Be on a Lookout

for false teachers because "false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1-3) and to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Listen to what John Piper has to say about the so-called 'Prosperity Gospel' and why it's abominable.

Key verse: 1 Timothy 6:6-11

Stupidity: Things Above and Not Things Here on Earth

The things of God are stupidity to many. Nobody, of his or her own volition, seeks after God or things that please Him. If you’re that person, you can stop reading now. After all, if you’re looking for a cogent argument this isn’t the place. If any, only a simple faith exists. Many who argue against what I'm going to say (or type, for that matter) have already made up their mind, not in the least concerned about cogency and rigour, and I won’t bring the roof down doing that.

Think about it for a moment. If our value system is not shaped by the Bible (Matt. 6:19-24), the things we value or treasure consistently let us down when we seek our significance, or satisfaction, or security in those things. The energy spent in pursuing what we think those things will provide—happiness, security, satisfaction—consistently lead to failure. The pleasures we think will satisfy us never really do—at least not for long. In fact, they typically just increase our thirst for more. What futile irony!! Such irony is plainly the very fabric of life when it is lived independently of God.

J. Hampton Keathley, III
Resting in God’s Sovereignty

Christians or not, people stock up (rightly) to the point that these material riches become their only goal (wrongly). The “attainable” goal of a comfortable life. Nothing wrong, right? I put “attainable” because everyone thinks that once it’s achieved, we’d step back, sit down, and enjoy. But the fact is, will it ever be enough?

Now God and the Bible aside, I’ve heard on more than one occasion people who proclaimed: “there’s more to life than {insert your goals here}”. Sure thing. There’s more to doing research than to lose sleep over whether the neighbouring lab’s going to outdo and out-publish in a month’s time.

There’s God.

If only people would align their goals to God’s. Instead of asking, “What should I eat, wear, or the type of property to own?” asks, “What do I do with my gifts?” or “How can I bring glory to God?”

I’m perhaps the biggest hypocrite to be saying all these and echoing Paul, “the least and the most unworthy”. Somehow, the toiling and the sustained rush over the past months; plus the little eye-opening chitchats with driven folks did put into perspective the futility of it all when done to satisfy humanity’s benchmark.

What’s prosperity without a purpose? Self-glory is for the here and now. Said Solomon: Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun

Ecclesiastes 2:11

I’m not going to change anyone. But I don’t wish to waste my time achieving everything, rely on my [self-perceived] great understanding + knowledge, giving in to the physical pleasures and contemporaneously bankrupting my spiritual life.

No, no. I’m not entering monkhood nor am I shunning the good things in life [that God has created]. All I’m saying is that I need to have my own convictions and not do as everyone else does.

It’s not easy to close my eyes and walk. It’s not too difficult not to peek either, or remove the blindfold and say, “Fine, I’ll do what I know best.”

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 

If only the Bible hasn’t been relegated in favour of modern, up-to-date societal demands, or verses cherry-picked to fit [our goals and justify our actions] into the world (oh, we see this often among religionists, don’t we?).

I only hope and ask from God that more people will be like-minded when it comes to goals in life — pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. To serve God and not the gods of this world.

Chasing the Dust Bunnies

Ever since the last posting more than a month ago, I could only stare at the collected dust day after day before deciding that I should just put something up here today. Begone, ye binary dust! I had so much planned for the blog before the weekend but Murphy's Law prevailed. There's nothing much I could do.

April is the birthday month of some wonderful people as far off as Минск. Just saying...

I thought the following song was good when I first heard it. Thanks to neungy1 who put up the English translation on YouTube, I now understand its content and find it rather poignant. Ha!

Stream and enjoy.

Unloveable by Mild

Now, I don't spend my time on the net looking for Thai music but some videos, being viral, will eventually catch your attention. Bell Nuntita sang this song as one of the two-song remix during the audition for Thailand's Got Talent.

I must say, a good performance. And sweet-looking too. Before anyone thinks that I support the cause of the LGBT community, I have made my stand some time back. That said, I won't stand in the middle of the street and scream "God hates fags!".

To do that would be presumptuous and assumptive; playing God and being sanctimonious. This group of people misrepresent the nature of God to serve their confrontational methods; cherry-picking from the Scripture whilst conveniently overlook the others.

On another matter, I would have no problems marching in the BERSIH rally to make a stand (BERSIH 3.0 will be a sit-in though) against all things immoral perpetuate by the government of the day.

I should get back to work now.

Boleh in Birmingham: What Does Being A Malaysian Means?

At last it's started. Lee Chong Wei against Lin Dan for the All-England champion's title. The Malaysian crowd's reception is fantastic. Each time the camera pans across the arena, you see Malaysians cheering and waving.  Who wouldn't? After all it's a worldwide 3 seconds of fame.

These fellas aren't paid to sing "Boleh, Boleh, Boleh" in Birmingham (yes, I swear I heard boleh and not Olé or Oé). They scream for their fellow countryman, jump, and clap side by side.

Back home, it's a little different. When I say little, it's actually heaps. Here we're told not to mingle too much lest we go astray (rightly or wrongly, I'll leave it to the 'learned'). Here, we're taught day after day since 7 years old that the Ahmad, Beng, Chandran, and Dominic ak. Embong have evil plans waiting to be realised. So, we cheer for our own and we jeer at someone who speaks a different tongue.

*Hey, that's another questionable call by the umpire!*

Living/studying abroad was never an option for me but I reading about what life is like over there and I'm always moved by the unity displayed by Malaysians; the most recent one being the worldwide BERSIH rally. I learn from a friend studying in the UK that whenever there are student-organised events, the Malaysians always do food. Ha! Home or abroad, food's on our minds.

But there's more at home. We have bread war! And on Facebook, racially-motivated rumours has been circulating and many gobbled it up blindly. Nobody cares. Why do anything when you can get the people to suspect one another and remain divided?

*Lee Chong Wei conceded a walkover to Lin Dan. Damn! Better game next time, Lee.*

Yes, we've heard this time and again. We're Malaysians outside the country's border and in here, we live within our own racially-demarcated enclave. Enclave because some are still considered immigrants; or made to feel that way.

This is purely my opinion but I suspect it's a fact. Perhaps this one comes a little too late: 55 years late. But whoever said we shouldn't push for a change? A change in [insert your favourite noun here].

Time to dream about change. Good night Malaysians abroad. Good night my friends. Oh, come back and vote-lah! Satay and teh tarik alone ain't good enough, y'know...
   

Knowing My Birthplace

I nearly echo what Khairy said in relating to the church attack but then again, I've always known that such a thing will happen in the country since such attacks occurred in neighbouring Indonesia long ago. It's sad to see how, in recent years, some resort and move towards extremism (here read as extreme measures and nothing else) in a country known to be moderate.

Moderate internationally but like all other countries, there are problems and uneasiness simmering occasionally spilling to the front page but threats and the actual act of carrying it out is quite alien to me. Of course, I went like, "Wow, there are hackers here in Malaysia too". Now, it's this, "Gosh, we're becoming more like Pakistan!"

That said, it's a comfort to know that there exist cool-headed Muslims (not the politicians, I don't trust them) like this one and my mates. Well, I will never know how much they meant what they said but at least they don't charge after me screaming.

After All These Years

Looking back in retrospect, we see the things we'd love to relive, the wrongs we'd have corrected or not commit, the hurts we'd love to brush aside and pretend they never did occur. Also, reflecting on the things we've [or haven't] been doing everyday will either make us proud or be ashamed. After all these years, I'm glad I feel these vibes for I am what I am; weathered by circumstances.

This and many other songs have good compositions making my past time all the more enjoyable. People may think I'm a weirdo for doing all the behold-this-is-my-past thing but different people look for an escape differently, no? Speaking of composition, it's been some time since I last lay, sprawled on the floor and scribble away on the back of a used envelope or a flyer and once done, post it here with a yellow-orange font.

And now I ask myself, after all these years, (1) what is the one thing I'm proud of doing? (2) what is the single most regretful thing I've done / not done? (3) would I make any changes / a difference given the chance to go back?

Have fun with Journey's After All These Years.

God in a box

The film, Where Got Ghost, like all Singaporean comedies feted the audience with crude jokes and clever wordplay that never fail to elicit bouts of ha-ha throughout the screening. Long story short, there was this part in the film where the sons of a deceased mother decided not to worship her (ancestor worship) due to many mishaps in life. They did so after some thoughts and comparison with their well-to-do friend; apparently blessed with all the good things in life (a twist at the end leaving us all in stitches).

Now, I was like, "Wow, so conditional". Little did I know, many weeks after the show that I began to see a similarity between the characters and myself. Whilst the saying only the sick needs the doctor still stands, things are different when it comes to my walk with God.

Many times, we put the focus on the wrong things and end up feeling all odd and empty. It may be unrealistic goals fueled by selfish motives or simply putting blind faith in humans; so-called Christians or not.

I'm not sure how I'd end this one but it'd be hypocritical to end by saying that I'm all clear now: no more doubts now, and never will. I'm better off putting myself under constant reflection and not to be disheartened by the heat or tempest from every compass points.

God help me.

(Picture credit: here)

O Ye Faithful, Love the Animals!

Preachers in some Malaysian mosques will urge worshippers to help stop the poaching of tigers, elephants and other endangered animals after similar sermons on turtle conservation were well received, an environmentalist said

-The Star, March 16

Ah, isn't that something? To remind people, regardless of religion, the importance to love God's creations and that includes the animals and of course the environment. Let us not stop at tigers, elephants, or any other endangered animals.

Broaden the subject to commonly seen animals: the dogs/cats, as well as the environment. Apart from man-God relationship and practicing some religious routines, it'd be great if mosques, temples and churches do a little more for the aforementioned. After all, aren't we stewards of His creation?

So beloved ones, remember to turn off your lights on the 28th this month.

Education in Swat: So What?

"Yet another captivating shot from the Swiss Alps", I thought to myself when I first saw pictures of the Swat Valley, northwest Pakistan. Like the region of Kashmir (pic below), this scenic region of Swat is racked by violence and overran by [the Taliban] insurgents - bent on creating their dream utopia; one fashioned after their chauvinistic minds and based on warped logic.

In and around this picturesque area, I realized that life isn't as beautiful as the biome pictured above. Education is prohibited for girls, after primary four. Juxtapose the pictures above with that of burned books/schools and you'd see how cruel human can be and how unfortunate life is for the (female) students.

"I thought I was destined for the stars but they are pushing me to the caves"

-Malala Yousafzai
Sunday Star, January 25, 2009

Education promotes Western values and culture of obscenity they said. This is eerily similar to the group of people protesting against the concerts of Avril Lavigne and Rihanna here in Saudi A--, I meant to say Malaysia. My simple reasoning: Tell me about Non-Western/Eastern culture then. Don't we have honour killings? Life, I perceive, isn't of much value over here. Look at the Rwandan genocide and the era of the Khmer Rouge. What's with culture when we have people eating all sorts of things - dogs, cats, bear, and virtually anything with its back facing the sky. Poor tortoise.

Glue sniffing, extortions, sex orgies; both planned and organized, aren't new in the newspapers. Do we have to learn it from concerts or the television? Even if it's a resounding yes by such people, what happened then to moral and religious teachings? If the upbringing is sound and excellent, would parents worry that their children be thrown off the right path? We speak as if the bad and the ugly comes from a certain part of the world when it's the nature in us all that gives way to these things. How then, can we blame the West for eroded moral in our society when we have rape and incest in this part of the world? And where, sometimes, the victim gets death besides the the humiliation of being raped.

I'm not an apologist for the West but am hoping people would at least view things in a neutral way - to put things in perspective. Getting back to Swat, if it's for personal gains or if it's religious in essence, then call it by its name instead of coming up with flawed logic and reasoning. I'm not a Muslim but I remembered while learning Islamic History during History lessons that the first wahyu (I think it's called revelation in English) from Allah to his prophet began with "Bacalah...", literally Read.

I'll leave this here and go no further. I could get into trouble for saying the wrong things and it's true when it comes to religion or government. Guess it's the [Non-Western] culture here that's sensitive to criticism, dissent, and discourse. Question not the status quo, eh? Whoever said we're perfect? I could only shake my head. I'd rather dwell on the good things and yes, the only thing I think of now is the sumptuous meal for reunion dinner tonight.

What's Bad and Illegal in La-la Land

Not Los Angeles but Malaysia. Make no mistake (one of my favourite phrases), loving my country doesn't compel me to love the government of the day; especially when we see unfair policies and blatant disregard for the right things - transparency, accountability, rights, and the like.

Shocked by the news of Kugan's death in police custody, we now have a priest, MPs and others charged in court for "illegal" assembly. Now, many things are illegal over here. An assembly is illegal if it doesn't share the views of the government. It's assembly to gather to show solidarity for unjust detention for fellow citizens. It's also illegal to cycle if the agenda is to call for the abolishment of the ISA, better homes, minimum wage, and control in essential items. I no longer know what "the best interest of the people" means.

Then we have another group of people spelling Malaysia as S-A-U-D-I A-R-A-B-I-A. These zealots seem to be able to tell a rogue from a saint based merely on what they call "Western culture". Did it skip their religious minds that there are good and bad people regardless of where they originated from?

This and many more mark the new year for us all and also to accompany us through to the year 2020, the time when we're no longer a developing nation.

Religious or Spiritual?

I've heard this phrase: I'm not religious but I'm spiritual. It was amusing the first time I heard of it but like all things seen or heard, it may not mean anything to me then. But being religious or spiritual does have differences/do make a difference; the former being all work, drama and routine.

I've learn to always remind people around me and people who comes to me, with tears in their eyes, that a monster who professes a certain faith is in essence a human - fallen one I may add. Surely in our journey through life, we've met with hypocrites such as these and myself like many tend to see that even the atheists and agnostics are better, nicer, and warmer people. They don't blow their tops whilst preaching love every Sunday. We see perpetual kindness compared to smiles only on Sundays, and a different demeanour on Mondays through Fridays and Saturday being an alternate affair.

God asked us not to judge another but the Bible spoke about hypocrites too; about being light and being salt - in short a testimony. How often we hear terms like religious fanatic? Guess that comes from people trying to scare others with hellfire and doing what's right (charities, alms, prayers, fellowships, and the list goes on) but missing the core: Love.

With love comes corrections and to a certain extend, chastisement. But not a good round of berating and humiliation right? Wrong. This is certainly true and exist almost everywhere. To the meek and lowly, take heart and know that we're humans. As much as I don't buy this excuse, know that a religious person so eager in welcoming us to join his/her church is fallen; much like you and I.

Religion can never make one a good person. Today, it's filled with so many kinds of rules and conditions so much so the real teaching and its fundamentals are shrouded behind all the activities. Only when seeking God and understanding God-likeness take precedence over religious routines can one truly shine. Disagree? Understandable since this one comes from a human too huh?

And I wonder what happened to love and peace, as taught by every religion in the world...