Week 23: Determination - 'I have a Dream!"

People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in." (Rosa Parks)

      On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks, age 42, refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. She took a seat in the 'white' section of a city bus and refused the driver's order to move to the 'black' section. She said, "The driver wanted us to stand up, the four of us. We didn't move at the beginning, but he says, 'Let me have these seats.' And the other three people moved, but I didn't." Because of this protest, she was arrested and the subsequent bus boycott lasted for 381 days.

      Spark by this matter, Martin Luther King Jr., pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, leading a civil rights movement at which result to his arrestment. While in jail, he wrote a 9,000 word statement about racial prejudice. In the book You can be a World Changer by Honors Books publisher wrote, 'He was active in urging blacks to 'protest courageously, and yet with dignity and love''. Because of this non-violence protest, in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Bill, 'which opened public facilities to black people and desegregated public accommodations'.

Wikipedia reported about his death: [At 6:01 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 1968, while he was standing on the motel's second floor balcony, King was struck by a single .30 bullet fired from a Remington 760 Gamemaster. The bullet travelled through the right side of his neck, smashing his throat and down his spinal cord before lodging in his shoulder.]

In his famous 'I have a Dream' speech, a called for racial equality and an end to discrimination on 28th August 1963, key excerpts that I remember most is this:

He said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character... Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."

What is your dream? Does your dream include others? Will others get the benefits from it? Does your dream include God? Is it God's will? If it does, the Good News is... you will achieve it. Understand that God can do the impossible and He is able! Having said that let me remind you- In every noble act, there's a risk to take. For King, he risk his life; for Dr. Thomas Chung, he gave up his comforts life; for Mother Teresa, she choose to live among the poorest of the poor; and for some people that I know well, they choose to buried their academic Degree, Master and even PhD to minister for Christ’s sake.

What is your dream? Do you prepare to sacrifice what you cannot keep, to have what you can?

"All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible." (T.E. Lawrence)　

Stop! We protest against Rape, Violent & Child Abuse.

On June 2010, Chin Hock Nam, 54, taxi driver, was jailed for 14 years and was ordered to be whipped 5 times for raping, attempting to rape and molesting seven underage girls. M. Mageswari, a reporter of the Star newspaper writes Chin got to know the victims through social networking websites and later took them for a ride before sexually attacking them. What enraged my nerve system is when he made a comment; 'We knew each other, it is no ordinary case'.

            15 years ago on 4th July 1995, Ishak Shaari, a religious teacher was charged with raping the girl, who was then 14 years and 5 months old, at a school counseling room. While at Ottawa, Archbishop Kenneth William Storheim, 64, the head of the Canadian diocese of the Orthodox Church in America has been charged with two counts of sexual assault.

  There are many cases of rape and abuse against woman and child (even against man) that doesn't come out from newspaper or get any attention from media. It could be because it was silently closed case or there's nobody cares! "Who care? It doesn't happen to me, to my friends or my family, why should I care?" is the normal respond. The words might not be exactly the same, but the attitude and action does show it. Though nobody like to admit that we don't care enough, it is quite obvious when we choose to be silent and having a 'lukewarm' respond toward this issue. There are even some people that I know responded very negatively saying, "This is normal. We must get use to this kind of news." You fool! Are you going to make a change or just saying nothing, living out your own world???
            Examples above, is not for me to attack against the Chinese, Malay, or any other races in Malaysia. It is also not my agenda to point out those religious leaders and taxi drivers are the people who need to be blame for all of this. Nor that my point is to blame people- my point is to encourage us to stop blaming, pointing fingers etc. but to start a revolution by voicing out our concerns that we are against the act of rape, violent and child abuse! We hate sin not the sinners!

            There are some (or maybe many) disagreements between religious that we should avoid talking about in the blog, facebook, or twitters. But I urge all the people who are reading this note, to consider our common similarity as a human being, that is- we are care. We are capable to hurt each other and we know that well, but we are also capable to love with respect and doing well to one another. It's a matter of choice... choose to love one another.
            Raise up your voice now! Do you care about the increase of rape, violent and child abuse cases here in Malaysia specifically and the world generally? If you do, then stand up, raise your shoulder, put the armor of love and respect and shout your voice out!

"Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9) In this context, the Poor is the one who is depressed in mind and the Needy are the one who in the sense of want (especially feeling).

Dear Lord, send people to be the voices and speak up for the helpless...
Dear Lord, send me. Amen.

P.s: Stop! We protest against rape, violence & child abuse.
Original website for Thursdays in Black: http://www.salient.org.nz/features/thursdays-in-black-2

If we have to choose: Peace or money?

It was around 5.30pm that I went to a bookstore - yesterday evening. Almost always when I go to a bookstore, I would buy a book or two. In this case, I brought one particular book by Robert E. Fisher, Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak. I knew what I want to buy, but I intentionally delay the time just to browse out some other interesting newly arrived books. (For a purpose of 'booking' and free reading) When I'm done doing my business, I went to the counter to pay for the book.

"That's it? Just one book?” he said to me.
[I don't know either that's was another words for, 'Is that all??? You been here for almost an hour and buy just one book???' but I doubt he would say that because I'm sort of regular customer and free reading is what I do part-time there.] 

"Yes, that's all.” I replied. "Thank you", as I continued the transaction with a smile on my oily face.
Before he could name the price, I interrupted his routine ask-for-price tagline...

"Uh... Sorry... I don't have enough money. Can I come back in 10 minutes?” I said pretending checking my money in the bag which I already knew that my money is not enough as my memory flash back in front of that counter within millisecond.
"Okay.", he said.

As I came back, something happen to him, I don't know what exactly it is… He breathes in soo deep and he breathe the air out with a very frustration vocals... saying;
"Richard, peace is very important, ho?"
"Money or peace? I think peace is very important, ho?"

I was speechless, not because of the quality of his questions but because it was very sudden for me. So I applied what the book title said; Quick to listen, slow to Speak. Initially, my mission is to pay for the book and go, but suddenly it turned out to be a counseling session. He kept on saying and asking me questions,
"Money or peace, I think peace is important, ho, Richard? What do you think?"

[Approximately 15 minutes later]
I asked, "Are you okay with your work? Yes, peace is important, money come later."
"Ya ya I'm okay.” he replied. "Ya peace is important... Even Jesus said peace is important." (I think he forget which verse said this)
"He said, "My peace I give to you. (John 14:27)", I tried to correct his words with no offend.
"Which verse is it?” he asked.
"Book of John... I'm not sure which verse...” I answered with realizations that I'm not good either in memorizing numbers. His face turned from anxiety to productivity. He hurried scan my book and end up the transaction. From the counter to the main door he never stops thanks me, "Thank you, thank you, Richard" (x 5).

            Along my way back, I'm still wondering what was going on. I observed that he's a busy man, loaded with works and less enjoyment with his vocation. These are the conditions that can happen to us anytime when we are too busy doing out works. When we are too busy to meet our needs of living, we didn't realize that the Peace of God is not with us. He recognized that the peace of God is very important thus he need the Word of God to remind him about the Peace that Jesus had offer for those who are weary with heavy burdens.
            Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." (John 14:27) In this context, it is refer to the salvation of Christ's redemptive work. It also means total well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God. Are you longing for oneness, peace, quietness, and rest for your soul?
Both are important. We need money, don’t deny it. But if you have to choose between money and peace… always choose Peace of God.

Week 22: Calling - Hello, can you hear me?

"Calling is God's personal invitation for me to work on His agenda, using the talents I have been given in ways that are eternally significant." - Stephen R. Graves.

  When I asked someone, what is God calling you to do? Almost always I receives an answered, "I don't know", "Not sure" "I don't think it is matter for me" etc. If I were to ask you the same question, what will be your answer? If your answer is the same as above, 'I don't know', I just want to tell you that you're not alone. To be 'called' you have to know God and listen when He talks. I love this, "Calling is being released to be exactly who I am supposed to be, to do precisely what I am supposed to do for God, an assignment with eternal worth."
Everyone is interested in knowing what they are supposed to be doing. So, the question is, how do I know God is calling me to do?

Three Channels for God's Call*

1. By name

When God calls by name, it is very difficult to ignore. It might be calling by name if you hear God speak or God's speaking is confirmed by other means. It's probably not calling by name if... what I have heard God speak before turns out not to be so OR I can't clearly identify the time or place of communication. If I think God has called me by name and I cannot recall the time or place, then I probably was not called as I thought I was.
When God is calling us directly by name, there is no doubt about who we are listening to.

2. By placing a desire in my heart.
If a desire is from God, its sense of urgency will be persistent and enduring. God equips whom He calls and calls whom He equips. It is probably not calling by desire if... I am completely unequipped to get the job done or I quit when I encounter significant hurdlers. Personally I know friends who have desire about this and that, thought it was their calling but in the end they fall down broken with frustrations. Remember this friend; it might be calling by desire if the sense of urgency is persistent and relatively longstanding.

3. By arranging a clear path.
A man plans his steps, but God directs his path. God has placed us in space and time and 'determined the times set for [us] and the exact places where [we] should live.' (Acts 17:26) Be patient with God's timing pays off. Sometimes friend, the question is not which path, but whether I step out  when the path is clear.

What is your calling? Did you hear Him calling you by name? By desire? By a path? Are you going to answer that? Are you willing to step out and answer it?

'His call is a call worth taking, worth listening to, and worth following up on. Trust me, He has your number and has been trying to reach you for some time. It's just up to you to pick up the phone.'
What is your calling? Ring… Ring… Ring, pick up the phone.
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*Taken from book Life@Work: Marketplace Success for People of Faith by John C. Maxwell, Stephen R. Graves and Thomas G. Addington. Above are my summary of their chapter on Calling.

Ask, ask, ask... Why on earth am I here for?

           Baby is the most beautiful creation that God ever assign for men to be responsible for. More than that, baby is a gift. A precious gift that none of the precious jewels in the world could ever compare. Am I right?


            When we see a baby, oh, what a peace they can bring to us. All the stress in the world, the rush and fast pace of life suddenly stop for a moment when we look at their innocent eyes. Even my hot-tempered uncle can become a saint when he holds his one and only child. Hours of labor pain seems nothing compare to years of our life spent with our parent. From the 'lost' memories when we were 1 - 3 years old to whatever age we're now, we just can't measure their love toward us. How bless are we to be alive, am I right?

For some, my valuable readers, their childhood story seems to be differs from the 'lucky' one. As far as they understand- their parent is not as lovely as some maybe and had been disappointed by their imperfect parents. Let us consider these questions: Why me in this family, community and this part of the world? What on earth am I here for?

            On December 30, 2009, security manager V. Puvanesingam, 42, received a call from one of his officers on the evening somewhere around 2.15pm from Jabil factory's production line in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ). The report was regarding about a sewage pipe in one of the female toilets at the production line was clogged. As the reporter from the Star newspaper, K. Kasturi Dewi writes, "He said he went behind the toilet where all the pipes were and upon shining torchlight into the pipe which was exposed, he saw a baby's leg." Hasmah Ibrahim, 35, witness testified in baby murder case said, "I was in there (toilet) for about 2 minutes when suddenly I heard the cry of a baby once, followed by the sound of water flushing."

            As I read the article, another question arises; Why God lets this happen to this poor baby? This is my answer, honestly... I don't know. But I'm sure, very sure that He is God of Justice. For people who flush their baby out in the toilet bowl, let God alone dealing with her, we know a little about the history of this case and please don't judge her before the case is over.

            Questions started to flood my mind as I ponder upon this inhuman action. How could this baby born in such a short period of time? Can you imagine what can this baby become if he/she ever have a change to grow up as a normal kid, he/she could be a Prime Minister, a top athletes, a great missionary, the best cleaner in the world, a very helpful person, a lovely parents etc. Why he/she don't ever have a change to live his/her life?

            These are good questions, but for me it is not so important. I rather ask; why I'm still alive now? What I want to do with the life that I have now? Since God have given me a change to live this life, how are the best ways for me to do it?

            Now, let’s come back to the questions above... Why me in this family, community and this part of the world? What on earth am I here for? Isn't that a great question to ask from God? Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you." (Matthew 7:7) Ask! Get the 1st hand faith. Ask God for help, ask to find the Truth, ask for answers... He will give it to you! For me 3 of the greatest questions we could ever ask is this:

• If You are REAL, O God, please tell me Who are You?
• How can I be saved?
• What on earth am I here for?

 We were a baby and we have survived up until now. As alive as we are today, without a purpose in life we're nothing more than a dead men. Ask questions to Heaven, get a first hand answer. Be sure... Ask. 

Week 21: Don't give up! - Failure means gain Experience

Every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage. - Napoleon Hill

The winners are just the ones that keep getting back up again! The only way to be loser is to fail and quit; or fail and not learn form it; or fail and not look beyond it; or fail and let it define you as a failure. In the Psychology of Achievement, (I copied this within 5 minutes from a bookstore which advice customers to 'No free reading, please'.) Brian Tracy tells of four millionaires tried an average of 17 different things before they found one that made them successful by the age of 35 years.

 In every failure you always learned something, what you do is change your approach and never quit! Chester Bennington from Linkin Park shout it out loud, "One step closer!” Yes! Knowing what doesn't work, moves you one step closer to knowing what does. People do not fail, they just quit too easily. Don't give up!

Anthony Robbins in his book Unlimited Power (P.s: Broaden your reading materials, don't just stick with one subject) suggests that "There is no such thing as failure. There are only results." He said that we always produce a result. If it's not the one you desire, you can just change your actions and you'll produce new results. Cross the word 'failure', circle the word 'result'. With every failure, you gain experience. Try again, don't give up!

Let me close up this note with this amazing story of Thomas Edison, who, with less than 3 months of schooling, became the world's leading inventor especially in his famous invention- incandescent light. After he'd tried more than 9,999 times to perfect the light bulb and hadn't succeeded, someone asked him,

"Are you going to have 10,000 failures?"

He answered, "I didn't fail. I just discovered another way not to invent the electric light bulb."

What an answer! When you face so called 'failure', bare in mind that you're always produce results. There is no such thing as failure. There are only opportunities for learning. Try again, don't give up!

Where, O death, Is Your Victory? Where, O Death Is Your Sting?

We all are going to die. (Wow! That statement surely motivates you huh?) An undeniable fact about the future of every person, no escaping is- death. "Sometimes death is sudden. Sometimes it's long and drawn out. Occasionally, it is beautiful, sweet, and peaceful. At other times it is wrenching and hideous, bloody and ugly. There are times, from our viewpoint, it comes too early. On other occasions, it seems the cold fingers of death linger too long as some dear soul endures pain and sadness, loneliness and senility. But however, it comes... it comes to us all. There is no escape." (Charles Swindoll, David: A Man of Passion & Destiny)

If possible, I don't want to attend any funeral ceremonies. I don't like the sad, anguish, and sorrowful atmosphere. During my grandfather's funeral, I could not avoid the sense of the feelings present in the room. We have lost a man who was so special in our lives. When I saw his face for a final glance, all the memories suddenly rush to my left and right sides of the brain. At one point I couldn't take the fact that he's gone forever. Years have passed by, yet other familiar faces take turns to fill the empty space of the already made coffins... families and friends.

The right question to ask now is not 'when' for no one knows about it and as for sure- everyone will die, but 'Where to go after we die?'

Jesus' death and resurrection bring hope for us. The power of God that resides in our lives today is the same power that enables us to live for eternity. L. Morris puts it, 'Death is but a gateway to further life and fellowship with God." Jesus' power is in us and it will continue to carry us through the darkest hour, for nothing can ever separate us from God's mighty love. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He said to Martha,

'I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.' (John 11:25-26a) 

His words continue to make us alive today. He is qualified to say those words because He lives a sinless life and brutally honest in telling the Truth. Even now, He is alive forevermore. His last question is;

'Do you believe this?' (John 11:26b)