it's been a long long time...

It's been a realy long time since I last blogged. I kind of missed this idea of journaling publicly.
Many things have taken place in the past 3 months that I've been silent. Nevertheless... God is good, I'm grateful for everything He's given me.

My humble apology to those who wanted to buy furminators from me, as I did not check my blog comment for the past few months. Very very sorry indeed.. i have sent emails to you.

As I was chopping the lemon grass just now, I almost chopped off my finger. I thank God for His protection. I was chopping at jet-speed (to me), just hacking those lemon grass repetitively with the parang in my right hand, while my left swiftly get closer to the parang. They got so close that my finger got under the parang!

Thank God, just at that moment my right hand gentled her hacking. Else... ouh.... I don't want to imagine. So now I've got a broken finger, but intact finger. Thank you for your covering upon me Jesus!!

Thank you Jesus, and love you!! =)

Help rescue bears from the horror of bear baiting

Zidi is about to be attacked by dogs for sport. He's petrified with fear. And he's too weak to stand but that won't stop his owner from dragging him into the hot, dusty arena once again.
In rural Pakistan, up to 2,000 spectators will assemble to watch a tethered and clawless bear set upon by trained fighting dogs.

Soon, he'll tie Zidi to a post and watch as two trained fighting dogs launch a savage attack on him, yanking him to the ground as the crowds cheer for more. Zidi's teeth and claws were pullet out years ago so he is left utterly helpless. The only reason Zidi will be saved from death is so he can be thrown back to the dogs again and again. All in the name of the "sport" of bear baiting.

We can't leave Zidi to endure this. But we can't rescue him from the horrors of bear baiting without your help.

Help WSPA end bear baiting

Working with the Pakistani authorities and the Pakistan Biodiversity Research Centre (PBRC), WSPA is halting an increasing number of bear baiting events.

Your donation will fund our work to continue and help WSPA reach our ultimate goal – to stamp out bear baiting for good.

vicstandp.blogspot.com
http://www.wspa.org.uk/wspaswork/bears/bearbaiting/savagebloodsport.aspx

I'm very pissed off with DIGI SUPER LONG LIFE

Or perhaps I should say I'm pissed off with Digi technical/ information centre/ website or whatever.

Reason being I have reloaded a substantial amount of money into my handphone - and when my time's up, I tried to use the Digi Super Long Life. THe problem is, when I tried and failed and failed again, I decided to call the DIgi helpline.

After waiting for a few minutes, I finally get to speak to the DIGI consultant. When I explained my predicament to the consultant, he simply told me, you cannot reload because your account is no longer valid.

I asked him, why would anyone want to reload their account when their account is still valid with that much of money in their account?!!

Then he told me, it's not a reload, it's a service. What a nonsense.

I told him to refer to his DIGI website - super long life is categorized under the "RELOAD" column. He repeated the same thing to me, you cannot use this service because your account is no longer valid.

I did not need to hear that, I knew that my account is not valid even before making that call. My problem is, why can't we reload after our account time's up (expires). And his excuse is, this is not a reload, it's a service. I'm not impressed, at all.

So I see that there's no use of speaking to the consultant. I suggested to him to add to the website - please put it down in your website that,

1. This is not a reload, it is a service.
2. This service is only applicable for accounts which have not expired.

Walking my dog is fun (though it could have been better!)

I walk my dogs daily. They're mutts. It's a pleasure to walk them - I get to breathe the fresh air, without getting bored (coz they're always up to something), I get to see what's going around my neighbourhood... talk to my neighbours... and just refresh myself.

There is this uncle who's always watering his plants and always wave his hands to me (I don't know his name yet!), there's this uncle who's always gardening.. and there's this rich man who does gardening on his own... there's this uncle who always ask the same question everytime he sees me, "Taken your meal? Me not yet wor... go eat with me la..." and there are these aunties who always spend their evenings walking around the field... this uncle with his barking schnauzer... this neighbour who always let his dogs walk freely around him then go hunting for the dogs when they run away - especially the black intact male. Haha.

However, not everyone who comes my way are pleasant. There are a few who always give the same joking remarks like, "Why keep a mutt??" or "Why you keep two dogs? So free hah you..." or "Hey, I'm planning to make a soup out of your mutt today..."

There are also those whom do not make any noise, but the look in their eyes are just as annoying. Snobbish look, the look like "Hey, hey, don't come near me.. Your dog bites." Even an aunty who keeps a cocker spaniel - she's one of my top annoying neighbour. Everytime we walk our dogs, and we're like 10m from each other she'll flash her glare at me, and shouts, "Hey go walk away! Don't come near my dog!"

Of course, by arguing and justifying myself with her is a total waste of time. After all, my walk with my dog should be a pleasure. Often I'll meet joggers who usually distant themselves and jog away from me/my dogs, or give the "Japanese-eye-look" or the "Don't-get-near-me-look" and jog away. So I'm used to making my dog stay or walk away from joggers when I see them.

Just now when I was walking Kim, I saw a jogger, who puts on this serious mask on his face. As I was pulling Kim away from him, Kim kept rushing toward the jogger, which really annoys me, for I did not want to offend people. What surprised me was, instead of giving those weird looks or running away from me, this jogger actually smiled and laughed and even played with Kim. I was shocked.

I'm sure Kim felt accepted and contented today. As for me, I'm glad there's a rose among the thorns.

He is the God who sees me.

August 31, 2011
Silent Longings
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
She (Hagar) gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me’ (Genesis 16:13, NIV).

Friend To Friend
Everyone wants to be noticed, to be cared for, to be loved. How my heart breaks with David’s words, “No one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:4). He is crying out during one of the darkest times in his life and felt all alone in his struggle to survive. We might expect to hear those words from the crowded city streets as men and women scurry about in their power suits off to make the next deal. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear those words from a vagrant huddled under a bridge with all his worldly possessions stuffed in a plastic grocery bag. But would we expect it from the person sitting beside us in the church pew, the co-worker in the next cubicle, or the mother of three next door?

While flying from the east coast to the west coast, I watched an in flight movie, a cleaned up version of What Women Want staringMel Gibson. Mr. Marshal (Mel Gibson) worked at an advertising firm with a host of busy men and women bustling about in their own little self-absorbed worlds. In a strange twist of events, Mr. Marshal is “electrically altered” when he slips in the bathroom and falls into the bathtub, along with a hair dryer. When he regains consciousness after his shocking experience, he has the ability to read women’s minds and hear their thoughts. With his new perceptive powers, he lands a huge Nike advertising account and wins the heart of the leading lady…of course. But there is one poignant sideline of the movie that grabbed my heart.

In the movie, one young nondescript woman in his office had thoughts that stopped Marshal in his tracks. What if I just jumped out the window? Would anyone notice? I could be gone for days and no one would notice…until the files started piling up. Then they’d say, ’Where’s the geek with the glasses who carries the files?’

No one did notice the errand girl who refused to make eye contact with her fellow employees, except Marshal, who could hear her thoughts.

One day, the young women (who we learn is named Erin), doesn’t show up for work?

“Where’s Erin?” Marshal asked as he notices a pile of files sitting on her desk.

“I don’t know,” someone replies. “She didn’t show up for work today.”

Fearing the worst, Marshal locates Erin’s address and dashes out to stop her from ending her life.

Bursting into her apartment Marshal sees a suicide letter lying on the table and his heart sinks. A startled Erin walks into the room.

“Mr. Marshal, what are you doing here?”

“I’m glad I got here before you hurt yourself?” he replied.

“What makes you think I was going to hurt myself?”

“I just sensed it,” he answered.

“Really? You sensed it? That’s not good.”

Then Marshal brilliantly changes course. “The real reason I’m here is to offer you a job. You know we got the Nike account and we were wondering who would be a real spitfire to work on this project…” Marshal offers Erin a job and rescues her from the despair of feeling unwanted, unloved, and unimportant.

I’m not suggesting that you watch the movie. After all, it was a cleaned up airline version. However, I am suggesting that you ponder the situation. I believe that men and women walk past us every day, just like Erin in this movie, who feel that they have no significant purpose in this world. Like Erin, I know that there are many who feel that their sudden disappearance would cause little fanfare or concern. It might be the woman who passes you in the hall at work, the rebellious looking teen who shuffles by you at the mall, or the businessman dashing to his next appointment. It takes so little to let someone know that they are significant. We have the ability to give someone hope by offering a simple word of acknowledgement.

Dr. David Jeremiah wrote, “We are shaped by those who love us or refuse to love us, and by those whom we love or refuse to love” (Dr. David Jeremiah, The Power of Encouragement (Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah, 1997), p. 13) . It is an amazing opportunity given to each of us as we walk through our day to shape and mold those around us with a simple word of encouragement, acknowledgement, or appreciation. The world is crying out for love - a positive word, a tender touch, a morsel of praise. Sometimes a simple “hello” can be a boost to someone starving to be noticed. Many people are so lonely that any token of attention is like a drop of rain on dry parched ground.

Jesus met a woman who felt very insignificant – bone weary and bone dry. As he talked to her by a well, He said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13, 14 NIV). Yes, Jesus is the living water that people need. Isn’t it amazing that He allows us to hold the cup - to offer the only drink that will satisfy.

Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You that you always see me and notice what I’m going through. You know every hair on my head! Help me to never loose sight of the fact that I am very significant in Your eyes. You loved me so much that You gave Your Son, Jesus, so that I might have eternal life with You. I praise Your Holy Name.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Now It’s Your Turn

What's the reason behind Nazri's smile???

Ten Canine Commandments for all.

This is really good. I almost cried before finish reading it. :') Nice one, indeed.

Bersih 2.0 - Understanding CLEAN (Bersih)

I also got this from email circulation - too bad I don't have the author's name. But what he/she wrote speaks for majority Malaysians on Bersih 2.0.
Let us continue to uphold this nation continually in our prayers, that all these wickedness and evil will be purged.

1. Datuk Ambiga did not conceive this movement. It was born out of a civil society movement to which I am proud and happy to be part of since 2007. Ambiga was invited to be Chairman for Bersih 2.0 (2007 being Bersih 1.0), to keep the movement going and the first thing she did was to seek resignation of all members of the Committee who are also leaders of political parties. She correctly wanted the movement to be bi-partisan. Invitations were given to BN political parties to endorse the movement. But it seems only the Opposition parties agree with the 8 demands of Bersih - which safeguards our constitutional rights in ensuring that we have a healthy democracy.

2. It is a rakyat driven movement - the ideals of democracy - by the people, for the people, of the people. It is not led by Anwar Ibrahim, PKR or any foreign bodies. It is led by Ambiga and her 13 fearless committee members - but in reality - the movement is by the people and for the people and about the people. You should check the number of the endorsees/NGOs and volunteers for Bersih 2.0. They are upstanding people - retired patriots who servedthe nation before Merdeka to young voters/volunters - university students who have their places in uni at risk.

3. Bersih 2.0 is not just a street protest. The street protest is only one of the its many activities. What should be the focus is the 8 point demands. No sane rational person will find fault with the 8 points. The other activities held were to gain support from many groups and to impress on the Election Commission on the import of the 8 points for the past 2 years. It is for everyone to see how the EC was not receptive to the 8 points. In fact, EC has closed its eyes on the rampant abuse of the electoral process in all the byelections since 2008. Look at the 8 points:

1.that the EC clean up the electoral roll,

2.reform postal voting,

3.use indelible ink,

4.introduce a minimum 21-day campaign period,

5.allow all parties free and fair access to the media,

6.strengthen public institutions,

7.stop corruption,

8.put an end to dirty politics.

They have advocacy as well as educational programs to educate the public on their constitutional rights. Why? Because the government we have today needs the education too. Look at the PM, the Cabinet, the AG, the Police, the Universities, the Judiciary and the mainstream Media (Judiciary and Media lumped with government, though in a ideal world these 2 institution shd be independent).

4. BN did not lose badly in the last elections. It still managed to gain majority but at a laugh since the electrorate roll and the boundaries for constituencies were very questionable. Tens of thousands of new registered voters were not allowed to vote even though it is well within their constitutional right as registered voters.

5. The by-elections for the past 2 years have been heavily tainted with money politics - using tax payers money. I am more appalled at the head of BN,the current PM making a direct offer - "you help me and I will help you..." . Amazing how shameless! BN's generosity during the past elections (hahaha with my tax payers money) is disgusting. And the very same leader of BN saying he will protect Putrajaya at all cost. Putrajaya does not belong to him. It does not belong to BN. It belongs to the rakyat.

( see the PM - 10 seconds into the video uploaded at http://www.youtube.com/watch?EUKMi6U4xY&feature=related )

6. What makes me want to be out there on 9 July 2011 - is the not just the 8 points, not just because I believe it is timely for Malaysians to come united to protect their basic democratic right, the very foundation of our nation, our democracy - it is now fuelled by the anger and disgust I have - that the government that is for the people is attacking the people - telling us that it is not legal to exercise my constitutional right to peaceably assemble, arresting people for exercising their constitutional rights in freedom of association and expression. Wearing Bersih Tshirts is a threat to national security? Attending a community gotong royong wearing tshirts saying "Negara Bersih, Rakyat Bertuah" is a threat to national security? Waging war against the King? Seriously?!!!

7. Tell me what force is at play - foreign or local - aside from the discontent of a people who is ashamed of the government we have today. Ambiga met many foreign bodies - you will know Bersih 2.0 have moved beyond Malaysian shores. There are chapters in Japan, Korea, Australia, England and the US led by Malaysians and friends of Malaysia. So what if there are foreign bodies involved, if at all? The question to ask- what does Bersih stand for that it has sparked a solidarity across the globe?

8. Tell me what threatens our national security? Tell me why my government is robbing me of my constitutional rights? Tell me why the PM had also threaten to bring out 3 million UMNO memebers to rally agaisnt Bersih when his home minister is quick to ban Bersih 2? Ambiga has asked for a safe route for people to peaceably assemble. How difficult is that? Every few months our government closes public roads for hours - to hold marathons, cycling events, national day parades. Bersih 1.0 whith 50,000 people in 2007 (official mainstream firgures) (unofficial 80,000 to 100,000) went about rather peacabley until the police moved in with their water cannons and batons and tear gas.

Why don't the government take action against or the police arrest the likes of Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali and the editors of Utusan Malysia who spew racial slurs? The PM threatens to bring 3 million street protestors? Ambiga is defamed as being anti-Malay, anti-Islam,anti-Malaysia - choses not to defend herself and rightly so - it's plain to see. She's a hero in our midst. We dont need the USA to honour her as an international woman of courage. She is a National Hero. (And yes, she is a personal friend, one will not defend her own honour because she is honourable).

9. Tell me how you can disagree that something is seriously wrong with the government we have today. Tell me how you can disagree with the 8 points that makes Bershih 2.0. Tell me what avenues the people have to safeguard their constitutional rights when the very governement in place is the robber?

10. Since we are friends, I suggest perhaps you spend more time in Malaysia and see how we can have a government who told us the nation will go bankrupt is we do not cut subsidies, yet have money 63 million to refurbish (not even build a new palace) the PM's home, 35million for a pavillion at the World Expo, 1.8million for facebook, 100 million for a new tower, not to mention the costs overrun for all national projects? A government that can afford to give Lynas, a foreign company, 12 years tax free benefit when it brings radioactive materials into our country and leaves radioactive waste behind but projects an earning of hundreds of millions for the next few years- for rare-earth processing which no developed nation no matter how rich in rare-earth materials supply or how high the demand would not even consider building such plants? (China has its planst in outer mongolia, we have ours 25kms from Kuantan, 250 km from KL).

The list of my disgruntled discontent is long. I want a change not just for me but for the next generation - and change is possible through the electoral process. I just want a fair and free electoral process, my very basic right as a Malaysian.

My Bersih 2.0 Experience - Marina Mahathir

I got this from email circulation - too good not to share.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

My Bersih 2.0 Experience - Marina Mahathir

So I went.

I have to say that the night before I had many many misgivings, especially after reading about the army doing exercises with the FRU. Could the government seriously be contemplating shooting their own people? Who knows? My stomach was in knots thinking about the many young people I knew who were intent on going, including my daughter. Would I be able to forgive myself if something happened to them?

After seeking advice from various friends, I finally decided that I could not stay safely at home while my daughter, friends and colleagues faced possible danger. I had to walk with them. Besides even if I stayed home, I would have spent all my time worrying. So I had to go.

A friend who lived in the city offered to be my protector and together we devised a plan on what to do. Hubby was supportive and gave some advice on how to stay safe. My neighbours also wanted to come along. So fairly earlyish, my friend drove over to get me with no problem and we headed back into the city. Despite the roadblocks in some areas, we encountered no problems. In fact driving into KL was so pleasant because the roads were so clear. The police directed traffic where they had to and were generally cooperative ( except for one we saw arguing with a man trying to get into his own condo). We got to a roadblock in the KLCC area and my friend explained that he lived in the area and they let us through, four people in a car dressed as if we were going hiking!

From my friend’s apartment block, we walked to Times Square and parked ourselves at the Starbucks for a coffee while we waited. A cursory look around the outlet and mall revealed that many people were doing the same thing. Meanwhile a whole van of police was stationed outside the mall but after a while they all went off.

We kept in touch with various friends around the city to find out where they were and what the situation was. At about 12.30 we started to walk up Jalan Hang Tuah towards the stadium area. We were not in big groups, just people out on a weekend stroll. We thought we would encounter police in front of the big police headquarters in front of Pudu Jail but there was nothing. When we got to the corner of Jalan Hang Jebat, we saw some police motorcycles and only a couple of cops. Lots of people were just sitting on the curbside under the eye of the cops. It was pretty clear what all these people were there for.

We walked along Jalan Hang Jebat in front of Stadium Negara towards the OCM and found many other friends waiting there. Apparently at one point the cops had given chase even though there was no reason to and caught some people and hauled them off. But from then on we could sit and wait by the curb without anyone disturbing us.

Jalan Hang Jebat and the small road that led up to Stadium Merdeka stayed pretty quiet. Members of the Bar Council (who had to suffer wearing their suits in the heat just so that we could spot them easily) walked around observing what was happening. At one point one woman in a suit sat herself at the intersection to take notes.

One lone woman lawyer at her station, Jln Hang Jebat

We all debated whether to stay there or move down to Petaling Street but we were afraid that we wouldn’t be let back up again. Then it started to rain. My friend and I sought shelter under some hoarding along with young people. Just then I got a message that we were to go to KL Sentral. After confirming this with a friend at Sentral, my friends and I started to walk down Hang Jebat just as a large group of people started walking up. The rain was pouring at that point and I didn’t know quite what to do, whether to tell people they should turn round or not.

Seeking shelter for a while under a shop five-foot way, I talked to various other friends and eventually decided to head back to the stadium area where I found my daughter and lots of other friends there. The main group earlier had gone up to Stadium Merdeka, did some chanting in front of the FRU and then headed down again. But many people hung about just to observe everything and soak in the atmosphere. One group of young people had yellow ribbons on sticks and started a little dance. Others were buying ice cream from a bicycle vendor who came by. There was a real carnival atmosphere.

Here's a video of the rally yesterday taken by my daughter. As you can see, it was peaceful. And every time some people started chanting 'reformasi', someone else would start a louder chant of 'Bersih'.

I have to say that I never felt safer than when I was in the crowd. People recognized me and said hello. Some wanted to take photos. It didn’t feel any different from any other Saturday out. And to be perfectly fair, the cops and FRU in my area showed admirable restraint. They saw that people were not doing anything more than chanting and nobody was harming anyone so they just stood there and left everyone to do their thing. We came across a whole FRU unit blocking a lane next to the Chinese temple at the roundabout at the bottom of Jalan Maharajalela, waved at them and they waved. Cool cops!

Of course not everyone had the same experience. Here’s an account from a colleague who was in a different street:

Unfortunately my experience wasn't so benign. I was part of the marchers (along with A and others) who were effectively kettled by the police in Jalan Pudu. FRU units to the front and back of us prevented us from leaving, and we were trapped by the walls of a construction site opposite Tung Shin Hospital after the FRUs pushed us back. It was probably the worst of the hotspots because of that: when the police started firing round after round of tear gas at us, we had nowhere to run to. I think they were determined to make an example out of us, because they bloody well tear-gassed and sprayed us with water cannons when they had no reason to do so.

We were all tear-gassed at least three, four times. An NGO staffer was hit by a canister. V told me that she saw people jumping off the second floor of the Puduraya bus terminal because the police had released tear gas too close to the terminal and the wind carried the fumes into the enclosed building. When the marchers ran for shelter in Tung Shin Hospital, the police fired tear gas and water cannons INTO the hospital grounds. Later the police lured us into re-assembling on the road on the pretext of negotiating a peaceful dispersal. They arrested the MP (Sivarasa) who was doing the negotiating, then -- after ordering us to sit down so (as we realised later) we would be sitting ducks -- they fired more tear gas and water cannons at us. A, myself and our companions eventually managed to find a way out from the trap via the Santo Antonius church and (irony of ironies) the car park of the Hang Tuah police station (near the monorail station). There were so many very brave people yesterday.

I now know that smearing toothpaste under the eyes to reduce irritation caused by tear gas actually works (thanks, A)! I'm still itchy and short of breath from all that tear gas, which is a bit annoying. But really, mostly what I remember of the rally was how moving it was: the solidarity among the protesters, how people looked out for one another. Whenever I was tear-gassed there was a stranger running along at my side and offering me and my friends salt to counteract the effects. When the police sprayed chemical-laced water cannons into the crowd and the people affected cried out for water to wash the stuff away, others turned and ran back toward the cannons with bottles of water to help. People helped others climb up a hill towards the hospital to escape (some guy helped me up the steep slope). Someone always stepped up to make sure that a panicked run doesn't turn into a stampede, including an elderly woman who took it upon herself to guide the marchers to safety. She's a first-time marcher to boot! Actually there were lots of first-time marchers, and more young middle-class urbanites than I've ever seen at any other rallies including the 2007 Bersih rally. At one point people started picking up the tear gas canisters and throwing them back at the police, or kicking the canisters safely away from the marchers and bystanders. I heard via the #bersihstories Twitter hashtag when the police fired tear gas into Tung Shin, there were people who grabbed the canisters and wrapped them in their own towels, then threw the canisters into the drain so there wouldn't be so much fumes.

And another one, about people’s goodness:

My group has a lovely little story to tell as well, of how we escaped from the Tung Shin hospital area after one of the tear gas attacks. We took a little alley uphill between the shophouses, and there was a block of flats there. One of the residents told us to go through the building to get out through the back! We climbed upstairs and then along the opposite corridor a woman shouted and pointed, "That way, go that way, there is an exit out the back!" and we scuttled along our corridor, down the back stairs and found ourselves safe outside on Changkat Tung Shin or something like that.

Rakyat all contributing in their own ways!

There are many stories and photos, both good and bad, of the whole event. But to me what was most important was that Malaysians proved two things: one, they can assemble together on a common cause peacefully and two, therefore showed that they are a mature people. The fact is that there were all kinds of people there, young and old, all races and religions and all classes and creeds. I bumped into many young people, the children of my friends, who had come to see what it was all about and decide for themselves what to think about the issue.

Do these people look like hooligans to you?

Whatever one thinks about the issue that Bersih is espousing, we should all be proud of our fellow Malaysians who did not, despite dire predictions by some, behave like hooligans and destroy property and hurt one another. There were people hurt and one death but people who had participated in the rally did not cause them. The restaurants and shops around the area were doing roaring business as people got thirsty and hungry.

There are also some people claiming that the world now has a bad impression of Malaysia because the foreign media (and the local media for that matter) reported only about the teargassing and water-cannoning. I think people are confusing the government with the people. Yes, the world now has a bad impression of the Malaysian government because it has handled this whole issue so badly. They don’t have the same impression of the Malaysians who stood up for their rights and their cause.

This is what gives a good impression: protestors and police shaking hands before dispersing at 4pm.

And by the way, I can’t believe some of the mean things being said about the man who died after being teargassed! My goodness, every time I read totally uncompassionate things like that, I know that I’m on the right side.

Bersih 2.0. Who is Ambiga Sreenevasan?

Ambiga Sreenevasan : the humble recipient of Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage

(Malaysian Bar Council)

This is the lady who will lead the BERSIH 2.0 march on 9 July 2011.

Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama

12 Mar 2009, 0853 hrs IST

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama present give away Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage to Malaysia 's Ambiga Sreenevasan (Malaysian Bar Council) at the State Department in Washington , DC (AFP)

The shame of it all that we should be so proud (and are) of our own Malaysian receiving an international award like this, but the Malaysian government and press don't see it as important enough to publish it in our local dailies! It was only published by THE SUN but rather small and hidden in the inner pages. WHY???!!!!...

Never mind if they don't publish in the papers......lets circulate ........

This Picture Made It To the Pages of India Times but not in our own papers!

Hillary Clinton:

Our final speaker, Ambiga Sreenevasan, has a remarkable record of accomplishment in Malaysia. She has pursued judicial reform and good governance, she has stood up for religious tolerance, and she has been a resolute advocate of women’s equality and their full political participation.

She is someone who is not only working in her own country, but whose influence is felt beyond the borders of Malaysia. And it is a great honor to recognize her and invite her to the podium. (Applause.)

MS. SREENEVASAN:

The First Lady Mrs. Obama, Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton, ladies and gentlemen, I am humbled to be in the company of seven extraordinary women receiving this award for courage, and I am deeply honored to now speak on their behalf and on mine.

We accept this award in all humility, remembering that we have been fortunate in being singled out from among countless courageous women in our countries who are dedicated to the cause of equality and justice.

It is also timely for us to remember all the women in other conflict-ridden territories, like Palestine and other countries, who have to show courage every single day in their struggle to survive and to keep their families together.

Each of us fights causes that promote equality and justice, and by presenting us with this award you honor those causes and all the people who work tirelessly for them with unflinching dedication.

This award will help to bring to the international stage our voices and our advocacy on these important issues. This occasion gives us an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the rule of law in promoting the rights of women around the world. When the rule of law is upheld, equality is upheld, the cause of justice is upheld, and human rights are upheld.

Today, we are witnessing a struggle for the souls of our nations, taking place between the forces of the old and the forces of change. We see our commitment to the rule of law, fundamental liberties, and the independence of our institutions being tested. The strength of our nations will depend on how well they withstand this test.

There are those who claim that democracy is a Western concept and is unsuitable elsewhere. There are yet others who perpetrate injustices behind a veneer of democracy. We say that democracy is universal, and a true democracy and the rule of law will prevail when the collective voices of the people are raised in its support.

On my part, I have for the past two years had the privilege to lead and serve the Malaysian Bar, a professional organization consisting of approximately 13,000 lawyers. History will bear testament to the fact that the Malaysian Bar has always been true to its first article of faith, to uphold the cause of justice without regard to its own interests or that of its members uninfluenced by fear or favor.

In a sense, I was merely stepping into the shoes of the many other brave leaders of the bar who came before me, whereas many of the awardees today are pioneers in their struggle for justice.

This award has given us the opportunity which we would not otherwise have had, to share our stories, our successes, our failures, to reach out across our borders and to establish a base upon which we can build a meaningful network of support. These stories must be told in all our countries.

By this experience, we are both enriched and enraged; enriched by what we have shared, and enraged that so many of our sisters endure intimidation and suffering in their countries. Nevertheless, ours is a message of hope that something has been achieved, despite the odds. Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This means that although we may come from different walks of life, our struggle is common.

And each success is a success for all, just as each failure is a failure for all. When we unite on a human rights platform, whether domestically or internationally, above politics and political alliances, we create more enduring partnerships and relationships. When we pursue freedom and empowerment for others, we reaffirm and protect our own.

In my interaction with the other awardees present here today, it was evident that the passion we feel for our causes is driven by the love of our homelands and our people. That, in turn, drives our passion for what is right and what is just.

Our people deserve nothing less. We all believe in striving for ideals that are– if I may borrow the words – self-evident; namely, the ideals of truth, justice, goodness, and universal love and understanding. Our stories are a testament to the universality of these ideals.

We are truly and deeply honored by this award, more so, when it comes from you, Madame Secretary, yourself a woman of courage, who has inspired women around the world to reach great heights. Your untiring efforts in championing women’s rights worldwide are well known.

Your immortal words that, “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights,” resonate with all of us here.

We would also like to express our deep admiration for the First Lady Mrs. Obama, and we would also like to express our appreciation for your sharing this moment with us. Madame Secretary, on behalf of all the awardees, I thank you. And we accept the honor with humility and pride. Thank you. (Applause.)

Read more: http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2009/March/20090312132025xjsnommis0.1997949.html&distid=ucs#ixzz1QSYUk0gf

barbarians in malaysia culling angels in the street?

Strays allegedly caught and shot in full view of children

By ZALINAH NOORDIN
zalinah@thestar.com.my
Photos by ZAINUDDIN AHAD and GOH GAIK LEE

RESIDENTS who witnessed an alleged open-shooting of stray dogs by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) have expressed shock and disgust over the inhumane act.

Inhuman method: File photos of stray dogs being chased, trapped and shot during a local council operation to reduce the stray population in housing areas

The shooting was said to have been carried out in residential areas and in the midst of children who were walking to a nearby kindergarten.

The residents are now urging the council and the Penang government to review the method used to dispose off the strays because open-shooting could pose a danger to the public.

Inhuman method: File photos of stray dogs being chased, trapped and shot during a local council operation to reduce the stray population in housing areas

A witness to the incident who wants to be known only as Rowe, said that of late, there were many strays roaming at Sunway Mutiara in Batu Maung but the animals did not cause any harm to anyone.

She said that she saw a few council workers shooting the dogs in her neighbourhood a few days ago, leaving behind “a trail of blood.”

“When they arrived, the dogs were sleeping under cars parked outside the houses here. They lured one of the dogs out, wrestled it to the ground and shot it several times in its head despite the dog not behaving aggressively,” she said.

Inhuman method: File photos of stray dogs being chased, trapped and shot during a local council operation to reduce the stray population in housing areas

Another resident, who wished to be known as Shu, a homemaker, said her three young children had witnessed the brutal slaying and they were now traumatised by the incident.

“What if the bullets had gone astray? The children could have been harmed,” she said.

American Sarah Rinkenberger, 32, who resides in the same area, said she was not at home during the shooting but she learnt about it from neighbours.

“I’m surprised such a method is still being used in this country. Back in America, strays are caught and sent to the pound but they are never shot in the open,” she said.

Rinkenberger, who helps to manage a language centre here with her husband, said it was her personal belief that God created both humans and animals, therefore dogs must be treated in a good way.

Peace shattered: Rinkenberger watching over her children playing in front of her house in Sunway Mutiara, Batu Maung, where the shooting of stray dogs has allegedly taken place recently

A spokesperson from the MPPP’s Urban Services, Public Health and Licensing Department denied that the council had shot the stray dogs in such a manner.

However, the spokesperson said that shooting would be carried out if there was no other way.

“We are trying to use humane methods such as tranquillisers and we have applied for licensing from the police last year but we have yet to hear from them,” the spokesperson said, stressing that the department would only act based on complaints from the public.

A non-governmental organisation called Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) Penang coordinator Chuah Kok Han said the alleged shooting should not be justified by any party.

“It is wrong to use such a method to cull animals. MPPP must stop doing this and the state Veterinary Services Department must ensure that it is stopped immediately,” said Chuah.

He added that nowadays most people no longer tolerate cruelty towards dogs.

“We are a civilised society and we expect relevant authorities such as the local councils to behave in a civilised manner when it comes to handling animal-related issues,’’ said Chuah.

Chuah also said that MDDB Penang plans to meet Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over the issue.

Children’s Protection Society Penang secretary Magdeline Ng-Leong said the safety of children should not be compromised under whatever circumstances.

“The council should use other methods instead of openly shooting the strays in the presence of children.”

Penang Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) administrator Lily Leng said that stray dogs should not be destroyed in full view of the public.

“We received endless complaints about dogs being shot in public and I think there should be other ways to handle stray dogs instead of shooting them openly.

“Not only is it dangerous, the whole ordeal is disturbing and heart-wrenching to watch. Strays should be put down in private and not in the open,” she said.

Unity is not unison. It is working together, complementing one another

Unity is not unison. It is working together, complementing one another in order to achieve the common goal.

We see so many divisions in so many organizations today, including churches, bodies of churches - the same thing actually happened 2000 years ago during the apostles' time.

That's where Paul addressed the following letter to the Philippians,
"I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are
in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:2-5"

Paul knew the importance of teamwork, so he encouraged two women who had been quarreling to make peace. Euodia and Syntyche, members of the Philippian church, had created some division by their disharmony. Paul uses them as examples to launch into an entire chapter on peace. He doesn't ask these women to act uniformly, but rather to be of the same mind.

The term he uses connotes harmony. Singing in harmony doesn't mean singing in unison. Players should play different positions on a team. Harmony means their efforts complement the efforts of others, rather than conflict with them.


Source: EQUIP

A personal God (Ever wondered who God is? What does He look like?)

A personal God (Ever wondered who God is? What does He look like?) Take a look at creation.
--

I was once a professor at Britain's largest university, and I held various degrees and academic distinctions. in many ways, i was quite sophisticated - intellectually. But I do not feel in any way intellectually inferior to say I believe the Bible's record of creation.

Prior to believing the Bible, I studied may other sources that attempted to explain man's origin, but I found them unsatisfying. In many cases, they contradicted one another. I then turned to study the Bible - not as a believer but as a professional philosopher.

I thought to myself, At least it can't be any sillier than some of the other things I've heard! To my astonishment, I discovered that the Bible had the answer.

In Genesis, we read a short, simple statement. It begins, "The LORD God" - that is , "Jehovah God" - God's personal name. This term tells us that a personal God formed a personal man for personal fellowship.

The LORD God formed (molded) man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being (soul). - Genesis 2:7.

Here we see the union of God's divine, eternal breath from above with the body of clay from beneath, molded by the hands of the Creator. The union of spirit from above and clay from beneath produced a living human personality - one that can have fellowship with the living, personal God.

- Derek Prince.

animal rights activitists rally at moscow against violence, especially of stray dogs

Animal rights activists hold a rally to protest violence against animals and to demand better treatment of stray dogs in particular, in Moscow, April 21, 2011. – Reuters pic

Japan’s nuclear plant operator pays ‘condolence money’ - Japanese culture (bowing down)

One thing I really liked about Japanese and Koreans is their polite culture - bowing down, in respect and in apology/ regret. I believe this culture was part of the Chinese's until recently, all that's left in the Chinese, is... you only see them bow before their idols/ ancestor/ in funerals.

There's so much meaning in such a simple gesture. It is a act of humility, of sincerity. A person who's proud and floating on air can't easily bow to the people around them. Bow down in sincerity.

A priceless gesture, an honoured culture.

Tokyo Electric executive vice-president Takashi Fujimoto (second left) bows with the company’s operating officers at the news conference at the company headquarters in Tokyo, April 5, 2011. — Reuters pic

japanese boy teaches lesson (tsunami, earthquake, refugee, food distribution)

japanese boy teaches lesson (tsunami, earthquake, refugee, food distribution)

Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/

)

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=467066&type=Opinion

Japanese boy teaches lesson in sacrifice

Created: 2011-3-24 0:17:31

EDITOR'S note:

THIS letter, written by Vietnamese immigrant Ha Minh Thanh working in Fukushima as a policeman to a friend in Vietnam, was posted on New America Media on March 19. It is a testimonial to the strength of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of life near the epicenter of Japan's crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It was translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam, author of "East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres." Shanghai Daily condensed it.

Brother,

How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies.

Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks.

We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere.

I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.

People here remain calm - their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good - so things aren't as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can't guarantee that things won't get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order.

They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide supplies by air, bringing in food and medicine, but it's like dropping a little salt into the ocean.

Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being.

Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.

It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn't be any food left. So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father's car away.

I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn't make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.

The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That's when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. "When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here's my portion. I already ate. Why don't you eat it?"

The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn't. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed.

I was shocked. I asked him why he didn't eat it and instead added it to the food pile. He answered: "Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally."

When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn't see me cry.

A society that can produce a 9-year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people.

Well, a few lines to send you and your family my warm wishes. The hours of my shift have begun again.

Ha Minh Thanh

My dog eats his pooh vs swallowing down nasal discharges

My dog eats his pooh vs swallowing down nasal discharges - they're different, aren't they?

I dislike going to the doctor, no matter what illness i've got. I don't like to get my body checked, to be diagnosed, and to be given certain medicine which could harm my livers and etcetera... (but then again, on the other hand, sometimes even simple viral or bacterial infection will also harm my liver and etcetra, so... it's a lose-lose situation when one falls sick). Only God's healing hand produces a win-win situation to me. haha. ;=) So I'd rather pray and allow healing take place on its own. However, of late, there have been times when I succumb to external / surrounding pressures or the excruciating pain due to the sickness, then I'll knock on the clinic's door.

Recently a good friend of mine recommended a certain doctor near my place. I visited him once when I had a bout of severe poisoning - I thought my kidneys were shutting down.. but when I met him, he made a few serious checks and explained, "it's only the ligaments pulling, due to the strains in the intestines." I could only hope and pray that he's right. My will's not done yet.

Anyway, 3 days later I recovered. Just a few days ago, after taking some hot n spicy food, my eyes start to swell a bit, my nose get runny abit. By the third day, my voice was "cloggy" (any better vocabulary for this adjective?) and when I went to work on the fourth day, I felt like I could faint anytime of the day. My nasal discharges were thick green, the phlegms I coughed were thick green. I could almost imagine the greenish phlegms lining up the alveoli in my lungs. oops. to cut things short, I took half day mc, and went to see this doc.

So as I walked in the consultation room (after more than half an hour's waiting?), I complained about the fever, lost of voice, bad flu, choked up frontal sinuses, I was almost in tears. It was really miserable a flu. He looked concerned, "What's the colour of your phlegm?"

I told him my phlegms are thick green and running nose with all greenish discharges. With an amused look, he chuckled, "Everything green?"

At this point, my amygdala almost blurted, "Yah, and it's tasty too..." However, thank God the message got truncated at my association cortex and I compared what my clients complained often, "My dog always eats his pooh... is it really that tasty?"

Ouch... what would this doctor think of me if I did not filter this sentence? Will he compare me with a dog?? So my association cortex edited this answer to a simple "yah, yah, haha..."

Sometimes it feels so fun when you can just talk like a child, without any care of the consequences.
It's the same as when you're a student, your stature and language would not mean as much as when you're a working adult.
That goes for a grown up too. Every word that comes out from our mouth - should be filtered, for they will definitely bear consequences, some in ways that we may never know.

Be sure that the words that come forth from your mouth edifies and encourages the listener. I'm learning this. ;=) (which is so difficult to do!!!)

church growth biggest barrier - solution - people (sheep) matters more

church growth biggest barrier - solution - people (sheep) matters more

I believe that Jesus’ biggest argument with the Pharisees was their complacency—their desire to put programs and preferences ahead of people. In Matthew 12:11-12, Jesus said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep?” Jesus’ greatest concern was the fact that they had put more emphasis on the systems and their own personal lives than they had for people.
This is still a barrier in today’s churches. There will be people in your church who will constantly want to do what feels good for them inside their comfort zone. Often people in the church are more concerned about serving themselves than reaching out to serve the lost.

Bayside Community Church

Jesus praying Gethsemane suffering of broken heart

The Sufferings of His Broken Heart
by Max Lucado

Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.

Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What’s he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?

That’s Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Maybe you’ve seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-white robe. Hands peacefully folded in prayer. A look of serenity on his face. Halo over his head. A spotlight from heaven illuminating his golden-brown hair.

Now, I’m no artist, but I can tell you one thing. The man who painted that picture didn’t use the gospel of Mark as a pattern. Look what Mark wrote about that painful night, he used phrases like these: “Horror and dismay came over him.” “My heart is ready to breakwith grief.” “He went a little forward and threw himself on the ground.”

Does this look like the picture of a saintly Jesus resting in the palm of God? Hardly. Mark used black paint to describe this scene. We see an agonizing, straining, and struggling Jesus. We see a “man of sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:3 NASB) We see a man struggling with fear, wrestling with commitments, and yearning for relief.

We see Jesus in the fog of a broken heart.

The writer of Hebrews would later pen, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” (Hebrews 5:7 NIV)

My, what a portrait! Jesus is in pain. Jesus is on the stage of fear. Jesus is cloaked, not in sainthood, but in humanity.

The next time the fog finds you, you might do well to remember Jesus in the garden. The next time you think that no one understands, reread the fourteenth chapter of Mark. The next time your self-pity convinces you that no one cares, pay a visit to Gethsemane. And the next time you wonder if God really perceives the pain that prevails on this dusty planet, listen to him pleading among the twisted trees.

The next time you are called to suffer, pay attention. It may be the closest you’ll ever get to God. Watch closely. It could very well be that the hand that extends itself to lead you out of the fog is a pierced one.

Catching a stray dog (which is infamous for aggression, lesson from Cesar Milan, with God's favour)

Catching a stray dog (which is infamous for aggression, lesson from Cesar Milan, with God's favour)

I usually do not like to write the details about my work, but today an exceptional thing happened. It was not an ordinary day, and I must write it down - so that I'll remember the details, in years to come. ;-)

Today I received a call, by a person whom sounded very desperate over the phone - claiming that Majlis Perbandaran went to her housing area to catch a few stray dogs. Of the stray dogs, there were two which she successfully "trapped" into an empty house compound. She requested my help to go to the house and catch the dogs, so that the dogs can be neutered and then transferred into a doggy farm.

Upon reaching the house, the lady came to me, introducing herself as someone who fears dog. I was surprised, but was glad that despite her fear she managed still to lure the dogs into the house compound. There were 2 dogs - one was a labrador cross, while the other a belgian shepherd cross. The labrador was tied onto a post, while the belgian was left running around freely in the compound. They could not tie the belgian because it's very fierce.

As I walked near the house, the labrador began growling and barking me, threatening me, but I got hold of the string (thank God, the lab did not strike me), and got her into a pet carrier. Now the real problem...

After putting the lab into the pet carrier, another neighbour actually walked out and talked to the lady rescuer. THey were chit chatting, saying how a gentle and nice doggy this lab was, how they wanted her as their pet, have they had a place. And then they talked about the belgian which was still sleeping behind a car in the house compound.

"That dog ah, very fierce one! Yesterday when I walked near, he jumped out at me and wanted to bite me! Bad dog, I'll never keep him as a pet! bla bla bla (negative comments stacked one upon the other, about the belgian cross doggy). I gulped. I requested them to go to a far away place, so that neither me nor the belgian will be distracted by them.

"You're not scared ar?" The lady asked me.
"No, I'm not, " I paused for a moment. "Please pray for me," I continued.

It did not matter to me, however they may pray, but I called upon my God, "Dear Lord, you are my God. Forgive me all my wrong doings. Please, grant me your favour that this dog will submit to me, I will be safe. I do not want any bite. Please Lord, cover me."

With that, I opened the gate, made my first step into the house compound. Then I heard sounds coming out from behind the car. The belgian has awaken. He walked out and stood at a distance from me, staring at me, gauging my motives and moves. I avoided looking at him, and I remembered what I learned from Cesar Milan's videos. This dog is those kind which exhibits territorial aggression.

Very calmly, I assert my dominance with my body language (Cesar's lessons), very slowly taking steps, walking closer to him each time. Then he ran to the other side of the compound. He's giving up his territory! My heart leaped a little. Again, I repeated my steps, calmly, in silence, walking toward him steadily, until the distance between us was a mere 1 metre. I stopped.

He was trembling. I say that's a good sign. But the tail was not in between the legs, so... this dog may be in fear, but he's ready for a fight. I was cautious. I kept praying in my heart. "Please Lord Jesus, keep me safe, make him submit to me."

Then I noticed one of his front leg shaking and making uncertain movements, which reminded me of what Cesar Milan said - this is a sign that the dog is uncertain of what to do next. So I held out my leash, very slowly introduced it around the head, and suddenly, he rocketed off backway.

So I restarted my steps, getting closer to him, until he was cornered. There was a mere 30cm distance between us. He's trembling hard, but what bothered me was the tail was not in between the legs. And his posture was not a submissive one. I remembered the famous chinese saying, "Don't push a dog to a corner, else having nowhere to turn to, he's forced to strike you." I gulped. Prayed. Please Lord Jesus, grant me wisdom. I want to help this belgian. So I waited for him to calm down a little. When he finally sat down, I slowly introduced the leash. With every small jerk coming from him, I countered with an quick but calm, antagonizing posture.

After a few minutes in this positions, he finally allowed me to loop the leash around his head, and BINGO! I got him! PRAISE GOD, FOR HE'S GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVES & trusts in Him!

Once I got him out of the house compound, he was much relaxed, he licked me, tried to befriend me, and I actually was able to push him into the carrier.

I was so glad,so grateful. I thank God for zero aggression from this belgian, and thank Cesar Milan for his lessons. They were useful. oh yah, I'm safe, so is the belgian.

SUCCESS!! yahooooo......

The biggest sin - disunity of the church/ christians (destined to soar)

The biggest sin - disunity of the church/ christians (destined to soar)

At the end of a devastating three-year drought, all Israel assembled at Mount Carmel. There Elijah boldly challenged them to watch a contest between the prophets of Baal and himself.

After the prophets of Baal exhausted themselves in vain to persuade their god to answer by fire, it was Elijah’s turn to call upon Jehovah.

But before he did, he first rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel: “And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob . . .” (1 Kings 18:30–31).

This act of Elijah is of great significance. These 12 stones speak of the unity that was required before he—or anyone else—could see God’s work accomplished. Then Elijah could only go as far as two sentences into his prayer before the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust and the water in the trenches.

Jesus’ disciples might have felt small compared to the mighty prophet Elijah. However, Jesus told them how they could have the same presence of God and experience His powerful answers to their prayers: by being united in their hearts. “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19–20).

I hope that you will not miss the seriousness here. The work of God goes forward through unity. Without it, what happens to God’s purposes here on earth? Consider this quote from Paul Billheimer’s book Love Covers:

The most important, momentous, crucial, but the most ignored, neglected and unsolved problem that has faced the Church from its infancy to the present throbbing moment is the problem of disunity. . . . The sin of disunity probably has caused more souls to be lost than all other sins combined. Possibly more than anything else, it is the one thing that binds the hands of the Holy Spirit and thwarts His work of convincing of sin, righteousness and judgment.1

Without any doubt, disunity is one of the most powerful weapons Satan uses to hinder the work of God. We should guard against it at all costs.

So often we get caught up in the face value of our lives and situations that we don’t even realize how demons are blowing things out of proportion, twisting the facts and manipulating situations all with the aim of creating disunity. Yet when we respond in a godly manner, we thwart Satan’s tactics. Christlike attitudes will save us from words and actions that would have caused rifts in the Body of Christ. What are the thoughts and attitudes that keep us from responding in Christlikeness and the spirit of unity?

A judgmental spirit. Having a judgmental spirit means we have a critical and unloving attitude toward others. We think we have the only right answers. We measure everyone and everything by our standards while our critical and unmerciful attitude toward others is just as displeasing to the Lord as the sin we see in them.

Jesus vividly illustrates this contrast by comparing our judgment with that of a man who tried to remove a speck from his brother’s eye while having a log in his own. He goes on to tell us that such a self-righteous attitude has severe consequences: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1–2).

Lack of brokenness. Unless we are willing to give up our own ambitions, we cannot be one with the other members of the Body of Christ. If we are so adamant about our rights and our ways, we are not able to live and work together in God’s kingdom.

Each one of us has to come to a place at which we recognize the depths of our self-love and then repent and be willing to say, “I am sorry.” As long as we are unwilling to admit that we are wrong, we are weak and there is no unity among us.

Unwillingness to become servants. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5, kjv).

Do we serve others because it is convenient or when we know we will be praised? Or will we serve simply because it is our privilege to take a low position?

The way we respond to Christ and humble ourselves before Him is reflected and judged by the way we respond to others around us. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).

It’s easy to climb up the ladder; the hardest thing is to go down by choice. I believe this is where we are tested—to see if we are willing to humble ourselves and maintain unity by serving others.

Clouded vision. Like soldiers on the battlefield, if we fall down, we continue on. We don’t walk out of the battle. When we face difficulties—times of misunderstandings, differing opinions, disappointment or missed expectations—our vision can become clouded, and we forget the war that is raging.

But Paul urges us, “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). We are in a battle for souls, and our unity is so crucial to accomplishing this purpose. So don’t let the times of difficulty blur your vision. Remember why you were enlisted.

The destiny of nearly 3 billion unreached people hangs in the balance. Yet not a day goes by that we don’t hear of disunity in the Body of Christ, whether it’s among individuals, denominations or mission groups. So often division takes place over such small issues that are not at all crucial in order to maintain fellowship in Christ. Do you know how 115 The Weapon of Disunity splintered we are? We are one Body, one Church, yet we have more than 3,000 different denominations.

My dear brothers and sisters, we cannot afford to be playing games. May the Lord give us the courage, clear thinking and brokenness to walk together in unity.

Will you lay down your own agenda for the sake of the many who are waiting to hear the name of Christ?

Destined to Soar © 2009 by K.P. Yohannan

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