Over there, it is very easy for us to talk about our beliefs and what our Book teaches about life etc – as if everything in this life is black and white. It is very easy for us to sit on our high and comfy chairs, passing judgements on all sorts of things…

Over here… things are different…

What do you say to an 80 year old man whose Mum just passed away, telling you in tears that he believes that all religions are the same – that we all are going to the same place? Different paths but same destination? That God is all loving and will surely accept every ‘good’ person irregardless of race, nationality, or religion?

What do you say when a family lost their Dad, and the Mum, Dad and Son usually go to a particular church that usually teaches that the more you give, the more you will be blessed by God – but when the rubber hits the road, this poor family, were told that the church would help them with expenses (buying coffin, burial ground and other things for their dead Dad), but in return, would like them to give the church all the money they get from the ‘white envelopes’ people give them?

What do you say to ‘those who think differently’ around you who know about this and just can’t understand why the church has to do things this way? Sound generous, but why do they have to ask for the money? If they are unwilling to give that much, why not just give a bit and yet not ask for the money (no matter how much they would get from the envelopes, as we do know they prob won’t get that much)?

How are you supposed to think and have respect for the government that you are told to submit to when you read newspapers everyday – you read the promises that the people in the government are making and yet also read that there are more and more poor people who can’t afford to buy rice? When the price of normal rice are so high that people start to buy and eat rice that are usually given as food for ducks and chicken?

And what are you supposed to think, how are you supposed to react, when you learn of people who can’t afford more than one meal a day – and for the sake of their child only ate rice once a day, so that their child can eat three times a day? And how if it is no longer just about people in the newspaper but people you know personally and yet there isn’t much you can do about it?

What are you supposed to think? How are you supposed to react?

Here, you’d better believe what you say you believe in! Here, you’d better be sure that what God says in His Book is the real deal – that there is such thing as a way to heaven through His Son, that there is eternal life for those who believe in Him, that there is such a place as hell… and that we are all sinful, and that this world is in a mess because of our sins… that everything might not make sense, but He is still in perfect control of everything! And that somehow, He is still bringing about His purposes in this messed up world!

Here you’d be given lots and lots of opportunity to test your trust in Him! To see if you really believe that He is dependable, that He is in total control of the world, or if He is only a fairytale and if this whole thing is just a bad joke… Here, you won’t be able to say something unless you mean it…

Otherwise, you can say goodbye to your trust… And you can say goodbye to your relationship with your Lord… and everything… will just be history…

History of a faraway place… of a utopia that you learnt of when you were overseas… when life is comfortable and nice…

[PS: Sorry that I won't allow any comments for this post. As I do believe that as much as you think you might get what I'm saying here... You don't... Unless of course you have been in my shoes... Know everyone has different struggles, and I do appreciate it if you can relate to what I say. But yeah, if you've never been here, I'm afraid, it would come across wrongly no matter how well you meant it... Sorry...]

It was a sad occassion that brought all of us together there tonight. Our whole shop workers (minus one sick one and one whose house we visited) went there.

One of my parents’ workers’ Dad passed away this morning. He had been sick (seriously ill) for a week – but was only brought to hospital last night. Money was an issue – and probably because they didn’t expect the case to be this bad this time…

Had a chance to witness that I didn’t really make the most of tonight… But wasn’t sure how much I should have said anyway. I did take it up as wisely as I thought I was being at that time. Maybe I could have done it better. But what has happened has happened. God could use it if He wants to. He is in control.

It was good to be able to spend some time talking to some of the girls who works in the shop (for my parents). To get to know particularly two girls better – one whose Dad passed away, and another one who is from another part of the island.

Was good to be able to talk to them as ‘friends’. Of course they still ‘respect’ me. But from their questions… and topic of conversations – I’m thankful to God that there weren’t that much barriers between us. I’m glad they let me sit with them! =)

I love these people.

I know I get sick much easier when I live here. And a brother told me recently that maybe that’s a sign that I should not come back. I know he meant well, and I appreciated that. But I would not let my health be an unworthy reason not to come back.

I mean, it could be troublesome, and might slow me down a bit. But I just can’t imagine what answer I should give to my Lord if He asks me – “Have you really lived out your life for Me and My people?”

Of course He might not want me to be back here for good. It is for me to work out between me and my God – which of course, is a much scarier thing to do – cos I can fool others, but I can’t fool Him. And if it is true that I can’t come back here, I should still think of ways to live my life out for Him fully.

But yeah, I want to have a better reason than just health, or comfort, or anything else for not coming back.

There are just too many of His works to be done here. My reason had better be a really good one!!!

Not talking about anyone else. No one needs to feel offended or uncomfortable reading this. As I said, each person needs to work it out for themselves – between God and themselves – how they can best serve God. No one is to pass judgement on others, because no one knows someone else’s full story. But we should encourage each other to be as honest as possible with themselves and God… and make godly decisions.

But yeah, I love these people I live amongst… And I know He loves them more than I do! I cannot not go back just because I get sick more often here… I just can’t! That’s not an option!

My Lord has set me an example. He didn’t find coming into this world – convenient, or comfortable, or not costly, or fun! And yet, if He choose not to come – who would have hope of eternal life?

My Apostle set me an example. He didn’t find being rejected by his own people easy, or being flogged, or thrown into jail – but he did it anyway. Because He was following my Lord.

Many other brothers and sisters in my Father’s family have also set me examples to follow!

I have no option… Even if I really can’t come back – I can’t ‘ignore’ the part He might want me to play in the lives of these people……. I just can’t……..

I have to be more creative! I have to be more prayerful…..

[post yang sama ama yang di blog satunya lagi - dan mungkin post Indo pertama disini]

Gua suka mikir, kalo pas lagi di Sydney yah, pas sebelom pulang, pasti mikirnya tuh… Ah, jangan belanja disini. Belanja di Indo aja. Sebentar lagi juga pulang. Harga barang disana kan murah2. Jadi aja ngga pada jadi dibeli barang2nya.

Tapi, kalo pas disini, biarpun harga barang2 relatif murah dibandingin ama harga2 di Aussie, tapi sebenernya, buat ukuran orang sini, apalagi orang kelas bawah, itu tuh mahal banget!!!

Kadang, suka sedih mikirin – I spend that much money on clothes, and they don’t have enough for food!!! – Padahal, gua bukan royal segimana. Tapi, tetep aja!

Kaya pedagang2 asongan yang di pinggir jalan. Ato pengumpul2 sampah. Apalagi anak2 kecil yang mesti idup kaya gitu!

Suka bingung…

Gua tau, emang dunia ini tuh under curse. Emang ini tuh sinful world aja. Dunia yang berada di bawah kutuk, karena manusia2nya memberontak terhadap Allah!

Tapi, kemiskinan tuh, menurut gua, tetep merupakan sesuatu, yang kita sebagai orang Kristen, ngga boleh ngerasa indifferent, ngerasa ngga peduli, atau bahkan bersikap pasrah atau cuek.

Soalnya, penderitaan orang2 yang dikarenakan oleh kemiskinan tuh, ngga akan ada di sorga nanti. Anak2 dan orang2 yang menderita, orang2 kelaparan, orang2 yang mati karena penyakit2 yang bisa semestinya bisa disembuhkan, orang2 yang menderita karena ditindas sama orang yang lebih kaya atau berkuasa – mereka tuh ngga akan menderita lagi di sorga!

Di sorga ngga akan ada ratap tangis… Di sorga ngga akan ada dukacita… Di sorga ngga akan ada maut dan perkabungan… ngga ada air mata…

Dan karena itulah, kita sebagai orang2 yang mengaku sebagai anak Allah, udah sepantasnya hidup seperti Allah yang kita sembah, Allah yang telah menyelamatkan kita, dan Allah yang karakter-Nya mau kita ikuti dengan bantuan-Nya.

Kita sebagai manusia biasa, mungkin bisa ngga ambil peduli. Tapi kita sebagai orang2 yang udah diselamatkan dan ditebus, dan udah dikaruniai Roh Kudus Allah – masih bisakah kita bersikap “ngga peduli”? Atau lebih ’sopannya’ – bersikap – “bisa apa” and memalingkan wajah kita???

Kalo Allah peduli sama mereka, bukankah kita, yang memiliki Roh-Nya seharusnya peduli juga???

Tapi, memang bener, gitu banyak masalah di negara kita ini! Kita cuma perlu baca koran, langsung kita tau separah apa keadaan negara kita ini… Dan satu2nya yang bisa memberikan harapan hanyalah harapan kita akan sorga – sorga tanpa dosa…

Makanya, sepeduli apapun kita ama orang2, ga akan ada guna kalo akhirnya mereka ngga akan nyampe tempat yang tanpa dosa itu… Sebagian dari kita perlu diingetin soal ini. Soalnya kita kadang terlalu terpaku ama kebutuhan2 idup mereka di dunia ini, ampe lupa kalo kita idup disini tuh cuma 50-60 ato 70, 80, ato lebih kalo ada umur panjang. Tapi, gimana nanti seudahnya? Bakalan nyampe kemana mereka udahnya?

Tapi juga, ada sebagian dari kita yang perlu juga diingetin… Kalo pesen yang bisa mendamaikan mereka sama Penguasa tempat tanpa dosa itu, adalah pesen tentang kasih Penguasa itu. Dan mana bisa kita menyebarkan pesan kasih itu kalau cuma disebarkan lewat omongan doang, tapi sikap dan tindakan kita ngga ngegambarin kasih yang begitu dalam itu? Kasih yang udah ditunjukin ama Dia ke kita – kasih yang memberi kita lebih daripada apa yang layak kita terima!

Something I read today from the book I just started to read:

“Can you tell me one more time — do you really have to go against the authorities? I know you’ve tried to tell me, but why is a translation [of the Bible] in English so important?” she asked.

“In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram,” he answered, looking down and finishing the food on his plate.

“What?” she said, looking at him, puzzled.

“In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram.”

“William,” she said impatiently, “that’s Latin, isn’t it? Now come off it! I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.”

“I am having a serious conversation. Oh?” he said, feigning a look of innocence, “so you would like me to speak to you in your own language. Hmmmm. Very interesting. I can’t imagine why you would want that.”

“William — I know what you’re getting at.”

“I am, Lady Anne, you are right. Try to remember that what you heard is exactly what the peasants hear every Sunday morning. Blah-blah-blah-blah. The priest might as well be saying ‘blitbledertanterwaldish’ for all they understand.”

Taken from William Tyndale – The Smuggler’s Flame, by Lori Rich, p.26

Been thinking quite a bit about the environment, global warming, endangered species and the world’s reaction/response to it…

Thought I should at least make a mention about it in my blog, especially since this year’s Sydney New Year’s Eve Celebration is “The Time of Our Lives” and World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Australia), is the official Charity of 2007 Sydney New Year’s Eve.

I was just thinking about how to put all my thoughts together when I realised that this quote from Calvin & Hobbes might actually portray this whole thing nicely:

“I imagine girls and bugs have a dim perception that nature played a cruel trick on them but they lack the intelligence to really comprehend the magnitude of it.”
~ Calvin

Now I know it’s not a bugs or girls friendly quote. =) But I think it’s a good quote to describe this world’s state of understanding of our problem with nature (global warming, endangered species, etc).

They know that it is us humans, who are the key players in either destroying, or saving this planet/nature.

But the thing is, as much as they think they know what the real problem is – their understanding is actually nothing but a dim perception only – “they lack the intelligence to really comprehend the magnitude of it.”

Why do I say that?

Well, because yes, this world is in a mess – it is in a big mess – because of us, humans! But not just because of our direct actions or inactions to it (nature) or each other… This world is in a mess because we rejected God! Nature is doomed to destruction because we are doomed to destruction!

That is the main problem! If you don’t see that – then you what you really have is but a dim perception of the magnitude of the problem…

If you still don’t get it, let me see if I can explain it to you using an illustration.

Remember the Disney story of Beauty and the Beast? Remember how the servants in the Beast’s castle were under a curse and would stay under that curse as long as their Master (the Beast) was under his curse? And how they would only be (and were) freed from their curse when the curse on the Master was finally broken?

Well, I think that’s a better way to understand nature’s problem! Nature is under a curse because we are under a curse. Its curse is tied in with (and a result of) our curse!

That’s why as much as I support WWF (yes, I do personally support WWF), and as much I respect and appreciate them for all their conservation efforts (and more!), I personally don’t think that they will be able to achieve their mission – “to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”… not on this earth anyway…

Because there is only one place where humans will live in harmony (again) with nature — there is only one place where the curse will finally be broken — and that is heaven! =)