Towards Eternity

KUALA LUMPUR — A church in Malaysia has been fire-bombed in an attack that gutted its ground floor, church officials said Friday, escalating a dispute over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims.

A fire department official said all stations were on alert for more blazes at religious buildings, ahead of planned nationwide protests Friday by Muslim groups angry over the use of the word as a translation for "God" by Christians.

The three-storey Metro Tabernacle church in suburban Kuala Lumpur, part of the Assemblies of God movement, was set ablaze in the attack which took place around midnight, said church leader Peter Yeow, 62.

"Witnesses saw four people smash the glass and throw incendiaries into the church building. They came on two motorcycles," he told AFP at the scene as fire department forensic officers picked through the wreckage.

There were no casualties in the attack on the church, which occupies the corner lot of a row of shop houses and which Yeow said draws some 1,500 people weekly.

"The fire destroyed the administrative part of the church. We do not know if the prayer hall on the third floor suffered any damage," he said, warning all other churches to "double their guard" against any attacks.

Anuar Harun, who headed the fire department operation, said that forensic experts were working with the police and a canine unit to probe the blaze.

"We are investigating the cause of fire. We cannot provide any more details. It is a sensitive issue," he said when asked if it was a case of arson.

"We have asked all our fire stations to be on alert for such fires on religious premises," he told AFP.

The High Court last week ruled in favour of the Catholic "Herald" newspaper which has used "Allah" as a translation for "God" in its Malay-language section. The government has said the word should be used only by Muslims.

The ruling was suspended on Wednesday pending an appeal, after the government argued the decision could cause racial conflict in multicultural Malaysia, where Muslim Malays make up 60 percent of the population.

The security guard at the Metro Tabernacle church, 65-year-old V. Mariappan, said he had just walked away from the main entrance of the building to use the bathroom when the building erupted in flames.

"When I came back, there was a huge fire inside the church building. There was a few loud explosions like bombs exploding," he said, adding he saw two motorcycle helmets lying on the road in flames.

The Herald's editor Father Lawrence Andrew has warned of a campaign of intimidation including hacker attacks against the weekly's website, protest plans and widespread criticism in the media over last week's ruling.

"We believe these actions (are designed) to create a climate of fear and a perceived threat to national security so as to pressure the court in reversing its decision," he said this week.

Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.

The row over the use of "Allah" is among a string of religious disputes that have erupted in recent years, straining relations between Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians who fear the country is being "Islamised."

Malaysia's population includes indigenous tribes as well as the large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities -- practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others.

More than half of Malaysia's Catholics are from indigenous groups, most of whom live on the Borneo island states and who mainly speak Malay.

I urge you to pray. We need to pray. No one knows what will come next and it is not for us to judge. At this moment i am reminded that we shall pray for each other, the Christians in Malaysia that we will not go against them but persevere. Let's wait upon the Lord.

Romans 12:21- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

May God show us His way at this very moment, give us wisdom Lord.

We should always remember The Greatest Commandment.

Matthew 22: 37-39

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Let's not forget God's commandment on us. Let's pray.

Last night we had a family dinner at gramma's place, i went early to help out. I sat on the dining table to prepare the food together with my dad and my aunt, with my gramma sitting at her chair. My gramma starts talking about the Eklektos went to her house for caroling. She was quite specific, she starts to ask me who is this who is that, she remembers what color of shirt they wore, and their pretty little head. I was surprise to know that she remembers all that and she keep on talking about it. At that point i knew it she really enjoy having them over and she is truly blessed. At that time all her mind is thinking about that day, i know she really enjoy having so many young people in her house, she felt so warm and perhaps treasured.

I love my gramma. She gave everything that she is to her children and everyone. She use to always cook amazing food, always bless us, always. Now she just can't do that much anymore. When she tried to help, she will get scolded. Some people just pay no respond at all towards her. They thinks she's a burden. Worst when these people are family members and close ones. Hmm. That is why i think she enjoy so much to have the Eklektos around for caroling and there's so many of you that go and talk to her, shake her hand.

I just wanna say a huge thank you to Eklektos for making all this caroling visitation possible. What you guys did was truly a blessing and it brings memories that change life. Please do continue doing this because you never know, you might save someone's life. Your prayers in different language is such powerful. Hakka is a language where everyone in my family can understand and you have people who knows how to pray in Hakka=] Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Thank you Eklektos. I'm gonna take one of your group photo and give it to my gramma, i hope that's ok with you guys. May God continue to use you guys as a blessing towards people all around this world in different ways. Merry Christmas.

Blessings.

So we are to be more like Jesus ya? but what actually are we suppose to be? I know we all heard this, we are to be more like Jesus. But what more like Jesus??

Let's see, He preach and He teach, He seek for his disciples and disciple them , heals the sick raise the death,give to the needy, oh and He pray, He fast, casting out demons, He heals the blind, He did all this miracles like walking on the water and all this and last He sacrifices Himself for our sins.

John 14: 12 - I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.He will do even greater things than these,

Yes this is Jesus Himself who said this, anyone who has faith in Him will do what He have been doing! and even greater things some more! So we're suppose to do the things that He have been doing and even greater stuff? We should share the good news, disciple,give, PRAY, and fasting. Heal the sick, raise the death, casting out demons and all this miracles! and look! Jesus said we will do even greater things! WOW.. I wonder.

You know, the basic is to share the gospel. That's what Jesus did at the first place. Correct me it i'm wrong. And let's not forget teach. He teach alot don't He? The Great Commission- Matthew 28:19 Therefore GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you.

I think Jesus means what He said. As we are the children of God we are made to be able to do all this, of cause only by Him through us. In Jesus Name there is authority. Jesus said this,"All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18) "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

Do all these things in Jesus Name and it shall be done. But do not take advantage and use it wrongly, for this name is so powerful that no one can assure what will happen what you mis-use this name. That's what i think.

All glory and honor belongs to Him. No pride. You are doing a great job for God, that is because God choose you and you obey. All wisdom comes from Him alone. When Jesus asked the disciples who people said He was. Then He asked them who they thought He was. Peter answered correctly, "You are the Christ." Then Jesus made a very significant statement to Peter,"This was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."

I guess that's basically what you're suppose to be doing on earth?

God forgive me for my selfishness. Make me more like Jesus. Amen

Blessings,

T

Few months back, I have some trouble playing my guitar. A 12strings classic guitar with a wider gap between the frets and the wider neck it has, i suffer from terrible pain on the bone and also the muscle that connects the thumb to palm on my left hand(forgive me if I describe this wrongly, i'm not good in all this what name of the bones and muscle that connects to where), so every time if i've playing a harder chords or on that guitar for a longer time it will gives me all this pain. This pain is actually cause of an injury 2years back when i was having all this practice for my bowling competition, unknowingly i was actually injured and i didn't seek for any medical advice immediately. That cause me to have this pain not only when i play this guitar of mine but sometime when i use my hand too much to draw, which is like my assignments. So from time to time i will have to bandage my hand, the worst case was there was a time it's so much pain that i can't even use my hand to draw anymore. Yes.

So i was asking God for healing that time and some time after that i was asking God if it's possible for me to get a guitar. I don't see the possibility at that time so I just pray that God will take away all my pain when i play my guitar, and indeed God took away all the pain. Praise the Lord. THANK YOU GOD!! There was once i ask God again if i can have a guitar that i can just enjoy with( i actually told my parents that i think i wanted to buy a guitar when i am able to, they agreed and supported me to get one when i starts to work, cool)

I can't stand playing 12strings anymore because it's hurting so i put on 6strings only. At the process of changing and tuning this 6strings, God actually showed me that i've got the best just right in front of me! This guitar that I'm having is actually a Yamaha, bigger body part, the melody that created by this guitar is beautiful when it's 12string it create amazing tune, melody or whatever you call that. I was so amazed by God! I mean, He was like, "hey! the best is here!" When i look at my guitar and i agree, yes this is definitely the best among the best. So after that I've never asked for a guitar anymore but of cause my hand still hurts sometimes, but it doesn't matter because God have given the best, i really appreciate all that. Last month i think, Joy was asking me if i wanted to buy a guitar because she is selling hers, i would love to but i can't afford so i told her i can't and i will help her to look around for buyers. Her guitar was the music to our prayer meetings all this while in college. THANKS JOY!=]

Yesterday, i went to pick up Joy to go to church together, on her way to my car with her was her guitar case. So i was wondering why is she bringing her guitar along. I was thinking is she giving me that? is she crazy!? haha. When she open the door she said "i'm giving you my guitar, do you want it?" I was like YES! the best part is she even give me the guitar case! now how cool is that! I thank her and really, words just can't express how thankful i am and how blessed i am. gosh.. thanks JOY!! Right after that i thank God, all this while i was just thanking God for the guitar at the same time i wonder why this guitar? I totally forgotten about asking Him for one.

Awhile ago i was reading Joy's blog, she was talking about why she decided to give me this guitar instead of selling it and giving me even the guitar case that she treasure so much and how she got it at the first place. It was God all this while! She was prompt to give this guitar and the case to me and it's confirmation after confirmation that leads her to do this. I was amazed! I ask God, "God, what do you want me to do with this guitar? why give it to me?" and He reminded me is because i asked for one. HE REMEMBER!

Even tho it has been quite awhile since i asked for a guitar and after awhile i didn't actually ask for it anymore, but He, remember what i asked for before and satisfy this desire of mine in His own timing and He always gives better and more than what i asked for. AWESOME GOD!! THANK YOU GOD!!

Again, words can't express how thankful I am. A special shout out to Joy. This is what God is doing in both of us!! gosh!! thank you Joy! it's because you obey=]

Peeps, i do not know what is the desires or the dreams that you had, have or will. One thing i know that is He remembers, He gives the best to you, sometimes just not what you asked for but it's the best for you. Trust Him, because He is a God who remembers.

Blessings,
T.

Look at yourself. Look at things around you. Still not enough? Complain?

I think if you’re reading this, you’re blessed. But, what about them?

Just awhile ago when I was in the superstore, the counter beside where I was, there was a young married couple. They were just going to pay for what they’ve brought. Husband walk towards the counter with a pack of cookie hoping to buy one. Wife hold up the money on her hand which is only RM20, just enough for what they need for a period of time, immediately her husband put back that pack of cookie and go back to his wife with a sad yet it’s ok face on him. After having the cashier counting all the item, she realize there is enough to get one pack of the cookie, she turn to the husband and tell him to get one, husband replied, “it’s ok.” As she moved forward, I realize, she is pregnant. I looked at the husband’s hand, realize that’s not a car key. I wonder. I look around her again I realize there’s a boy beside them (which I’m not sure if it’s the brother or their son) with a motorcycle helmet on his hand. When they walk out from the superstore, husband put his hand on her back and support her. I prayed.

This couple, with not much that they have, can’t even afford an extra pack of biscuit and expecting a baby to come. Ride a motorcycle with a boy and a woman which is also pregnant. This man, yes he felt sad but he understand and he choose to support the family and wife with that extra money instead of using it for his desire for that pack of cookie. He choose to.

I do not know about you, but I, I do complain now and then. This scene just reminded me of how silly I am to complain when I am so blessed. How selfish am I when all I think about is me. I was thinking. What about these people? Where does hope comes from? I have hope in God, great family, great surrounding, but, how about them? God reminds me once again to think about others and be thankful. Please, don’t think “ What did happen?” The question is “ What will happen!?” Who are you to judge? You have no right. There’s nothing that I can do to help them, but just pray. I believe prayer is powerful.

I want to be a blessing to others no matter where I am. I am already really blessed. There’s more than enough. I choose to be a blessing towards people around me not matter I know them well or not. No matter we have met before or just met. It’s not about me at all.

How about you? Maybe it’s time to look around. Be thankful.