott in New Issues Facing Christians Today concluded that Psalm 139 pinpoints images of creation, continuity, and communion that gives us the perspective that the fetus is already a human life, though not yet mature, and has the potential of growing into the fullness of humanity [11].

The Scripture, in fact, uses the same Greek word ‘bref'-os’ [Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries defines as, ‘of uncertain affinity; an infant (properly unborn) literally or figuratively: -babe, (young) child, infant’] to describe the unborn John the Baptist (Luke 1:41,44), the newborn baby Jesus (Luke 2:12,16), and the young children who were brought to Jesus for his blessing (Luke 18:15). Thus, this shows that the unborn (fetus) and the new born (child) are in fact a human being. They are created in the image of God (imago dei) because God blew his breath or nephesh into them. This implies that a fetus bears the image of God – worthy of honor and respect; not to be murdered.

Abortion, its Complexity and Possible Actions

The Scripture, I’m convinced, does indeed establish that the young unborn is just as much a human being in God’s eyes as we ourselves are. But I don’t want to go as far as saying that abortion is strictly prohibited. We are no doubt dealing with a complex issue. “Christians must remember that behind the dilemmas are real people facing unwanted pregnancies, bringing up handicapped children, or coping with the long-term result of rape and incest. The need to offer genuine assistance… should be part of the Christian response regardless of our own attitude towards abortion [12].”

So how the Christian communities or the church as a whole can deal with this ‘silent holocaust’? How can the church make a stand against the evil of abortion and at the same time be ready to assist those to whom abortion seems to be the only solution to their complex problem? The answers may not be easy and clear-cut but the church shouldn’t be silent on this issue. [These are just my suggestions] The church may offer sex education where people will be taught about pregnancy prevention. Counseling, love and compassion should also be offered to those who are seeking abortion or have had an abortion. Adoption for unwanted babies is perhaps the most obvious service the church can accommodate. We must provide room or a place for a mother while she gives her baby up for adoption. The church must understand that a woman should never have to make the choice between her baby and herself.

Conclusion

Abortion is always a tragedy not only in Malaysia but also throughout the world. Mass murder of the young unborn, the silent holocaust shows how lightly our society views the human life. The Scripture admittedly does not give us specific instructions about abortion. However, it is indeed proven that life begins in the womb, that the fetus is a human being subjected to God’s law concerning humanity. Therefore, the fetus that bears the image of God is worthy of honor and respect – not to be murdered.

The church should be clear and must stand firm against abortion. Yes, the church is in the business of bringing God’s grace and forgiveness, but that requires recognition of evil and a strong affirmation to not compromise when it comes to the defense of the weak and defenseless. Dr. Alex Tang writes, ‘The weak and defenseless fetuses need advocates who will stand up for their rights as human persons and their right to life’. [13]

 THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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

References:

1. Malaysia Abortion Policy. Source: Population Policy Data Bank maintained by the Population Division of the Department for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat; available from www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/malaysia.doc, accessed 11th September 2012.
2. The Star, 26 May 2009.
3. Oxford: Concise Medical Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 1998) p.2
4. The British Medical Association Illustrated Medical Dictionary (Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2002) p. 5
5. n(n). Since the topic of ‘Abortion’ is wide, I will only discussion to the second type of abortion involving a normal viable embryo or fetus.
6. BBC on The Church of England and Roman Catholic Church views on abortion; available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/christianecthics/abortion 1.shtml; internet; accessed 5 September 2012.
7. Lewis B. Smedes, More Morality: What God Expects from Ordinary People (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983) p. 127-134
8. Wayne Jackson, ‘Does Exodus 21 Sanction Abortion?’ in Christian Courier; available from http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/786-does-exodus-21-sanction-abortion; internet; accessed 9 September 2012.
9. Alan Cole, Exodus: Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (Inter-Varsity, 1985) p.169
10. John Hannah, Exodus: The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985) p. 141
11. John Stott, New Issues Facing Christians Today (Marshall Pickering, 1999) Ch. 15
12. David J. Atkinson & David H. Field (eds), New Dictionary of Christian Ethics and Pastoral Theology (InterVarsity Press, 1995) p. 133
13. Dr. Alex Tang, Live and Let Live (Kairos Research Centre Sdn. Bhd., 2006) p.34