Malaysia O Malaysia…

It has grieved many Malaysians and without doubt, it must have grieved our Lord. The political landscape here had turned so ugly. Fabricated lies filled the media minute after minute. Truth has been distorted to cover those in authority. When I read the article by RPK yesterday, my eyes swelled with tears. He wrote what may appear to be his last article to fellow Malaysians as his case was being tried in court today. However, the hearing was postponed to next Monday. Perhaps he will prepare another last words to us.

The sensational news of partially nude pictures of Selangor’s state assemblywoman took prominence in the news. I do not know why Malaysian politics has fallen into such depths of unethical portrayal but since when is sleeping in the nude in the privacy of one’s own room become a sin? Clearly it is a desperate attempt of some quarters that has nothing else better to do but to stir confusion, attention, and cheap publicity for themselves.

However, Malaysia…this is my country and my home. She may not be perfect but she is still my country, still my home. Malaysia is still the heritage of God to His church in Malaysia. It is still the responsibility of the Malaysian church to initiate the rightful claim of God over this land. Our national anthem:

Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku

Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju

Rahmat bahgia, Tuhan kurniakan

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta

Rahmat bahgia, Tuhan kurniakan

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta

Truly, the rightful King shall reign on His throne over Malaysia. Let the church declares this. Jesus is that rightful King to reign on the throne in Malaysia.

How are we ever to bring an impact to our nation? I think the only way is to look inward, to ourselves. I believe that the church should be influencing society. On the contrary, the society has been influencing the church. We allow this to happen when we use worldly standards to measure spiritual matters. We ended up with practices that are less than Christian, or worse, unchristian. If the Bible teaches equality, do we practice equality in church? If the Bible teaches fairness, servant leadership, humility, do we see these in the church? Instead, we often find Christians, leaders in particular, enjoying the limelight and join the crowd in clamoring for titles, for positions, for recognition. Perhaps I am being too critical. But shouldn’t Christian leaders themselves know the Bible well enough that if more is added, more is expected? The passage in the gospel of Matthew (22:1-14) tells a parable of how many were invited refuse to attend the banquet. The host sent his invitation to others and the banquet hall was full. However, some who were unprepared were thrown out. The very significant verse here is in verse 14: Matt 22 v 14

"For many are invited, but few are chosen."

The question to all of us is this…we, as Christians, are invited but how many wants to be chosen?

While we grieve over the sins of our nation, I question ourselves: are we without sin to cast the first stone? Instead, I think we should pray for renewal within us, first and foremost. If not, the enemy will hold something against us. Then, and only then, do we have the right to speak of righteousness, justice, fairness.

Why am I being so critical of Christian leaders? Simply because I have had just enough of church politics. And by church I mean all Christian organizations. I am tired of the unchristian manners practiced within organizations claim to exist in God’s name. That is using God’s name in vain. Often these unchristian approaches are Christianized through claims of spiritual discernment. But hey, if one’s live does not display godliness, that is just an excuse to exercise tyranny. (Matt 7 v 15)

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them

Perhaps I am being too idealistic. After all, we are all fallen human beings living in a fallen world. But that is reason enough that all the more we as Christians must portray Christ likeness…so we can rightly be the witness, the testimony, the ambassador of the Light, the Love, the Grace.

I want to be the few who are chosen, not among the crowd who are invited. I want to keep my ideals although the price to pay is constant disappointments. But I believe it will be worth the effort and the sacrifice that I shall remain unshaken despite the circumstances. My constant prayer is that the Lord will grant me a spirit like that of His servant Habakkuk (Hab. 3:17-19) who can still rejoice in the Lord despite the circumstances because his faith is rooted in God alone.

Malaysia, O Malaysia…I know the Lord wants to gather you under His wings just like a hen gathers her chicks (Matt. 23:37; Luk. 13:34) but you are not willing. Malaysia, O Malaysia…my country, my home.

17Feb09

And He made all things beautiful in its own time…

It was just a bookmark. But it made me upset…why should it? It bears an encouraging passage from Paul’s letter to Timothy, 2 Tim 2 v 15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The bookmark was addressed to a teacher, followed by the verse. But I’m no teacher. Yet, it’s actually encouraging me to be a teacher…But what’s wrong with being a teacher? Perhaps it was what I saw it represented. When I was in the university, the only financial aid that I was short listed for was the Ministry of Education scholarship. I hated being a teacher for the fact that teaching appeared to be a monotonous profession, where you teach the same thing over and over again, year after year after year. Besides, it’s binding…tied to the Ministry of Education and subjected to be posted anywhere in Malaysia. Gosh, how can I ever survive if I were to be posted to some rural towns? There was no other option and I had to barely survive varsity years through the FASIS, father and sister, scholarship. Since then, I seemed to be against anything that may suggest teaching because I saw it as restricting my options and choices.

The bookmark was a gift from Chooi Fuan. I was not exactly thrilled, but she told me that I would be a teacher of God’s Word, who should correctly handle the word of truth. But the long journey had not yet begun for me to be molded as a teacher. It only came at the 1997 economy slowdown and I was unemployed for about 4 months, finally landing myself into a teaching job in a Chinese private high school. God really has a great sense of humor in bringing me there. I hated teaching and I equally dislike the Chinese educated population. Can you blame me? I was treated like an outcast in the Chinese community in college simply because I do not speak mandarin…and I can still remember how I argued and debated with a senior who told me proudly that, the essence of being Chinese is in knowing the mandarin language. What rubbish…and this guy is now the exco of Perak’s illegitimate BN government.

My short stink at teaching, about two year’s worth, brought deep impact. Not only did it help me to tolerate and befriend the Chinese educated population, it also showed me how deep an impact it could bring to the lives of the students I taught. It has been more than 10 years since my teaching years but I am still in touch with some of those students. That was exactly before my entry into the so called full time Christian vocation. The pastoral experience lasted about five years. I know I do not have the pastoral gift to be an effective pastor but I also know I must be a pastor to be effective in teaching pastors. Hence, the pastoral years. Sometimes, you just cannot fully comprehend a certain thing until you have actually and personally experience it. And as I looked back, truly I can declare as the preacher said, He made all things beautiful in its own time.

The passion for teaching God’s word surfaced slowly and strongly. But today I can honestly say, it is a passion that keeps me going in ministry. I may not be the best but I know by God’s grace I am good. And I want to keep improving, knowing that my God deserves only the best and only the best do I want to offer to Him. So, dear partners in ministry, please hold me accountable to this…remind me of this pledge that I must always offer the best to my God. In fact, I will consider it a sin if I offer anything less than the very best to God. After all, He gave me His very best in Jesus Christ. The reason I am putting myself through grueling studies is not for anything else but to seize the opportunity to better myself so that I can always be striving to be better than the best of what I can offer to my God. After all, we can only offer out of what we have.

The rest of February followed by March are pretty slow but it allows me time to prepare the many lessons coming in April, May, June, August, and October. Not to mention the monthly sessions in FGAC and the STCM activities. I look forward to having more time in teaching…after all, it is not only teaching but learning that takes place in class. Finally, I need to comment that it’s difficult having to return to student life and I am slow in getting back to discipline myself to read and to study. Somehow, asking someone to do assignments seem more attractive and fun than having to do assignments myself…

16Feb09

Ministry Update: February 2009

The year had started adventurously for me, with a trip to Medan-Sidikalang, followed by Kiulu Baru, Tawau in Sabah, followed by the anxious entrance exam which by God's grace I passed, and the CNY week. Now I am catching my breath as I settle to the routine. But let's face it, I am a work-oriented person, so a busy schedule is what keeps me alive. I have been praying to the Lord for more opportunities of service and ministry. It looks like He is slowly answering my prayer and I am both excited and filled with joy. Trully the joy of the Lord is my strength. Circumstances around me may seem pretty discouraging at times but the Lord is always faithful and just. A brief look at my schedule 2009...

January...teaching a one-week class in Tawau
March...starting a once-a-month, March till November, class with pastors of the BM church, FGAC
April...teaching a one-week class in main campus, MBTS Penang
End April till late May...teaching a one-month class in Kiulu Baru, Tawau
June...teaching a one-week class in Ipoh, or Gopeng-Simpang Pulai
August...tentative schedule for a one-week class
October...teaching a one-week class in main campus, MBTS Penang

The class in Ipoh will be a trial class at the request of some students. The venue is not determined yet. But I'm not worried. It can be as rural as the Pawong church and yes, Chee Lock and company, I really do not mind that condition. It looks like I am slowly becoming a jungle woman. Pretty scary, right? Yesterday, the students in campus were doing some campus cleaning and someone caught a baby wild boar. My first reaction was to bbq that poor chap. We immediately plan how to lure wild boar senior to our stove. My, what jungle talk...

I recently sent a proposal to a few individual friends to ask their opinion and comments regarding a dream for a new ministry. Well, I am amazed at the encouraging response thus far. But I know I must discern for God's timing to launch this work. Even right now, I know the Lord is calling individuals to share the same passion to reach inward to the rural, jungle within Malaysia. Please continue to pray for the ministry to the indigenous community. They may be poor and lacking but their simplicity and zealousness, a lesson for all of us urban freaks. I am enjoying the fellowship of the tribal community. Perhaps I am just too fed-up with the complexities of the urban society, some filled with hypocrisy.

Please pray for my studies. I have starting my gruelling journey towards a PhD, an effort I would like to dedicate to the indigenous community of Malaysia. For this first year of study, I will be exploring all resources on the various tribal people groups in Malaysia, both in Peninsular and in Sabah and Sarawak. Later, I will narrow the study to a single tribe. The area of research will focus on the raising of local leaders in the tribal community, how age and gender impact leadership opportunities.

This Sunday I will preach at the Jelutong Chinese Methodist Church and no, I am not preaching in Mandarin. I will preach at the English congregation at the extremely early hour of 8am on a Sunday morning.

Finally, let us continue to pray for Malaysia...in particular for Perak. And once again, thank you so much for your partnership in ministry.