Not Really Broken

Thanks to all who asked about our house and us. Thanks in advance to those who WILL ask and show concern. In order to avoid too many repetitions (you know I'm a man of few words!), I'll post about it here.

Yes, our house was broken in again. Twice in 3 months. In broad daylight again. And again, no one was at home, and none was hurt. We put bigger, better locks. Anti Allen-key ones. True enough they couldn't pick nor break the locks this time. So they broke the hinges instead!

And amazingly again, we lost things that are recoverable. It's a miracle they couldn't spot Sherene's engagement diamond ring....that is irreplaceable! My 2-year old laptop's gone...but I transferred all data to my company's laptop already. My new compact camera's gone. I couldn't afford another DSLR for creative shots, so I got a cheaper one for capturing memories. But now that's gone too. As someone said, "now Hwai Tah's blog will be back to no pictures again!" Sherene lost her handphone with about RM15 credits in it. I lost some cash reserved for next month's payments. My mom tried to comfort us "It's ok lar, they're all money. Just assume you paid for a holiday trip".....until the next day we realised they also stole her slow-cooker (not expensive one). Boy, she was mad and cursed the thieves! Ha!

Most importantly, our spirits are not broken. Not so easy! Though we're rethinking some things. Practical safety measures too. Of course I was very mad the moment I found out after work. But soon after that I didn't know what I should feel or think. I wished I could empty myself into nothingness. So now I know why people do that.

A lot of people said many comments and gave many advices. To me the bottom line is this: He gives and take away. So what else can I say? I also realised this: these two times, I was robbed of some things that can be replaced. What about some things that I'm slowly losing that are irreplaceable? I must do something about those things. And one of the most important things is TIME. We can never recover that.

What am I doing with my Time? This is most interesting because a day earlier I was reading on David Brainerd, the famous missionary to the Indians who died at the age of 29. Though his service was short, his life created massive impact to many others like Jonathon Edwards during the Great Awakening era. His life and mission was marked with extreme struggles and physical sufferings, but one of the scripture verses that gripped him was the apostolic admonition in Ephesians 5:16...

(see V15 first)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
(now V16)
making the best use of time, because the days are evil.
(might as well read V17 also)
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

I like the Authorized version which says "redeeming the time", which is very powerful. Speaks of "gaining" time in redemptive ways.

If there's any consolation from all these, it is such a lesson.

I'm more determined to build things that cannot be robbed or taken away. What are those things to you and I? We must know.

May God have mercy on those who will trespass my house (if ever there will be a time when I'm at home). Because I won't.

My Majestic Sky Rider

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD is avenging and wrathful;

the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,
and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.

His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

(Nahum 1:2, 3)

There is none like God, O Jeshurun,

who rides through the heavens to your help,
through the skies in his majesty.

The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, Destroy.

(Deuteronomy 33:26, 27)

Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.

(Psalm 3:7)

You ride to my help
You're terribly jealous and You're merciful
Who can stand before You?
My avenger, my Majesty
Hope and eternal home

Well Fed (Inside out)

Two weekends ago, I went on a road trip to Penang. What a weekend it was!

A few of my bestest friendships were made while I was studying in Southampton, England. One of them was with Indran, my big "gentle" giant friend. My partner in Delirious (back when they were well-known to only a handful of christian communities) gigs, pot-luck gluttony makans, late night CM sessions, and that "notorious" Scottish road trip which we still laugh over after twelve years. Originally from Taiping (his dad is the Top 2 richest man there), now he lives in Shah Alam. One of the most funny, humble and greatest guy I know.

The purpose for this Penang trip was to visit Vincent, a friend and a pastor, back for a holiday and teaching engagement in a Bible seminary in Penang. This friend is unique and truly God-sent to my spiritual life over the years. I do have many fond memories of Penang also. In fact, some of my bestest friends are from the north. For true best friends, you don't need much effort to keep in touch or correspond. We can always continue where we left off, years after we last met or spoken. These bonds are not easily severed by the tolls of life, and by any distance in length or time.

We didn't give much thought to the trip. It was a no-brainer. Indran, Vincent, Penang....it's a YES GO, LET's GO and WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR kinda respond! Indran, Sherene and I hit the highway at 6am Saturday morning. I was dead tired that weekend in more ways than one. But I was so alive.

It was a sweet (and yummy!) getaway for me from so many things here. Work, ministry, people, problems, burdens. I was so close to snapping. I need a therapy which only bestest old friends can provide. And of course accompanied by the best of Penang flavours!

I could write a few entries for my blog from this trip alone. But for now, the title's 'Well Fed'. We were really pigging out in Penang, joint after joint in quick successions. We shared so much food. Never ate like these for years. And we still practice the 'fighting to pay for the food' culture. Everything was ours, not mine or yours or his. You see, we used to cook together for each other at times in University. Many spiritual people fast and pray. But for us, we talk theology in the presence of abundance food. We're not that spiritual. ;)

But I was well fed spiritually too. Vincent is the most genuine Bible scholar and teacher I know, his dedication and wisdom are renowned wherever he goes. I count myself blessed to have cross my path with his many years ago. Very few spiritual teachers impressed me, but to have one of the best as my friend....wow! He was still a Phd student when I left Southampton in 1998, but soon threw away his Phd to go into full-time ministry, and live a single (single-minded in focus and married to ministry), "undistracted" life. Every few years, I'd catch up with him to listen to his (changing and unchanging) views on God stuffs and life. Though not without flaw, his views often act as one of my inner compasses. And because he's not without flaws, I could see the genuine, abounding grace at work in his life. So transparent and pure. Don't need someone perfect as a role model. Though from seemingly contradictory denominational backgrounds, we both have deep common respect for each other.

Vince didn't know what was my inner condition during this trip. And I don't think he realised how much our conversations had encouraged me. And also his preaching on Deuteronomy 6 that Sunday in a Baptist church. The last time I heard him preach/teach was more than a decade ago. I needed so badly to hear great expository preachings like his. I can't remember when was the last time I heard such a solid and yet ministering message in recent years. And I greatly value his personal ministry advices too. The best of the lot is "you got think of going into full-time ah?" Before I could respond he said "Don't". Hahaha! How often can I get honest advices, especially from those who work in church?!

Probably one of the greatest compliment I can ever give to a spiritual leader is "he made me want to read the Bible more". Or "he led me to new joys of discovering truths". Or "he made me wanna ransack the Word for all its precious treasures". I really don't mind those superstar preachers (as long as they're not heretics). But only someone like my friend Dr Vincent is a man that deserves my high praise for a Kingdom servant. Spending only two days with him have blessed me so much more than hearing other preachers for many years. I actually went home with renewed vigour to "ransack for more precious treasures". It was a delight serving alongside him and others in ministry during Southampton days.

Ask my wife what she thought of my friends, and she said she was so glad to have married me! :)

Me, Vince and Indran. For more pics, go view my Facebook

My next post will probably be about Penang, or perhaps on one of the more troubling topics we chatted.

This One's for the "Dark" Heroes

The Dark Knight was the most profound film I've watched in 2008. I bought the DVD to watch a couple more times. Many parts of the storyline were brilliant. But perhaps the part that blew me away most was the last part...after Harvey Dent fell. And I've been replaying that part in my head lately, over and over again...

Gordon: No, you can't! You're not!

Batman: I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be.

Gordon: ...a hero. Not the hero we deserved- the hero we needed. Nothing less than a knight. Shining...

Gordon: They'll hunt you.

Batman: They'll hunt me. You'll condemn me, set the dogs on me...(Gordon wields the axe destroying the Batman symbol) .....because it's what needs to happen. Because sometimes the truth isn't good enough....sometimes, people deserve more.

James (Gordon's son): Batman?! Why's he running, dad?

Gordon: Because we have to chase him.

James: He didn't do anything wrong. Why, Dad? Why?!

Gordon: Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him. Because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector.....a dark knight.



Whoa!!

Batman needed to become what he needed to be...and Commissioner Gordon had to do what he had to. So what's next? I can't wait for the next part to unfold!