You´re Beautiful

Sunday November 30, 2014

Ashley Munroe wrote the message " You´re beautiful" on nearly 2000 notes and then placed one on each locker in her secondary school. Via surveillance cameras, school authorities say Ashley distributing the notes. The principal assumed she was causing trouble and suspended her. Several hundred students, however, signed a petition to help Ashley avoid punishment. Perhaps her best reward was hearing from a girl who had planned to commit suicide that day but did not because of Ashley´s message.

Hezekiah used words to encourage Israelites under his command as they faced an attack by the Assyrians. He began by saying, "Be strong and courageous" Don´t be afraid or discouraged" (2 Chronicles 32:7). Keep in mind that the Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, had pulverised their opponents in the past and expected to do so again (v. 17).

The attackers may have had more experience, larger numbers and superior strength, but they did not have divine support. Hezekiah told the Israelites : "There is a power far greater on our side! ..... [the Assyrians] are merely men" (vv. 7-8). In reality the battle was not between two physical armies, but between the flesh and blood of the Assyrians and the invisible influence of God Almighty.

King Hezekiah helped his people to see that they could meet the most vicious enemy with bravery because God was in their corner. The same is true for us as God´s people today. We may not struggle with ruthless warriors, but we may battle illness, discrimination or spiteful people. God is on our side, and He speaks straight to our hearts with messages of encouragement : I made you. I´ll carry your burden. I delight in you. - Jennifer Benson Schuldt.

Read
2 Chronicles 32:2-22
When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, he consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water from the springs outside the city, and they helped him. A large force of men assembled, and they blocked all springs and the stream that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" they said. Then he worked hard repairing all the broken sections of the wall and building towers on it. He built another wall outside that one and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.
He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words : "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles." And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there :

"This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says : On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? When Hezekiah says, 'The Lord our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria,' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. Did not Hezekiah himself remove this god´s high places and altars, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship before one altar and burn sacrifices on it'?

Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!"

Sennacherib´s officers spoke further against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. The king also wrote letters insulting the Lord, the God of Israel, and saying this against him : "Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand." Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city. They spoke about the God of Jerusalem as they did about the gods of the other peoples of the world - the work of men´s hands.

King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with the sword.

So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all the others. He took care of them on every side.

Romans 15:4-5

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.

Question to Ponder

What words might you use to support someone who is overly critical of himself or herself?

How has God encouraged you during a difficult time?

Through people, His Word, His Holy Spirit?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Courage Under Fire

Saturday November 29, 2014

Nehemiah was grieved at the report of the dire state of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:3). He shared God´s heart for the holy city, but could do nothing about it in his position as a cupbearer for the king in distant Susa. Then his opportunity to make a difference came in a most unexpected way: by risking his life in making a request of the king (vv. 4-5). A cupbearer wasn´t even permitted to express unhappiness on his face, let alone describe his grief because of his state of his distant home. To say anything was to court death. But Nehemiah did.

God often places His servants in life-threatening positions. For instance consider Queen Esther´s life- threatening risk (Esther 4:11). Gideon went into battle with just 300 men against a vast army (Judges 7:7). Surely the boy David had no chance against the giant Goliath! (1 Samuel 17:4, 33). Time and again those chosen by God were placed in seemingly impossible situations, and God told them (as He commanded Joshua) "Be strong and courageous!" (Joshua 1:9).

The exemplary responses of the heroes of the faith prove to be a challenging lesson for all of us. Esther said "Though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die" (Esther 4:16). David had such great trust in his God that he rebuked Goliath as they met on the battlefield, telling Him, "Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head" (1 Samuel 17:46).

God still might ask you today to risk it all for Him, but the wonderful promise is that He will accomplish the task. He will also equip you with the courage you need to stand. "Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9) - Russell Fralick

Read
Nehemiah 2:1-9
And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart." Then I became dreadfully afraid, and said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tomb, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?"
Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tomb, that I may rebuild it."
So the king said to me (the queen also sitting beside him), "How long will your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me ; and I set him a time.
Furthermore I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the River, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king´s forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy." And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me.
Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king´s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.

Question to Ponder
What difficult thing is God calling you to do? 
How can courage - based in your faith in God and His Word - provide what you need to move forward?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Original article can be found @ Why Readers, Scientifically, Are the Best People To Fall In Love With (Clickable Link)

An interesting read to ponder upon. To think of it... I used to think I was a weirdo as I can put myself in the book and feel everything the characters are feeling

Happy Reading and Happy Friday folks 

Why Readers, Scientifically, Are The Best People To Fall In Love With

Lauren Martin in CultureJul 9, 2014 • 1:59pm

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Ever finished a book? I mean, truly finished one? Cover to cover. Closed the spine with that slow awakening that comes with reentering consciousness?

You take a breath, deep from the bottom of your lungs and sit there. Book in both hands, your head staring down at the cover, back page or wall in front of you.

You’re grateful, thoughtful, pensive. You feel like a piece of you was just gained and lost. You’ve just experienced something deep, something intimate. (Maybe, erotic?) You just had an intense and somewhat transient metamorphosis.

Like falling in love with a stranger you will never see again, you ache with the yearning and sadness of an ended affair, but at the same time, feel satisfied. Full from the experience, the connection, the richness that comes after digesting another soul. You feel fed, if only for a little while.

This type of reading, according to TIME magazine’s Annie Murphy Paul, is called “deep reading,” a practice that is soon to be extinct now that people are skimming more and reading less.

Readers, like voicemail leavers and card writers, are now a dying breed, their numbers decreasing with every GIF list and online tabloid.

The worst part about this looming extinction is that readers are proven to be nicer and smarter than the average human, and maybe the only people worth falling in love with on this shallow hell on earth.

According to both 2006 and 2009 studies published by Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, those who read fiction are capable of the most empathy and “theory of mind,” which is the ability to hold opinions, beliefs and interests apart from their own.

They can entertain other ideas, without rejecting them and still retain their own. While this is supposed to be an innate trait in all humans, it requires varying levels of social experiences to bring into fruition and probably the reason your last partner was such a narcissist.

Did you ever see your ex with a book? Did you ever talk about books? If you didn’t, maybe you should think about changing your type.

It’s no surprise that readers are better people. Having experienced someone else’s life through abstract eyes, they’ve learned what it’s like to leave their bodies and see the world through other frames of reference.

They have access to hundreds of souls, and the collected wisdom of all them. They have seen things you’ll never understand and have experienced deaths of people you’ll never know.

They’ve learned what it’s like to be a woman, and a man. They know what it’s like to watch someone suffer. They are wise beyond their years.

Another 2010 study by Mar reinforces this idea with results that prove the more stories children have read to them, the keener their “theory of mind.” So while everyone thinks their kids are the best, the ones who read have the edge as they truly are the wiser, more adaptable and understanding children.

Because reading is something that molds you and adds to your character. Each triumph, lesson and pivotal moment of the protagonist becomes your own.

Every ache, pain and harsh truth becomes yours to bear. You’ve traveled with authors and experienced the pain, sorrow and anguish they suffered while writing through it. You’ve lived a thousand lives and come back to learn from each of them.

If you’re still looking for someone to complete you, to fill the void of your singly-healed heart, look for the breed that’s dying out. You will find them in coffee shops, parks and subways.

You will see them with backpacks, shoulder bags and suitcases. They will be inquisitive and soulful, and you will know by the first few minutes of talking to them.

They Won’t Talk To You… They’ll Speak To You

They will write you letters and texts in verse. They are verbose, but not in the obnoxious way. They do not merely answer questions and give statements, but counter with deep thoughts and profound theories. They will enrapture you with their knowledge of words and ideas.

According to the study, “What Reading Does For The Mind” by Anne E. Cunningham of the University of California, Berkeley, reading provides a vocabulary lesson that children could never attain by schooling.

According to Cunningham, “the bulk of vocabulary growth during a child’s lifetime occurs indirectly through language exposure rather than through direct teaching.”

Do yourself a favor and date someone who really knows how to use their tongue.

---

They Don’t Just Get You… They Understand You

You should only fall in love with someone who can see your soul. It should be someone who has reached inside you and holds those innermost parts of you no one could find before. It should be someone who doesn’t just know you, but wholly and completely understands you.

According to Psychologist David Comer Kidd, at the New School for Social Research, “What great writers do is to turn you into the writer. In literary fiction, the incompleteness of the characters turns your mind to trying to understand the minds of others.”

This is proved over and over again, the more people take to reading. Their ability to connect with characters they haven’t met makes their understanding of the people around them much easier.

They have the capacity for empathy. They may not always agree with you, but they will try to see things from your point of view.

---

They’re Not Just Smart… They’re Wise

Being overly smart is obnoxious, being wise is a turn on. There’s something irresistible about someone you can learn from. The need for banter and witty conversation is more imperative than you may believe, and falling in love with a reader will enhance not just the conversation, but the level of it.

According to Cunningham, readers are more intelligent, due to their increased vocabulary and memory skills, along with their ability to spot patterns. They have higher cognitive functions than the average non-reader and can communicate more thoroughly and effectively.

Finding someone who reads is like dating a thousand souls. It’s gaining the experience they’ve gained from everything they’ve ever read and the wisdom that comes with those experiences. It’s like dating a professor, a romantic and an explorer.

If you date someone who reads, then you, too, will live a thousand different lives.

Photo Courtesy: We Heart It

Gospel 101

Friday November 28, 2014

Suppose there was a non believer visiting your home church. At the end of the service your pastor asked you to share the gospel with the guest. What would you say to him? What about the good news would you present?

Peter defined the good news as "peace with God through Jesus Christ". Human beings are all born into sin and rebellion against God - we´re at war with Him. But peace is now possible because of what Jesus did on the cross.

Peter told his audience that Jesus' baptism showed that He was fully man and fully God (Acts 10:37, Matthew 3:13-17). Following this, the apostle said that Jesus has set us free from the power and bondage of Satan and sin (Acts 10:38). When He was put to death on a cross (v. 39), Jesus "took upon himself the curse for our wrong doing" (Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24). Peter also spoke of Jesus' resurrection. "But God raised him to life on the third day" (Acts 10:40).

In addition we don´t adequately proclaim the gospel if we leave out the solemn fact of the coming judgement. Peter warned that God has appointed Jesus "to be the judge of all - the living and the dead" (v. 42, see also Hebrews 9:27).

Peter concluded his gospel presentation with an invitation: "Everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through [Jesus'] name" (Acts 10:43). And he woub oldly present what Jesus lived out and taught, for he was a "[witness] of all he did" (vv. 39, 41).

Today we have the commission to go and tell others about him (v. 42, Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). What does that entail? Sharing the good news is simply telling people about who Jesus is and what He´s done to reconcile us to God. That´s the gospel 101! - K.T. Sim

Read
Acts 10:34-43
Then Peter began to speak : "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning of Galilee after the baptism that John preached -- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."

"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen -- by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more that five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Question to Ponder
Will you tell someone about Jesus this week?
What inspires you about Peter and his presentation of the claims of Christ?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Hope Renewed

Thursday November 27 2014

In December 2013, Australian worship leader Darlene Zschech went for a routine mammogram and was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the turmoil of raw emotions, specialist appointments and the scans and surgery that followed, she instinctively reached for hope from God´s Word - the Psalms in particular. In January 2014 she tweeted, "Psalm 91 in any version; God is so good to us all, cling to His Word and find hope that will never disappoint."

The Psalms are full of hope in the midst of tough times : The shameful consequences of sin (Psalms 32, 38, 51), the sorrow of loss (31:9, 116:3, 119:28), the wounds of rejection (27:10, 34:17-20, 66:16-20, 94:14) and the persistence of those who aim to ruin us (56:9, 59:1,10, 60:12).

David battled the ravages of depression. Yet in his darkest, mmost vulnerable moments, he spoke to his soul and commanded it to hope in God (42:11, 43:5). His efforts to run from the presence of his Creator proved futile, and he finally succumbed to the God he could never outrun (139:7-12).

The vulnerability found in the Psalms give hope to people such as the young person struggling with the destructive lure of sin (119:9-16), and the adult consumed by the ravages of rejection at birth (139:13-17). And when we´re about to be consumed by hopelessness, we´re assured that we´ll see the goodness of the Lord in this lifetime (27:13-14).

The Psalms point us to a God who doesn´t desert us in our weakness or at our most vulnerable moments. He journeys with us through the valley of the shadow of death, leaving us free from fear and full of hope (23:2-6). As David wrote, "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears" (34:4). - Ruth O'Reilly-Smith

Read
Psalm 34:1-22
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips,
My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
He saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me; 
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, 
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
He delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems his servants; 
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him

Jeremiah 29:11-13
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Question to Ponder
When have you given up and given in to the turmoil of a hopeless life?
Speak to your soul as David did, and command it to worship the God in whom you trust and hope.

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue.

The One who Confounds

Wednesday, November 26 2014

My 11 year old son Wyatt loves to watch some videos called "Minute Physics". They feature a young, genius professor who answers mind-boggling questions such as "What is dark matter?" and  "How does the sun work?"

Recently my son asked me, "Dad, do you think the universe is infinite?" I looked at him blankly before I began to fumble with a vague philosophical response about infinity. Processing my mangled words, I quickly retreated with a theological manoeuvre - tossing out a comment about God´s mystery. Wyatt looked at me for a moment, unimpressed, and said, "I think I´ll go watch a Mnute Physics video and see what he says."

I understand the shock Joseph and Mary [and all who were gathered in the temple] felt when they encountered young Jesus' profound curiosity and remarkable conversation. Jesus wasn´t even supposed to be in the temple. His family had left for home, but Jesus stayed behind (Luke 2:43). Three days later, when Jesus' family returned to Jerusalem and tracked him down, they were shocked to find him "sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions" (v.46). This wasn´t where they thought Jesus would be or what He would be doing, and He surprised more than just His parent.s "All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (v.47).

It´s not just the cross and resurrection (Jesus' unexpected way of redeeming humanity) or Jesus' disruptive teaching that conflicts with our expectations. He upends all we think we understand. God's Son, from His first breath to His ascension, confounds our human expectations and categories. This is good news, because our expectations are often too small. - Winn Collier

Read
Luke 2:39-52
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn´t you know I had to be in my Father´s house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God´s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Question to Ponder
What about Jesus and His teaching most confounds you? 
What can we know and understand about God?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Take the next Step

Tuesday November 25, 2014

Have you felt the crushing weight of despair? Perhaps a performance review was negative, a cancer screening was positive or your spouse wanted a divorce. Suddenly, your life seemed pretty much over.

Joseph of Arimathea had one of those days. Having been a secret follower of Jesus, he apparently was there when his fellow council members condemned Jesus to death (Luke 23:50-51). He thought Jesus was going to establish His kingdom on earth. But that hope was quickly dashed when Joseph witnessed Jesus´ death on dark day.

Then Joseph did something that didn´t seem worth the risk. It was a small gesture, yet it turned out to be part of the salvation story. Late that afternoon Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. If Joseph had fled with the rest of the disciples, the Saviour´s body would have been tossed on the rubbish dump with the other crucified criminals, to be eaten by dogs and vultures. There would have been little left to rise from the dead and Jesus´ prophecy about His burial would have been false (Matthew 12:40). But Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb, and so fulfilled another prophecy found in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53:9).

Emergency responders tell disaster victims to focus on the task at hand. Just do what you need to do to survive and wait for help to arrive. Help will surely come, if you believe in the Lord who saves. It may come in two days, as it did for Joseph, or not until this life is over. But it will come, for the same Spirit who raised Jesus will also "give life to your mortal bodies" (Romans 8:11).

Are you waiting for deliverance? Take the next step. It might be the very thing God uses in your rescue. - Mike Wittmer

Read
John 19:28-42
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus´ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken  and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled. "Not one of his bones will be broken," and as another scripture says, "They look on the one they have pierced."
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate´s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Psalms 3: 1-8
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring your prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones

Question to Ponder
What predicament in your life seems hopeless?
What small step can you take to express your confidence in God?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Out of Sight.....

Monday November 24, 2014

Paul´s prayer in Ephesians 3 has been a blessing to me, but it´s also slightly confusing. How are we supposed to grasp the full measure of God´s love for us when it's beyond our ability to understand? An experience with my son can help answer that question.

My wife and I are in the process of potty training our little guy, which means that in the middle of the night I wake him up and let him know it´s okay. Then I gently lift him from his bed, set him down on the toilet and smooth his sleep-tousled hair. When he´s done I stand him on the bathroom rug so that he won´t be shocked at the touch of the cold tile under his feet. Finally, I lay him back down on his bed once more, making sure that his favourite "blankie" is firmly in hand.

But because this takes place so late at night, and my son is so sleepy, I doubt he´ll remember these things I do for him. He may not even appreciate such things for years, until he has a similar experience.

God loves us in similar ways. He surrounds us with a thousand examples of love and care, both small and large (Ephesians 3:17-18). But because of the busyness of our lives, and our relative immaturity, we often miss these amazing displays of His deep love and care for us. We imagine instead that we endured the night all by ourselves, in our own strength and we wake up none the wiser as to who truly carried us through the darkness.

God´s love for us is too vast for us to comprehend (v. 19). His way are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), and His knowledge is too lofty for us to attain (Psalm 139:6). Even so, we can recognise by faith that our heavenly Father does much for us - things both seen and unseen. - Peter Chin

Read 
Ephesians 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written : "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Question to Ponder
Take a few minutes and consider what God has been doing for you. Have you ever been able to glimpse God´s unseen work after the fact? How will you praise God for the unseen things He does?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

He will Restore

Sunday November 23, 2014

The alarm clock rang promptly at 7 in the morning, Sophie woke up with a bad headache, but she thought nothing of it. She pushed away the covers and got out of bed. Suddenly, as a stroke devastated her brain, darkness descended and she collapsed to the floor. Sadly, situations like this one have been a reality for many people over the years.

Suffering often strikes us at the most unexpected hour and - for some people - it´s a constant companion. In times of pain and difficulty, we´re prone to doubt two things :  that God is in control and that He will care for us. We wonder : how can I trust God? It seems too hard when I´m in the middle of a crisis.

The apostle Peter offers some counsel. First of all he tells us to humble ourselves before God (1 Peter 5:6). God is God and we are not. He has a higher purpose, a clearer perspective and better timing for all things. So it´s vital that we submit ourselves to His control and His care, giving all our worries to Him, for He cares about us (v. 7).

Secondly, resist the devil (vv. 8-9). During trials we´re especially vulnerable to the enemy of our soul. He´ll try to make us doubt God´s goodness, accuse our conscience and cause us to believe that our suffering is unique. "Be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are" (v. 9).

Finally, hold on to God´s promises (vv. 10-11). He intends for you to share in His eternal glory. So He "will restore, support and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation" (v. 10).

The God of all grace is also all powerful. He will do it! - Poh Fang Chia

Read
1 Peter 5:6-11
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God´s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Job 38 1-41
The the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said :
" Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."
"Where were you when I laid the earth´s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?"
"Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther;Here is where your proud waves halt'?"
"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken."
" Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this."
"What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!"
"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle? What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it, to satisfy a desolate wasteland and to make it sprout with grass? Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?"
"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God´s dominion over the earth?"
"Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?"
"Who endowed the heart with wisdom or gave understanding to the mind? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?"
"Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in a thicket? Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?"

Question to Ponder
How does Peter´s counsel encourage you in your suffering?
Use 1 Peter 5:6-11 this week as a prayer guide for you and others who are suffering

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Not Far From Us

Saturday November 22 2014

Scientists tells us that the chemical element carbon is the building block of life. Hidden from the naked eye, this vital atom is in everything, from the air we breathe to the food we eat. In fact carbon makes up nearly 20 percent of the human body.

Without carbon, life as we know it wouldn´t exist. But where does it come from? How did it become the chemical backbone for all living things? This is where the amazing observations of peering through a microscope can take us only so far. Such answers can be found only through the lens of faith.

The pages of the Bible faithfully point to the answer. Twenty-seven of its 66 books speak of one creator God who "made the skies and the heavens and all the stars" as well as the "earth and the seas and everything in them" (Nehemiah 9:6; see also Jeremiah 10;11).

Paul gave the same answer in a speech he presented in ancient Athens. To a group of people who were interested in hearing more about the resurrection of Jesus, Paul declared that the one true God of the universe "made the world and everything in it" (Acts 17:24). Translation : Life as we know it, right down to the very carbon atoms we are made of, originates from one Source- the Maker of heaven and earth.

Paul goes on to declare that we're more than just an elaborate chemistry set to our Creator God. He loves us and knows us. Paul proclaimed that the God who "gives life and breath to everything" is not far from any of us (vv. 25, 27). Even though He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world, He wants people from all nations to find Him (vv. 30-31).

Seek your Maker today. He is there to be found. His handiwork can be seen and His presence can be felt. - Jeff Olson

Read 
Acts 17:24-31
"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshipped with men´s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Hi, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your poets have said, ' For we are also His offspring.' "
"Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man´s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Revelation 4:11
" You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."

Question to Ponder
How have you experienced God´s presence recently?
How can you seek Him in a fresh new way today?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Encouraging Words

Friday, November 21 2014

In the film Saving Mr Banks, writer Pamela Lyndon (P.L) Travers reluctantly agrees to allow Walt Disney to bring her beloved character Mary Poppins to the silver screen. Carrying deep emotional wounds, P.L  is controlling and cantankerous - causing the film adaptation of Mary POppins to be a difficult proposition for all those involved in the production. Unlike her literary character who could magically take flight, Travers - trapped within a cloud of bitter thoughts and memories - almost prevents the film version of Mary Poppins from getting off the ground.

Nahum and the people of Judah struggled under a dark cloud - the deadly threat of the Assyrians (who had destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel). This led to desperate thoughts and a bitter existence. But Nahum received a word from God - an encouraging word. Good news was "coming over the mountains" to lift them up and out of their valley of despair (1:15). God promised to one day destroy the evil empire at their doorstep. But not only would He destroy the Assyrians, He would also preserve His people - making for peace and celebration (vv. 12, 15).

This good news surely must have lifted the poeples` spirits and filled their hearts with hope. Nahum, inspired by God, declared, "the Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him" (v. 7).

P.L Travers, moved by some lyrics composed for the movie Mary Poppins, found relief from her dark thoughts as she sang "Let´s go fly a kite ..." in a scene from Saving Mr Banks. Are you feeling trapped beneath a dark cloud caused by bitter life circumstances? Allow God´s encouraging words to lift your heart today! - Tom Felten

Read
Nahum 1:7-15
The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble;
And He knows those who trust in Him.
But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place,
And darkness will pursue His enemies.

What do you conspire against the Lord?  He will make an utter end of it.
Affliction will not rise up a second time.
For while tangled like thorns, 
And while drunken like drunkards,
They shall be devoured like stubble fully dried,
From you comes forth one
Who plots evil against the Lord, 
A wicked counselor.

Thus says the Lord:
"Though they are safe, and likewise many,
Yet in this manner they will be cut down
When he passes through.
Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more;
For now I will break off his yoke from you,
And burst your bonds apart."

The Lord has given a command concerning you :
"Your name shall be perpetuated no longer.
Out of the house of your gods
I will cut off the carved image and the molded image.
I will dig your grave, 
For you are vile."

Behold, on the mountains
The feet of him who brings good tidings,
Who proclaims peace!
O Judah, keep your appointed feasts,
perform your vows.
For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; 
He is utterly cut off.

Lamentations 3:19-26
"Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul."
Then the hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, "Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you." So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.
Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me : "Go, shut yourself inside your house. And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them. I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be a reprover to them, for they are a rebellious house."

Question to Ponder
What bitter memories and painful circumstances are darkening your world today?
What will you do to bring those thinsg to God and claim the encouraging truths found in His Word?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue

Unfair and Unjust

Thursday, November 20 2014

At a recent kids´function, I watched two boys play a jousting game on an inflatable "fighting" ring. Each boy was instructed to stand on an inflated pedestal and use and oversized inflatable pole to knock the other off his perch. The one who fell off first would lose.

Well, in this case, the boys continued jousting after they´d  fallen off their mounts. Though the instructor asked them to stop, one boy continued pushing the other backwards, making it appear as if both boys were disobeying authority. The boy being pushed wanted to quit, but he was forced to resist the attack of his stronger opponent.

There are times in life when we´re falsely accused or find ourselves in trouble even when we´ve tried to do the right thing. Joseph could relate. When Potiphar´s wife attempted to seduce him, he replied, "No one here has more authority than I do. He [Potiphar] has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God" (Genesis 39:9).

But Potiphar´s wife refused to relent and "kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day." And though Joseph "refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way" (v.10), he landed in prison after Potiphar´s shunned wife fabricated charges against him (vv. 17-18).

Joseph´s imprisonment was unfair. But the Lord knew the truth and "was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love," ultimately making him a favourite with the prison warden and causing everything Joseph did to succeed (vv. 21-23).

At times we will be treated unjustly. But as we seek to honour our just God, He will enable us to emerge from trials victorious in His eyes - Roxanne Robbins

Read

Genesis 39:1-23

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.
So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put in his hand. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian´s house for Joseph´s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
So he left all that he had in Joseph´s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. And Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 
Now it came to pass after these things that his master´s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master´s wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. 
But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice."
"And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside."
So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside."
So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant did to me after this manner," that his anger was aroused.
Then Joseph master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king´s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph´s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph´s hand, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

1 Peter 2:19
For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

Question to Ponder
When have you patiently endured unfair treatment and seen God help you rise above the situation?
How does knowing that God is just help you to endure the unfair times of life?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014

Are your kids abroad because the education system ‘sucks’?

Indeed.... a very good point to ponder on.

How many of the ministers and political leaders of Malaysia have their children actually in the local public schools instead of International and Private schools - abroad or locally? And why are they supporting these International schools instead of the local government schools? Proof that they know the Malaysian education system is screwed?

What would you think? 
Original Post : Are your kids abroad because our education system "Sucks"?

MALAYSIA

Are your kids abroad because our education system ‘sucks’? Kit Siang asks Cabinet

PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 19, 2014 11:09:38 AM

Lim Kit Siang asked incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak if he would tell all ministers in his Cabinet to resign if they send their children to private or international schools, whether local or foreign. — Picture by Yusof Mat IsaKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — In continuing his tirade against federal government leaders for lacking faith in the national education system, Lim Kit Siang questioned today their rationale for enrolling their children in international schools.

The DAP veteran asked if it was because “Malaysia’s education system sucks” and that Malaysian schools have continued to trail behind in the bottom third of countries surveyed in a number of international assessments.

“I have been informed that one of the first things a minister of the Najib Cabinet did on his appointment was to transfer one of his children to an international school,” Lim claimed in a statement.

“Why?” the Gelang Patah MP asked, before continuing, “Is this because Malaysia’s education system sucks?”

Yesterday, Lim demanded that all federal ministers and their deputies come clean on whether they send their children and grandchildren to public schools, claiming that there is no evidence to show that top BN leaders actually support the national education system.

The senior DAP leader said it was quite a boast for deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, to claim that the Malaysian education system was better than that of the United States, Britain and Germany, when he has not even asked the Umno General Assembly to endorse his claim.

Citing his old rival and former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Lim said it was an open secret that Cabinet ministers have for a long time sent their children to private and international schools where English is the teaching medium.

Today, Lim asked incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak if he would tell all ministers in his Cabinet to resign if they send their children to private or international schools, whether local or foreign.

He pointed out that by sending their children to these schools, it reflects their lack of confidence in an education system built by the BN leadership.

Lim noted that recent world university rankings showed a power shift from the West to the East, with Asian universities now proving their mettle by shooting up the ladder to surpass their western counterparts.

For example, he said, 24 Asian universities listed in the top 200 universities in the 2014 Times Higher Education World University Rankings compared with 20 a year earlier—led by Tokyo University and National University of Singapore in the top 25.

“But this seismic shift in the continuing erosion of United States and United Kingdom domination of global higher education and the inexorable rise of Asian universities seemed to have completely by-passed Malaysia, despite our annual massive expenditures on education,” Lim pointed out.

The same trend was shown in the US News and World Report’s 500 Best Global Universities Ranking 2015 last month, where Malaysia’s premier university, the University of Malaya was the only university listed in the very “lowly” position of 423, he said.

In the 100 Best Global Universities survey for 21 subjects, Malaysia was only placed in two of the 2,100 slots in its ranking, with Universiti Putra Malaysia taking 54th place for agricultural science and Universiti Sains Malaysia taking 87th place for engineering.

“It is scandalous and shameful that out of the 2,100 slots, Malaysia’s 21 public universities which have a total of over 200 schools for different disciplines, could only manage to be placed in slots for two subjects,” Lim lamented.

Singapore, on the other hand, won 20 slots, while even Thailand took two spots.

“But Umno/BN ministers and leaders are not really concerned about the deteriorating standards of education and higher education in Malaysia,” the DAP lawmaker said.

This, he said, is because they have ensured even their own kids are out of the national school system.

“How many Umno/BN Ministers and leaders dare to declare that they do not send their children to private or international schools, local or foreign?” he asked.

Interracial marriages put national harmony at risk

Interesting headlines there isn´t it? 

This was what I saw on the news portal of the Malaysia´s Malay Mail Online. 

Sometimes, reading such articles, makes me wonder.... have all the "high ranking" people or the "people in the government" there lost their marbles or something? Or is it that the country have too much free moments that they are digging such matters up to make it into a humongous racial issue to divide up the citizens? If they are really so free... why don´t they settle issues like the crime rates in Malaysia? Or what really happened to that missing airlines MH 370? Or even try to make the citizens in Malaysia feel more comfortable, safe and happy living there - instead of hiking up all those costs of living?

But nooooooo..... all they ever really love doing is dragging up racial issues one after another in the press. In fact, in this article, that wonderful person who says that Interracial marriages are a risk is quoting 2 marriages, which are Non Muslims. So what if in the midst of the marriage one of the partner had a "calling" to convert to Muslim? The marriage was sanctified by the "Non Muslims" laws, so treat it that way. Why not just point blank say that you guys don´t have anything better to do and decide to drag such issues into a racial issue? The lawyers are correct by saying that the marriages are done and sealed by 2 non Muslims, so let the civil court decide on the matter. Or is it that they just want and love wrapping everything up in their own wings to look important, and when things go astray - start blaming on the first thing and person they can think of?

Happy reading and pondering

Original article can be found at : Interracial Marriages Put National Harmony At Risk

Interracial marriages put national harmony at risk, AG says

NOVEMBER 19, 2014

Tan Sri Abdul gani Patail said interracial marriages created the 'new conflict' between civil law and Shariah law on the issues of unilateral conversion of children and child custody disputes where only one spouse converts to Islam. - File pic

KUALA LUMPUER, Nov 19 — "Marriages between Malaysians of different races risk harming national harmony", Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said, nothing that many such unions have resulted in bitter disputes over the religious statues of the couple´s offspring.

The Attorney-General noted that apart from these legal battles, such marriages have also led to claims of "racial discrimination".

The top lawyer added, however, that law reforms meant to solve such problems have yet to be approved.

He said interracial marriages also created the "new conflict" between civil law and Shariah law on the issues of unilateral conversion of children and child custody disputes where only one spouse converts to Islam.

"The increasing number of cases has also raised allegations of racial discrimination by the courts and authorities. The anguish to the families cannot be overstated and that is a fact."

"In this regard, the failure of the converting spouses to resolve the family arrangements prior to conversion and in fact, attempting to use the different jurisdictions of the civil and Syariah courts to their advantage, jeopardizes not only family harmony but potentially national harmony." the top government lawyer said according to his written speech from the ILKAP National Law Conference 2014 last week.

Abdul Gani said the problem of enforcing conflicting orders from the civil courts and Shariah courts in such disputes then calls into question the Attorney-General´s Chambers (AGC) and police´s integrity, adding that this would hammer their ability to effectively carry out their duties.

Abdul Gani did not name any examples of such court cases, but there are two high-profile cases that have hit national headlies - the cases of non-Muslim mothers Indira Gandhi and Deepa Subramaniam, where both women´s Muslim convert ex-husbands ran off with their children.

In both cases, the Muslim convert ex-husbands cited the Shariah court orders granting child custody to them when refusing to comply with the civil court´s child custody orders in favour of their former spouse.

Despite recovery orders from the Ipoh High Court and Seremban High COurt directing the police to act to find and return the abducted children to the non-Muslim mothers, the police have declined to take action and are now seeking the courts' clarification instead.

Abdul Gani said proposed amendments to three laws were mooted in 2009 to ensure that matters such as child custody and child maintenance would be decided by the court where the marriage was registered.

"These amendments, however, remain pending," he said, without elaborating further.

He listed down the three laws of Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976, the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 and the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993.

Lawyers have argued that child custody matters for a marriage that was initially between two non-Muslims should be decided by the civil courts even if a spouse later converts to Islam.

This is because a marriage that started out as a civil union should end or have any related issues ruled upon in the civil courts, instead of the Shariah courts for marriages between two Muslims, the lawyers said.