Have You Heard Heavenly Music Lately?

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up,

left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

We live in a very busy and noisy world. Think about how life was less busy and much quieter (imagine) 100 years ago, 300 years ago, 500 years ago, 1,000 years ago, 10,000 years ago. It is only in recent time the world has become extremely busy and very noisy. We might probably not adapted to this yet, since everything changes so fast nowadays. Whenever we thoughts we have settled, another changes took place, even now. The most suffers are the young generations. We have iPad, iPhone, iPod, Facebook, Twitters, Instagram, assignments, practises, classes, and hundreds of mundane works!

Therefore, we need to experience quiet time in order to balance the busyness and loudness of life. Seek out and take advantage of quiet time. I know, for most of us, it is common to think of time spent doing nothing or solitude relaxing as a “waste” of time. But it is actually just the opposite. Everyone needs to pause, slow down, stop, breathe, and be in a solitude with God. Solitude is not loneliness. Loneliness is inner emptiness, whereas solitude is inner plenty. Loneliness is marked by a sense of isolation. Solitude, on the other hand, is a state of being alone without being lonely and can lead to self-awareness.

I don’t know if you realize this or not, but Jesus practised quiet time and solitude during his life and ministry. Jesus did not get away by himself just to get away from people, of course. But he used time of solitude as a means of getting closer to God. In his humanity, he knew that he needed to maintain a close relationship with God if he wanted to be effective in his ministry. He wanted a close relationship with the Father. He wanted to hear God whisper. He wanted to hear that “still small voice” of the Father speaks to him. So, Jesus intentionally sought quiet time and solitude so that he could hear God’s voice clearer.

Follow Jesus. Seek out your personal quiet time. By doing so, you are developing a sense of calm awareness, patience, attentive, refreshed and centred. This is something that will come in handy, possibly save you, many time in the future. Friends, the quieter you become – in heart, soul and mind – the more you can hear… there is heavenly music in silence.

Psalm 46 background are very busy and noisy,

But God through the psalmist still can say, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Verse 10)

It’s not about the place, it’s about attitude.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Refleksi tentang Pengganas ISIS: Pergi, Menukar Agama atau Mati?

Pengganas-pengganas ISIS di Iraq, sedang mereka menakluki banyak lagi kawasan, telah membuat ramai orang Kristian dan orang bukan Islam (malah orang Islam sendiri yang tidak bersependapat dengan mereka) terpaksa membuat keputusan samada untuk meninggalkan kawasan mereka atau memasuki Islam secara paksa atau mati dibunuh dengan kejam. Pada hari ini ramai orang di dunia terkejut dan takut kerana mereka menyangka bahawa tindakkan untuk menukar agama melalui pedang adalah sesuatu perkara yang lepas. Mereka sudah silap. Bagi kita yang tahu perkembangan isu semasa tentang pemahaman radikal Islam (merujuk kepada istilah ‘radikal’ yang negatif) dan tentang tindakkan pengganas yang kejam, ini sudah menjadi perkara biasa – tidak mengejutkan kita.  Dan bagi orang Kristian yang mengkaji Alkitab, kita seharusnya sudah tahu bahawa ini akan terjadi.

Tuhan Yesus Kristus sendiri sudah memberi amaran: “Kemudian kamu akan ditangkap dan diserahkan untuk diseksa and dibunuh. Semua orang akan membenci kamu kerana kamu pengikut-Ku” (Matius 24:9, BM); “Berbahagialah kamu apabila orang membenci, menolak, dan menghina kamu, serta memburukkan kamu kerana Aku” (Lukas 6:22); “Jika dunia membenci kamu, ingatlah bahawa dunia sudah membenci Aku lebih dahulu” (Yohanes 15:18).

Rasul-rasul Yesus juga menulis: “Semua orang yang mahu hidup beribadat dan bersatu dengan Kristus akan dianiaya” (2 Timotius 3:12); “Sahabat-sahabat yang aku kasihi! Kamu sekarang menanggung penderitaan yang berat kerana kamu sedang diuji. Janganlah hairan dan janganlah anggap perkara itu luar biasa” (1 Petrus 4:12); “Oleh itu, saudara-saudaraku, janganlah hairan jika orang di dunia ini membenci kamu” (1 Yohanes 3:13).

Akan ada masanya nanti bila dunia akan membenci dan menganiaya semua pengikut Kristus yang benar. Ianya tidak akan terhad kepada mereka yang tinggal di tempat negara-negara pengganas, malahan juga kota-kota kecil yang namanya tidak pernah kita peduli selama ini. Keganasan dan penganiayaan lambat-laun akan berlaku – mahu ataupun tidak – di tempat kita sendiri. Saya tidak pasti samada orang Kristian sudah bersedia untuk perkara seperti ini. Saya berharap ramai diantara kita sudah bersedia. Masanya akan tiba. Adakah kita akan lari meninggalkan tempat ini atau menjual iman kita atau terus mempertahankan iman kita walaupun ianya akan membawa kepada kematian. Ini persoalan saya.

Orang Kristian di negara barat sudah semakin lemah. Kebanyakkan mereka sekarang mendefinasikan dan memperkecilkan maksud “kasih” sebagai “toleransi” terhadap apa saja termasuk ajaran sesat, palsu dan menyeleweng. Orang Kristian di Asia terutamanya dan di dunia khususnya harus bersatu dan bersedia untuk mempertahankan iman kita dengan kasih Kristus. Kasih yang benar harus diberitakan dan dipertahankan pada masa yang sama. Tragedi yang terjadi kepada saudara-saudari Kristus kita yang mengalami penderitaan di tangan kumpulan pengganas ISIS harus menjadi siren untuk kita bangkit semula dan bangun daripada tidur rohani kita! Kita harus berdoa untuk mereka dan bersedia jika ada apa-apa yang kita boleh lakukan untuk membantu mereka. Tetapi, kita juga harus sedar bahawa apa yang terjadi kepada mereka akan terjadi kepada kita suatu hari nanti.

Saya tidak bertanya adakah kamu bersedia dengan senjata dan alat perang kamu; saya bertanya, “Adakah kita sedia untuk meninggalkan tempat asal kita atau sedia untuk menukar agama dengan menjual iman yang hidup kepada yang lain atau sedia untuk dianiaya yang mungkin membawa kepada kematian kerana Yesus?” Apakah keputusan yang kita akan buat? Meninggalkan tempat asal kita mungkin satu keputusan yang harus dibuat. Berdiri teguh dan sanggup mati demi iman kepada Yesus juga satu keputusan yang mungkin kita harus ambil (Begitu sukar… saya tidak dapat bayangkan). Bertukar agama juga satu keputusan yang mungkin akan dibuat, tetapi ini menunjukkan bahawa orang itu tidak pernah menjadi pengikut Kristus yang sebenar. Ada satu lagi pilihan yang boleh dibuat, iaitu, melawan balik. Tetapi di dalam Alkitab Yesus secara peribadi dan dalam ajaran-Nya tidak pernah melawan balik musuh. (Dia akan menghakimi pada Akhir Zaman setiap tindakkan orang yang melakukan kesalahan setimpal dengan perbuatan mereka) Secara manusiawi saya ingin melawan balik, tetapi Yesus tidak mengajar begitu. Oleh itu, Tuhan Yesus, Engkau kuatkanlah kami yang lemah ini!

Namun begitu, saya optimis bahawa penganiayaan yang berlaku di Iraq pasti telah membawa ramai lagi orang untuk mencari kebenaran dan menerima Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruselamat mereka. Memang tidak mudah untuk saya berkata begini kerana ramai penduduk Iraq dan orang-orang disekeliling mereka bukan hanya dianiaya dan dibunuh, malah, ada diantara mereka disembelih, dipenggal dan digantung seperti daging yang dijual di pasar. Semuanya dilakukan atas nama “TUHAN.” Apa yang berlaku sekarang tidak ada bezanya dengan sejarah dahulu. Oleh itu, ini juga yang berlaku sekarang: Sejarah membuktikan bahawa apabila orang Kristian dianiaya, Berita Baik akan cepat lagi tersebar dan ramai lagi orang akan menerima kebenaran tentang Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruselamat mereka. Kenapa ini berlaku? Saya berkata demikian kerana penganiayaan “memaksa” kita untuk mencari kebenaran dan memberi fokus kepada kita tentang apa yang terutama di dalam hidup ini. Membayangkan pisau atau senapang diacukan di atas kepala kita akan menyebabkan kita fokus kepada apa yang penting sekali. Yesus. Yesus. Yesus.

Wahai saudara-saudari Kristus yang saya kasihi sekalian, jika menjadi seorang Kristian, iaitu, pengikut Kristus yang benar akan mengakibatkan nyawa kita terancam, jadi, adalah lebih baik (malah tindakkan yang bijak) sekiranya kita hidup untuk Tuhan Yesus Kristus. “Sesiapa yang mempertahankan hidupnya akan kehilangan hidup sejati, tetapi sesiapa kehilangan hidupnya kerana dia pengikut-Ku, akan memperoleh hidup sejati” (Matius 10:39). Jika mengikut Yesus bermaksud kita harus pergi ke kayu salib, maka kita harus memberitakan Berita Baik tentang kematian dan kebangkitan-Nya dengan seluruh kehidupan kita. Jika ada orang yang ingin membunuh kita kerana kita seorang Kristian, maka mereka tidak perlu bertanya atau ragu-ragu samada kita adalah benar-benar Kristian atau tidak. Roh Kudus menyertai kamu. Amen.

Senang untuk saya menulis, tetapi sama-samalah kita merenungkannya.

[Jika saya ditahan oleh polis kerana menulis artikel ini, tolong ikat jamin saya okay?]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Today, Ask for Wisdom

“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment” (Proverbs 9:10)

“Give me an understanding hearts so that I can govern your people well

and know the difference between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9)

Solving a complex problem in trigonometry or writing a program in computer software both require great intelligence. But intelligence does not guarantee a balanced, productive, or fulfilling life. On the other hand, success in relationships, witnessing about your faith in Christ and reaching spiritual maturity depend more on wisdom than intelligence. That’s why you need to ask God for wisdom.

The Bible has so much to say about wisdom (in fact, the entire Book of Proverbs is devoted to it) because successfully navigating through life requires so much of it. Someone said wisdom helps you recognize that an all-powerful, all-knowing God has designed a moral universe in which there are consequences for your choices, either good or bad. Wisdom begins with understanding your accountability to your Creator and your full dependence on him. Thus, it is written: “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7).

It’s not what you know but who you know that’s matter most. Wisdom from God helps you develop a godly perspective that penetrates the deceptive and distorted messages of this world, particular in this generation. Wisdom is choosing to apply God’s truth and principles to your daily relationships and situations. It helps you know the difference between good and bad, right and wrong. Therefore, you need wisdom for this right motive and reason. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking” (James 1:5).

Ask wisdom

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Called You to be a Missionary (A Reflection on Mark 6:6-13)

“[Then] Jesus went to the villages around there, teaching the people. He called the twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two. He gave them authority over the evil spirits and ordered them, ‘Don’t take anything with you on the trip except a walking stick – no bread, no beggar’s bag, no money in your pockets. Wear sandals, but don’t carry extra shirt’” (Mark 6:6-9, GNB).

Previously Jesus was rejected in his hometown Nazareth. Hurt, but not giving up. So, he and the disciples went to the villages nearby to tell people who want to receive the good news about the Kingdom of God and to “turn away from their sins” (Mark 6:12). What Jesus is doing here was exactly what he challenged them to be and to do “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). When he chooses the twelve he said, “I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons” (3:14-15).

Do you remember Jesus’ first invitation to you to be his disciple? Just like yesterday, today we are called to him, to equip by him, and then sent out as his representatives. Mission, mind you, is the calling of all God’s people, not just for the selected few. Wherever you are – at the church, workplace, shopping mall, up in the jungle, hospital, campus or home – you’re God’s representatives. To be a Christian is to be a missionary. I always tell my students that God is calling them to be missionaries at home and in their own campuses. One Christian teacher told me, “God sent me to be a missionary at school [he chuckled] and thanks to the government, they paid me to be here.”

Jesus, in his humanity, can’t do it alone. There are about half a dozen of villages around Nazareth, so he “sent them two by two.” Why? Because “two is better than one”? Yes, and more. Send out in pairs is important for mutual support and encouragement. Two also good for decision-making and reliable witnesses (as Deuteronomy 17:6). Sometime I feel sad when some of the churches send preachers or missionaries off their own. Many evangelists are solo operators too. Friend, don’t do it all alone. Christians must not be a one-man show. Soloist is not the pattern of discipleship. Collaborate with others, working together, partnership in the service of him. We have Jesus’ authority over the evil spirits – he is with us.  

Are you ready for mission? Let me helps you to understand how to apply Jesus’ instructions – today. Mark 6:8-9 simply means: We are to travel light, bring minimum provisions as we go, don’t over-do on preparations and don’t be fussy about where to stay or wear. Eugene Peterson paraphrase these verses this way, “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple. And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave” (The Message). Preparation is important, but not as important as the preparation of your heart and mind. “You are the equipment.” Remember, even if you’re seem to be alone, Jesus is with you. He is your eternal partner. So don’t be afraid.

Then Jesus said, “Wherever you are welcomed, stay in the same house until you leave that place. If you come to a town where people do not welcome you or will not listen to you, leave it and shake the dust off your feet. That will be a warning to them!” (Mark 6:10-11). This is a heavy stuff. Basically, Jesus is saying that if there are people who will welcome you, stay there. If not, go away. Don’t make a scene. In doing mission and evangelism, we need to have the urgency. Urgency means we have to go (that is, we go not wait). Urgency also means “that there is no time to waste on those who are plainly not interested… who are totally unreceptive.” (quote from Crossway Bible Guides: Mark by David Hewitt). Unless God is specifically calling you to reach out to a certain area and people, you must stay. But generally for the unresponsive, please move on to other places and disassociate with them. “Shake the dust off your feet.” We have more places to go, we have to move on. This is a command, this is urgent!

Are you ready for mission?

There will be conflicts, rejections and persecution.

But don’t lose heart – Jesus be with you. Share the joy of Christ.

Go on, you have Jesus’ authority to teach, preach and heal. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

It's Time to Move On; Sometime, the Answer to Old Relationships is New Ones

One day God said to Prophet Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flash with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king” (1 Samuel 16:1, NLT). Samuel grieved the loss of King Saul for so long that God had to visit him. Of course he is sad because he was the one who anointed Saul as king. I assume he felt like a looser and very disappointed that as prophet he have failed to advice king Saul. More than that, the relationship between Samuel and Saul is falling apart. God is telling him now, “Samuel, it’s time to move on.” In life, you have to get over the past and move on.

Do you know? You can be breathing now but probably you’re not alive. Some of us are dead long time ago, only some are really living their lives. Some are lost in the past, some are here today. Some talk only of the past because they stop living at a certain point of their life. Any time you discuss and reliving the past as though it was the present, it mean you have allowed the past to steal the present right out of your hands. Don’t do it! “Samuel, it’s time to move on.” Rise up and take it back. God is telling Samuel to “Go” for he have provided a new king. Do you hear that? God is doing something great among the people of Israel. Likewise, God is provided everything that you need to start all over again. Enough mourning, go and trust Him.

Sometime, the answer to old relationships is new ones. Here is you choice: you can keep mourning what nobody can change or you can start living in the present and begin to plan for the future. God is telling us through this verse, “It’s time to move on.” There are friends and someone special who are just waiting to be part of your life the moment you decide to live again. Choose to start living the present with God. Stop reliving events that are dead and gone. In fact, stop arguing with people who aren’t even listening! Take all your God-given time, your love, your energy and give it to the future for “it’s time to move on.”

As Prophet Samuel obeyed, God provided a new king, King David.

And a new relationship is born.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

When Jesus Rules in Our Lives, then the Right Witness will Follow

“[Don't] be afraid and don't worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ”

(1 Peter 3:14-16, NLT)

Many Christians worry about the matter of witnessing. As fulltime worker in student ministry I always heard questions (or rather self-talks) such as “Am I really able to give an answer to those who ask me about Christ?” “I don’t know if I can defend the hope I have in Jesus” “How can I fully explain my faith in Jesus when my non-Christian friends ask me?” Well, as much as knowledge and correct doctrines are important, the place to begin your preparation is not the head but the heart. My pastor like to emphasis: “Set Jesus Christ apart as Lord and Saviour in your heart!” When Jesus rules in our lives, then the right witness will follow. As FES Malaysia 2014-2017 Prophetic Calls #3 beautifully summaries: “To live under the Lordship of Christ”. That’s it! First, Jesus in our heart, then witnessing will come naturally from us. “Whatever is in your heart,” Jesus says, “determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34).

Peter as quoted above was dealing with false accusations against the Christians. In his day, the Romans believed all sorts of strange things about believers, lies that the enemy had invented. Peter was like saying “Don’t be afraid of their accusations or their questions, if Christ is Lord of your hearts, and if your conscience is clean, you have nothing to fear.”  

Don’t be afraid and worry. A prepared heart is the secret of a powerful witnessing. The Book of Wisdom said this, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23). Enemies hate this, God love it – a consecrated heart and a clean conscience. A prepared heart will lead to an authentic witness, a witness that will never leave you ashamed. I told this to my student-friends, it is not by thinking up arguments or clever wordings that we should witness to the lost, but first, by living a life with Christ as Lord. People nowadays are easily distracted, very confuse and information overload. God’s Word is powerful but their ears are deaf until “they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.” Then, after they see your changed lives, only then they will open their hearts to hear the Good News from you.

Prepare your heart before you witness to others

Let Jesus be the centre of your life and you must live under his Lordship

Then, when it is a time for you to witness, “it is not you who will be speaking -

it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:20)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Change and Be the Change

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (Romans 12:1-2, The Message)

If you allow God to change you, you will change the world around you. If you change how you think then you will change how you feel and what actions you take. And so the world around you will change. Not only because you are now viewing your environment through new lenses of thoughts, emotions and hearts but also because the change within can allow you to take action in ways you wouldn’t have – or maybe even have thought about. For me that inner, within, inside out change must come from Christ. New lenses from Christ's perspectives.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.