Students Making a Difference: TCS CF Shows "Perfect Love: We Care, We Share"

“If [faith] alone and includes no actions, then it is dead” (James 2:17, GNB)

What would happen if Christian Fellowship act seriously on what they have heard and learned from the Scripture? What would happen if they decides to do community service in their campus? This is what definitely will happen: they will make a different! One thing to learn, if you’re ministering to students in campus, is that they are passionate and energetic and willing (if we give them a change or show the way) to make a different in the community. This is exactly what Technology College Sarawak (TSC) Christian Fellowship (CF) was doing last Saturday morning, 11^th October 2014.

Together with their advisor and college’s maintenance staffs, they organized a co-operate gotong-royong with CF members and staffs. Their main objectives is to experience first-hand the challenges of maintenance works and to create awareness in keeping the campus clean. That is why the theme was very suitable; “Perfect Love: We Care, We Share.” Indeed, as participant of this heart-touching event, I observed God’s love was really in each one of them. Some of the members were having class that day, so, they either come before or after class to help whatever possible and get involved with the activity. I bet students outside CF that saw their witnessing in campus and even staffs themselves were inspired by their willingness to sacrifice time (Saturday morning, remember?) and energy (without payment or award) to make a different in campus. Christian Fellowship (CF) is boring? Never!

Here are some pictures:

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Students Making a Difference: WWF visits to "The Home of Love"

After we studied Isaiah 58, Word-to-World Fellowship (WWF), a Bible Study group initiated by staff worker and students, went to visits The Home of Love at Jalan Emerald off Green Road Kuching, a nursing home and care centre, on 6^th October 2014. We have a single objective that is, “to reach out the community around us as we want to put God’s Word in Isaiah 58 into practice”. There were 15 of us. Each one have our own duties and responsibilities. We had a great time fellowship with the residents there. It was heart-touching moments. We definitely value our presence with one another and with the residents of the Home. We hope they also feel the same. I observe God’s love in actions; students took initiative to start conversations with the elders, asking questions to volunteer-staffs there, cleaning toilets, washing and wiping kitchen tools, mopping the floors, fixed kitchen cabinet, taking elders for a walk, spoon-fed them, jamming and singing joyfully, make jokes, and even pray together (some plucked out grass outside with bare hands! Can you imagine that?!).

I remember one time when a granny there asked me, “How long will you all be here?” I replied, “From now (10am) until 2pm.” She was not so happy and simply said, “That’s very long...” But just when we were about to go back home, she grappled my hand and said, “Why going back so soon?” I miss her already. We all do miss them very much.

Here are some pictures of the WWF activities (We wrestled very hard!). By the way, we not taking many pictures. 

[There will be more Bible Study and outreach activities in the future. I’ll keep you updates through this blog]

Sorry Nazri, you was not in the picture. Thanks for taking pictures bro.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Rich Malaysians in an Age of Hunger

What a typical Malaysian family would need to give up if we were to adopt the lifestyle of a typical family living among our marginalized, unseen and poor neighbours? Let us imagine:

“We begin by invading the house of our imaginary typical Malaysian family to strip it of its furniture. Everything goes: beds, chairs, tables, Astro and television set, lamps. We will leave the family with a few old blankets, a small kitchen table, and a wooden chair. Along with all of these, so goes the clothes. Each member of the family may keep in his ‘wardrobe’ his oldest suit or dress, a shirt or blouse. We will permit a pair of shoes for the head of the family, but none for the wife or children.

We move to the kitchen. The appliances have already been taken out, so we turn to the cupboards… The box of matches may stay, a small bag of rice, some sugar and salt. A few sweet potatoes (or ubi kayu), already in the rubbish bin, must be hastily rescued, for they will provide much of tonight’s meal. We will leave a handful of onions, and a dish of long beans. All the rest we take away: the meat, the fresh vegetables, the canned goods…

Now we have stripped the house: the bedroom has been dismantled, the running water shut off, the electric wires taken out. Next we take away the house. The family can move to a smaller house with no fan… Communications must go next. No more newspapers, magazines, books, smart phones, tablets, computers – internets! – not that they are missed, since we must take away our family’s literacy as well. Instead, we will allow only one old radio instead…

Now government services must go. No more policemen, no more firemen, no 1Malaysia shops. There is a school, but it is three miles away and consists of two classrooms… There are, of course, no hospitals or doctors nearby. The nearest clinic is ten miles away and is tended by a midwife. It can be reached by bicycle, provided that the family has a bicycle, which is unlikely… by boat if the family can afford to buy petrol… Finally, money. We will allow our family a cash of RM15 daily. There are no way to apply for BR1M because nobody care for marginalized people anymore, not even valid Malaysian citizen with I.D. card. The family may get a one-time cash of RM6k if only they ‘sell’ their soul and faith for a religious. Most of the time, ignored.”*

How many of our brothers and sisters confront that kind of grinding poverty today? (Maybe less, but surely happening today). Probably at least hundreds (or thousands, who know) of people in Malaysia are as poor as this. They know hunger in a way that most of us have never known. Why? Not because it doesn’t exist, but because we don’t care to know and see. Jesus through the apostle John is telling us now: “[If] anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18, ESV). For the sake of Christ, are we identified with the hunger and the poor (as above imaginary family situation)? Do we care for the marginalized and the oppressed? Do you love Christ?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

*I use and modified the imaginary family analogy above from Ronald’ J. Sider’s Rich Christians in An Age of Hunger book (Introduction, Part 1).

When a Woman Who Had Been Married 5 Times and Now Living with a Man meets Jesus

There were many in Jesus’ day who found life hard, who had become disillusioned and dissatisfied and were looking for something better, more fulfilling. There are many like that in our society too, hunger for something more… could it be you?

Take for example, in John 4, a story of the Samaritan woman that Jesus met when he stopped by a well to rest on a journey. The fact that she had come alone to draw water in the middle of the day (v.6) suggests that all was not well. Gathering water was normally an early-morning, communal activity… there was something wrong here. When we read the story further, it becomes apparent that her problem was a moral one, involving men. But Jesus, with his keen perception, realized that her real problem was much deeper. So Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water [from the well] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water [Himself] that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14, ESV. In bracket mine).

Understandably, just like me, the woman initially didn’t really comprehend what Jesus meant. She thought Jesus was talking about actual water. In fact, Jesus was addressing himself to her real problem which was not a thirst for water, nor even a thirst for sex, but – a thirst for life. But before she could begin to drink the life-giving water, Jesus had to help her see what she was really like, and challenge her to change her ways. So, in his infinite wisdom, Jesus asked her to fetch her husband – and then the truth was out! She had been married to five men but the man with whom she was now living was not really her husband (read John 4:16-18).

For a while she struggled with Jesus’ offer of life-giving water and its implications for her, but slowly she was released and was able to receive that offer. As a result, even though we’re not told exactly what she was thinking after that, she was obviously transformed and immediately began to bring others to Jesus. The Jesus whom she and others now realized was “the Saviour of the world” (John 4:42). Questions: Are you looking for something better? Do you dissatisfied with your life now? Is religion burn you down? Do you thirst for more, more than mere water, sex, money and power? Do you thirst for life? Come to Jesus and he will give you the life-giving water so that you “will never thirsty again.” Satisfied guarantee! Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Free Book: Eat this Book (The Art of Spiritual Reading)

“I don’t like to read long and boring theological books. Yet, Eat This Book is a deep theology book disguises as storybook to me. I ‘hate’ the truths in this book, but I love the way Eugene says it and I’m persuaded to read it anyway - and be changed. Reading this book makes me want to read and living the Book, the Bible ever more faithfully. I fully recommend this book!”

(Richard Angelus)

Eugene Peterson is convinced that the way we read the Bible is as important as that we read it. Do we read the Bible for information about God and salvation, for principles and "truths" that we can use to live better? Or do we read it in order to listen to God and respond in prayer and obedience?

Peterson's Eat This Book challenges us to read the Scriptures on their own terms, as God's revelation, and to live them as we read them. With warmth and wisdom Peterson offers greatly needed, down-to-earth counsel on spiritual reading. In these pages he draws readers into a fascinating conversation on the nature of language, the ancient practice of lectio divina, and the role of Scripture translations; included here is the inside story behind Peterson's own popular Bible (paraphrase) translation, The Message.

Countering the widespread practice of using the Bible for self-serving purposes, Peterson here serves readers with a nourishing entree into the formative, life-changing art of spiritual reading.

[Description is taken from: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97852.Eat_This_Book]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

FREE BOOK OF THE MONTH

If you want a copy of this book for FREE, you can e-mail me your name and postal address to Adam_son_no7@hotmail.com. All information given is strictly for delivering the book only. For Malaysians ONLY. Thank you.

Iblis ialah Bapa Segala Pendusta

Yesus berkata kepada orang Yahudi yang degil, “Mengapa kamu tidak memahami apa yang Aku katakan? Hal itu demikian kerana kamu tidak tahan mendengar ajaran-Ku. Bapa kamu Iblis dan kamu anak-anaknya. Kamu lebih suka menurut kehendak bapa kamu. Sejak permulaan, Iblis itu pembunuh. Dia tidak pernah memihak kebenaran, kerana tidak ada kebenaran padanya. Apabila Iblis berdusta, hal itu memang sudah sewajarnya, kerana dia pendusta dan asal segala dusta” (Yohanes 8:43-44, BM).

Sungguh tegas dan keras firman Yesus ini! Dia berkata Iblis ialah pembunuh dan bapa segala pendusta. Salah satu dusta yang seringkali Iblis katakan kepada kita ialah dia menjanjikan pelbagai tawaran hebat kepada kita jika kita mengikutnya, seperti apa yang dia lakukan kepada Yesus semasa percubaan-Nya: “Semua ini akan aku berikan kepada-Mu [kerajaan, kekayaan dan kemuliaan dunia],” katanya, “jika Engkau sujud menyembah aku” (Matius 4:9). Sekarang, Iblis mungkin berkata kepada kita, “Saya berjanji hidup kamu akan senang-lenang; saya akan memberi kejayaan bagi kamu; saya akan mengembirakan kamu; saya akan mengkurniakan kamu dengan harta kekayaan dan nama baik.” Ada juga suara Iblis berkata, “Serahkan imanmu yang tidak boleh membawa kemana-mana itu.., ambil duit dan kesenangan ini sekarang.” Ingatlah firman Yesus ini: “Apa gunanya jika seseorang memiliki seluruh dunia ini, tetapi kehilangan hidup yang sejati?” (Matius 16:26, BM)

Iblis juga suka berdusta kepada kita supaya kita (mengingini) menjadi seorang yang “tersangat” rohani. Seorang Kristian, contohnya, tidak mahu mendapat rawatan daripada doktor kerana dia beranggapan ‘hanya Tuhan boleh menyembuhku.’ Saya memang percaya bahawa hanya TUHAN mampu menyembuh dan memang benar kita harus mencari Dia lebih daripada keperluan fisikal, mental dan rohani kita. Tetapi, kita harus berhati-hati juga. Walaupun TUHAN boleh dan mampu menyembuh kita hari ini, kebenaran yang terlalu ditinggi-tinggikan lebih daripada kebenaran yang lain boleh menjadi kesalahan juga (dalam kes ini, kita harus berdoa dan mendapat rawatan). Kebenaran yang tidak diseimbangkan dengan kebenaran Alkitab yang lain akan menjadi penghalang iman kita kepada-Nya. (Contohnya, kebenaran tentang Keselamatan yang memerlukan keseimbangan di antara kasih-kurnia Allah dan respon kita kepada-Nya). Oh, Iblis memang suka mendustai kita!

Satu lagi taktik Iblis untuk mendustai kita ialah dengan menyebarkan berita palsu dan mengumpat tentang saudara-saudari Kristian kita yang lain. Ini akan menyebabkan pekerjaan Allah diantara kita terganggu dan anak-anak TUHAN akan mula berpecah dan bergaduh sesama sendiri – dan apabila kita terlalu fokus dengan perbalahan antara satu sama lain, kita akan mula lupa untuk melakukan Amanah Agung Tuhan Yesus (Matius 28:18-20) dan tidak lagi berjuang untuk memenangkan jiwa-jiwa yang hilang kepada-Nya. Marilah kita tegus bersatu dalam iman dan jangan membiarkan Iblis mendustai kita!

Jadi, bagaimana kita boleh tahu atau membezakan diantara kebenaran Allah dan dusta Iblis? Alkitab mengatakan – dengan mendengar ajaran Yesus. “Jika kamu taat kepada ajaran-Ku, kamu benar-benar pengikut-Ku. Kamu akan mengenal Allah. Oleh itu kamu akan dibebaskan” (Yohanes 8:31-32); “Aku mengatakan apa yang ditunjukkan oleh Bapa-Ku kepada-Ku” (8:38); “Yang Aku lakukan hanyalah memberitahu kamu kata-kata benar yang diberitahukan oleh Allah kepada-Ku” (8:40); “Aku mengatakan apa yang benar” (8:45); “Orang yang berasal dari Allah akan mendengar firman Allah” (8:47). Firman Yesus ialah firman Allah, dan firman Allah adalah kebenaran!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Iblis menyamar Sebagai Malaikat Cahaya

Dalam 2 Korintus 11:13-15, Rasul Paulus menulis tentang nabi palsu: “Mereka rasul palsu. Mereka berdusta tentang kerja mereka dan mereka menyamar seperti rasul Kristus. Hal itu tidak menghairankan! Iblis pun dapat menyamar seperti malaikat yang gilang-gemilang. Oleh itu, tidaklah menghairankan jika hamba-hamba iblis menyamar seperti hamba yang melakukan kehendak Allah. Akhirnya mereka akan menerima balasan yang setimpal dengan semua perbuatan mereka” (BM).

Iblis selalunya akan menggunakan hamba-hambanya untuk menyampaikan ajaran-ajaran baru dan mengajar tafsiran Alkitab yang tidak betul. Dan mereka seringkali akan bersaksi bahawa mereka mempunyai hubungan yang ‘unik’ dengan TUHAN (berbanding dengan orang lain) atau mendakwa bahawa mereka mendapat ‘wahyu istimewa’ dari syurga atau apa sahaja yang bertentangan dengan Firman Allah yang benar. Kadang-kadang mereka akan berkata dan kelihatan seperti sangat rohani – malah begitu mistik – seperti ajaran-ajaran sesat pada masa ini.

Bagi saya, apa yang sangat menakutkan ialah mereka suka mencampur-adukkan kebenaran dengan ajaran sesat yang sangat berbahaya bagi kehidupan rohani kita. Ada sesetengah daripada mereka juga mendakwa bahawa mereka menulis buku-buku yang ‘diilhami’ oleh TUHAN sendiri dan sama pentingnya dengan Alkitab. Selain itu, oleh kerana iblis suka “menyamar seperti malaikat cahaya” dan “menyamar seperti hamba yang melakukan kehendak Allah”, mereka sangat mahir dengan Alkitab dan mampu memetik Firman keluar dari conteks ayat. Kita harus berhati-hati!

Jadi, apa yang kita harus lakukan? Kita diingatkan oleh Firman Allah dalam 1 Yohanes 4:1-3, “Janganlah percaya kepada semua orang yang mengaku bahawa mereka mempunyai Roh Allah, tetapi ujilah mereka untuk mengetahui sama ada roh yang ada pada mereka itu berasal daripada Allah atau tidak. Hendaklah kamu berbuat demikian kerena banyak nabi palsu telah pergi ke serata tempat. Inilah caranya kamu boleh mengetahui sama ada roh itu Roh Allah atau tidak: Sesiapa mengakui Yesus Kristus datang ke dunia sebagai manusia, orang itu mempunyai Roh yang datang daripada Allah. Tetapi sesiapa menafikan hal ini tentang Yesus, orang itu tidak mempunyai Roh Allah. Orang itu mempunyai roh daripada Musuh Kristus. Kamu sudah mendengar bahawa roh itu akan datang, dan sekarang roh itu sudah di dunia ini.” Selain daripada itu, biasakan diri dengan Firman Allah kerana hati dan pemikiran yang dipenuhi dengan Firman-Nya, akan lebih mudah mengenal samada suara itu datang daripada-Nya atau tidak. Berdoa dan biarlah Roh Allah yang memimpin kita. Amen.

Uji setiap roh yang ada.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.