Sunday 12 June 2011

From Kuching

This is me saying HI from Starbucks, Kuching, Sarawak.
This is the first time for me to step in this land of Sarawak.
I am staying here for few hours and will be taking 2pm flight to Sibu.
Oh ya, and I am alone here~~
What a moment.

Just to 'mark' this moment here.

Bye~

Monday 6 June 2011

”基督教会转化政治,社会使命“摘录

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

但是,我们在西方社会看到民主,人权与自由较妥善的融合。
问题是:为什么这种融合在西方社会展现?当然这在其他社会也看得到。
但是我们要注意,这民主,人权与自由的融合的政府形式没有在其他社会,之发生在西方社会。
中国有更悠久的文化历史,却没有产生民主,比西方历史悠久的有印度也没有。
希腊文化可能产生吧,然而在希腊文化,只有受教育阶级有权投票,没有受教育的大多数人都拍拒在外。
民主不是从希腊产生出来。为什么单单在西方文化产生?
答案其实很简单。西方文化与社会能发展到高峰(不是指现代的腐败),在很大的程度上要归功于基督教的历史与神学。
整个人权的观念,强调人人生而平等的观念并没有出自任何其他社会,而是西方社会和文化,乃源自基督教的教导——人是按着上帝的形象和样式所造。这说法在圣经第一章可以找到。
整个民主的概念,也是基于同一个理由。
每个人都很宝贵,耶稣为世上每个人而死。
上帝爱世人,甚至讲他的独生子赐给他们,不分贫富,男女。
保罗在加拉太书说:“在基督里不分男或女,不分犹太人或希腊人,不分自主的或为奴的。在基督里所有人平等。”


你知道吗?我们没有察觉,原来我们基督教信仰这么宝贵。但在中国许多知识分子领袖却认识到基督教思想与宝贵。他们有一两个世代活在无神论主义之下。他们发现原来共产主义无法提供答案。每个人都知道中国的共产党不再相信共产主义。他们只不过要共产主义掌控全国的政局而已。而中国人们在寻找出路和答案。
你们当中很多可能听过‘文化基督徒’这个名词。 这些老一辈的人说:我们不相信基督教,但我们相信基督教的教导。
但在新一代的文化基督徒当中,却有很多真正接受基督教信仰者。
而你会发现有些人说,中国需要一个答案,而它可以在基督教信仰与圣经中找到。

一个中国社会科学研究院的学者对外地来的一群访客说了一番话。他说:“我们常常在问:为什么西方国家长久以来都那么强盛?首先,我们以为你们的大炮比我们的大,武器比我们好。我们后来又想,可能是是你们的政治体系比我们的更好。我们再猜想,可能是西方的经济体系比我们更好。但在过去二十年,
我们得出一个结论:发现你们的文化根植于你们的基督信仰里面。"

让我直接念这一段:“因此,西方国家会那么的强盛,他们的社会与文化生活已基督教的道德为根基,使到资本主义得以产生,然后进一步发展成民主政治体系。我们对此深信不疑。”

不要忘记,中国的社会科学研究院是北京政府的顶尖智囊团。这智囊团经过许多的研究才达致这么一个结论。

不是枪炮厉害,政治制度完善,经济制度,而是西方的整个文化是以基督教为根基。


教会已经在社会关怀方面做了不少善工。
可是,我们需要做的不只是这些。教会每个成员要开始在生活的各层面活出基督徒的生命。当教会活出教会实质的时候,表明我们反贪污的立场,反对国内的不公正和邪恶,马来西亚才开始有改变。非基督徒会来与我们配合。我们一起携手为国家带来改变。

我要说旧约列忘记下6章的一个故事,是有关先知以利沙的。当时,以色列与亚兰王交战。因为以利沙是先知,每次亚兰王要安营某地,以利沙就警告以色列王,屡次使以色列军幸免,未被亚兰王大军所消灭。亚兰王非常苦恼,怀疑军中有内奸,后来才查出是先知以利沙,把他在卧房说的话转告以色列王。因此,亚兰王派军包围以利沙所在的城市,要捉拿他。
以利沙与仆人第二天清早起来,看见军马包围城市。
以利沙的仆人问:“我们当做什么?”
以利沙简单地回应说:
“不要怕,与我们同在的比与他们同在的更多!”(王下6:16)
以利沙接着祷告:“上帝啊,你开我仆人的眼睛。”
仆人眼目开了后,看见满山都有火车火马围绕以利沙!

我们时常会这么说:“我们力量那么微小,能做什么呢?” 我们也不相信上帝呼召我们作盐和光。这个故事提醒我们一个事实:
与我们一起的比与他们的更多。
我不知道大家相信吗?如果我们不相信,我想我们最好收拾包袱离开这个国家。但如果我们相信的话,我们就求上帝给我们这样的信心。


摘自《十字架与政权》,华勇会督主讲“基督教会转化政治,社会使命”

Saturday 14 May 2011

Forgiveness

What does it really mean to be forgiven?

The Lord said, '' Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.'' (Isaiah 1:18)

You are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault (Colossians 1:22)

Forgiveness means that God looks at you as though you had never sinned.
When you receive his forgiveness, you are blameless before Him.
When God forgives, He doesn't sweep your sins under the carpet; instead, He completely washes them away.

Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:44)

Forgiveness paves the way for harmonious relationships, even with your enemies.

Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins (Colossians 2:13)

Forgiveness brings great joy because you are no longer a captive to your sinful nature.

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

Forgiveness of sins allows you to receive the gift of God's Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit allows you to tap into the very power of God to help you battle temptation and to guide you through life.


How do I receive God's loving forgiveness?

If my people...will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9)

Confessing sin is the first step to forgiveness.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

After you ask for forgiveness, you simply have to accept he gift of forgiveness. Receiving God's forgiveness is the only way you can have the assurance of eternal life in heaven.


Can any sin be forgiven? There must be some sin too great to be forgiven.

Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved (Joel 2:32)

[Jesus said.] ''I tell you the truth, all sin...can be forgiven.'' (Mark 3:28)

Nothing can ever separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38)

Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin but on the magnitude of the forgiver's love.
No sin is too great for God's complete and unconditional love..
The bible does actually mention one unforgivable sin--an attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness.
Those who don't want His forgiveness are out of its reach.


How can I forgive someone who has hurt me deeply?

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Being unwilling to forgive shows that you have not understood or benefited from God's forgiveness.

Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:44)

Pray for those who hate and hurt you. This releases you from the destructive emotions of anger, bitterness, and revenge and helps you to forgive those who have hurt you.

Jesus said, ''Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.'' (Luke 23:24)

Jesus forgave even those who mocked and killed Him. Be more concerned about your offenders and their relationship with God and less about nursing your own grudges and self-pity.

Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insults you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it. (1 Peter 3:9)

When people say hurtful things about you, God wants you to respond by blessing them.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. (Ephesians 4:31)

An unforgiving attitude not only ruins your relationships but also poison your soul. The person most hurt by unforgiveness is you.

Promise from God: I--yes, I alone--will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. (Isaiah 43:25)


Touchpoints

Thursday 12 May 2011

Adversity

Is God listening when I cry out because of my troubles? Does He really hear, and does he care?

In my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. (Psalm 18:6)

Jesus said, ''Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'' (Matthew 11:28)

God's hotline is always open. There is never a busy signal, and He is never too preoccupied with anything--even managing the universe--to listen to your every need. God has both a listening ear and a caring heart.


Will being faithful to God spare me from adversity?

(Daniel 3:16-20)

The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. (Acts 5:17-18)

The lives of believers in both the Old and New Testaments testify that being faithful to God does not eliminate adversity.
When you believe in Jesus, Satan becomes your enemy. He will try to stop you from following God by sending you all kind of adversity. Recognize that it may be a sign that you are being faithful to God

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

In most cases, the Bible doesn't say 'if' trouble will come, but 'when' trouble comes. No one has lived his or her life without some adversity.

He will conceal me..when troubles come; He will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock...Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, '' Come and talk with me.'' And my heart responds, ''Lord, I am coming.'' (Psalm 27:5, 7-8)

Sometimes God does rescue you from adversity because of your faithfulness.


Is there any way I can avoid trouble and adversity?

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:2-3)

Avoiding adversity may not be best for you. Though hard times may bruise you, they also can build you up and strengthen your faith.

The wise are cautions and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence. (Proverbs 14:16)

Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. (Romans 13:14)

The consequences of sin often bring unneeded adversity into your life. By obeying God's Word, you can avoid many kinds of adversity you might otherwise inflict on yourself.

The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble. (Proverbs 17:20)

Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble. (Proverbs 21:23)

Controlling your tongue can help you avoid adversity. Many times trouble can be avoided by using words wisely.


Promise from God: God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1)


Touchpoints

Friday 6 May 2011

Acceptance

How should I accept others?

Others began coming -- men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented -- until David was the captain of about 400 men. (1 Samuel 22:2)

Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. (Romans 15:7)

Welcome others in the spirit of Christ, not because of position, prestige, power, or personal gain that may come your way.
David modeled this acceptance of others while he was fleeing from Saul.
As a developing leader, David learned that it wasn't simply a matter of getting the best people but of bringing out the best in the people God brought to him.


What if others have committed terrible sin? Should I still accept them?

Nothing...will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39)

Nothing can separate a person from God's love.
In the same way, you should always love others, no matter how great their sin.
This does not mean that you accept or condone their sinful actions or ignore the appropriate discipline but that you view and accept them as unique and special creations of God.
It is through love that you bring sinful people back into fellowship with God and others.


I feel so unworthy -- does God really accept me?

God created human beings in this own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27)

God showed his great love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinner. (Romans 5:8)

Even before he make the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
(Ephesians 1:4-5)

You are accepted by God because he made you and created you in his image.
Nothing you can do will cause God to love you more because he loves you completely.
And nothing you do can cause God to love you less.
In fact, God accepts you and loves you so much that He sent his own Son to die for you, to take on himself the punishment for sin you deserve.
He died in your place so you can be accepted into eternity with him.


What should I never accept?

During the eighth of His reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David.... He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. (2 chronicles 34:3-4)

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires (Romans 6:12)

Never accept or tolerate sin in your life.
Never feel satisfied that you sin less than someone else.
Everyone has a sinful nature, and everyone has certain sins to which he or she is particularly vulnerable.
If you leave sins unchecked, no matter how small, they will begin to grow and spread like malignant tumors, affecting all you think and do

Promises from God: Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. (Romans 15:7)


Touchpoints

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Abandonment

Does God abandon me during my difficult times?

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. (Psalm 9:10)

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:9)

God is always trying to get your attention. Are you aware of him?
If you are sincerely seeking Him, you are sure to find Him because God will never abandon a seeking person. In fact, your difficulties can become the means to look more intently and see God, right by your side.


Does my suffering mean that God has abandoned me?

The Lord will not abandoned His people. (1 Samuel 12:22)
In his kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. (1 Peter 5:10)

Suffering does not mean God has left you. In fact, it is through suffering that you can experience God's comfort more than ever.


Does God promise to be with me at certain times but no at others?

Jesus came and told his disciples...''Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'' (Matthew 28:18,20)

[Jesus said] '' I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.'' (John 14:16)
Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ''I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.'' (Hebrews 13:5)

God promises to be present with you, in you, and beside you in all circumstances.


Are there things I should abandon, even in these days of tolerance?

This is what God says to all humanity: ''The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'' (Job 28:28)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. (Ephesians 4:31)

Persistent sin will cause you to abandon God.
Persistently obeying God will cause you to abandon much sin, which is important even in these days of tolerance.



Promise from God: I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. (Hebrews 13:5)


Touchpoints

Sunday 1 May 2011

Salvation of Jesus Christ

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

For the wages of sin is death.
(Romans 6:23)

Man sinned, the wages of sin is death, the price that you have to pay for you sin is DEATH!

'Death' is not simply the ''dying of your flesh'', life is not just about your body, what matters is your SOUL!
'Death' here means that You are separated from God.

Sin separates us from God.
Sin against a holy God separates us from Him, bringing judgment and spiritual death.
An unholy being cannot live in the presence of a Holy God.

We have no way to repair this relationship because all of us have sinned, we are all sinner.
And 'death' is the price that we all must pay for our sin.

But God don't want us to Die! HE love us and want to reconcile this relationship.
Therefore He sent his Son, Jesus Christ to the world to die for us, he died on the cross and was resurrected.
Jesus Christ took our place and receive the punishment that our sins demanded.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Our relationship with God is therefore reconciled!
The power of 'Death' no longer have authority on us!

Through the blood of Jesus Christ, our sins were forgiven!
This is what salvation is all about.
All we have to do is just BELIEVE in HIM and we ''shall not perish but have eternal life.''
Perish means eternal death--eternal separation from God.
Eternal life means your relationship with God is recovered, and you will live forever with God.

For it is BY GRACE you have been saved, THROUGH FAITH—and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)


We're still sinner because we are still bound by this material world, we still sin.
Yet, we are saved because Jesus died for us upon the cross and our sins were forgiven.

Being saved, means your sins no longer count against you and you are spared from an eternal death sentence. Instead, they are forgiven by the grace of God, and you are given the free gift of eternal life. Being saved does not spare you from earthly troubles, but it does save you from eternal punishment.


Lastly,
How can we be saved?

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)

This is the greatest gift God could ever offer -- life in a perfect world -- is absolutely FREE!
You just have to accept it by:
1. agreeing with God that you have sinned,
2. acknowledging that your sins cuts you off from God,
3. asking Jesus to forgive your sins, and
4. believing that Jesus is Lord over everything and He is the Son of God.

The gift is yours.

Thursday 21 April 2011

Jesus die for you and me

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

(Isaiah 53:4-9), NIV

4 他 诚 然 担 当 我 们 的 忧 患 , 背 负 我 们 的 痛 苦 ; 我 们 却 以 为 他 受 责 罚 , 被   神 击 打 苦 待 了 。
5 哪 知 他 为 我 们 的 过 犯 受 害 , 为 我 们 的 罪 孽 压 伤 。 因 他 受 的 刑 罚 , 我 们 得 平 安 ; 因 他 受 的 鞭 伤 , 我 们 得 医 治 。
6 我 们 都 如 羊 走 迷 ; 各 人 偏 行 己 路 ; 耶 和 华 使 我 们 众 人 的 罪 孽 都 归 在 他 身 上 。
7 他 被 欺 压 , 在 受 苦 的 时 候 却 不 开 口; 他 像 羊 羔 被 牵 到 宰 杀 之 地 , 又 像 羊 在 剪 毛 的 人 手 下 无 声 , 他 也 是 这 样 不 开 口 。
8 因 受 欺 压 和 审 判 , 他 被 夺 去 , 至 於 他 同 世 的 人 , 谁 想 他 受 鞭 打 、 从 活 人 之 地 被 剪 除 , 是 因 我 百 姓 的 罪 过 呢 ?
9 他 虽 然 未 行 强 暴 , 口 中 也 没 有 诡 诈 , 人 还 使 他 与 恶 人 同 埋 ; 谁 知 死 的 时 候 与 财 主 同 葬 。
(以 賽 亞 書 53:4-9)


Therefore,

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
(2 Corinthians 5: 14-15) , NIV


14 原 来 基 督 的 爱 激 励 我 们 ; 因 我 们 想 , 一 人 既 替 众 人 死 , 众 人 就 都 死 了 ;
15
并 且 他 替 众 人 死 , 是 叫 那 些 活 着 的 人 不 再 为 自 己 活 , 乃 为 替 他 们 死 而 复 活 的 主 活
(歌 林 多 後 書 5:14-15)




How Great is this Love!
How Amazing is this Grace!

Have you accepted it?

Saturday 19 February 2011

Known placebos effective at improving IBS symptoms

Counter to widespread beliefs that a known placebo will not have clinical benefits, an open-label placebo trial demonstrated significant symptom improvement in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared to no-treatment.

Although placebos are known to be beneficial in patients with subjective symptoms, they are impractical in a clinical setting because they are thought to require deception during administration, which violates the ethics of patient autonomy and informed consent.

“Everyone assumed that you need lying (‘I’m giving you a powerful medication’) or concealment (‘you may or may not be getting a real medication’) for a placebo effect to happen,” said lead researcher Associate Professor Ted Kaptchuk, director of Complementary Specialties at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, US and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School.

“Our working hypothesis is that placebo (like the mind-body symbolic intervention that it is) will primarily modulate the experience of symptoms and not the basic pathophysiology.”

In the first randomized controlled trial of its kind, 80 patients with IBS were randomized to receive no treatment or open-label placebos described as “placebo pills made of an inert substance, like sugar pills, that have been shown in clinical studies to produce significant improvement in IBS symptoms through mind-body self-healing processes.
[PLoS One 2010 Dec 22;5(12):e15591]

Patients who received the open-label placebo had higher average scores on the IBS Global Improvement Scale after 11 and 21 days compared to those receiving no treatment (5.2±1.0 vs. 4.0±1.1, P<0.001; p="0.002)." p="0.08).">The researchers noted that open-label placebo had comparable response rates to those of IBS patients in clinical trials treated with established drugs.

However, the response rate to placebo in this trial was somewhat higher than response rates in placebo controlled double blind IBS trials, which the researchers attributed to the open-label placebo status coupled with persuasive treatment rationale.

“It may be that 100 percent certainty that one is receiving the ‘treatment of interest’ (in this case open-label placebo) is more placebogenic than a 50 percent probability of receiving an inactive control,” Kaptchuk said.

He also highlighted the importance of ritual in therapy, in this case, taking a pill. Participants were given precise directions about how to take their open-label placebo. Kaptchuk suspects that such acts may be a potent part of the healing process.

Demonstrable efficacy of an open-label placebo removes the ethical conundrum that makes them inconvenient to use in clinical practice, although Kaptchuk noted that many physicians will prescribe treatments with no effect that are tantamount to placebos.
[BMJ 2008 Oct 23;337:a1938. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1938]

“We can hypothesize that it may be possible, if more evidence supports our trial, that physicians can try to honestly prescribe placebo as a first line of treatment,” Kaptchuk said. “At a minimum, it allows nature to take its course and maybe even have salubrious effects.”

Radha Chitale

Sunday 6 February 2011

Nothing's gonna change my love for you



Verse 1:
If I had to live my life without you near me
The days would all be empty
The nights would seem so long
With you I see forever oh so clearly
I might have been in love before
But it never felt this strong

Our dreams are young and we both know
they'll take us where we want to go
Hold me now
Touch me now
I don't want to live without you

Chorus:
Nothing's gonna change my love for you
You ought know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of
I'll never ask for more than your love

Nothing's gonna change my love for you
You ought know by now how much I love you
The world may change my whole life through
But nothing's gonna change my love for you

Verse 2:
If the road ahead is not so easy,
Our love will lead the way for us
Like a guiding star
I'll be there for you if you should need me
You don't have to change a thing
I love you just the way you are

So come with me and share the view
I'll help you see forever too
Hold me now
Touch me now
I don't want to live without you

Sunday 23 January 2011

A talk with a foreigner

I was sitting at the 'pondok' opposite the guard house yesterday evening, waiting for the transport to SCMC fellowship, and a foreigner came and talked to me.

Here's roughly the conversations between us:

Guy: Are you waiting for bus?
Me: No, I am waiting for car. (should be van..whatever)
Guy(point to my bible): Is that a bible?
Me: Yes.
Guy: So you are a Christian?
Me: Yes.
Guy: A Chinese Christian?
Me: Yes, Chinese Christian.
Guy(sat on another chair beside me): But there are not many Chinese Christian in Malaysia right? Most of them are Buddhist.
Me: Yea, not many Chinese Christian in Malaysia.
Guy: So why are you a Christian?
Me: Er..my parents were Christians, so...
Guy: Your parents WERE Christians.... (I realized my mistakes)
Me: They ARE Christians now.
Guy: So you are a Christian because your Parents are Christians..
Me: No no, that's because I believe too.
Guy: oh~ you believe. You know, I believe in Jesus too!
Me: Huh? You are a Christians?
Guy: I am a Muslims. I believe in Jesus, I can't be a Muslims without believing in Jesus.
Me: oh~ ok ok.. We Believe that Jesus is God, the son of God, but you all believe that Jesus is just a er...Nabi... (can't think of the word 'prophet')
Guy: A prophet.
Me: Ya ya, prophet~

Guy: (I forgot what he said, but what he meant was Christian believe in ONE God, but then there's another Son of God which is God too, he thinks that it is more than one God)

Me: Oh, that's the concept of Trinity. We believe in the Holy Father, Holy Son and the Holy Spirit, they are ONE God, but got different er.....位格(in a low voice, I seriously can't think of the English word of 'wei ge' ><, I failed to explain further, so I just end this with..) It is something that the Human mind cannot er..comprehend.

Guy: Do you know how many times Jesus was mentioned in the Quran??
Me: I don't know.

(Suddenly his phone rang, and he spoke very loudly with the language that I can't understand, but I can hear that he used a lot of 'Allah' in his conversation)
Guy: Sorry, my friend called just now.
Me: Never mind. (I continued) Which Country are you from?
Guy: I am from Jordan.
Me: oh~ Jordan~ (I thought he is an Iranian)
(After that he continue with his praise towards the Chinese and Indian, something that he likes the culture of Chinese as they are patience, hardworking, and the Indian too, and the SEA country..bla bla bla~)

Then he continued with his previous topic.
Guy: Do you know how many times Jesus was mentioned in the Quran?
Me: Don't know.
Guy: Jesus was mentioned 24 times in the Quran, compared to Mohammad which was mentioned 4 times only. So is like a 6*4....(he means 6 times more). Do this mean anything to you??
Me: Er.. Jesus is a very important 'person' for the Muslims? (I continued and emphasized) For the Muslims he is a person, but for the Christians He is God.
Guy: Yes, Do you know that Jesus actually mentioned about the coming of the Mohammad?
Me: =.=
Guy: There is a debate in America between a famous Pastor (I forgot his name le) and the Muslims about this.
Me: Ok~
Guy: The Muslims believe that Jesus will come again.
Me: Oh, for the Christians, we believes that Jesus will come again to Judge the world.
I continued: The Muslims believes that Jesus is Al-Masih right?
Guy (trying to recall): Yea..Al-Masih..
Me: Do you know that Al-Masih in English is called Messiah and it means Savior, he is the Savior God, the son of God
Guy: We do believe that Jesus is the son of God, but indirectly.
Me:Indirectly?
Guy: Everyone of us are the sons of God.
Me: oh~ =.=
Guy: Jesus was born 2011 years ago ??
Me: (I explained to him about the minor mistakes in the calculations, the correct years will be roughly 2016, 2017)
Guy: Ok, so is just plus minus 10 years.
Me: Yea.
Guy: What do Christians believe before Jesus was born.
Me: (Explained to him about the old and new testaments, and also the prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ in the old testaments)
Then I asked: The Old testaments is also in the Quran right?
Guy:You know that the old testament is written in the (don't know what language)..bla bla..I don't really understand..I think he was trying to deny that the old testaments was originally written in the Hebrew.
Me: The old testaments was written in the Hebrew language, new testaments in Greek.
Guy: You see, the new testaments was written around 100 years after Jesus..?? (I think he wants to deny the validity of the new testaments)
Me: It was written by the disciples of Jesus Christ and it was like around 50 years after Jesus (I meant after the birth of Jesus, but I think he thought that I mean 50 years after Jesus was gone)
Guy: Ok, 50 or 60 years...bla bla bla (I saw the van came and I wasn't concentrate of what he was saying)
Me: Sorry, I have to go..
Guy: ok ok..
Me: Nice talking to you...
Guy: Nice talking to you~ What is your course?
Me: Dietetic.
Guy: Oh~ Dietetic, I am in the Nutrition Department, I am taking my PhD in nutrition. What is your name?
Me: Er...Lee, What yours?
Guy: Hen (that's what I heard)
Me: Ok, Hen~! (=.=), Bye.


Saturday 1 January 2011

Let's Hope for Him!

但那等候耶和华的。他们比如鹰展翅上腾,他们奔跑却不困倦,行走却不疲乏。
(以赛亚书40:31)
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagle; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

To everyone, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
When I look at my blog archive, I noticed this:
2007(1)
2008(82)
2009(93)
2010(29)
If I were to plot a graph of the number of my blog post against year, it will be from the lowest point, then suddenly shot up, and up again, and then decrease 'dramatically'. haha~
It was during my form 6 time, that 2 years, were the time that I enjoyed writing the blog, I recorded part of my life here so that I can read them back perhaps 10 or 20 years later.
After that, I became lazy, another reason is that I feel insecure, ar.....whatever.

Since today is the first day of the new year, and I have nothing to do..*sien*.. so let's see what can I write here.
Definitely I can't write about the year 2011 as it is still an 'unknown',it is the 'future', unpredictable future, anything can happen.
Perhaps some new year resolutions?
Frankly speaking, I don't have any and I am afraid to set any because I never achieve them. So this year, I will just let it to 'happen naturally'~~ =.= .

What about last year? Last year was a blink, you know, is like you just blink your eyes for less than a second and the year is behind you.
I worked, I knew a bunch of 'cute'*ahem* kids.
I started my uni, I knew a bunch of ladies, and few guys.
By the way, when I was working as a teacher, ALL the chinese teachers were ladies/aunty as well. Only 4 pathetic guys, 3 malays and 1 chinese (me) 'exist' as teacher in that school.

After my primary school, my friends' gender never balanced.
I studied in the boy school from form 1 to form 5, all boys no girl.
I continued my form 6 in the same school, they accept girls in form 6, and then it became 90++% girls, few guys. Same thing happen for my Uni.

Why suddenly I talk about this? @@"
Somemore what?
2010, 2010, 2010... few more things, but I don't feel like writing it here, and I don't think I will write them in this very public place.

I will need to go back to UPM and start my 2nd semester, by tomorrow.
Complicated feeling.
I want to go back cause I feel that I've wasted my time for so long.
At the same time, I am reluctant to be back to that life, that kind of feeling...I don't know how to describe it..sometimes boring, or lonely, or want to find somebody to talk to but found nobody.
I don't know.><

What about the bible verse that I wrote in the first paragraph??
That was the verse that was shared by Rev. Yeoh last night.
In life, we walk. But sometimes, too many things we need to cope up with, so we have to run, and sometimes, we can't catch up even we run.
We tend to get tired, grow weary or become exhausted as we 'walk' or 'run' through this life.
However, God gave us His Promise!
He said:" Those who HOPE in the LORD will RENEW their STRENGTH!"
In chinese, the word '等候'(wait/await/waiting) is used,which means we need to TRUST, HOPE and LIVE for the Lord.
And He promised that we will walk and not be faint, we will run and not grow weary and we can SOAR ON WINGS LIKE AN EAGLE, we can FLY from the strength we get from HIM by Hoping in the Lord.
This the the promise made by the Lord!

That's all! Have a Blessed New Year! =D
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