When King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and ask the nation to worship, he made a pledge that whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego does not want to bow down before the idols and was brought to the king.
Do you know that King Nebuchadnezzar actually gave them another chance to bow down?
In the book of Daniel 3:17 mentioned that despite all of them given a second chance still able to answer “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
How many of us would actually have the guts to say these on the verge of persecution, especially given a second chance? They did and they were saved by an angel. Such was their faith.
Someone once told me.
We are all Christians and we can easily say, “we have faith in Jesus”. We believe He is risen and we believe He is God. Saying all these, you can make God smiling from above.
But at the verge of being tested, when things do not go our way, just like what happen to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, will we all still have such faith in our God? Friends, When we are put to test, and if we are still able to have such faith to say that our God shall deliver us from days of trouble, I can assure you that God at that time will not smile anymore. That God will surely have a tear dripping His cheek.
Remember,
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”
- written by Jonathan Ang -
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Faith and persecution (part 1)
I have read many articles on love and relationship. While there can be much chemistry and elements of passion in it, many would have agreed that love can only take place when feelings are involve. But how about Christian walk with God? Is it about fate and feelings?
Being a Christian is not about feeling right or wrong. It is okay that we can feel quiet and lifeless but it does not mean that God is not there. Some Christian thinks that God comes in form of strong signs are movements of nature but sometimes the spirits moves gently. This was described in the book of 1 Kings 19:11-12
"A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper….
So if God does not come in form of greatness, and if God does not come through feelings, how do we know that our God is God? In my 20 years as a Christian, I don’t deny that I have some doubts in Christianity when I was very young. I asked myself if my God is not real, would I be hurting the ‘real’ God? Why not just stand on the fence (be neutral) and not side any God, least I worship a wrong religion? I believe some of you have encountered this situation at one point or another, so have we done very wrong?
Thomas, one of Jesus twelve disciples (supposingly to be so close with Jesus) have doubts too. When Jesus arose, He met up with all the disciples but Thomas was not there (read John 20:24). All the disciples rejoices telling Thomas that they have seen the Lord, but Thomas said, “Unless I see his hands and prints of the nails, and put my hands into His side, I will not believe” Then Jesus appeared to him saying, “Reach your finger here and look at My hands….Do not be unbelieving but believing”.
And Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”
The whole episode of Christianity is between God and you. We all know Jesus died for us and most importantly He resurrected. There can be no evidence to prove, but being a Christian is about believing that Jesus is alive. Many times our faith are tested, but as a Christian we need to stand and believe.
Being a Christian is not about feeling right or wrong. It is okay that we can feel quiet and lifeless but it does not mean that God is not there. Some Christian thinks that God comes in form of strong signs are movements of nature but sometimes the spirits moves gently. This was described in the book of 1 Kings 19:11-12
"A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper….
So if God does not come in form of greatness, and if God does not come through feelings, how do we know that our God is God? In my 20 years as a Christian, I don’t deny that I have some doubts in Christianity when I was very young. I asked myself if my God is not real, would I be hurting the ‘real’ God? Why not just stand on the fence (be neutral) and not side any God, least I worship a wrong religion? I believe some of you have encountered this situation at one point or another, so have we done very wrong?
Thomas, one of Jesus twelve disciples (supposingly to be so close with Jesus) have doubts too. When Jesus arose, He met up with all the disciples but Thomas was not there (read John 20:24). All the disciples rejoices telling Thomas that they have seen the Lord, but Thomas said, “Unless I see his hands and prints of the nails, and put my hands into His side, I will not believe” Then Jesus appeared to him saying, “Reach your finger here and look at My hands….Do not be unbelieving but believing”.
And Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”
The whole episode of Christianity is between God and you. We all know Jesus died for us and most importantly He resurrected. There can be no evidence to prove, but being a Christian is about believing that Jesus is alive. Many times our faith are tested, but as a Christian we need to stand and believe.
Are you going to Heaven or Hell?
Are you going to Heaven or Hell?
I was walking down the escalator in Hong Kong office the other night, when few of my Chinese colleagues spoke about religion. One of them said that all religions are the same, as it teaches good and the basic of going to heaven or hell comes down to weighing how much good or bad you have done on earth. If you do more good in the end of the day, you’ll go up and if you are more evil, you’ll be condemn downwards. Theology is often linked to myth, and so often today we have a new religion so much practiced, a ‘free thinker’. Reason? Because many people find the easy way out to a less committed practice, and what else can be more comfortable than making-themselves-godly-status; to love and to trust themselves?
The world so often debate on which religion has a God able to withstand, and doing so, the Gods of all gods. Arguments have gone long and far extreme, but it all comes down to beliefs. Beliefs that gives hope, and above all gives peace.
There are many written scriptures on what and how God looks alike in every religion. Some religion takes god as an ancient warrior, some takes nature as a source of life such as the god of the fields, the god of the sea etc, and some believe that god is a source of living, a creation of life and breathe. So who is God? And what makes Him the God of all gods?
Then following question comes down to what is Christian so different from other religion?
A friend of mine who was a Christian backslider never wanted anything to do with Christianity. He felt so terrible inside that once describe himself as “I have sinned so much that God can’t even forgive me”. Some even say, “I am worse than the devil herself”.
In a congress held in one of part of the world to discuss the differences of many religions, many leaders of different religion came together to voice their opinion. The question sits still as what is in their religion so different and having that extra edge? Many came to talk, with different views but the conclusions are very alike that the rule stands by every religion teaches good and is the key to heaven’s welcoming gate. It goes for the Christian committee as well that they find it nothing to speak to declare Christian so different from others. So what is the Christianity different from others? Take a moment to ponder.
Look into the 10 commandments and you’d realize that it still teaches the basic of doing good. Thou shall love the Lord, Thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery etc. It even struck me, that in my 20 years walk with God, I fail to point out what our religion is so different from others, that at times it is all about teaching to do good. Agree?
In the new testaments however, God Himself came as a man and He made it clear to us, He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through Him. Again, in Matthew 20:1-16: the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. An owner of the field went out early in the morning to hire some laborer and promised 1 denarius per day. In the afternoon, he saw people in the market place and again hired them to labor with 1 denarius per day. On the sixth hour and up to the eleventh hour, he still brings men in to labor the field and still promised 1 denarius a day. That evening came, and he gave all of them 1 denarius each. The people who worked from the morning complained to the landowner thinking that that deserves more, saying, “these men who worked only one hour gets the same as us”. But the landowner said, “take what is yours and go your way, I wish to give to this last man the same as to you”. “Is it now lawful for me to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye evil for I am good?”
For such is the kingdom of God, while we think that our Christian life is about sacrifices and givings, we envy those that on their last breathe accept Christ and still go to heaven. Is it all fair? As Christian, we think that we have done much and we deserve to be loved more, but God still allows them that sinned so much to enter His kingdom, and enjoy the “privileges” the same as what you and I can.
Such is Christianity. It is the only religion that your entrance to Heaven does not measure by the amount of good works you do. We enter heaven by the GRACE of God. You and I know that we were sinner and undeservingly get to go to Heaven, but by the GRACE and His agape love, we are all reconciled with Jesus.
The next time, someone ask you what is it so different between your God and others, tell them. Your God is a God of love.
-written by Jonathan Ang-
I was walking down the escalator in Hong Kong office the other night, when few of my Chinese colleagues spoke about religion. One of them said that all religions are the same, as it teaches good and the basic of going to heaven or hell comes down to weighing how much good or bad you have done on earth. If you do more good in the end of the day, you’ll go up and if you are more evil, you’ll be condemn downwards. Theology is often linked to myth, and so often today we have a new religion so much practiced, a ‘free thinker’. Reason? Because many people find the easy way out to a less committed practice, and what else can be more comfortable than making-themselves-godly-status; to love and to trust themselves?
The world so often debate on which religion has a God able to withstand, and doing so, the Gods of all gods. Arguments have gone long and far extreme, but it all comes down to beliefs. Beliefs that gives hope, and above all gives peace.
There are many written scriptures on what and how God looks alike in every religion. Some religion takes god as an ancient warrior, some takes nature as a source of life such as the god of the fields, the god of the sea etc, and some believe that god is a source of living, a creation of life and breathe. So who is God? And what makes Him the God of all gods?
Then following question comes down to what is Christian so different from other religion?
A friend of mine who was a Christian backslider never wanted anything to do with Christianity. He felt so terrible inside that once describe himself as “I have sinned so much that God can’t even forgive me”. Some even say, “I am worse than the devil herself”.
In a congress held in one of part of the world to discuss the differences of many religions, many leaders of different religion came together to voice their opinion. The question sits still as what is in their religion so different and having that extra edge? Many came to talk, with different views but the conclusions are very alike that the rule stands by every religion teaches good and is the key to heaven’s welcoming gate. It goes for the Christian committee as well that they find it nothing to speak to declare Christian so different from others. So what is the Christianity different from others? Take a moment to ponder.
Look into the 10 commandments and you’d realize that it still teaches the basic of doing good. Thou shall love the Lord, Thou shall not kill, thou shall not commit adultery etc. It even struck me, that in my 20 years walk with God, I fail to point out what our religion is so different from others, that at times it is all about teaching to do good. Agree?
In the new testaments however, God Himself came as a man and He made it clear to us, He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through Him. Again, in Matthew 20:1-16: the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. An owner of the field went out early in the morning to hire some laborer and promised 1 denarius per day. In the afternoon, he saw people in the market place and again hired them to labor with 1 denarius per day. On the sixth hour and up to the eleventh hour, he still brings men in to labor the field and still promised 1 denarius a day. That evening came, and he gave all of them 1 denarius each. The people who worked from the morning complained to the landowner thinking that that deserves more, saying, “these men who worked only one hour gets the same as us”. But the landowner said, “take what is yours and go your way, I wish to give to this last man the same as to you”. “Is it now lawful for me to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye evil for I am good?”
For such is the kingdom of God, while we think that our Christian life is about sacrifices and givings, we envy those that on their last breathe accept Christ and still go to heaven. Is it all fair? As Christian, we think that we have done much and we deserve to be loved more, but God still allows them that sinned so much to enter His kingdom, and enjoy the “privileges” the same as what you and I can.
Such is Christianity. It is the only religion that your entrance to Heaven does not measure by the amount of good works you do. We enter heaven by the GRACE of God. You and I know that we were sinner and undeservingly get to go to Heaven, but by the GRACE and His agape love, we are all reconciled with Jesus.
The next time, someone ask you what is it so different between your God and others, tell them. Your God is a God of love.
-written by Jonathan Ang-
Friday, February 9, 2007
What is the threshold of acceptance?
I was in 1U today - a typical weekend with plenty of people (mostly couples). You see matching couples, you see odd couples, you see weird couples, overweight couples, ah beng-lian couples, but the weirdest most is they do actually couple.
Perhaps the ladies are trying hard to overprice themselves, after all Feb 14 is the next event of the year. They act, react, seduce, re-seduce and over-seduce till they are priced out for this Valentine. After all, ask any ladies, no one wants to be laugh being at home.
But honestly, if not for the valentine, what else do we need a relationship for? The rule of the thumb says “do not love unless you are prepared to get hurt”. Living together with someone not of your genes is as tough as mount kinabalu. You bang your head 10 times on it but it will not shake a little, not at all.
My previous boss noticed that I have not had a relationship for a year plus, one day asked me to the room. He said, “The process of growing up requires you to have a girl friend. How well you manage her will reflect on how well you manage your job”.
I replied, “I feel comfortable with myself and can’t take the quarrellings in relationship”.
“Take a girl who does not quarrel” he told almost spontaneously
“Isn’t that a stupid girl?”, I replied.
We had a good laugh but this is the fact of life. Compromising differences is never easy, let alone living with someone not too similar to you.
Question now is “How much of differences can you take in between the both of you?”
Like I said, I was in the mall this morning and I saw 3 couples that are different. Differences here is not about me judging them and announce them incompatible… No!, cause if Mr. Cupid wants to hit hard on them, I am no one to object.
But I can’t figure why does a white guy (Englishman) falls for a darker skin lady (vise versa). The next time you go to Thailand, this is a typical explainable scenario because one pays the money, the other prostitute for money (though not all cases). But the fact that this is Malaysia and cases like these are rare. So, could there be a real chemistry or is it that love is blind after all?
Skin color aside, we look into characters, attitudes, upbringing, interest, preferences in food, lifestyle, etc… how much of differences can we actually accept in our future-spouse? Tell me.
On the other end, I have heard love stories that tells in a different tale. Some people say, “when you love someone, it put you together and settle the differences in between”, some say, “love is about acceptance”, others say, “opposite attracts, just like magnets do”, hmmmm, some even say, “when two share different of interest, they finish up the whole meal nicely without leftovers”. True, even some acknowledge that, “no one is perfect and life is too short to complain; minus the opposites, find the similarity and we are on the way to the top”. Perhaps….well perhaps, Shakespeare was right that follies do not know the fouls they commit when they are in love.
This are general statements, but those who have fallen in love before, tell me your opinion “how much of differences can you take on your partner”
Well, a relationship is beyond a sperm and ovum getting known to each other, is about two genes molding an interest. So, tell me.
Perhaps the ladies are trying hard to overprice themselves, after all Feb 14 is the next event of the year. They act, react, seduce, re-seduce and over-seduce till they are priced out for this Valentine. After all, ask any ladies, no one wants to be laugh being at home.
But honestly, if not for the valentine, what else do we need a relationship for? The rule of the thumb says “do not love unless you are prepared to get hurt”. Living together with someone not of your genes is as tough as mount kinabalu. You bang your head 10 times on it but it will not shake a little, not at all.
My previous boss noticed that I have not had a relationship for a year plus, one day asked me to the room. He said, “The process of growing up requires you to have a girl friend. How well you manage her will reflect on how well you manage your job”.
I replied, “I feel comfortable with myself and can’t take the quarrellings in relationship”.
“Take a girl who does not quarrel” he told almost spontaneously
“Isn’t that a stupid girl?”, I replied.
We had a good laugh but this is the fact of life. Compromising differences is never easy, let alone living with someone not too similar to you.
Question now is “How much of differences can you take in between the both of you?”
Like I said, I was in the mall this morning and I saw 3 couples that are different. Differences here is not about me judging them and announce them incompatible… No!, cause if Mr. Cupid wants to hit hard on them, I am no one to object.
But I can’t figure why does a white guy (Englishman) falls for a darker skin lady (vise versa). The next time you go to Thailand, this is a typical explainable scenario because one pays the money, the other prostitute for money (though not all cases). But the fact that this is Malaysia and cases like these are rare. So, could there be a real chemistry or is it that love is blind after all?
Skin color aside, we look into characters, attitudes, upbringing, interest, preferences in food, lifestyle, etc… how much of differences can we actually accept in our future-spouse? Tell me.
On the other end, I have heard love stories that tells in a different tale. Some people say, “when you love someone, it put you together and settle the differences in between”, some say, “love is about acceptance”, others say, “opposite attracts, just like magnets do”, hmmmm, some even say, “when two share different of interest, they finish up the whole meal nicely without leftovers”. True, even some acknowledge that, “no one is perfect and life is too short to complain; minus the opposites, find the similarity and we are on the way to the top”. Perhaps….well perhaps, Shakespeare was right that follies do not know the fouls they commit when they are in love.
This are general statements, but those who have fallen in love before, tell me your opinion “how much of differences can you take on your partner”
Well, a relationship is beyond a sperm and ovum getting known to each other, is about two genes molding an interest. So, tell me.
Friday, January 26, 2007
We love our Malaysia too
I am a Malaysian born Chinese, breed in Malaysia, grow in Malaysia and hence love Malaysia. Even as a young child, I sing the Negaraku with pride and passion, and whenever the national flag is raised, I feel the spirit flowing through my veins, as if my blood flows in red, blue, yellow and white.
I was in China in one of my business trip. A Chinese man said to me, “Do you know your origin?” I said, I am a Malaysia through and true… He replied, “your ancestors are from this mainland”. I told him I don’t care, since I don’t even know who my grandfather is. To a Chinese, it is insult because “respect” is an element in life, but I am showing no respect to my so-called-origin.
So he continue to ask me, “what if….just what if…one day China and Malaysia are in war, would you come back to help us?”. I look at him and said, “My Malaysian education brain-wash me to love my Malaysia, and if I have one bullet left on my ‘pistol’, I will also shoot you”. He looks angry, disappointed to say the least.
Despite the racial debate that has been going through the years about equality and rights, despite the words thrown by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in the recent comments on Malaysian Chinese, despite the benefits of distribution, I can assure you that there are at least 70-90% of the non-bumi whom actually do not see these as an important thing in life. Many of us love Malaysia, that is why we insist on staying here, building a home together with other races. Sensitive topics aside, but many of us unconditionally love this country.
Yet, our sincerity are often overlook.
I just finish watching the movie flyboys in cinema. The germans were attacking the french, while the english troop send 8 heros to the 'fly' mission. One of them a black man, despite an english was treated differently in the name of discrimination. Didn't he fight for the country? Didn't he gave 100% his heart to the country? external skin color aside, many fail to realize that our blood are all red.
How many T-shirts were printed, "I love Malaysia", because ask for a raise of hand, all of us as a citizen loves our country. Perhaps we love so much that we fail to see "Malaysia should love us too"...all of us...
I was in China in one of my business trip. A Chinese man said to me, “Do you know your origin?” I said, I am a Malaysia through and true… He replied, “your ancestors are from this mainland”. I told him I don’t care, since I don’t even know who my grandfather is. To a Chinese, it is insult because “respect” is an element in life, but I am showing no respect to my so-called-origin.
So he continue to ask me, “what if….just what if…one day China and Malaysia are in war, would you come back to help us?”. I look at him and said, “My Malaysian education brain-wash me to love my Malaysia, and if I have one bullet left on my ‘pistol’, I will also shoot you”. He looks angry, disappointed to say the least.
Despite the racial debate that has been going through the years about equality and rights, despite the words thrown by Mr. Lee Kuan Yew in the recent comments on Malaysian Chinese, despite the benefits of distribution, I can assure you that there are at least 70-90% of the non-bumi whom actually do not see these as an important thing in life. Many of us love Malaysia, that is why we insist on staying here, building a home together with other races. Sensitive topics aside, but many of us unconditionally love this country.
Yet, our sincerity are often overlook.
I just finish watching the movie flyboys in cinema. The germans were attacking the french, while the english troop send 8 heros to the 'fly' mission. One of them a black man, despite an english was treated differently in the name of discrimination. Didn't he fight for the country? Didn't he gave 100% his heart to the country? external skin color aside, many fail to realize that our blood are all red.
How many T-shirts were printed, "I love Malaysia", because ask for a raise of hand, all of us as a citizen loves our country. Perhaps we love so much that we fail to see "Malaysia should love us too"...all of us...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
English at her best.
Malaysian education took another twist in their history but perhaps many reckon would be a ‘fail factor’ once again. I was reading the paper 2 days back, when mathematics and science must be taught in English. And teachers have to go through English classes and examination to ensure the level of standard we ought to have.
The poll for today is whether we can achieve such not-that-hard objective, perhaps in year 2020 or 202020?
In fact, you have to backtrack to as far as the last five year newspaper that the ministry decided to go on with English courses for mathematics and science. Five years has vanished into the ash of forgetfulness, and we have not thrown the dice in this snake and ladder game. What are we doing actually? Must have taken a long time to build the Malaysian Eye that we have forgotten about learning English… Malaysian Boleh, why not?
The latest cartoon drawn on the **** papers illustrate a teacher unable to speak proper English only for the students to correct her. Say what you want, but this disgraceful act is a reality even in 2007. Malaysian eye, First Malaysian to land in space….whatever, it’s been 50 years of independence, but we are still sheltering in fear to speak a language so widely and commonly used. We want to be recognize in the world stage, but the rate things are going, we should be happy enough to stage a bunch of home-breed-clowns, notably “SENA*IO” and the latest so called home edition hero of the CIC*Kman…
Continue go on 10 years, I foresee our children singing in kindergarten, “Mary had a little lame, little lame, little lame”…. Yes, indeed we are that lame!
Reality check.
I was in a bus station on my way to KL 7 years back. A tourist approaches the lady on the counter for tickets information, but all she can reply was, “Saya Tak Faham”, as if the tourist understands “saya tak faham”. Aren’t we disgraceful? We know these stories are unpleasant to the ear, but what has been done? The ‘top’ people fails to recognize how poor the education system is, or perhaps choose not to believe. ‘Seeing is believing’ but how could these VIP see when their cars are so badly tinted and often escorted by the saya-anti-rasuah-men?
I am not pointing out races, because it is not a question of upbringing… but we can only be as good as the one who teaches us, so teachers must be well trained. I like our Malaysian badminton team to win, but when they do, listen to how these professional players do their interviews on TV.
“I think saya very gembira today”.
“They play very worst, and kita menanglah”
“I is feeling very happy….ermmm, very happy……erm very happy….errmmmm….ya very happy la”
In the name of globalization, we could only answer with “my foot”
The poll for today is whether we can achieve such not-that-hard objective, perhaps in year 2020 or 202020?
In fact, you have to backtrack to as far as the last five year newspaper that the ministry decided to go on with English courses for mathematics and science. Five years has vanished into the ash of forgetfulness, and we have not thrown the dice in this snake and ladder game. What are we doing actually? Must have taken a long time to build the Malaysian Eye that we have forgotten about learning English… Malaysian Boleh, why not?
The latest cartoon drawn on the **** papers illustrate a teacher unable to speak proper English only for the students to correct her. Say what you want, but this disgraceful act is a reality even in 2007. Malaysian eye, First Malaysian to land in space….whatever, it’s been 50 years of independence, but we are still sheltering in fear to speak a language so widely and commonly used. We want to be recognize in the world stage, but the rate things are going, we should be happy enough to stage a bunch of home-breed-clowns, notably “SENA*IO” and the latest so called home edition hero of the CIC*Kman…
Continue go on 10 years, I foresee our children singing in kindergarten, “Mary had a little lame, little lame, little lame”…. Yes, indeed we are that lame!
Reality check.
I was in a bus station on my way to KL 7 years back. A tourist approaches the lady on the counter for tickets information, but all she can reply was, “Saya Tak Faham”, as if the tourist understands “saya tak faham”. Aren’t we disgraceful? We know these stories are unpleasant to the ear, but what has been done? The ‘top’ people fails to recognize how poor the education system is, or perhaps choose not to believe. ‘Seeing is believing’ but how could these VIP see when their cars are so badly tinted and often escorted by the saya-anti-rasuah-men?
I am not pointing out races, because it is not a question of upbringing… but we can only be as good as the one who teaches us, so teachers must be well trained. I like our Malaysian badminton team to win, but when they do, listen to how these professional players do their interviews on TV.
“I think saya very gembira today”.
“They play very worst, and kita menanglah”
“I is feeling very happy….ermmm, very happy……erm very happy….errmmmm….ya very happy la”
In the name of globalization, we could only answer with “my foot”
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Open the virgin doors of blog
I am totally new here so for me to pen down my first virgin blog is a massive thingie.
Just believe that the world are made of 3 beautiful people. My dad, me and my future son.
Ok, stop stoning me.
Is just an introduction of many craps ahead of us.
Just believe that the world are made of 3 beautiful people. My dad, me and my future son.
Ok, stop stoning me.
Is just an introduction of many craps ahead of us.
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